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Water program gives ports a clean bill of health

MPA environmental manager Bill Boylson and Connell Wagner environmental scientist Trent Attard collect water samples at Mackay Harbour.

The results of an extensive water quality monitoring program have given Mackay's seaport and airport a clean bill of health.

Mackay Port Authority environmental manager Bill Boylson said the testing regime was part of the MPA's environmental management system for port lands.

The results from this year's sampling program would be used by the MPA to evaluate and better manage activities and infrastructure on land at the sea and air ports.

Monitoring results this year have indicated elevated nutrient levels across a few sites, but these are likely to be a consequence of rainfall events around the time the samples were taken, with large quantities of organic matter - built up over low flow periods - being flushed into the system, he said.

Mr Boylson said the monitoring program tested for a variety of elements including oils, heavy metals and nutrients.

He stressed that anthropogenic, as well as 'natural' influences, can impact on the monitoring program and outcomes.

Sampling was conducted in March as part of the wet season program and results were generally well within the default trigger and guideline values set out in Australia, New Zealand and Queensland water quality guidelines, he said. 'We have been doing this detailed monitoring for almost eight years.

As water quality data has been obtained over a number of years, results from each period is now compared with previous sampling periods in order to determine if water quality results and outcomes are typical or otherwise.