❓ Hon Michelle Hofmann questions the Minister for the Environment regarding faecal contamination at Mullaloo Beach and Pinnaroo Point, requesting a revised monitoring regime and permanent water quality sensors. The Minister defends the current risk-based monitoring and notes limitations in real-time microbial testing.
AnsweredQoN 1148Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Minister’s previous answers on 25 June 2025, asserting that faecal contamination detected at Mullaloo Beach and Pinnaroo Point was “likely attributable to animal sources,” and noting that no corrective action was taken because guideline levels had “not been exceeded,” and I ask: (a) given that levels did exceed accepted primary contact safety guidelines, will the Minister commit to a revised risk-based monitoring regime for Mullaloo Beach and Pinnaroo Point; and (b) will the Minister commit to installing permanent shoreline water quality sensors at Mullaloo Beach and Pinnaroo Point to provide continuous enterococci and nutrient monitoring?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
5 days
a) The water quality monitoring regime at these locations is part of the Recreational Waters Microbial Monitoring Program overseen by the Department of Health and with the involvement of the City of Joondalup, which is and remains risk-based and takes into consideration recent water quality data in these areas.
b) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is unaware of any automated systems available for real-time microbial water quality testing. All testing must be done at a suitably accredited laboratory.
b) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is unaware of any automated systems available for real-time microbial water quality testing. All testing must be done at a suitably accredited laboratory.
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