2016-03-24
24 March, 2016
Water Minister Mia Davies has refused to acknowledge Broome South Wastewater Treatment Plant is leaking excessive nutrients into groundwater on Broome Peninsula, according to WA Greens MLC Robin Chapple.
“Roebuck Bay has experienced worsening blooms of the cyanobacteria Lyngbya majuscula over the last decade, possibly due to an excess of nitrogen and phosphorous in groundwater,” Mr Chapple said.
“Last year, the Department of Environmental Regulation reclassified the plant as ‘contaminated – remediation required’, yet the Department has been painfully slow to respond.
“Whilst I appreciate there are seasonal variations, I question why an investigation started in 2014 will not be completed until at least 2018.
“Who knows how severely seagrass meadows, and the ecosystems that depend on them, in Roebuck Bay could be affected; this issue should have been investigated as a matter of priority and the current response does not scream urgency to me.
“Acknowledge the site is contaminated, put serious measures in place immediately to stop the situation from worsening and then investigate, not vice versa.”
For comment please contact Media Liaison Tim Oliver on 0431 9696 25 or 9486 8255.