❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for State Development regarding compliance with seepage monitoring commitments at the Fimiston I tailings dam, referencing a 1988 document and seeking dates of departmental checks, seepage identification, and proponent notifications. The Minister refers the member to the answer to Question on Notice 2499.
AnsweredQoN 2502Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Mining Lease 26/383 owned by Barrick Gold of Australia and Newmont Mining Limited, operated by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd, the Fimiston I tailings dam and a document dated August 1988 titled ‘Notice of intent and works approval for Fimiston leases expansion project, North Kalgurli Mine prepared by Australian Groundwater Consultants Pty Ltd’ -
(1) Given the above document states on page 24 ‘NKML will undertake to put down additional test bores in the areas where the calcrete might extend under the dam walls and will carry out a regular monitoring program to check for any seepage. In the event that seepage is detected, NKML will undertake to pump detected seepage back into the tailings return water dam’, can the Minister state firstly on what date the Department checked or audited this tailings dam to ensure that this commitment which forms part of tenement conditions was adhered to?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister state the specific date when seepage was first identified by the Department for the Fimiston I tailings dam?
(4) If no to (3), why not given the enormous significance and implications for other commitments made?
(5) Can the Minister explain why the proponent gave a commitment to undertake to put down additional test bores in the areas where the calcrete might extend under the dam walls?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Given that the proponent made legally binding commitments as part of their notice of intent and approval endorsed by the Department to carry out a regular monitoring program for any seepage, can the Minister state the specific date in which the Department was notified by the proponent of any seepage and the actions being taken in terms of additional test bores in areas where the calcrete might extend under the dam wall?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(1) Given the above document states on page 24 ‘NKML will undertake to put down additional test bores in the areas where the calcrete might extend under the dam walls and will carry out a regular monitoring program to check for any seepage. In the event that seepage is detected, NKML will undertake to pump detected seepage back into the tailings return water dam’, can the Minister state firstly on what date the Department checked or audited this tailings dam to ensure that this commitment which forms part of tenement conditions was adhered to?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister state the specific date when seepage was first identified by the Department for the Fimiston I tailings dam?
(4) If no to (3), why not given the enormous significance and implications for other commitments made?
(5) Can the Minister explain why the proponent gave a commitment to undertake to put down additional test bores in the areas where the calcrete might extend under the dam walls?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Given that the proponent made legally binding commitments as part of their notice of intent and approval endorsed by the Department to carry out a regular monitoring program for any seepage, can the Minister state the specific date in which the Department was notified by the proponent of any seepage and the actions being taken in terms of additional test bores in areas where the calcrete might extend under the dam wall?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 November 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
27 days
I refer the Hon member to the answer to Question on Notice 2499.
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