WESTERN POWER —
POLE REPLACEMENT
270. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Energy:
I was contacted by a constituent concerned
about the process for replacing power poles, particularly those on properties
with livestock.
(1) Are any tests
conducted on the soil surrounding power poles to determine whether any residue
from the old pole is present; and —
(a) if not, why not; and
(b) if yes, what measures are taken
to protect livestock from accessing contaminated soil?
(2) Are concrete barriers that were previously in
place for this purpose re-used or replaced; and, if not, why not?
(3) What are the
possible negative effects of this chemical coming into contact with or being
ingested by livestock, and is any testing done on livestock for residual
chemicals?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by
the Minister for Energy.
(1) Western Power
tested a series of locations across its network where treated poles were used
for residual pesticide contamination in
1988. None were found to have residual contamination at levels likely to impact
people or livestock. A more recent investigation in 2019 determined that
although low levels of residue may be present, the substance does not disperse
readily in soil or groundwater.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) No protection
of livestock is considered necessary. At the levels of residual contamination
measured, it is believed livestock would need to graze continually at the base
of an affected pole for an extended period and ingest large quantities of soil.
(2) For those reasons, concrete cattle collars are not
returned to the base of poles. Furthermore, retaining collars in
locations where poles are permanently removed presents an ongoing safety risk,
so they are routinely removed and disposed of.
(3) It is Western
Power's understanding that agricultural products are routinely tested
for pesticide contamination prior to sale, and particularly for international
export. It is Western Power's understanding that findings of
contamination of agricultural products are rare.