❓ A parliamentary question regarding a fish death incident in the Murray River, questioning the cause and the Minister's response. The Minister defends their actions by citing a river restoration manual launch and investigation into the incident.
AnsweredQoN 1014Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the minister’s media release dated 22 April 2002 that claimed the death of thousands of fish in the Murray River on the previous weekend was the result of a natural event. (1) Is it not true that the fish died because of unnaturally high nutrient and organic matter loads that washed in from adjoining farms, industry and urban development? (2) Given last Monday’s announcement by the Minister for Agriculture that urged industry to join the growing land care partnership between government and the community, why did the Minister for the Environment not use this regrettable fish death incident as an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to land care and to encourage local community groups and landowners to put more effort into further streamlining the Murray River and improving its environmental values? Dr EDWARDS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question. (1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
(1) Is it not true that the fish died because of unnaturally high nutrient and organic matter loads that washed in from adjoining farms, industry and urban development? (2) Given last Monday’s announcement by the Minister for Agriculture that urged industry to join the growing land care partnership between government and the community, why did the Minister for the Environment not use this regrettable fish death incident as an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to land care and to encourage local community groups and landowners to put more effort into further streamlining the Murray River and improving its environmental values? Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
(2) Given last Monday’s announcement by the Minister for Agriculture that urged industry to join the growing land care partnership between government and the community, why did the Minister for the Environment not use this regrettable fish death incident as an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to land care and to encourage local community groups and landowners to put more effort into further streamlining the Murray River and improving its environmental values? Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
I thank the member for his question. (1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
(1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
(2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
(1) Is it not true that the fish died because of unnaturally high nutrient and organic matter loads that washed in from adjoining farms, industry and urban development? (2) Given last Monday’s announcement by the Minister for Agriculture that urged industry to join the growing land care partnership between government and the community, why did the Minister for the Environment not use this regrettable fish death incident as an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to land care and to encourage local community groups and landowners to put more effort into further streamlining the Murray River and improving its environmental values? Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
(2) Given last Monday’s announcement by the Minister for Agriculture that urged industry to join the growing land care partnership between government and the community, why did the Minister for the Environment not use this regrettable fish death incident as an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to land care and to encourage local community groups and landowners to put more effort into further streamlining the Murray River and improving its environmental values? Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
Dr EDWARDS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
I thank the member for his question. (1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
(1) When I was chair of the first urban catchment management group, I went out to drains during storms - we were looking at drains rather than rivers - to collect evidence of the first flush, so I know what the member for Vasse is talking about. The Water and Rivers Commission investigated the fish deaths in the Murray River. The initial complaint was that the deaths were somehow related to a sewage spill. I am informed that the deaths occurred as a result of a lack of oxygen in the water, which was caused by the rain. (2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
(2) In terms of my commitment to land and river care, I point out that on Tuesday morning I launched an excellent river restoration manual. That manual will be an excellent tool for all land care groups. It talks about what can be done to care for rivers and what needs to happen in catchments to make sure that the best work possible is occurring, so that river health is protected. This manual builds on work that has been done since 1998 by both the Swan River Trust and the Water and Rivers Commission. At the launch I gave particular regard to Dr Luke Pen, who is probably known to the member for Vasse. Dr Pen is seriously ill at the moment. I was delighted to take the opportunity to launch the manual ahead of time to not only encourage all people involved in land and river care to get more actively involved, but also pay tribute to Dr Pen and the work he has done in pushing this issue about the health of rivers in Western Australia. Sitting suspended from 1.02 to 2.00 pm
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