❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the environmental impact of a trial biosolids storage facility, covering location, transport, contamination prevention, odour control, wildlife effects, and compliance. The response provides details on guidelines, buffer zones, environmental impact assessments, and regulatory conditions.
AnsweredQoN 183Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Where will the biosolids be spread?
(2) Does the Department consider the quality of roads to be used for cartage sufficient to avoid a spill during transport of the biosolids?
(3) If no to (2), how will this issue be addressed?
(4) What is the maximum slope upon which the biosolids will be permitted to be spread?
(5) How will contamination of creeks, tributaries and Moore River be prevented, including in the event of a cyclonic summer rainstorm?
(6) How will a stable-fly outbreak be prevented?
(7) How will potential odour be addressed?
(8) What research supports the Department’s decisions in respect of the answers to questions (4), (5), (6) and (7)?
(9) What will the effect of the facility be on local wildlife including the Carnaby Cockatoo?
(10) What research supports the answer to (9)?
(11) What conditions is the Department likely to impose in respect of the facility?
(12) Have there been any incidents of non-compliance by a user of biosolids in 2007 and 2008?
(13) If yes to (12), -
(a) how many;
(b) what was the nature of each incident of non-compliance; and
(c) what action did the Department take in respect of each incident of non-compliance?
(2) Does the Department consider the quality of roads to be used for cartage sufficient to avoid a spill during transport of the biosolids?
(3) If no to (2), how will this issue be addressed?
(4) What is the maximum slope upon which the biosolids will be permitted to be spread?
(5) How will contamination of creeks, tributaries and Moore River be prevented, including in the event of a cyclonic summer rainstorm?
(6) How will a stable-fly outbreak be prevented?
(7) How will potential odour be addressed?
(8) What research supports the Department’s decisions in respect of the answers to questions (4), (5), (6) and (7)?
(9) What will the effect of the facility be on local wildlife including the Carnaby Cockatoo?
(10) What research supports the answer to (9)?
(11) What conditions is the Department likely to impose in respect of the facility?
(12) Have there been any incidents of non-compliance by a user of biosolids in 2007 and 2008?
(13) If yes to (12), -
(a) how many;
(b) what was the nature of each incident of non-compliance; and
(c) what action did the Department take in respect of each incident of non-compliance?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 March 2009
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
97 days
(1) The Water Corporation has advised the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) that biosolids stored at the trial facility will only be applied at Annadale Farm.
(2) DEC is not responsible for assessing the quality of roads. This question should be referred to the Minister for Transport. DEC has been informed by the Water Corporation that biosolids are now only transported in hydraulically sealed trucks.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) DEC has advised that the draft
Western Australian Guidelines for Direct Land Application of Biosolids and Biosolids Products,
February 2002 recommend that biosolids can be spread on land with a slope of up to 15 per cent, with management controls.
(5) DEC issued a works approval for the construction of the trial biosolids storage facility in November 2007. Conditions of the works approval require the sealing of the facility, lining of the floors, construction of diversion drains along the highest side of the facility and the construction of a lined evaporation dam that will contain any runoff from the facility. The evaporation dam is sized to contain water from an extreme rainfall event (one in 50 year rainfall event, 72 hour duration).
(6) With respect to the trial biosolids storage facility and the application of biosolids to land, the Water Corporation is responsible for managing stable flies in accordance with the precautionary measures outlined in the Guidelines.
(7) With respect to the trial biosolids storage facility, odours will be managed by ensuring that there is a suitable buffer around the premises and ensuring that the storage facility is managed in compliance with the provisions of the Guidelines. There is an internal buffer within the Annadale Farm property of approximately 1.5 kilometres. There is approximately 2.7 kilometres between the trial facility and the nearest neighbouring residence.
(8) The Guidelines have been based upon the National Water Quality Management Strategy
Draft Guidelines for Sewerage System Sludge (Biosolids) Management 2000
(published by the Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand and the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council) and adapted specifically to Western Australian conditions. The Guidelines were prepared in consultation with the former Department of Environmental Protection, the former Water and Rivers Commission and the Department of Health, with consultation from key stakeholders. In relation to (7), research and modelling relating to potential odour impacts are detailed in the Odour Impact Study for the trial biosolids storage facility prepared for the Water Corporation by consulting environmental engineers. This document is available on the Water Corporation's website.
(9) It is understood that the facility was established on cleared land previously used for cropping and grazing, and that a 150 metre buffer of cleared land exists between the facility and the nearest native vegetation. There is, therefore, no known direct effect of this facility on local wildlife.
(10) The Water Corporation conducted an environmental impact assessment for the Trial Centralised Biosolids Storage Facility, published in its environmental impact assessment report dated June 2004, which concluded that "The site is disturbed and does not provide shelter or a unique food source for fauna. The facility will be rectangular in shape and the boundary fenced to exclude livestock. The Trial Facility will not interfere with any native wildlife movement corridors."
(11) DEC issued a works approval to permit the construction of the trial biosolids storage facility. The operator of the storage facility will be required to hold a licence for this facility. DEC has not yet received an application for a licence for this facility. Licence conditions will be drafted after the Water Corporation has made an application for a licence and DEC has completed an assessment of the application following consideration of any public submissions that have been made. An application for a licence will be advertised in accordance with the provisions of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
to allow stakeholders to make submissions to DEC. With respect to the application of biosolids to land, Annadale Farm currently holds a DEC licence. The Guidelines provide further details on how this material should be applied to land.
(12) Yes.
(13)(a) One.
(13)(b) Biosolids were applied too close to an intermittent creek and not incorporated into the topsoil within the required time (36 hours).
(13)(c)DEC investigated this incident and determined action in accordance with its Enforcement and Prosecution Policy, and instructed the licensee of Annadale Farm to incorporate the biosolids within three days and to reinstate the 50 metre buffer to the intermittent creek. DEC officers followed up on this matter after the instructions were given and confirmed that the actions listed in the instructions had been completed.
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(2) DEC is not responsible for assessing the quality of roads. This question should be referred to the Minister for Transport. DEC has been informed by the Water Corporation that biosolids are now only transported in hydraulically sealed trucks.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) DEC has advised that the draft
Western Australian Guidelines for Direct Land Application of Biosolids and Biosolids Products,
February 2002 recommend that biosolids can be spread on land with a slope of up to 15 per cent, with management controls.
(5) DEC issued a works approval for the construction of the trial biosolids storage facility in November 2007. Conditions of the works approval require the sealing of the facility, lining of the floors, construction of diversion drains along the highest side of the facility and the construction of a lined evaporation dam that will contain any runoff from the facility. The evaporation dam is sized to contain water from an extreme rainfall event (one in 50 year rainfall event, 72 hour duration).
(6) With respect to the trial biosolids storage facility and the application of biosolids to land, the Water Corporation is responsible for managing stable flies in accordance with the precautionary measures outlined in the Guidelines.
(7) With respect to the trial biosolids storage facility, odours will be managed by ensuring that there is a suitable buffer around the premises and ensuring that the storage facility is managed in compliance with the provisions of the Guidelines. There is an internal buffer within the Annadale Farm property of approximately 1.5 kilometres. There is approximately 2.7 kilometres between the trial facility and the nearest neighbouring residence.
(8) The Guidelines have been based upon the National Water Quality Management Strategy
Draft Guidelines for Sewerage System Sludge (Biosolids) Management 2000
(published by the Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand and the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council) and adapted specifically to Western Australian conditions. The Guidelines were prepared in consultation with the former Department of Environmental Protection, the former Water and Rivers Commission and the Department of Health, with consultation from key stakeholders. In relation to (7), research and modelling relating to potential odour impacts are detailed in the Odour Impact Study for the trial biosolids storage facility prepared for the Water Corporation by consulting environmental engineers. This document is available on the Water Corporation's website.
(9) It is understood that the facility was established on cleared land previously used for cropping and grazing, and that a 150 metre buffer of cleared land exists between the facility and the nearest native vegetation. There is, therefore, no known direct effect of this facility on local wildlife.
(10) The Water Corporation conducted an environmental impact assessment for the Trial Centralised Biosolids Storage Facility, published in its environmental impact assessment report dated June 2004, which concluded that "The site is disturbed and does not provide shelter or a unique food source for fauna. The facility will be rectangular in shape and the boundary fenced to exclude livestock. The Trial Facility will not interfere with any native wildlife movement corridors."
(11) DEC issued a works approval to permit the construction of the trial biosolids storage facility. The operator of the storage facility will be required to hold a licence for this facility. DEC has not yet received an application for a licence for this facility. Licence conditions will be drafted after the Water Corporation has made an application for a licence and DEC has completed an assessment of the application following consideration of any public submissions that have been made. An application for a licence will be advertised in accordance with the provisions of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
to allow stakeholders to make submissions to DEC. With respect to the application of biosolids to land, Annadale Farm currently holds a DEC licence. The Guidelines provide further details on how this material should be applied to land.
(12) Yes.
(13)(a) One.
(13)(b) Biosolids were applied too close to an intermittent creek and not incorporated into the topsoil within the required time (36 hours).
(13)(c)DEC investigated this incident and determined action in accordance with its Enforcement and Prosecution Policy, and instructed the licensee of Annadale Farm to incorporate the biosolids within three days and to reinstate the 50 metre buffer to the intermittent creek. DEC officers followed up on this matter after the instructions were given and confirmed that the actions listed in the instructions had been completed.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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