The Western Australian Auditor General released a report criticizing the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) for failing to manage contaminated site assessments effectively, with 1200 out of 1633 sites waiting more than five years for further assessment. The audit revealed that DWER had assigned over 771 cases to former employees, including 110 high-priority sites, leading to uncertainties about the risks at these locations. One particularly troubling case involved a site near public homes and the Swan River where reported contamination from hazardous materials was left uninvestigated for 13 years due to staff turnover.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-30,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Western Australia Auditor General’s report criticized the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) for inadequately managing thousands of contamination cases. Over 1200 out of 1633 sites have been waiting more than five years for further assessment, with one site near public homes and the Swan River going 13 years without a follow-up investigation. The report also revealed that 771 contaminated sites were assigned to staff members who no longer work at DWER, including 110 high-priority cases. Additionally, the department handles more than 1500 known contamination cases. In response, DWER acknowledged the need for stronger processes and will explore ways to improve timeliness and enforcement protocols.
Written for “Environmental Watchdog Scandal” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The environmental watchdog failed to adequately track or manage thousands of cases of contamination across Western Australia, often taking years to investigate a site or leaving the responsibility of assessment to staff members that no longer worked there.
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that → fail → members
The WA Auditor General’s scathing report into the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s assessment of contaminated sites found over 1200 possibly contaminated sites – out of a total of 1633 – had been awaiting additional assessment information for more than five years with limited follow-up.
uncertain
sites → contaminate → up
One site where hazardous materials were reported near public homes, the Swan River and recreation areas has gone 13 years without any further assessment.
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materials → report → assessment
Acting Auditor General Aloha Morrissey said the department also did not adequately track or manage cases, with 771 sites assigned to staff who no longer worked there at the time of the audit.
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who → act → audit
Of that number, 110 possibly contaminated sites were deemed a high priority, while the department also juggles more than 1500 cases of known contamination.
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department → contaminate → contamination
One of the worst cases uncovered by Morrissey was a formal report to the department back in 2013 on public land close to homes, recreational areas and the Swan River.
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One → uncover → homes
The pollution watch hotline also received a call reporting an oil spill at the same location.
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hotline → receive → location
The site was assigned a high-priority rating as heavy metals, hydrocarbons and hazardous chemicals from poor
industrial and waste practices were suspected, but since issuing a notification of classification, little has been done to get the information needed to further assess the site.
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little → assign → site
“DWER has not contacted the private operator that leases the land nor any other responsible parties and has never received any updates,” the audit reads.
“The staff member currently assigned to this case is no longer employed by DWER.
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member → contact → DWER
As a result, the level of risk for this site remains uncertain.”
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level → remain → site
Morrissey said the audit found DWER was not doing enough to get this additional information and progress sites that need further assessment.
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that → say → assessment
“For many sites, it is taking DWER years to assess contamination levels as DWER is not maintaining contact with responsible parties,” she said.
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she → take → parties
“The assessment and remediation of contaminated sites can be complex and take years.
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assessment → contaminate → years
“Contaminated sites can pose significant threats to public and environmental health and impact future land use.”
The audit reviewed a sample of 25 case files for high-priority sites with possible contamination.
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audit → contaminate → contamination
Fourteen had external auditors who provided annual reports to the Department and the remaining 11 relied solely on the department to follow up with the responsible parties.
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11 → have → parties
“We found most had limited contact from DWER other than the initial follow up.
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most → find → follow
At nine of the sites, DWER had not contacted the responsible party for over three years,” the report reads.
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report → contact → years
Morrissey said those issues reflected broader weaknesses in the department’s systems.
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issues → say → systems
“Several weaknesses found during our audit increase the likelihood of unauthorised access to information, including the confidential identity of people who report potential contamination,” she said.
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she → find → contamination
However, the audit also found that the Department did complete initial assessments within required timeframes, an “important first step in protecting public and environmental health.”
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Department → find → health
The audit made three recommendations, including establishing clear thresholds and triggers on when to escalate sites to enforcement, ensuring all sites are assigned to current staff, and setting clear minimum follow-up timeframes for all sites, including low-priority sites.
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sites → make → sites
The department said it: “accepts that processes relating to the compliance and enforcement aspects of contaminated sites regulation can be further strengthened”.
“Accordingly, the department will explore opportunities to improve the timeliness of site follow-ups and establish clear protocols for escalating enforcement action.”
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department → say → action
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