❓ Mr. Tallentire questions the Minister for Environment regarding the operations of Bio-Organics in Oakford, specifically concerning alleged threats to DER officers, transparency about waste composition, and the continued acceptance of toxic liquids. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines actions taken, including license amendments and potential revocation.
AnsweredQoN 525Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COMPOSTING
FACILITY — OAKFORD
525. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the ongoing operations of Bio-Organics in Oakford
and the minister's claims that the site is under investigation.
(1) Is the
minister aware of claims that Department of Environment Regulation officers are
being threatened by Bio-Organics?
(2) Why will
the DER not ensure that the community is made aware of the chemical composition
and source of the waste liquids being received at the site?
(3) Why is the
site still receiving toxic liquids containing arsenic, cadmium, chromium and
lead?
FACILITY — OAKFORD
525. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the ongoing operations of Bio-Organics in Oakford
and the minister's claims that the site is under investigation.
(1) Is the
minister aware of claims that Department of Environment Regulation officers are
being threatened by Bio-Organics?
(2) Why will
the DER not ensure that the community is made aware of the chemical composition
and source of the waste liquids being received at the site?
(3) Why is the
site still receiving toxic liquids containing arsenic, cadmium, chromium and
lead?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
I certainly acknowledge that this is a very significant issue. Indeed, in all
my discussions with the Department of Environment Regulation I have requested,
and continue to request, that it ensure that it makes this matter a very high
priority. In response to a grievance I received in this house late last year,
the licence for that particular facility has been amended, so there is already
a significant reduction in the intake onto that site. As a result, there have
been ongoing actions with that particular operator. There was a move to look at
suspending and, ultimately, revoking that particular individual's
licence. Under the Environmental Protection Act, and as a matter of procedural
fairness, a licensed operator holds a degree of rights under that licence and
has the ability to put in a submission on a notice of revocation of their
licence. That has happened just within the last couple of weeks, and I would
expect that the CEO of the Department of Environment Regulation will make a
decision very shortly on the licence for Bio-Organics.
I certainly acknowledge that this is a very significant issue. Indeed, in all
my discussions with the Department of Environment Regulation I have requested,
and continue to request, that it ensure that it makes this matter a very high
priority. In response to a grievance I received in this house late last year,
the licence for that particular facility has been amended, so there is already
a significant reduction in the intake onto that site. As a result, there have
been ongoing actions with that particular operator. There was a move to look at
suspending and, ultimately, revoking that particular individual's
licence. Under the Environmental Protection Act, and as a matter of procedural
fairness, a licensed operator holds a degree of rights under that licence and
has the ability to put in a submission on a notice of revocation of their
licence. That has happened just within the last couple of weeks, and I would
expect that the CEO of the Department of Environment Regulation will make a
decision very shortly on the licence for Bio-Organics.
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