Paint leak spurs change at power site

Paint waste from the Busselton Power Centre development on West Street leaked into the Vasse River last week.

Photos were posted online earlier this week showing paint on the surface of the Vasse River.

The paint had poured into a nearby swale drain from the construction site.

City of Busselton planning and development services director Paul Needham said the City was made aware of the situation and, on notification, members of the City’s environmental team inspected the site and identified the pollution as the likely result of wash-down activities associated with the West Street development.

“The contractors were instructed to arrange for an eduction truck to remove the pollution (identified as paint and/or concrete slurry) which was floating on the surface of the water at the drain outlet on West Street,” he said.

“This was done immediately and the pollution has been removed.”

Mr Needham said contractors were instructed there must be no further wash-down of equipment into the swale drain.

Mr Needham said after the incident the City immediately contacted the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, which has jurisdiction in such cases.