A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the extent, pollutants, and impact of site clearing on a contaminated plume at the Amcor site in Bibra Lake. The response indicates LandCorp has been monitoring groundwater quality since 1999, finding elevated levels of dissolved solids and sulphides.

AnsweredQoN 255Legislative Council
Asked
17 October 2002
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

What investigation has been undertaken at the Amcor site at Bibra Lake to establish - (a) the extent of the contaminated plume from sludge waste dumped on the site; (b) the types of pollutants in the plume; and, (c) the impact that the clearing of the tuart forest and the extensive excavation and levelling of the site will have on the plume? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (a)-(c) LandCorp has undertaken a comprehensive ground water monitoring program to establish the current ground water quality.  Investigations have been under way since June 1999 when, in addition to five existing bores, a further five monitoring bores were installed.  From February 2000 through to September 2001, quarterly samples have been taken from the bores.  When compared with the 1993 Environmental Protection Authority’s Western Australian drinking water guidelines, the sampling results indicate increased levels of totally dissolved solids and sulphides that will self remediate with the cessation of the effluent ponding systems.  The clearing and earthworks proposed for the site have the potential to further dilute the plume by allowing greater rainfall infiltration into the surrounding aquifer.
(a) the extent of the contaminated plume from sludge waste dumped on the site; (b) the types of pollutants in the plume; and, (c) the impact that the clearing of the tuart forest and the extensive excavation and levelling of the site will have on the plume? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (a)-(c) LandCorp has undertaken a comprehensive ground water monitoring program to establish the current ground water quality.  Investigations have been under way since June 1999 when, in addition to five existing bores, a further five monitoring bores were installed.  From February 2000 through to September 2001, quarterly samples have been taken from the bores.  When compared with the 1993 Environmental Protection Authority’s Western Australian drinking water guidelines, the sampling results indicate increased levels of totally dissolved solids and sulphides that will self remediate with the cessation of the effluent ponding systems.  The clearing and earthworks proposed for the site have the potential to further dilute the plume by allowing greater rainfall infiltration into the surrounding aquifer.
(b) the types of pollutants in the plume; and, (c) the impact that the clearing of the tuart forest and the extensive excavation and levelling of the site will have on the plume? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (a)-(c) LandCorp has undertaken a comprehensive ground water monitoring program to establish the current ground water quality.  Investigations have been under way since June 1999 when, in addition to five existing bores, a further five monitoring bores were installed.  From February 2000 through to September 2001, quarterly samples have been taken from the bores.  When compared with the 1993 Environmental Protection Authority’s Western Australian drinking water guidelines, the sampling results indicate increased levels of totally dissolved solids and sulphides that will self remediate with the cessation of the effluent ponding systems.  The clearing and earthworks proposed for the site have the potential to further dilute the plume by allowing greater rainfall infiltration into the surrounding aquifer.
(c) the impact that the clearing of the tuart forest and the extensive excavation and levelling of the site will have on the plume? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (a)-(c) LandCorp has undertaken a comprehensive ground water monitoring program to establish the current ground water quality.  Investigations have been under way since June 1999 when, in addition to five existing bores, a further five monitoring bores were installed.  From February 2000 through to September 2001, quarterly samples have been taken from the bores.  When compared with the 1993 Environmental Protection Authority’s Western Australian drinking water guidelines, the sampling results indicate increased levels of totally dissolved solids and sulphides that will self remediate with the cessation of the effluent ponding systems.  The clearing and earthworks proposed for the site have the potential to further dilute the plume by allowing greater rainfall infiltration into the surrounding aquifer.
Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (a)-(c) LandCorp has undertaken a comprehensive ground water monitoring program to establish the current ground water quality.  Investigations have been under way since June 1999 when, in addition to five existing bores, a further five monitoring bores were installed.  From February 2000 through to September 2001, quarterly samples have been taken from the bores.  When compared with the 1993 Environmental Protection Authority’s Western Australian drinking water guidelines, the sampling results indicate increased levels of totally dissolved solids and sulphides that will self remediate with the cessation of the effluent ponding systems.  The clearing and earthworks proposed for the site have the potential to further dilute the plume by allowing greater rainfall infiltration into the surrounding aquifer.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (a)-(c) LandCorp has undertaken a comprehensive ground water monitoring program to establish the current ground water quality.  Investigations have been under way since June 1999 when, in addition to five existing bores, a further five monitoring bores were installed.  From February 2000 through to September 2001, quarterly samples have been taken from the bores.  When compared with the 1993 Environmental Protection Authority’s Western Australian drinking water guidelines, the sampling results indicate increased levels of totally dissolved solids and sulphides that will self remediate with the cessation of the effluent ponding systems.  The clearing and earthworks proposed for the site have the potential to further dilute the plume by allowing greater rainfall infiltration into the surrounding aquifer.
(a)-(c) LandCorp has undertaken a comprehensive ground water monitoring program to establish the current ground water quality.  Investigations have been under way since June 1999 when, in addition to five existing bores, a further five monitoring bores were installed.  From February 2000 through to September 2001, quarterly samples have been taken from the bores.  When compared with the 1993 Environmental Protection Authority’s Western Australian drinking water guidelines, the sampling results indicate increased levels of totally dissolved solids and sulphides that will self remediate with the cessation of the effluent ponding systems.  The clearing and earthworks proposed for the site have the potential to further dilute the plume by allowing greater rainfall infiltration into the surrounding aquifer.

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