❓ Hon. M.G. House questions the Water Corporation's plan to increase nitrogen levels in irrigation at the Timewell Road Wastewater Treatment Plant tree farm near Albany, seeking assurance of environmental safety. The Parliamentary Secretary provides data and assurances regarding monitoring and minimal impact.
AnsweredQoN 2670Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) With regard to the Water Corporation’s plan to raise nitrogen levels in irrigation on its tree farm at the Timewell Road Waste Water Treatment Plant near Albany, will the Parliamentary Secretary table the advice that indicates the tree farm can safely absorb this higher level of nitrogen?
(2) Will the Parliamentary Secretary show a graph that clearly shows how much higher the nitrogen levels will rise in comparison to the currently approved levels?
(3) Will the Parliamentary Secretary provide details about how this raised level of nitrogen will not have a negative environmental impact on the land and water systems neighbouring the Timewell Road Treatment Plant?
(2) Will the Parliamentary Secretary show a graph that clearly shows how much higher the nitrogen levels will rise in comparison to the currently approved levels?
(3) Will the Parliamentary Secretary provide details about how this raised level of nitrogen will not have a negative environmental impact on the land and water systems neighbouring the Timewell Road Treatment Plant?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
4 May 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Government Enterprises
Response time
55 days
(2) No graph is available, however, the current nitrogen limits are at 106 kilograms per hectare. The Corporation anticipates there will be a rise in the short term to 120 kilograms per hectare prior to the upgrade of the Timewell Road Wastewater Treatment Plant. The upgrade will provide a substantial reduction of nitrogen loading, and allow for future town growth. (3) The Corporation has a detailed understanding of the dynamics of the woodlot site gained from extensive research and monitoring and is using best practices in operating the plantation. Research over four years has shown increasing the nitrogen level will have no significant impact on groundwater quality. The Corporation is seeking to apply nitrogen at an application rate that is both conservative, as well as consistent with its other woodlots around the State. The Albany Tree Farm has been independently shown to contribute only 0.6% of nutrients to the downstream catchment (Lake Powell) and is therefore not a significant nutrient contributor to that catchment. Detailed sampling and monitoring programs are in place and will continue to be conducted.
(3) The Corporation has a detailed understanding of the dynamics of the woodlot site gained from extensive research and monitoring and is using best practices in operating the plantation. Research over four years has shown increasing the nitrogen level will have no significant impact on groundwater quality. The Corporation is seeking to apply nitrogen at an application rate that is both conservative, as well as consistent with its other woodlots around the State. The Albany Tree Farm has been independently shown to contribute only 0.6% of nutrients to the downstream catchment (Lake Powell) and is therefore not a significant nutrient contributor to that catchment. Detailed sampling and monitoring programs are in place and will continue to be conducted.
(3) The Corporation has a detailed understanding of the dynamics of the woodlot site gained from extensive research and monitoring and is using best practices in operating the plantation. Research over four years has shown increasing the nitrogen level will have no significant impact on groundwater quality. The Corporation is seeking to apply nitrogen at an application rate that is both conservative, as well as consistent with its other woodlots around the State. The Albany Tree Farm has been independently shown to contribute only 0.6% of nutrients to the downstream catchment (Lake Powell) and is therefore not a significant nutrient contributor to that catchment. Detailed sampling and monitoring programs are in place and will continue to be conducted.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.