Western Australia watchdog fails to manage contamination reports

An audit by the Western Australia Auditor General has revealed significant failures within the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) regarding the management of contaminated sites.

The report found that out of 1,633 total sites, over 1,200 possibly contaminated locations had been awaiting additional assessment information for more than five years with minimal follow-up. Acting Auditor General Aloha Morrissey noted that 771 sites were assigned to staff members who were no longer employed by the department at the time of the audit. This mismanagement includes 110 high-priority sites.

One specific case involves a site near the Swan River reported in 2013. Despite being flagged for suspected heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and hazardous chemicals, the site remains uninvestigated. The audit stated that DWER has failed to contact the private operator leasing the land or other responsible parties, leaving the level of risk for the area uncertain.