Mr WOOD - 2001-10-24
And now for something a little different. Minister, there are two drainage outlets that run under Wishart Road between Palmerston and Berrimah into mangrove estuaries along Wishart Road. The first one comes from Fairway Waters and the second from what appears to be the sewage ponds near the prison. Noting the colour of one and an effluent sign at the other, what is the nutrient discharge from these drains? Does the government support nutrient discharge into the harbour, and what measures will the government introduce to reduce or prevent such discharges into the harbour?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is amazing how things that were done in the past come back to haunt you now. I have to admit that I was involved in inquiring about the very same drains when I was a public servant, particularly the one near Tivendale that comes out of the Berrimah Prison.
That is a sewage treatment pond, and it is licensed by Power and Water, and discharges into the harbour. We found out, during an investigation, that most of the nutrients are actually converted or contained into fresh water algae that are used as nutrients by the mangroves when it is discharged into the harbour.
The other one, from Fairway Waters, is a storm water drain - it is not licensed by Power and Water. Nobody in Australia licenses storm water drains for the simple reason they drain storm waters that come from avenues. The water that contains some nutrients because we tend to fertilise our grass in the suburbs.
My department is monitoring the water quality in the harbour and we have found no significant level of nutrients in the harbour. In addition, we found out there is a fluctuation of nutrient levels in the harbour, depending on the season and also the tidal movements. I want to assure the member that we monitor the situation and will continue to monitor the situation to make sure that the harbour remains the same, as healthy as it is today.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It is amazing how things that were done in the past come back to haunt you now. I have to admit that I was involved in inquiring about the very same drains when I was a public servant, particularly the one near Tivendale that comes out of the Berrimah Prison.
That is a sewage treatment pond, and it is licensed by Power and Water, and discharges into the harbour. We found out, during an investigation, that most of the nutrients are actually converted or contained into fresh water algae that are used as nutrients by the mangroves when it is discharged into the harbour.
The other one, from Fairway Waters, is a storm water drain - it is not licensed by Power and Water. Nobody in Australia licenses storm water drains for the simple reason they drain storm waters that come from avenues. The water that contains some nutrients because we tend to fertilise our grass in the suburbs.
My department is monitoring the water quality in the harbour and we have found no significant level of nutrients in the harbour. In addition, we found out there is a fluctuation of nutrient levels in the harbour, depending on the season and also the tidal movements. I want to assure the member that we monitor the situation and will continue to monitor the situation to make sure that the harbour remains the same, as healthy as it is today.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016