The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
2.2 Connétable P.J. Rondel of St. John of the Minister for Transport and Technical Services regarding the total cost of the remediation at Beauport to deal with potato leachate:
Would the Minister advise the Assembly the total expenditure from 1992 to date on the remediation at Beauport to deal with potato leachate, provide an estimate of the ongoing costs and give details of the lessons learned? In asking the question of the Minister, can I say that this question, as far as I was concerned, should have gone to the old Agriculture and Fisheries Committee which would now be Planning and Environment but for some reason, it has been passed to T.T.S. (Transport and Technical Services).
Deputy K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour (The Minister for Transport and Technical Services):
The Constable of St. John is absolutely correct on that point. Responsibility for dealing with the leachates at Beauport has rested with a number of States departments over the years and precise costs are difficult to determine with accuracy, given the extended period over which remediation has been necessary. The total expenditure for dealing with the liquid leachate emanating from Beauport since 1992 is estimated at £300,000. Between 1992 and 2006, the leachate was transported via tankers from a holding tank located in Beauport Car Park to the Bellozanne Sewerage Treatment Works in order to receive treatment. The associated cost of this process was approximately £20,000 per year. In 2006, the odours associated with the leachate had significantly reduced, which enabled it to be connected directly to the foul sewer system without the risk of the leachate affecting nearby residents connected to the mains drainage system. Subsequently, costs were reduced to approximately £500 per year. With regards to lessons learned, waste management practices have evolved significantly over the last 20 years, making a recurrence of this type of incident highly unlikely. The disposal of potatoes in 1992 predated the current laws designed to protect the environment. The Water Pollution (Jersey) Law 2000 and the Waste Management (Jersey) Law 2005 administered by the Minister for Planning and Environment would absolutely prevent a reoccurrence of this type of disposal practice.
- The Connétable of St. John :
Given the ongoing cost, although it be very limited, over the years has the T.T.S. Department and previously Public Services been refunded for the money that their department has spent from the department who were responsible for doing the damage?
Deputy K.C. Lewis :
Not to my knowledge but I will get back to the Constable on that.
- The Connétable of St. John :
Therefore, if the department has not been refunded, will the Minister be taking action to get that funding transferred from the Planning and Environment Department?
Deputy K.C. Lewis :
I am more than happy to look into that.