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Wanted: the person who dumped 1000 litres of chemicals at Whiteman Park

Lisa ThomasThe Advocate

THE Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is calling on the community to help to catch the person responsible for dumping 1000 litres of chemicals in Whiteman Park.

The red odorous liquid was found dumped on Saturday morning in the groundwater protection area of Whiteman Park, near the corner of Marangaroo Drive and Hepburn Avenue.

WA Police and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services were called to the scene – as well as the department’s Pollution Response Unit to prevent impacts to groundwater and to collect evidence.

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Pollution Response Unit senior manager Ken Raine said the dumping was a serious offence with potential to significantly impact groundwater and the environment.

He urged anyone in the area at the time who witnessed the offence or had any dash cam footage to contact the department.

“We are hoping that someone may have seen a vehicle/s in the area at the time or heard someone talking about this,” he said

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“The groundwater in the area where the dumping occurred was less than five metres below the soil surface, so protecting drinking water from contamination was a major priority.

“Samples of the dumped liquid are currently with ChemCentre for analysis and a major clean-up to dig out the contaminated soil and protect the groundwater, native animals and the community has been completed.”

Mr Raine said illegal dumping of this nature had the potential to harm the general public.

“This is the second dumping of a liquid inside a public drinking water source protection area in as many months and shows a disregard for these very important places that ensure Perth has usable drinking water supplies now and into the future.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the pollution watch hotline on 1300 784 782.

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