Fishing in the Upper Swan River safely resumed last week following a Department of Health (DoH) decision to lift the public health advisory that had been in place due to a recent sewage spill.
The advisory was lifted on Friday, 18 July after testing confirmed water quality had returned to safe levels, with Water Corp acknowledging the frustration and disruption the incident caused to Perth fishers and the broader community.
Water Corp has now formally apologised to the fishing community and committed to reviewing how it engages and communicates with recreational fishers in the future.
A Water Corp spokeperson said, “We would like to sincerely apologise to Perth fishers and the broader communities for these unfortunate but unrelated incidents.
“We take our environmental obligations seriously and understand these incidents were frustrating and concerning, especially for those who regularly fish along the affected sections of river.
“As part of our full debrief into the incidents, we will be reviewing stakeholder engagement and communications to identify any improvements to our processes.”
Recfishwest welcomes this move, but believes it shouldn’t have been necessary.
“While we acknowledge the apology, this should never have happened in the first place and Water Corp’s response was simply not good enough,” said Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland. “Thousands of people cherish fishing on the Swan, and we expect much better from Water Corp and the agencies involved when it comes to protecting the health and amenity of such an important and iconic waterway for our community.”
As a result of pressure from Recfishwest and the fishing community, Water Corp has stated it will actively review how it informs stakeholders – including fishers – during incidents like these. That includes looking at how alerts are issued, who is notified and how recreational users can access accurate, timely updates.
A Water Corp spokesperson said, “As part of our full debrief into the incidents, we will be reviewing stakeholder engagement and communications to identify any improvements to our processes. We appreciate the patience of the fishing community while we responded to these incidents and are committed to learning from these episodes to help prevent future occurrences.”
What happened?
Two wastewater spills occurred in recent weeks, with one leading to a public health advisory for the Upper Swan River. In response, health warning signs were put in place and alerts issued via media, social media and the Water Corporation website.
Water Corp says it acted quickly to contain the spills and worked with relevant agencies including local government, DPIRD and DoH to monitor and manage the situation. Ongoing investigations are underway to determine the total volume of the spills and how they occurred.
According to DoH, the river is now safe for all recreational use, including fishing.
Department of Health advice on eating fish and shellfish from the Swan River
While public health risks are considered low, fishers are still advised to follow standard hygiene practices when handling and preparing their catch:
- Wash your hands with warm water and soap after handling fish or crabs
- Thoroughly wash your catch with clean water before cooking
- Cook using correct times and temperatures
According to DoH, these steps help manage risks from pathogens that can be present in any waterway – including from wildlife, stormwater and other natural sources.
Recfishwest will continue to advocate strongly for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to how public agencies manage and communicate about spills and other environmental threats to our rivers.
We welcome Water Corporation’s recognition that things need to improve — but it must result in real, measurable changes. Perth fishers and the communities that value our rivers deserve nothing less.
