QUESTIONS ON NOTICE › Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Question No. 1271)
Senator Boswell asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 11 October 2011: In regard to the deterioration of water quality in the Gladstone Harbour, Queensland, and testing that has been undertaken to determine the cause of diseased fish and the harmful effect on local fishermen due to handling diseased fish and contaminated nets: (1) Is the Queensland Government testing for bacteria; if so: (a) what are the plate levels of the bacteria; (b) where in the harbor is this testing being undertaken; (c) have samples been taken in the marina where reports of fishermen suffering from infection are prevalent; and (d) are the levels of bacteria identified in the harbour the same type of bacteria identified as causing the lesions recently found on the local fisherman. (2) Have the established processes for the investigation of water quality and fish kills been followed according to Government departmental protocols/manuals of the Department of Environment and Resource Management and Fisheries Queensland. (3) What are the levels of acceptable turbidity set at and how was this determined. (4) Is the Minister aware of any exceedances of turbidity levels in the harbour; if so, when. (5) How many testing points are there and where are they located. (6) Were any missing data points interpreted as zero; if so, how many and what impact would this have in significantly underestimating the levels of turbidity in the harbour. (7) Is the Minister confident that the current water testing regime and results have been comprehensive enough to exclude all possible causes of the diseases in the marine life in the harbour. (8) Have tests been conducted or are they being conducted to measure the levels of polychlorinated biphenyl, hydrocarbons, pesticides, hydrogen sulphides and cadmium. (9) As a matter of public record, will the names of the organisations conducting the tests in the harbour be made available and will the veracity of the data from these test results be independently audited. (10) What other water sampling has been done in the harbour by the Gladstone Water Board and can a copy of these results be made available as a priority. (11) Is the department closely monitoring the progress of the water tests in the harbour and the likely impact of dredging and dumping of spoil near the Great Barrier Reef on water quality. (12) Does the Minister consider there is any risk to the World Heritage listing of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park given the ongoing environmental damage in the Gladstone region.