❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the Water and Rivers Commission's awareness and response to fish kills in the Swan River, prompting a response detailing monitoring, warnings, and ongoing cleanup efforts.
AnsweredQoN 756Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Water and Rivers Commission press release of 1 April 2003, which reported low levels of oxygen in the Canning River near Kent Street Weir, and warned that “people are advised that these may be the early signs of a fish-kill event”. (1) Given the Water and Rivers Commission can often predict when a fish kill is imminent, was the commission aware of low oxygen levels in the Swan River prior to the most recent massive fish kill; and, if so, when? (2) What was done to avert this most recent fish kill in light of this and other warnings given by the commission? (3) Does the Water and Rivers Commission or the Swan River Trust expect any more fish kills in the near future; and, if so, what additional measures have been implemented to prevent such kills? Dr J.M. EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
(1) Given the Water and Rivers Commission can often predict when a fish kill is imminent, was the commission aware of low oxygen levels in the Swan River prior to the most recent massive fish kill; and, if so, when? (2) What was done to avert this most recent fish kill in light of this and other warnings given by the commission? (3) Does the Water and Rivers Commission or the Swan River Trust expect any more fish kills in the near future; and, if so, what additional measures have been implemented to prevent such kills? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
(2) What was done to avert this most recent fish kill in light of this and other warnings given by the commission? (3) Does the Water and Rivers Commission or the Swan River Trust expect any more fish kills in the near future; and, if so, what additional measures have been implemented to prevent such kills? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
(3) Does the Water and Rivers Commission or the Swan River Trust expect any more fish kills in the near future; and, if so, what additional measures have been implemented to prevent such kills? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
(1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
(2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay -
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
(1) Given the Water and Rivers Commission can often predict when a fish kill is imminent, was the commission aware of low oxygen levels in the Swan River prior to the most recent massive fish kill; and, if so, when? (2) What was done to avert this most recent fish kill in light of this and other warnings given by the commission? (3) Does the Water and Rivers Commission or the Swan River Trust expect any more fish kills in the near future; and, if so, what additional measures have been implemented to prevent such kills? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
(2) What was done to avert this most recent fish kill in light of this and other warnings given by the commission? (3) Does the Water and Rivers Commission or the Swan River Trust expect any more fish kills in the near future; and, if so, what additional measures have been implemented to prevent such kills? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
(3) Does the Water and Rivers Commission or the Swan River Trust expect any more fish kills in the near future; and, if so, what additional measures have been implemented to prevent such kills? Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
(1) Yes, the Water and Rivers Commission and the Swan River Trust were aware that conditions in the river throughout April and May made it very likely that an algal bloom would occur and that fish deaths would result from it. Following the fish deaths in April, a huge amount of testing was undertaken. That showed that a particular dinoflagellate, the name of which I cannot remember, was responsible for that fish kill. As a result of the unusual weather pattern during which a flush of fresh water flowed down the river and a tidal surge of saline water was accompanied by hot, very still days without a breeze, further algal blooms spread. Early in May, the Swan River Trust or the Water and Rivers Commission released an alert warning people of the spread of further algal blooms and the likelihood of resultant fish deaths. Subsequently, some fish died in May. This was tracked until the large number of fish deaths occurred on 22 May. (2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
(2)-(3) I am reminded of a comment made by no less a person than the member for Nedlands last year, who suggested that I had the capacity to stop the coral spawning in Coral Bay. I am probably the only member in this Chamber who has a certificate in family planning but even I cannot stop the coral from spawning! Work has continued over many years to improve conditions in the Swan and Canning Rivers to try to prevent algal blooms. During the Swan and Canning clean-up program from 1998 until 2002, the number of tributaries that were meeting long-term goals for cutting nitrogen increased from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Nitrogen is continuing to be managed better in all the catchments. Similar, but less spectacular, results have been obtained for phosphorous. I am delighted that allocations have been included in the 2003-04 budget to continue the Swan and Canning clean-up program. It is an excellent program. Twenty programs are being undertaken to improve the health of the river. In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay - Mr Trenorden: Your visit was appreciated too. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
In addition, during the weekend I had great pleasure in visiting the member for Avon’s electorate in Toodyay -
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: I thank the member. In Toodyay we launched the final series of river recovery plans for the Avon River. The whole of the Avon River now has river recovery plans, and the department will now look at the Dale River. We are continuing our work on the Swan and Canning Rivers directly and we are paying attention to those rivers that flow in and contribute to the nutrients in the Swan River.
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