CANBERRA’S pollution watchdog wants to know more about Fremantle harbour’s potentially toxic dredged silt.
The Federal Department of the Environment wants information from the Fremantle Port Authority (FPA) on the dredgings’ ingredients and whether taxpayers had a chance to comment on the $250 million harbour deepening.
A department decision permitting one million cubic metres of the material to be dumped at sea is now at least two weeks late.
“The department stopped the clock to seek further information on the outcomes of the WA consultation process as well as technical information relating to the sediments and the dredging method,” a spokesman said.
There are public concerns toxins will enter the environment, in addition to current plumes from disturbed harbour-bottom limestone.
Last year, the Environmental Protection Authority said harbour arsenic posed risks to waters, while the anti-foulant tributyltin, pesticides, organochlorides and decaying oils had been found.
The department also wants details about the State Government’s public consultation early last year.
Dredging opponents have said that the public was not involved, after about 35 of the 46 organisations in the FPA’s talks were either government departments and agencies, or port business-related companies.
Opponents’ had two weeks before Christmas to comment on the FPA’s October sea dumping application, and at least three western suburbs’ councils, Swanbourne Coastal Alliance and National Toxic Network sent submissions.
FPA information was flawed because Swan River monitoring was downgraded and samples were taken in clearer shallows, People Against Dredging spokesman Barry Brennan said.
“We’re concerned Canberra is now going to miss out on valuable information from the river,” he said.
An FPA spokeswoman said information was sent on December 17 and January 6.
“The department requested laboratory test reports from the sediment sampling to assist in its assessment of the sea dumping permit application and further commentary on the dredging works,” she said.
Work continued pumping 2.1 million cubic metres of silt in the 27ha Rous Head Basin last week. Dredged material from the deepwater channel, north of Gage Roads, and the inner harbour was placed in the basin, but no displaced water was flowing from the outfall, the spokeswoman said.