Question regarding the Water Corporation's plan to release waste from the Denmark River dam reverse osmosis units into a drain that discharges onto Perkins Beach, including concerns about quantity, environmental impact, and community consultation.

AnsweredQoN 589Legislative Council
Asked
19 May 2015
Portfolio
Water

QuestionView source ↗

WATER CORPORATION — DENMARK RIVER DAM
REVERSE OSMOSIS UNITS
589. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the minister
representing the Minister for Water:
(1) Why is the
Water Corporation planning to release the waste from the Denmark River dam
reverse osmosis units into a drain that discharges onto Perkins Beach in the
City of Albany?
(2) What quantity of waste is
planned to be released at Perkins Beach on an annual basis?
(3) What studies
have been undertaken to ensure that the waste will be adequately dispersed by
any wave action and water currents in that location?
(4) What community consultation has
been done; and, if none, why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Water —
(1) Perkins Beach
was selected as the preferred brine disposal location, as access to the coast
around Denmark is constrained.
(2) It is
expected there will be a maximum of 60 kilolitres of brine disposed a day, six days
a week, for up to six months.
(3) The
Department of Environment Regulation does not require any studies to be
undertaken as this project is small and of a temporary nature.
(4) Consultation
with the local shire commenced on 17 April 2015. The Water Corporation enacted
its plan to engage with local Perkins Road residents to inform them of the
brine disposal proposal on Monday, 18 May 2015. A briefing for the Torbay
Catchment Group and other environmental groups, along with other interested
members of the public, is scheduled for Thursday, 21 May 2015.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more