The Western Australian Department of Water has released the results of tests conducted following the discovery of large numbers of dead fish near Busselton.
Thousands of dead fish line the Vasse estuary near Wonnerup ABC News: Roxanne Taylor
Thousands of fish were found dead in the Vasse Estuary at Wonnerup last month.
Pathology tests by the Department of Fisheries found the fish reacted to toxic materials in the water.
Tests also revealed the water contained bacteria from the breakdown of high organic loads washed down the drains by the first winter rains.
Low oxygen levels in the water are also believed to have contributed to the deaths.
The City of Busselton is calling for an independent review of water quality in several local waterways.
The city’s planning and development services director, Paul Needham, says different government agencies are responsible for different components of the waterways.
He says the State Government needs to appoint an independent person to examine the current management system and recommend ways it can be improved.
“That would give us some expectation that if they were actually implemented, we will – perhaps not immediately, but over a period of time, we’ll see significant and possitive change in terms of the health of our waterways,” he said.
Original story at ABC News
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