❓ A parliamentary question addresses air pollution and odour concerns from the Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, focusing on resident protection, buffer zones, EPA recommendations, and information access. The response details actions taken, commitments made, and clarifies responsibilities between departments.
AnsweredQoN 1677Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What actions is the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) taking to ensure residents around the Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant are not exposed to air pollution and odour problems?
(2) Are residents in the “Urban Deferred Area” zone offered exactly the same protections (including buffers) as those in “residential” zoned areas?
(3) Why has the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommended a four-year extension to the current buffers on the Urban Deferred Zone side of the plant?
(4) Has the Community Reference Group sought documentation from the Minister for Water Resources about the plant in September or October 2006?
(a) was this information provided; and
(b) if not why not?
(5) Will the Minister table the Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA?
(6) If not, why not?
(2) Are residents in the “Urban Deferred Area” zone offered exactly the same protections (including buffers) as those in “residential” zoned areas?
(3) Why has the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommended a four-year extension to the current buffers on the Urban Deferred Zone side of the plant?
(4) Has the Community Reference Group sought documentation from the Minister for Water Resources about the plant in September or October 2006?
(a) was this information provided; and
(b) if not why not?
(5) Will the Minister table the Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA?
(6) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 February 2007
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
76 days
(b) if not why not?
(1) Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) investigates all air pollution and odour problems associated with the Woodman Point Waste Water Treatment Plant to ensure that Water Corporation (WC) is minimising its off-site impact. Investigations in the past have confirmed that emissions have at times been excessive and DEC has taken action to ensure that WC reduces its odour emissions by 50% by October 2008. WC has committed up to $71.4 million to undertake odour control works to resolve the recognised odour issues associated with the Woodman Point facility. If investigations determine that excessive emissions are caused by negligence or a deliberate act, DEC will consider further enforcement action in accordance with its enforcement policy. (2) DEC responds to complaints and offers exactly the same protection to residents living in the "Urban Deferred Area" and the "residential" areas. (3) The EPA is aware from the odour modelling presented and the complaints/survey data that odours from the WWTP are impacting upon residential properties far beyond the boundary of the current proposed buffer. The EPA advised (Bulletin 1240, 2006) that the proponent has not met its stated aim for the most recent expansion of ensuring that a level of 5 odour units (OU) was not exceeded at odour sensitive premises. In addition it is also evident that the standard of odour controls at the Woodman Point WWTP falls short of those at Beenyup and Subiaco, and in comparison to world best practice. The EPA therefore has recommended that odour reduction measures be commenced immediately, with the aim of completing all three stages, or alternative measures to reduce odours, in the shortest time feasible. The EPA has recommended the urgent implementation of Stage 1 controls to achieve a reduction of fifty percent of the current odour levels as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2008. Another recommendation stated that the current proposed buffer should be retained until after the implementation of Stage 1 measures, which are to achieve a fifty percent odour reduction, after which further emissions estimates, modelling and ground-truthing should be undertaken to determine the extent of odour impact and a long term buffer reconsidered. (4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
If investigations determine that excessive emissions are caused by negligence or a deliberate act, DEC will consider further enforcement action in accordance with its enforcement policy. (2) DEC responds to complaints and offers exactly the same protection to residents living in the "Urban Deferred Area" and the "residential" areas. (3) The EPA is aware from the odour modelling presented and the complaints/survey data that odours from the WWTP are impacting upon residential properties far beyond the boundary of the current proposed buffer. The EPA advised (Bulletin 1240, 2006) that the proponent has not met its stated aim for the most recent expansion of ensuring that a level of 5 odour units (OU) was not exceeded at odour sensitive premises. In addition it is also evident that the standard of odour controls at the Woodman Point WWTP falls short of those at Beenyup and Subiaco, and in comparison to world best practice. The EPA therefore has recommended that odour reduction measures be commenced immediately, with the aim of completing all three stages, or alternative measures to reduce odours, in the shortest time feasible. The EPA has recommended the urgent implementation of Stage 1 controls to achieve a reduction of fifty percent of the current odour levels as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2008. Another recommendation stated that the current proposed buffer should be retained until after the implementation of Stage 1 measures, which are to achieve a fifty percent odour reduction, after which further emissions estimates, modelling and ground-truthing should be undertaken to determine the extent of odour impact and a long term buffer reconsidered. (4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
(2) DEC responds to complaints and offers exactly the same protection to residents living in the "Urban Deferred Area" and the "residential" areas. (3) The EPA is aware from the odour modelling presented and the complaints/survey data that odours from the WWTP are impacting upon residential properties far beyond the boundary of the current proposed buffer. The EPA advised (Bulletin 1240, 2006) that the proponent has not met its stated aim for the most recent expansion of ensuring that a level of 5 odour units (OU) was not exceeded at odour sensitive premises. In addition it is also evident that the standard of odour controls at the Woodman Point WWTP falls short of those at Beenyup and Subiaco, and in comparison to world best practice. The EPA therefore has recommended that odour reduction measures be commenced immediately, with the aim of completing all three stages, or alternative measures to reduce odours, in the shortest time feasible. The EPA has recommended the urgent implementation of Stage 1 controls to achieve a reduction of fifty percent of the current odour levels as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2008. Another recommendation stated that the current proposed buffer should be retained until after the implementation of Stage 1 measures, which are to achieve a fifty percent odour reduction, after which further emissions estimates, modelling and ground-truthing should be undertaken to determine the extent of odour impact and a long term buffer reconsidered. (4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
(3) The EPA is aware from the odour modelling presented and the complaints/survey data that odours from the WWTP are impacting upon residential properties far beyond the boundary of the current proposed buffer. The EPA advised (Bulletin 1240, 2006) that the proponent has not met its stated aim for the most recent expansion of ensuring that a level of 5 odour units (OU) was not exceeded at odour sensitive premises. In addition it is also evident that the standard of odour controls at the Woodman Point WWTP falls short of those at Beenyup and Subiaco, and in comparison to world best practice. The EPA therefore has recommended that odour reduction measures be commenced immediately, with the aim of completing all three stages, or alternative measures to reduce odours, in the shortest time feasible. The EPA has recommended the urgent implementation of Stage 1 controls to achieve a reduction of fifty percent of the current odour levels as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2008. Another recommendation stated that the current proposed buffer should be retained until after the implementation of Stage 1 measures, which are to achieve a fifty percent odour reduction, after which further emissions estimates, modelling and ground-truthing should be undertaken to determine the extent of odour impact and a long term buffer reconsidered. (4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
The EPA has recommended the urgent implementation of Stage 1 controls to achieve a reduction of fifty percent of the current odour levels as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2008. Another recommendation stated that the current proposed buffer should be retained until after the implementation of Stage 1 measures, which are to achieve a fifty percent odour reduction, after which further emissions estimates, modelling and ground-truthing should be undertaken to determine the extent of odour impact and a long term buffer reconsidered. (4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
(4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
(5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable.
(1) Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) investigates all air pollution and odour problems associated with the Woodman Point Waste Water Treatment Plant to ensure that Water Corporation (WC) is minimising its off-site impact. Investigations in the past have confirmed that emissions have at times been excessive and DEC has taken action to ensure that WC reduces its odour emissions by 50% by October 2008. WC has committed up to $71.4 million to undertake odour control works to resolve the recognised odour issues associated with the Woodman Point facility. If investigations determine that excessive emissions are caused by negligence or a deliberate act, DEC will consider further enforcement action in accordance with its enforcement policy. (2) DEC responds to complaints and offers exactly the same protection to residents living in the "Urban Deferred Area" and the "residential" areas. (3) The EPA is aware from the odour modelling presented and the complaints/survey data that odours from the WWTP are impacting upon residential properties far beyond the boundary of the current proposed buffer. The EPA advised (Bulletin 1240, 2006) that the proponent has not met its stated aim for the most recent expansion of ensuring that a level of 5 odour units (OU) was not exceeded at odour sensitive premises. In addition it is also evident that the standard of odour controls at the Woodman Point WWTP falls short of those at Beenyup and Subiaco, and in comparison to world best practice. The EPA therefore has recommended that odour reduction measures be commenced immediately, with the aim of completing all three stages, or alternative measures to reduce odours, in the shortest time feasible. The EPA has recommended the urgent implementation of Stage 1 controls to achieve a reduction of fifty percent of the current odour levels as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2008. Another recommendation stated that the current proposed buffer should be retained until after the implementation of Stage 1 measures, which are to achieve a fifty percent odour reduction, after which further emissions estimates, modelling and ground-truthing should be undertaken to determine the extent of odour impact and a long term buffer reconsidered. (4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
If investigations determine that excessive emissions are caused by negligence or a deliberate act, DEC will consider further enforcement action in accordance with its enforcement policy. (2) DEC responds to complaints and offers exactly the same protection to residents living in the "Urban Deferred Area" and the "residential" areas. (3) The EPA is aware from the odour modelling presented and the complaints/survey data that odours from the WWTP are impacting upon residential properties far beyond the boundary of the current proposed buffer. The EPA advised (Bulletin 1240, 2006) that the proponent has not met its stated aim for the most recent expansion of ensuring that a level of 5 odour units (OU) was not exceeded at odour sensitive premises. In addition it is also evident that the standard of odour controls at the Woodman Point WWTP falls short of those at Beenyup and Subiaco, and in comparison to world best practice. The EPA therefore has recommended that odour reduction measures be commenced immediately, with the aim of completing all three stages, or alternative measures to reduce odours, in the shortest time feasible. The EPA has recommended the urgent implementation of Stage 1 controls to achieve a reduction of fifty percent of the current odour levels as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2008. Another recommendation stated that the current proposed buffer should be retained until after the implementation of Stage 1 measures, which are to achieve a fifty percent odour reduction, after which further emissions estimates, modelling and ground-truthing should be undertaken to determine the extent of odour impact and a long term buffer reconsidered. (4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
(2) DEC responds to complaints and offers exactly the same protection to residents living in the "Urban Deferred Area" and the "residential" areas. (3) The EPA is aware from the odour modelling presented and the complaints/survey data that odours from the WWTP are impacting upon residential properties far beyond the boundary of the current proposed buffer. The EPA advised (Bulletin 1240, 2006) that the proponent has not met its stated aim for the most recent expansion of ensuring that a level of 5 odour units (OU) was not exceeded at odour sensitive premises. In addition it is also evident that the standard of odour controls at the Woodman Point WWTP falls short of those at Beenyup and Subiaco, and in comparison to world best practice. The EPA therefore has recommended that odour reduction measures be commenced immediately, with the aim of completing all three stages, or alternative measures to reduce odours, in the shortest time feasible. The EPA has recommended the urgent implementation of Stage 1 controls to achieve a reduction of fifty percent of the current odour levels as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2008. Another recommendation stated that the current proposed buffer should be retained until after the implementation of Stage 1 measures, which are to achieve a fifty percent odour reduction, after which further emissions estimates, modelling and ground-truthing should be undertaken to determine the extent of odour impact and a long term buffer reconsidered. (4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
(3) The EPA is aware from the odour modelling presented and the complaints/survey data that odours from the WWTP are impacting upon residential properties far beyond the boundary of the current proposed buffer. The EPA advised (Bulletin 1240, 2006) that the proponent has not met its stated aim for the most recent expansion of ensuring that a level of 5 odour units (OU) was not exceeded at odour sensitive premises. In addition it is also evident that the standard of odour controls at the Woodman Point WWTP falls short of those at Beenyup and Subiaco, and in comparison to world best practice. The EPA therefore has recommended that odour reduction measures be commenced immediately, with the aim of completing all three stages, or alternative measures to reduce odours, in the shortest time feasible. The EPA has recommended the urgent implementation of Stage 1 controls to achieve a reduction of fifty percent of the current odour levels as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2008. Another recommendation stated that the current proposed buffer should be retained until after the implementation of Stage 1 measures, which are to achieve a fifty percent odour reduction, after which further emissions estimates, modelling and ground-truthing should be undertaken to determine the extent of odour impact and a long term buffer reconsidered. (4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
The EPA has recommended the urgent implementation of Stage 1 controls to achieve a reduction of fifty percent of the current odour levels as soon as possible, but no later than the end of 2008. Another recommendation stated that the current proposed buffer should be retained until after the implementation of Stage 1 measures, which are to achieve a fifty percent odour reduction, after which further emissions estimates, modelling and ground-truthing should be undertaken to determine the extent of odour impact and a long term buffer reconsidered. (4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
(4) This question should be directed to the Minister for the Water Resources. (5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
(5) The Independent Review of the draft odour management plan commissioned by the EPA is publicly available as an appendix to EPA Bulletin 1240. (6) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.