Question regarding Water Corporation's management of main drains to minimise environmental impact and control flooding, with vague answers indicating reactive maintenance based on budget and need.

AnsweredQoN 5980Legislative Council
Asked
11 September 2012
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Water Corporation's management of main drains for the purposes of flood control while minimising negative impact on the environment and with reference to the volume of contaminants that reach the Swan-Canning River system through the main drains, I ask —
(1) What vegetation management practices are in place to ensure appropriate vegetation control such as plant maintenance or sediment removal?
(2) How often do these management practices take place on any drain within any given year?
(3) What does WaterCorp do to minimise erosion on the banks of the drains?
(4) What does WaterCorp do to minimise the volume of slashed vegetation entering the drains?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
16 October 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Water
Response time
35 days
(1)        Maintenance activities such as vegetation removal and desilting are identified by inspections and asset deficiency reports.  The work is carried out based on a "needs" basis and within the capacity of existing budgets.
(2)        Inspections on open drains occur before and after winter.  This ensures that all channels are clear from flow restrictions such as vegetation and debris and are structurally sound in order to convey the designed flow rates, thus mitigating flood risk.
Drain conditions vary from area to area and season to season.  It is difficult to predict where and when maintenance will be required.  Works are undertaken on a needs basis within the capacity of existing budgets.
(3)        Light vegetation (such as grass) is maintained on drain banks to minimise erosion.
The Water Corporation undertakes erosion repair and stabilisation work that is identified as being required through inspections and asset deficiency reports.  The work is carried out based on priority and within the capacity of existing budgets.
(4)        Excess slashed vegetation is removed from the site.  Screens and trash racks are also used to control debris to enable collection and removal.
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