Encouraging signs shown in Cockburn Sound study: Minister

3/7/01 Cockburn Sound's environmental health has improved significantly in the past decade and is set to get better, according to a report released today by Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards.

3/7/01
Cockburn Sound's environmental health has improved significantly in the past decade and is set to get better, according to a report released today by Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards.
The 'State of Cockburn Sound' report examined the Sound's ecology, water quality, sediments, industry and community intervention - which will provide the scientific basis for a management plan being prepared by the Cockburn Sound Management Council.

"The State of the Sound Report includes current information about the state of the Sound, the pressures on it, and the management responses in place to manage those pressures," Dr Edwards said.
"The data is encouraging - suggesting that much progress has been made and that current actions are helping protect the Sound."
Dr Edwards said the key findings included:

  • seagrass meadows show no further deterioration and no significant losses related to water quality in the past decade;
  • nutrient inputs from human activities have declined from an estimated 2,000 tonnes a year in 1978 to about 300 tonnes a year in 2000, about 70 per cent of which is from groundwater;
  • estimated amounts of metals and oil discharged by industry have continued to decrease due to improved waste treatment practices, and are about one sixth to one thousandth of 1978 levels, depending on the contaminant;
  • contaminant levels (including arsenic and mercury) in sediments were well below environmental guidelines;
  • two foreign marine pests - the European fan worm Sabella cf. Spallanzanii, and the Asian date mussel Musculista senhousia - are known to be prolific growers that can out-compete native species, but this does not seem to be occurring in Cockburn Sound;
  • TBT (a highly toxic ingredient in ship anti-fouling paint) levels in sediments were generally lower than in 1994, but still high in the Jervoise Bay Northern Harbour and next to naval facilities in Careening Bay. State and Federal Governments have banned or restricted the use of TBT on vessels of certain sizes and the Fremantle Port Authority has banned 'in water' hull cleaning for ships at berth; and
  • industry has made a concerted effort to reduce nitrogen inputs from groundwater.
The study has helped the Cockburn Sound Management Council prepare the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to co-ordinate more effective community environmental management and planning for the Sound and its catchment.
Dr Edwards released today a progress report on development of the management plan, as well as an update on the overall Environmental Protection Policy for the Sound, which is being developed by the Environmental Protection Authority.
"The Environmental Protection Policy (EPP) will establish the broad objectives and set environmental criteria for the area, while the management plan will focus on realising these environmental goals," she said.
"Much work has already gone into the development of these measures, including four technical workshops involving the scientific community, policy makers and community representatives and two well-attended Community Forums.
'"The release of these progress reports is another step to ensure the wider community is informed what measures are being considered.
"So far, the State of the Sound Report and the Progress reports on the EPP and EMP are positive - showing that significant progress has been made by Government, industry and the community towards a cleaner Cockburn Sound."

Dr Edwards said the community would have further opportunity to comment on the proposed management plans for the Sound, with the draft EPP and EMP to be released for public comment later this year.
The State of Cockburn Sound report and the Progress Report on the Environmental Management Plan are both available from the Cockburn Sound office of the Water and Rivers Commission (telephone 9591 3837) or at the web site http://www.wrc.wa.gov.au
The Progress Report on the Environmental Protection Policy for Cockburn Sound is available on the EPA website http://www.environ.wa.gov.au
Media contact: John Carey 9220 5050