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                  Sound reports welcomed

                  Sound Telegraph, Page: 4
                  Wednesday, 19 November 2008
                  Ref: 43899556



            THE improving environmental health of Cockburn Sound was top of the 
            agenda last week, when the Cockbum Sound Management Council ’s 2008 
            report cards were released at The Cruising Yacht Club.

            Out of 36 areas tested, one environmental standard was exceeded and 
            required action, and five environmental guidelines were exceeded and 
            required monitoting.

            This was an improvement on last year ’s results, which indicated 
            that three environmental standards required action and five 
            environmental guidelines required monitoting.

            Cockburn Sound Management Council chairwoman Kateryna Longley said 
            it was great to see the Sound improving after years of industrial 
            and recreational pressure.

            "It is remarkable to many people that there is so little pollution 
            in the medium industrial areas as industry contain most of their 
            waste," she said.

            Only 4 per cent of the Sound is scaled a low-protection area, with 
            these spots marked as thermal mixing areas for industry.

            Kwinana Industries Council director Chris Oughton said industry 
            realised long ago that the bad practices of the 1970s had to end.

            "The state of the Sound is vastly improved compared to its condition 
            years ago and the study has again shown that industry is pulling its 
            weight in being a good environmental performer," Mr Oughton said.

            "We recognise there are still areas to be addressed on the overall 
            issue of reducing industry ’s environmental footprint and we are 
            working hard to achieve this." Conservation of Rockingham 
            Environment chairman Alan Gade said he was yet to see the report 
            cards, but acknowledged the Sound was improving.

            "They are trying to tell us the Sound is cleaner than it has been in 
            years and it probably is, but it ’s got a long way to go," Mr Gade 
            said.

            "I ’ve been here since 1956 and we could get mussels then off Palm 
            Beach Jetty in waist-deep water you can ’t do that now.

            "I think they ’re going the right way but a lot more can be done." 
            Mr Gade said modifying the Garden Island causeway and decreasing 
            dredging by Cockburn Cement were two ways to further improve the 
            Sound.