Vasse MP Libby Mettam has been removed as the chair of the Vasse Taskforce after water minister Dave Kelly said it was “inappropriate” for an opposition MP to be involved.
South West MLC Sally Talbot will take the reigns and Mr Kelly said she had a strong background in water and the environment.
In a letter to Ms Mettam the water minister thanked her for guiding the Revitalising Geographe Waterways Program and for holding organisations accountable for bringing change to tackle underlying causes.
“We are committed to improving the health of the network of rivers, coastal wetlands and estuaries stretching from Dunsborough, through Busselton, to Capel,” Mr Kelly said.
Ms Mettam said she hoped the new committee would make actions based on the investment in research that had been undertaken in the catchment.
She said under the previous government $7 million in funding was provided in 2015 towards the program.
“It is clear the science and professional development has been done now with salt water trials, investment in the oxygenation plant, science and the development of reconnecting rivers program,” she said.
“I would now expect the taskforce to seek a mandate to affect change in this catchment as supported by the original Hart Report.”
Dr Talbot said there were significant challenges managing the Vasse waterways and she was looking forward to harnessing the collective wisdom of the taskforce to address water quality issues.
“Geographe is one of our fastest growing regional areas, with urban growth and industry intensification continuing to add nutrient loads and concentrations to waterways,” she said.
“A key priority will be to focus on both urban and rural issues.”