Page 4193 - Week 13 - Thursday, 27 November 2014
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designed as a natural filtration system. However, I have been contacted by residents and a group known as the Carers of Point Hut Pond, who indicate that the pond is now full of silt, clogging the area, changing the environment and creating, at times, significant odour pollution due to the dried-out areas of mud. Minister, can you assure residents that the silted-up pond continues to provide filtration as intended?
MR CORBELL: I thank Ms Lawder for her question. I am looking forward to meeting with the friends of the pond that she refers to in the coming weeks. I will be looking forward to hearing their views on the issues that Ms Lawder seems to be reflecting in her question. It is the case that these types of ponds are designed to be detention ponds to allow for water to be detained and, to a degree, cleaned before the water flows downstream into the Murrumbidgee. Obviously, depending on the level of rainfall and depending on the amount of material that is flowing into the pond, it will determine how the pond performs at any particular point in time. They are regularly subject to maintenance and observation by the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate and the Environment Protection Authority when it comes to water quality matters.
I do not have any particular advice to me at this time that suggests there are particular water quality concerns with the Point Hut pond but, given that Ms Lawder has raised the question, I will seek some further advice from the Environment Protection Authority.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Lawder.
MS LAWDER: Minister, are there currently any plans to remove the silt build-up from Point Hut pond and other ponds? If so, what is that program and when will residents be notified?
MR CORBELL: Maintenance of the ponds is largely the responsibility of the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate but I am not at this point in time aware of any such proposal.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, what investigations has the government conducted as to whether these ponds do or do not adversely affect the environment if they remain full of silt?
MR CORBELL: If the pond was full of silt, it would not be holding any water, and I am confident that it is holding water.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, what investigations or plans has the government conducted to address the odour issues arising from these sites?
MR COE: I thank Mr Wall for the supplementary. Obviously, issues around odour associated with the water are of legitimate concern to residents. These are matters that
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