❓ Ms. Saffioti questions the Minister for Planning regarding water quality testing at the Elizabeth Quay water park, specifically concerning the timing and scope of testing, and communication of concerns. The Minister's response addresses testing protocols and compliance, but avoids direct confirmation or denial of specific allegations.
AnsweredQoN 145Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELIZABETH
QUAY — WATER PARK — WATER QUALITY
145. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Planning:
I refer to the contaminated water
park at Elizabeth Quay and the Premier's comments in this house on 24 February,
and I quote —
Testing
was done on the day. If bacteria had been found then, the waterpark would still
have been opened, but the children would not have been allowed in it. It is as
simple as that.
(1) Can the
minister now confirm to the house that no water testing was undertaken on the
day that the park was opened and, in fact, no water was tested on the days
following?
(2) Can he
confirm that no testing for the harmful Pseudomonas bacteria was ever undertaken in the first two weeks of the park opening?
(3) Can he
confirm that he was made aware of water quality concerns on 28 January and can
he confirm whether he passed on those concerns to either the Minister for
Health or the Premier?
QUAY — WATER PARK — WATER QUALITY
145. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Planning:
I refer to the contaminated water
park at Elizabeth Quay and the Premier's comments in this house on 24 February,
and I quote —
Testing
was done on the day. If bacteria had been found then, the waterpark would still
have been opened, but the children would not have been allowed in it. It is as
simple as that.
(1) Can the
minister now confirm to the house that no water testing was undertaken on the
day that the park was opened and, in fact, no water was tested on the days
following?
(2) Can he
confirm that no testing for the harmful Pseudomonas bacteria was ever undertaken in the first two weeks of the park opening?
(3) Can he
confirm that he was made aware of water quality concerns on 28 January and can
he confirm whether he passed on those concerns to either the Minister for
Health or the Premier?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) In
relation to the water park at Elizabeth Quay, clearly some issues are being
addressed. At the moment, in relation to the testing of the water, that was
done in the lead-up to the opening of Elizabeth Quay. As has been well
discussed in here, and if I remember rightly, the presence of a non-pathogenic
amoeba was found in the discharge pipes on the day prior to the opening, which
therefore naturally raised some concerns with the Department of Health, which
provided advice to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority about what needed
to be done to address the issue. That action was taken and then there was
authority to open the water park, and a compliance certificate was issued on 29
January, as I have said. The MRA at all times has complied with the
requirements of the Department of Health. It has particular protocols in place.
Although this water park is bigger than any others in Western Australia, it is
not the only one; there are others. Having issues with water quality management
is not an unprecedented matter in Western Australia or elsewhere, no doubt, and
the same applies to swimming pools. As I said in debate last week, comments
have been made to me by a number of people from the local government arena that
having these sorts of problems is not all that unusual, particularly in the
early stages.
In relation to
Elizabeth Quay as a whole, the opposition needs to appreciate that the water —
Point of Order
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It was a three-part
question: can the minister confirm that no water testing was undertaken on the
twenty-ninth; can he confirm that he was not testing for the harmful Pseudomonas bacteria for the first two
weeks of the opening; and can he confirm whether he was aware of water quality
concerns on the twenty-eighth and whether he passed on those concerns to either
the Premier or the Minister for Health?
The
SPEAKER : The minister.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : There were obviously some discussions with or advice provided
to, I think, the Premier's office. Of course, we keep the Premier's
office informed about what is going on in government and in relation to the
opening of Elizabeth Quay, of which the water park was only one aspect. Of
course advice was provided. As we have debated in here, and as has been made
clear by me, the Minister for Health and the Premier, there would have been no
opening of the water park if there had not been the approval of the Department
of Health to do so. Elizabeth Quay has been outstandingly successful. I suggest
the member for West Swan visit the whole of the precinct, as I did on Sunday
briefly. There are many people going there and enjoying it. I suggest
opposition members go there and enjoy some of it as well.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : I understand that legal action has been initiated by a particular
law firm on behalf of one person. Obviously, while legal action is being
contemplated, I am certainly not going to get involved in debating the issues.
They will be dealt with in the normal course of events through the appropriate
channels and the appropriate legal advisers to government. If a case is
substantiated, it will be responded to appropriately; and, if not, no doubt
appropriate action also will be taken.
relation to the water park at Elizabeth Quay, clearly some issues are being
addressed. At the moment, in relation to the testing of the water, that was
done in the lead-up to the opening of Elizabeth Quay. As has been well
discussed in here, and if I remember rightly, the presence of a non-pathogenic
amoeba was found in the discharge pipes on the day prior to the opening, which
therefore naturally raised some concerns with the Department of Health, which
provided advice to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority about what needed
to be done to address the issue. That action was taken and then there was
authority to open the water park, and a compliance certificate was issued on 29
January, as I have said. The MRA at all times has complied with the
requirements of the Department of Health. It has particular protocols in place.
Although this water park is bigger than any others in Western Australia, it is
not the only one; there are others. Having issues with water quality management
is not an unprecedented matter in Western Australia or elsewhere, no doubt, and
the same applies to swimming pools. As I said in debate last week, comments
have been made to me by a number of people from the local government arena that
having these sorts of problems is not all that unusual, particularly in the
early stages.
In relation to
Elizabeth Quay as a whole, the opposition needs to appreciate that the water —
Point of Order
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It was a three-part
question: can the minister confirm that no water testing was undertaken on the
twenty-ninth; can he confirm that he was not testing for the harmful Pseudomonas bacteria for the first two
weeks of the opening; and can he confirm whether he was aware of water quality
concerns on the twenty-eighth and whether he passed on those concerns to either
the Premier or the Minister for Health?
The
SPEAKER : The minister.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : There were obviously some discussions with or advice provided
to, I think, the Premier's office. Of course, we keep the Premier's
office informed about what is going on in government and in relation to the
opening of Elizabeth Quay, of which the water park was only one aspect. Of
course advice was provided. As we have debated in here, and as has been made
clear by me, the Minister for Health and the Premier, there would have been no
opening of the water park if there had not been the approval of the Department
of Health to do so. Elizabeth Quay has been outstandingly successful. I suggest
the member for West Swan visit the whole of the precinct, as I did on Sunday
briefly. There are many people going there and enjoying it. I suggest
opposition members go there and enjoy some of it as well.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : I understand that legal action has been initiated by a particular
law firm on behalf of one person. Obviously, while legal action is being
contemplated, I am certainly not going to get involved in debating the issues.
They will be dealt with in the normal course of events through the appropriate
channels and the appropriate legal advisers to government. If a case is
substantiated, it will be responded to appropriately; and, if not, no doubt
appropriate action also will be taken.
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