❓ Mr. Masters questions the Minister for State Development about mulga tree deaths near mine haul roads due to saline water usage. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines monitoring and enforcement actions.
AnsweredQoN 2906Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware of research carried out by Muriel Bertuch from the Joondalup campus of Edith Cowan University into the deaths of mulga trees adjacent to mine haul roads in the northern Goldfields of Western Australia?
(2) Is the Minister aware that the likely cause of these extensive tree deaths is the use of saline water sprayed onto mine haul road surfaces to stabilise the soil and reduce generation of dust?
(3) What action will the Minister take to assess the overall impact of saline water usage on mine haul roads in Western Australia’s mining areas?
(4) If the death of native vegetation is found to be significant, what action will the Minister take to modify road construction and maintenance practices involving highly saline water so as to stop or limit the death of mulga along the edges of mine haul roads?
(2) Is the Minister aware that the likely cause of these extensive tree deaths is the use of saline water sprayed onto mine haul road surfaces to stabilise the soil and reduce generation of dust?
(3) What action will the Minister take to assess the overall impact of saline water usage on mine haul roads in Western Australia’s mining areas?
(4) If the death of native vegetation is found to be significant, what action will the Minister take to modify road construction and maintenance practices involving highly saline water so as to stop or limit the death of mulga along the edges of mine haul roads?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 July 2004
Responded by
Minister for State Development
Response time
29 days
(1) I am advised that officers from the Department of Industry and Resources are aware of research being carried out by Edith Cowan University Masters student Ms Muriel Bertuch at Granny Smith Gold Mine South of Laverton. (2) Yes, however other factors may also be contributing to tree deaths, such as interference with normal surface drainage (sheet flow) and excessive dust deposition. (3) Officers from the Department of Industry and Resources will continue to monitor saline water usage as a road dust suppressant through site inspections, annual environmental reports and incident reports. If adverse impacts are identified appropriate enforcement action can be taken. Saline water when applied appropriately can be a cost effective way to suppress dust on unsealed mine roads. (4) Where unacceptable vegetation stress or death has occurred as a result of practices then appropriate enforcement action will be taken under the provisions of the Mining Act 1978 and Mining Regulations 1981. The relevant party may be required to rehabilitate the damaged areas and to consider alternative practices for dust suppression.
(2) Yes, however other factors may also be contributing to tree deaths, such as interference with normal surface drainage (sheet flow) and excessive dust deposition. (3) Officers from the Department of Industry and Resources will continue to monitor saline water usage as a road dust suppressant through site inspections, annual environmental reports and incident reports. If adverse impacts are identified appropriate enforcement action can be taken. Saline water when applied appropriately can be a cost effective way to suppress dust on unsealed mine roads. (4) Where unacceptable vegetation stress or death has occurred as a result of practices then appropriate enforcement action will be taken under the provisions of the Mining Act 1978 and Mining Regulations 1981. The relevant party may be required to rehabilitate the damaged areas and to consider alternative practices for dust suppression.
(3) Officers from the Department of Industry and Resources will continue to monitor saline water usage as a road dust suppressant through site inspections, annual environmental reports and incident reports. If adverse impacts are identified appropriate enforcement action can be taken. Saline water when applied appropriately can be a cost effective way to suppress dust on unsealed mine roads. (4) Where unacceptable vegetation stress or death has occurred as a result of practices then appropriate enforcement action will be taken under the provisions of the Mining Act 1978 and Mining Regulations 1981. The relevant party may be required to rehabilitate the damaged areas and to consider alternative practices for dust suppression.
(4) Where unacceptable vegetation stress or death has occurred as a result of practices then appropriate enforcement action will be taken under the provisions of the Mining Act 1978 and Mining Regulations 1981. The relevant party may be required to rehabilitate the damaged areas and to consider alternative practices for dust suppression.
(2) Yes, however other factors may also be contributing to tree deaths, such as interference with normal surface drainage (sheet flow) and excessive dust deposition. (3) Officers from the Department of Industry and Resources will continue to monitor saline water usage as a road dust suppressant through site inspections, annual environmental reports and incident reports. If adverse impacts are identified appropriate enforcement action can be taken. Saline water when applied appropriately can be a cost effective way to suppress dust on unsealed mine roads. (4) Where unacceptable vegetation stress or death has occurred as a result of practices then appropriate enforcement action will be taken under the provisions of the Mining Act 1978 and Mining Regulations 1981. The relevant party may be required to rehabilitate the damaged areas and to consider alternative practices for dust suppression.
(3) Officers from the Department of Industry and Resources will continue to monitor saline water usage as a road dust suppressant through site inspections, annual environmental reports and incident reports. If adverse impacts are identified appropriate enforcement action can be taken. Saline water when applied appropriately can be a cost effective way to suppress dust on unsealed mine roads. (4) Where unacceptable vegetation stress or death has occurred as a result of practices then appropriate enforcement action will be taken under the provisions of the Mining Act 1978 and Mining Regulations 1981. The relevant party may be required to rehabilitate the damaged areas and to consider alternative practices for dust suppression.
(4) Where unacceptable vegetation stress or death has occurred as a result of practices then appropriate enforcement action will be taken under the provisions of the Mining Act 1978 and Mining Regulations 1981. The relevant party may be required to rehabilitate the damaged areas and to consider alternative practices for dust suppression.
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