Water Corp drops waste plan

The Water Corporation has backed away from a controversial plan to dump waste water from Denmark’s new desalination plant at Perkins Beach after strong community opposition.

Outraged residents gathered at the Albany Water Corporation building last Friday morning to protest against its plans after an emotion-charged community meeting at Elleker the night before.

The corporation had been planning to pump an estimated 60kl of brine from the desalination plant every weekday into a pool at the back of the popular beach at Torbay, but residents were furious they had not been consulted.

More than 200 residents packed Elleker Hall and spilled out onto the veranda for the fiery meeting called by the Torbay Catchment Group, which lasted two-and-a-half hours.

Group member Wendy Coffey said the crowd was outraged and left dissatisfied by responses from four Water Corporation representatives, which did not address their concerns over potential environmental and tourism impacts and increased heavy traffic.

“They were given an opportunity to explain what was happening and they did not,” she said.

“The community is still outraged at the underhanded way the Water Corporation have dealt with this matter and the complete lack of community consultation.

“They admitted several times they had handled it badly … but this did not satisfy the people present because it is too little, too late.”

The crowd heckled the corporation’s representatives, as well as City of Albany West ward councillor Alison Goode, who described the meeting as “very, very heated”.

“Emotions were running very high,” she said. “The local residents are genuinely concerned about this brine being effectively dumped in their backyard.

“They have a right to be angry.”

Mrs Goode said she put a late item to the City of Albany council for tonight’s meeting to request the Water Corporation consider other disposal locations.

However, yesterday the Water Corporation said it had underestimated the social aspects of its proposal and apologised to the community for causing any alarm.

Yesterday morning, Water Minister Mia Davies said she understood the water authority had now decided not to use Perkins Beach as a disposal site and the Water Corporation was investigating alternatives.

Ms Davies said it was “completely unacceptable” that the Water Corporation did not consult the community before finalising the plan.

“I now understand Water Corporation has made the decision not to use Perkins Beach for brine disposal,” she said.

“I am disappointed at their delay in community consultation and the concern it has caused residents.”

The Water Corporation said it hoped to make a decision on another disposal site by the end of this week.

“I have asked Water Corporation to provide me with regular updates on the progress of its work, along with its community consultation,” Ms Davies said.

“I encourage anyone with concerns to contact Water Corporation.”