❓ Mrs. Godfrey questions the government's actions to maintain the health of the Swan and Canning Rivers. The Minister outlines measures taken, including fertiliser regulations, wetland investment, and partnerships, while opposing a broad ban on soluble fertilisers due to potential impact on farmers.
AnsweredQoN 67Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SWAN AND
CANNING RIVERS — MONITORING
67. Mrs G.J. GODFREY to the
Minister for Environment:
Minister, the Swan and Canning Rivers are an important part
of Perth's landscape. What is the Liberal–National government
doing to maintain the health of these rivers?
CANNING RIVERS — MONITORING
67. Mrs G.J. GODFREY to the
Minister for Environment:
Minister, the Swan and Canning Rivers are an important part
of Perth's landscape. What is the Liberal–National government
doing to maintain the health of these rivers?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Belmont for the question. This
government acknowledges, and indeed has continued to acknowledge, that our Swan–Canning
River system faces a range of pressures. However, let me state unequivocally
that the health of our Swan–Canning River system is improving. Indeed,
since the mid-2000s, it has been on a steady improvement trend in its overall
health. The health challenges that the Swan and Canning Rivers face are varied
and complex, and many of them are based in history. In much the same vein,
there is no single solution to the challenges that the Swan–Canning
River system faces.
I would like to address very briefly, if I could, the issue
of nutrient inflow, because that often seems to be a key debating point when we
talk about the health of the Swan–Canning River system. Nutrient inflow
does affect river health. It is one of those areas that can place pressure on
the health of our Swan–Canning River system. Indeed, the historic use
of nutrients in particular has been a large contributor to the previously
declining health of the Swan–Canning River system. This is why the
Liberal–National government has undertaken a range of measures to
address this problem. One of those measures was our fertiliser regulations,
which we brought in in 2011, and which reduced the amount of nutrients that
could be contained within domestic fertilisers. We have also invested some $4.2
million in nutrient stripping wetlands, one at Ellen Brook, one of the largest
contributors of nutrients into the Swan River system, and a new one that we have
just commenced at Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary in Bayswater, in partnership
with the City of Bayswater. This government has also been part of the
fertiliser partnership, which was established in 2012, and which brings
together government, industry, user groups and the community, and tackles ways
to prevent or reduce nutrient use, or excessive nutrient use when it may not be
required, and also of the oxygenation program, which I have gone into on many
occasions in this house.
There is one very clear point of difference. Members
opposite, particularly the member for Gosnells, continue to advocate for a
broad-scale ban on highly soluble water-based fertilisers within the catchment
area. We do not agree with that. The impact on farmers and our food supply would
simply be too significant.
Mr C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
This Liberal–National government does not support a broad-scale ban on
highly soluble water fertilisers for agricultural purposes within the catchment
of the Swan–Canning River system. The Liberal–National
government will continue to advocate sensible policy approaches to address the
range of health challenges that the Swan and Canning Rivers face, and we will
continue to work with stakeholders, not against them.
government acknowledges, and indeed has continued to acknowledge, that our Swan–Canning
River system faces a range of pressures. However, let me state unequivocally
that the health of our Swan–Canning River system is improving. Indeed,
since the mid-2000s, it has been on a steady improvement trend in its overall
health. The health challenges that the Swan and Canning Rivers face are varied
and complex, and many of them are based in history. In much the same vein,
there is no single solution to the challenges that the Swan–Canning
River system faces.
I would like to address very briefly, if I could, the issue
of nutrient inflow, because that often seems to be a key debating point when we
talk about the health of the Swan–Canning River system. Nutrient inflow
does affect river health. It is one of those areas that can place pressure on
the health of our Swan–Canning River system. Indeed, the historic use
of nutrients in particular has been a large contributor to the previously
declining health of the Swan–Canning River system. This is why the
Liberal–National government has undertaken a range of measures to
address this problem. One of those measures was our fertiliser regulations,
which we brought in in 2011, and which reduced the amount of nutrients that
could be contained within domestic fertilisers. We have also invested some $4.2
million in nutrient stripping wetlands, one at Ellen Brook, one of the largest
contributors of nutrients into the Swan River system, and a new one that we have
just commenced at Eric Singleton Bird Sanctuary in Bayswater, in partnership
with the City of Bayswater. This government has also been part of the
fertiliser partnership, which was established in 2012, and which brings
together government, industry, user groups and the community, and tackles ways
to prevent or reduce nutrient use, or excessive nutrient use when it may not be
required, and also of the oxygenation program, which I have gone into on many
occasions in this house.
There is one very clear point of difference. Members
opposite, particularly the member for Gosnells, continue to advocate for a
broad-scale ban on highly soluble water-based fertilisers within the catchment
area. We do not agree with that. The impact on farmers and our food supply would
simply be too significant.
Mr C.J. Tallentire interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Gosnells!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
This Liberal–National government does not support a broad-scale ban on
highly soluble water fertilisers for agricultural purposes within the catchment
of the Swan–Canning River system. The Liberal–National
government will continue to advocate sensible policy approaches to address the
range of health challenges that the Swan and Canning Rivers face, and we will
continue to work with stakeholders, not against them.
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