FIELD RIVER VALLEY

In reply to the Hon. S.G. WADE (15 March 2007).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy): The Minister for Environment and Conservation has advised:

1. The response to the member’s question of 8 February 2007 was given in the context of particular events that occurred in the Hallett Cove region during 2004 and 2005, which was the information I had been provided by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

I have since been informed that the EPA is aware of the two incidents to which the member refers in July and September 2002. The July 2002 incident resulted from the accidental digging up of a sewage pumping main by an earthworks contractor, a cause that is not related to the reliability of the sewerage system as a whole. The incident in September 2002 was as a result of a sewer main blockage in Hallett Cove.

Whilst it is true that these overflow incidents did not arise from power outages, the dominant cause of high volume overflows in the Christies Beach sewerage system drainage area since 2002 has been by power outage. It is for this reason that the EPA undertook its audit of the system in 2004 and why SA Water, the owner of the infrastructure, has committed dedicated resources to help avoid recurrences.

2. United Water and SA Water have undertaken a comprehensive risk assessment on environmental impacts for all of the major wastewater network assets across metropolitan Adelaide. This was undertaken to enable an overflow abatement program to be developed and prioritised in accordance with the EPA’s draft code of practice for wastewater overflow management. This risk assessment is reviewed annually to take into account any changing circumstances.

The draft code of practice for wastewater overflow management was developed by the EPA in consultation with SA Water, United Water, the Department of Health and local government. The aim of the code of practice is to provide a guideline for wastewater authorities and operators to ensure effective management and continual improvement to the operation of wastewater systems.

3. I can confirm the second source of contamination is of non-human and non-livestock origin and advice from the Department of Health is that the likely cause is pigeons roosting in the Field River immediately downstream of Lonsdale Road. In response to the contamination the Department of Health advised the City of Marion to erect permanent signs warning the public to avoid contact with the water body, which council has undertaken.

I asked the EPA to contact the City of Marion and provide an update as to actions that have been undertaken in relation to this source of contamination. Council informed the EPA that it is acutely aware of the contamination that is resulting from the nesting pigeons and provided an overview of the actions that have been undertaken over a period of five years to address the issue. These include:

1. Actions to limit the number of pigeons nesting in the area such as trapping and shooting. These had limited effect. Baiting was also considered but dismissed due to the untargeted nature of the activity.

2. In conjunction with the Department of Transport, netting was placed on the relevant embankments to try to prevent the birds from accessing and therefore nesting in the area. This is still in place.

3. The signage as requested by the Department of Health has been erected where the rived meets the beach.

I am informed that the EPA is satisfied that the council is taking all reasonable and practicable measures to address this issue.