Latest news with #PeterRundle
West Australian
04-07-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Age of sewer pipeline not a factor in Beaconsfield spill as park prepares to reopen
Bruce Lee Oval in Beaconsfield is set to reopen this month, weeks after a burst sewage pipeline left the park contaminated and flooded neighbouring streets. Water Corporation expects to hand the reserve back to the City of Fremantle on July 21, after the re-turfing of the grass is complete. 'Once handed back to the City, the park will be safe for public use,' a Water Corp spokesperson told The West Australian. However, questions have been raised about WA's water and sewerage infrastructure system as investigations continue into the cause of the sewage pipe failure. Asked by Nationals deputy leader Peter Rundle if a similar incident was likely to happen again, Water Corporation boss Pat Donovan told State Parliament that the pipe that burst was still well within its expected service life, so there is no clear explanation for the failure yet. 'This was a unique event, in that it was a pipeline that was well within its asset lifespan; it was a 1966 pipeline,' Mr Donovan told State Parliament during estimates on Thursday. 'The pipeline itself has an asset life of about 80 years, so we are still working through exactly what occurred in terms of the root cause of the incident.' Less than two weeks after the incident, the State Budget was released, which included an additional $35 million for the Water Corporation's asset maintenance budget. It's believed the burst in Beaconsfield occurred after sewage was diverted to the area, to relieve pressure following another sewage burst in Spearwood. It took the Water Corp several days to repair the burst pipe, causing considerable disruption to neighbouring residents. Mr Donovan thanked all those affected by the incident for their patience during the fix of what was 'undoubtedly a very unpleasant situation,' and said the corporation would learn from the incident. 'As we do with all such pipeline failures, we will be making sure that we learn from it and that it informs our asset management system going forward in terms of where we need to do proactive maintenance, further inspections or, indeed, asset replacement', he said. 'We will continue to ensure that we understand exactly what happened and make sure that we feed that back into our asset management system.'
West Australian
25-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Roe MLA Peter Rundle blasts State Budget 2025-26 as metro-centric that creates 'country versus city divide'
Member for Roe Peter Rundle has slammed the State Budget, tabled on Thursday, as 'city-focused' and a document of full of 'wrong priorities'. When asked what funding was funnelled into projects specifically benefiting the regional area of Katanning and surrounds, Mr Rundle was succinct. 'Not much,' he said. 'For me, it's a Budget of wrong priorities. 'We've got $217 million for Burswood racetrack, the treasurer (WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti) seems to be intent on going through with, then Albany hospital, which was meant to have a potential $60m upgrade, and we've got $1m in planning instead. 'My general feeling is that it's a disappointing Budget for people of regional WA and that this Government is creating a country versus city divide.' Mr Rundle said much of the funding allocated to the regions involved broader schemes that assisted the community in a generic way and there was little in the way of funding for specific projects in the region. Though he praised cost-of-living measures such as increases to the pensioner fuel card, and the upgrade to the Albany Regional Airport, there were multiple local sectors he was disappointed hadn't received monetary boosts, including health, transport, education, sport and power infrastructure. 'One thing I have been promoting heavily is a CT scanner at Katanning Health Service so people don't have to travel to Narrogin or Albany when they have something like a stroke, and there's nothing for that,' he said. 'I'm concerned about the truck rest stops as they are not only not funding them, but actually closing down rest stops along Albany Highway and South Coast Highway. 'In Bremer Bay, they have tourism numbers that swell from 500 to 10,000 in the peak season yet we still have issues with power and health services, which is pretty poor. 'There's a drop off of the community sports and rec fund, from $24m to $12m per year, which is disappointing as our regional towns really benefit from that, like Quartermaine Oval for example. 'Labor promises the free summer VacSwim for kids, then dropped off free entry for the families. 'Minister Simone McGurk then comments that the 'beach is free to everyone' — that doesn't go down too well with people who live in Katanning, Wickepin, Narrogin, these places far away from the coast.' The State Government said $25m will be put into the Regional Housing Support Fund to boost regional housing projects and another $104m was dedicated to doubling the supply of government regional officer housing. Regional race clubs were also winners via the $25.2m Regional Racing Fund, with local facilities Wagin Trotting Club and Pingrup Race Club receiving $420,000 and $77,000 respectively for upgrades. Mr Rundle argued these items were exceptions and that much of the Budget caters to Perth-based projects, with funds earmarked for the regions misused. He said his 'overriding frustration' was with the misuse of the Royalties for Regions fund — into which the State Government has injected $4 billion — being 'raided' to pay for services such as orange school buses that he believes should be funded through consolidated spending in the transport budget. 'It's not what it's designed for,' he said. 'Its original purpose is to improve and increase community amenity and infrastructure in the regions. 'The regions are being forgotten, again.' Minster for the Great Southern Reece Whitby said that the Budget, that he spruiked while visiting Albany last Friday, 'benefited every West Australian' and was informed by community voices from the entire region. 'We're responding and delivering for Katanning and the entire Great Southern and I believe this is a State Budget that truly backs the region,' he said. 'If the Member for Roe thinks cost of living relief for regional students and regional road safety are wrong priorities, he should spend more time speaking with his own community. 'We're providing significant investments in health infrastructure, mental health services, community safety, housing and community services.' Mr Whitby touted the $250m invested into the Regional Road Safety Program for safety upgrades on local government roads, $8m Country Week Assistance Program, and $100 increase to the Regional Pensioner Travel Card as examples of regional investment.
The Advertiser
10-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
'Swimming pool of sewage': raw spill flows into suburbs
Residents are disgusted "terrible and putrid" human waste is flowing from burst sewage pipes in multiple suburbs, polluting a capital city river and harbour. The odorous spill that seeped excrement into streets and parks in Perth's south started on Friday. "The smell was terrible, putrid, disgusting," a resident living across the street from one of the spills told AAP on Tuesday. "It was massive and went right across the oval like a pond, but it was sewage and I could smell it right through the house." The woman, who asked not to be named, said she was concerned about the impact on the health and wellbeing of residents. "There are a lot of children who play around here and people who like to get out and walk their dogs," she said. The foul flow near the woman's home gushed from a broken pipe at the top of a small hill down a residential street lined with houses into the soccer oval. A worker manning a roadblock in the area said a "river of shit" had flowed down the road into the oval, creating "a swimming pool of sewage". Joslyn Reece said the "powerful and foul" smell from the leak was at its worst at night and had woken her on several occasions. "I feel like I'm smelling disease. I think I brushed my teeth 20 times last night," she said with a laugh. The sewage leaks at five locations in various suburbs have been stopped, but not before waste flowed into the Swan River at multiple points and Fremantle Harbour near a sailing boat club. Residents have been told not to exercise outdoors if there is a strong odour. People have also been warned against water recreational activities including fishing and crabbing in the river and harbour near the outflow points "If you feel unwell and experience symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and nausea, seek medical advice," the Western Australian water authority said. Pipe repairs are expected to take "some time to ensure the safety of crews" in the impacted suburbs of Spearwood, Beaconsfield, Alfred Cove, Applecross and South Fremantle. "Given the complexity of the wastewater network and the amount of wastewater backed up in the system, there remains a risk of further localised overflows," the authority warned. There are also concerns forecast rain could lead to the pollution spreading. Opposition water spokesman Peter Rundle said it was unacceptable raw sewage had spilled into the Swan River and suburban streets. "This isn't just an infrastructure failure; it's a serious public health and environmental risk that's left families and communities exposed to human waste," he said. Residents are disgusted "terrible and putrid" human waste is flowing from burst sewage pipes in multiple suburbs, polluting a capital city river and harbour. The odorous spill that seeped excrement into streets and parks in Perth's south started on Friday. "The smell was terrible, putrid, disgusting," a resident living across the street from one of the spills told AAP on Tuesday. "It was massive and went right across the oval like a pond, but it was sewage and I could smell it right through the house." The woman, who asked not to be named, said she was concerned about the impact on the health and wellbeing of residents. "There are a lot of children who play around here and people who like to get out and walk their dogs," she said. The foul flow near the woman's home gushed from a broken pipe at the top of a small hill down a residential street lined with houses into the soccer oval. A worker manning a roadblock in the area said a "river of shit" had flowed down the road into the oval, creating "a swimming pool of sewage". Joslyn Reece said the "powerful and foul" smell from the leak was at its worst at night and had woken her on several occasions. "I feel like I'm smelling disease. I think I brushed my teeth 20 times last night," she said with a laugh. The sewage leaks at five locations in various suburbs have been stopped, but not before waste flowed into the Swan River at multiple points and Fremantle Harbour near a sailing boat club. Residents have been told not to exercise outdoors if there is a strong odour. People have also been warned against water recreational activities including fishing and crabbing in the river and harbour near the outflow points "If you feel unwell and experience symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and nausea, seek medical advice," the Western Australian water authority said. Pipe repairs are expected to take "some time to ensure the safety of crews" in the impacted suburbs of Spearwood, Beaconsfield, Alfred Cove, Applecross and South Fremantle. "Given the complexity of the wastewater network and the amount of wastewater backed up in the system, there remains a risk of further localised overflows," the authority warned. There are also concerns forecast rain could lead to the pollution spreading. Opposition water spokesman Peter Rundle said it was unacceptable raw sewage had spilled into the Swan River and suburban streets. "This isn't just an infrastructure failure; it's a serious public health and environmental risk that's left families and communities exposed to human waste," he said. Residents are disgusted "terrible and putrid" human waste is flowing from burst sewage pipes in multiple suburbs, polluting a capital city river and harbour. The odorous spill that seeped excrement into streets and parks in Perth's south started on Friday. "The smell was terrible, putrid, disgusting," a resident living across the street from one of the spills told AAP on Tuesday. "It was massive and went right across the oval like a pond, but it was sewage and I could smell it right through the house." The woman, who asked not to be named, said she was concerned about the impact on the health and wellbeing of residents. "There are a lot of children who play around here and people who like to get out and walk their dogs," she said. The foul flow near the woman's home gushed from a broken pipe at the top of a small hill down a residential street lined with houses into the soccer oval. A worker manning a roadblock in the area said a "river of shit" had flowed down the road into the oval, creating "a swimming pool of sewage". Joslyn Reece said the "powerful and foul" smell from the leak was at its worst at night and had woken her on several occasions. "I feel like I'm smelling disease. I think I brushed my teeth 20 times last night," she said with a laugh. The sewage leaks at five locations in various suburbs have been stopped, but not before waste flowed into the Swan River at multiple points and Fremantle Harbour near a sailing boat club. Residents have been told not to exercise outdoors if there is a strong odour. People have also been warned against water recreational activities including fishing and crabbing in the river and harbour near the outflow points "If you feel unwell and experience symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and nausea, seek medical advice," the Western Australian water authority said. Pipe repairs are expected to take "some time to ensure the safety of crews" in the impacted suburbs of Spearwood, Beaconsfield, Alfred Cove, Applecross and South Fremantle. "Given the complexity of the wastewater network and the amount of wastewater backed up in the system, there remains a risk of further localised overflows," the authority warned. There are also concerns forecast rain could lead to the pollution spreading. Opposition water spokesman Peter Rundle said it was unacceptable raw sewage had spilled into the Swan River and suburban streets. "This isn't just an infrastructure failure; it's a serious public health and environmental risk that's left families and communities exposed to human waste," he said. Residents are disgusted "terrible and putrid" human waste is flowing from burst sewage pipes in multiple suburbs, polluting a capital city river and harbour. The odorous spill that seeped excrement into streets and parks in Perth's south started on Friday. "The smell was terrible, putrid, disgusting," a resident living across the street from one of the spills told AAP on Tuesday. "It was massive and went right across the oval like a pond, but it was sewage and I could smell it right through the house." The woman, who asked not to be named, said she was concerned about the impact on the health and wellbeing of residents. "There are a lot of children who play around here and people who like to get out and walk their dogs," she said. The foul flow near the woman's home gushed from a broken pipe at the top of a small hill down a residential street lined with houses into the soccer oval. A worker manning a roadblock in the area said a "river of shit" had flowed down the road into the oval, creating "a swimming pool of sewage". Joslyn Reece said the "powerful and foul" smell from the leak was at its worst at night and had woken her on several occasions. "I feel like I'm smelling disease. I think I brushed my teeth 20 times last night," she said with a laugh. The sewage leaks at five locations in various suburbs have been stopped, but not before waste flowed into the Swan River at multiple points and Fremantle Harbour near a sailing boat club. Residents have been told not to exercise outdoors if there is a strong odour. People have also been warned against water recreational activities including fishing and crabbing in the river and harbour near the outflow points "If you feel unwell and experience symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and nausea, seek medical advice," the Western Australian water authority said. Pipe repairs are expected to take "some time to ensure the safety of crews" in the impacted suburbs of Spearwood, Beaconsfield, Alfred Cove, Applecross and South Fremantle. "Given the complexity of the wastewater network and the amount of wastewater backed up in the system, there remains a risk of further localised overflows," the authority warned. There are also concerns forecast rain could lead to the pollution spreading. Opposition water spokesman Peter Rundle said it was unacceptable raw sewage had spilled into the Swan River and suburban streets. "This isn't just an infrastructure failure; it's a serious public health and environmental risk that's left families and communities exposed to human waste," he said.
