Environment.

There are many Watchdogs to advise government covering different areas, so we thought. Yet now it appears those without the knowledge, can ride rough shod over the top of Aboriginal Elders, and the EPA. Mr Barnett appears to believe his a law unto himself, thumbing his nose at government departments findings. The Environmental Protection Authority warned the location preferred by government, was unsuitable because it would pose unmanageable environmental risks.

.

The EPA went on to say it would not be possible to keep gas, noise and other emissions from a hub at North Head, within acceptable limits. Developing at the site could mean up to 14 communities would need to relocate to prevent risks. The watchdog said the least "environmentally constrained" site on a short list of four on the Kimberly coastline was Gourdon Bay 70 km south-west of Broome.

.

Fishing grounds and aboriginal heritage sites, Eco-tourism ventures would also be be effected by a hub at North Head. This area is significant for migrating, calving and resting for whales. Environmental issues should be placed ahead of a large scale industrial development, particularly when this development could go elsewhere. The premier has expressed his personal preference for sites without regard for established stakeholders, I would have to agree with Mr Ripper, Barnett has shown reckless disregard for the established stakeholder consultation process completely. These are not the actions of a premier considering the interests of the Traditional land Owners or environment.

.

So to date what have taxpayers received from this accidental premier: Uranium mining and GM bans lifted, broken promises. Allowing Esperance Port Authority to train workers to sniff out toxic nickel, it doesn't seem to matter that it's a carcinogen. Ignoring recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry, headed by his own senior minister to investigate the impacts on the Esperance community and environment. The list goes on ........ this is not someone that has the best interests of the people at heart.

Bacteria Alert

A small article appeared last week commenting about the many pipes that deliver water to WA regions, and how they were lined with bacterial growths. It's been found that many of the state's pipelines were so long, that currant methods for disinfecting the water were not effective for their entire length.

The bacterial accumulation, called " biofilms", can contain pathogens such as ECOLI the same bug linked to food-poisoning outbreaks, and Naegleria fowleri, which causes amoebic meningitis.
Dr Plumb from the CSIRO stressed that the biofilms didn't pose an immediate health risk to regional water users as the water was re-disinfected. Possibly this could be the answer why we get a foul stench when turning on the tap or shower, to often for many peoples liking. It leaves the question are we still consuming these bugs and how many have been made ill?

Dr Plumb went on to say the national water regulations should be ammended to take note of bio-films. The latest water quality guidlines, published in 2004, do not mention them despite the fact that bio-films represent 95% of the living material found inside water pipes. How often are the pipes checked, or is this another " only if you have to", why are we paying such a high price for an poorly maintained product?

What Next With Our Water?

One wonders what the Water Corporation will try next.

They are still insisting WA has a grave water shortage. Water Corp intended to draw at least 140 gigalitres from the Gnangara mound this year, these plans were rejected amid concerns that wetlands across Perth could dry out as a result of the strain on the ground water system.


It's still being said it's not necessary to build the Binningup desalination plant, Water Corp have known for 5 years that water is available from Wellington Dam. Agritech a Perth based company presented their plans to Dr Gallop some year ago, it involved a gravity powered reverse osmosis plant and could have been the first of its kind. The plant would cost approximately $220 million to build which is less thanbe free and easy when it comes to spending tax payers money.

Spending 80 cents a kilolitre to treat the water instead of a forecasted $2.50 from Binningup desalination, you don't need to be an Einstein to work out what the public preference would be with the continued exorbitant price rises. Ground water levels were reported to be at their lowest due to the dry climate, yet Wellington Dam has over flowed 4 out of 5 years. So why do Water Corp prefer opening the sluice to dump water out to sea when this water could have been used? Then there is the other matter of tax payers money going out the window because the job of clearing at dams has been so lax, that only a minute amount of run off is entering the dams. a quarter of what would be spent with the Water Corporation's proposal. They appear to
.
So why do the Department of Water want to SPEND $250,000 for an independent review, (another review) looking at alternative sources of potable water? If our potable water is so scarce why is industry been given the free reign, why aren't industry using recycled water? Who is the water at Wellington Dam being kept for? Why does water Corp want to inject recycled sewage into our drinking water? Maybe Mr Barnett can explain?

The farce with Water Corp has been going on and on, one has to wonder if they are capable of doing the job they are there to do? There have been many concerns about the environmental damage through the strain placed on the Gnangara mound, if the state government won't pull Water Corp into line it's time for the Federal Government to step in.

Just who is being protected?

Residents near Wagerup alumina refinery were told not to be concerned by a new report which finds some emissions may be affecting nearby communities. A new radar system found emissions from the refinery may extend for up to 5 kilometers under certain weather conditions, traveling very low to the ground.

.
The DEC Air Quality branch say previous test on Alcoa's emissions have found volatile compounds are well below acceptable health limits. The DEC went on to say "these events have been going on presumably for many years" We would concur with that, as people living nearby have been getting ill for many years.
.
How long did the government known about Wagerup problems and did nothing? Were they monitoring before they used the radar system or were they leaving the monitoring to Alcoa? Is the same stench coming from the plant in Kwinana? Who is doing the monitoring at Kwinana?
.
The residents living near the Alcoa Wagerup refinery have science to back up their complaints regarding odours. The DEC say they are working with Alcoa to change the way it records the emissions, and to ensure they have minimal impact on the communities. Alcoa need to more than change the way they record their emissions, they need to use the latest technology and cut the emissions.


The DEC now comments that the liquor burner will only destroy the specific compounds when it's operating at the correct temperature. It's also known Wagerup have had problems for years maintaining the liquor burner temperature. And we have heard that Alcoa Kwinana has also had similar problems. We have all know this for years. Why weren't the DEC doing something since community reps pointed it out to them many years ago and many times over many years.

Just who is protecting the community - certainly not the departments that are paid to.

It's time government departments made up their minds who they're paid to protect.

What next from Water Corp?

People are curious as to weather the new water minister (Mr Jacobs) will do the right thing by the people. Labor turned a blind eye to using Wellington Dam as a source for drinking water, even after their pathetic excuses were ignored by the public. At least Mr Jacobs has recognised the South-West's biggest water source would probably be needed as a potable water source before 2015. It's a total waste to be pumping potable water out to sea, or seeing the dam overflow 5 out of 6 years, yet the people were told it no longer rains in the south-west.


Mr Coyne had previously shown the labor government how his company could produce potable drinking water through reverse-osmosis, but Water Corp were insistant that another desalination plant was the answer. It was quite obvious Water Corp saw a way to charge the public through the nose, we pay usage quarterly plus rates, just where is that money going?? The amount of pipes that have burst through lack of maitenance or not being replaced when needed, does anyone know what their doing.

When will the public get the truth about where the water will come from to supply two water guzzling industries under constrution in the south-west? The Water Corporation recently stated they need more water from the Gnangara mound, despite repeated warnings wetlands across Perth could die because of the strain on the ground water system.

They believe they'll require just over 140 GL from "Gnangara" this financial year. If they had carried out their job in clearing under growth at the dams, so the run-off could enter the dams there wouldn't be these problems. Instead it seems its easier to create irrepairable damage to the mounds, wetlands and aquifers and call it Global Warming. Maybe its time to tell Rudd to close the door to immigrants and refugees because we can't sustain those already here.

Air Pollution monitoring questioned

Wonders will never cease, how did a company accused of doctoring lab reports in NSW get a contract to adjust pollution monitors at WA's most controlversial industrial plant, Wagerup? The Department of Environment and Conservation (surprise, surprise) have pleaded ignorance. The Sunday Times pointed out that the company New Environmental Quality was under investigation in NSW for allegedly downplaying emission test results.

.

NSW is the state that WA on occassion have approached for information and guidence. By Alcoa's own admission in regard to monitoring have fudged the figures here in WA, this is why we believe there should be independant monitoring. Why place the wolf in the chicken house, where is the duty of care?

.
.New EQ last year was contracted to calibrate and ensure the proper functioning of pollution monitoring equipment at the Wagerup refinery's power station between September 24 to October 27. The Wagerup refinery has been in the spot light due to health complaints from nearby residents , who say their health problems are associated with environmental pollution.

In NSW New EQ is being investigated after levels of toxic chemicals, such as arsenic were lowered in reports prepared in July 2006 for the Blue Circle Southern Cement factory in Berrima. BSCS agreed it has asked for changes to the report to be conducted, but had insisted the process was transparent. The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change wrote in August 2007 that as a result of the changes, it had little confidence in monitoring reports prepared by NewEQ for the Berrima plant.

A nearby resident to Wagerup Mr Llewellyn, was alarmed that NewEQ was engaged at Wagerup to operate. He found it extraordinary this company would be allowed to operate in WA when it's under investigation. He also believes if there is any doubt about the integrity of the companies that have calibrated the machines, then equipment needs to be reviewed by an independant party. The cement company have since lost their license, it's time for the WA environmental minister to redo the monitoring at Wagerup for the safety of the people.

.Now that these points have been raised with NATA they have now claimed NewEQ's indiscretions took place prior to accreditation which was in February 2006.They are claiming that NATA has received no information to date that suggests that the company was carrying out fraudulent activity while being a NATA member. The allegedly doctored reports are dated May 23, 2006, and questions tabled in NSW Parliament on November 29, 2007 revealed the NSW environment department had informed NATA of it's NewEQ investigation.

The questions remain is this a company that should be doing monitoring in this state, and were they under investigation at the time of carrying out monitoring at Wagerup power station?

Services close to collapse.

We have continually been given the figures in relation to what industry need to continue with their avarice profit margin, why haven't the needs of the people of this state been taken into account? The accidental premier rambles on about the needs of infrastructure for industry to expand and export more yet when it come to having the needs met for the health of this state, it seems it's to expensive.

.A Cancer Council-commissioned audit, prompted by patient complaints and funded partly by the WA Health Dept, warns that unless urgent action is taken the system could collapse within five years as it struggles to cope with an estimated 50,000 new cancer cases on top of the existing load. Why is there no money to purchase a new Pet Scanner to replace the old machine recently retired, just what sort of a budget did Mr Ripper devise?

The recent report by University of New South Wales professor Barton of radiation oncology, found that while cancer treatment in WA was usually of a high standard,Inadequate facilities and Staff shortages were major concerns. It also warned the new cancer facilities such as those planned for the Fiona Stanley hospital would not meet the demand.

It was warned that WA faced 10,000 new cancer cases a year, rising by three to four per cent a year but facilities and equipment were unable to cope. Urgently needed equipment included five extra linear accelerators used for radiation therapy. Facilities in public hospitals for chemotherapy patients were over-crowded, with patients often waiting many hours to be seen by a junior doctor. Treatment areas at RPH were described as dangerously over-crowded. When the state was cut to one Pet Scanner, a department commented that some patients would need to go east for treatment. How consoling, as if finding out you had cancer wasn't bad enough. Just where is the money to come from to fly east, or will Mr Ripper let people borrow from his piggy bank?

I find this contemptable of any government, in WA ministers harp on about how we're the boom state and our driving economy, how the north -west is propping up the country. Yet we can't afford the medical equipment and personnel to do the right thing by the people of this state, who work long hours and pay their taxes. Shame on you Mr Carpenter and the labor party.