Health and Safety Concerns on Heirisson Island

OVERFLOWING sewerage at Heirisson Island has raised health and safety concerns, City of Perth chief executive Gary Stevenson says.

Toilets on the island have been closed while an inspection takes place to determine the cause of problems.

The City in conjunction with police seized 40 tents this morning as part of a crack down on illegal camping.

Mr Stevenson said authorities were compelled to act because of the recent amount of activity on the Island.

“Facilities are not designed to cope with large groups of people continuously congregating at Heirisson Island,” Mr Stevenson said.

“Rubbish is not being disposed of properly, grassed areas are dying from tent placement and torn up from vehicle activity, and there’s evidence of people defecating around the island.

“Ironing boards, a washing machine, spotlights, a wardrobe, generators and six truckloads of camping equipment were removed, indicating people were intending to occupy the island for a significant amount of time which is not sustainable.”

Police issued two move-on notices and one woman was arrested after failing to comply with a move on notice.

The City has closed the island car park while repair works are conducted to replace bollards that have been knocked out of the ground.

The toilets and car parks at Heirisson have been closed while clean up works are underway.