❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for the Environment and Heritage regarding potential pollution from the Eureka Gold Mine, specifically concerning salt mobilisation and the integrity of evaporation ponds. The Minister's response indicates a change in ownership and a shift in regulatory responsibility to the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
AnsweredQoN 113Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a letter dated November 21 2000 titled ‘Eureka Gold Mine’ signed by Merv Stokes for Fred Tromp, Director Pollution Prevention Division reference KG125/94 -
(1) Can the Minister explain the rationale and reasons why ‘there is a potential for pollution to occur if heavy rains mobilise the salt into the vegetated area’?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) Can the Minister explain why it was a concern to state ‘Salt leaching is evident on the walls of the evaporation pond and the integrity and stability of the walls is also of concern’?
(4) If not, why not?
(5) Can the Minister explain why the department requested ‘that salt be removed from both the access roads’ and ‘the evaporation and holding ponds’?
(6) If not, why not?
(7) Has all the work outlined in the above letter been undertaken?
(1) Can the Minister explain the rationale and reasons why ‘there is a potential for pollution to occur if heavy rains mobilise the salt into the vegetated area’?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) Can the Minister explain why it was a concern to state ‘Salt leaching is evident on the walls of the evaporation pond and the integrity and stability of the walls is also of concern’?
(4) If not, why not?
(5) Can the Minister explain why the department requested ‘that salt be removed from both the access roads’ and ‘the evaporation and holding ponds’?
(6) If not, why not?
(7) Has all the work outlined in the above letter been undertaken?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
28 August 2001
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
28 days
(2) N/A (3) The bund walls showed evidence of damage and having being breached previously. Very poorly constructed walls would lead to further breaching and mobilisation of salt into adjacent vegetated areas. As the integrity of the walls is in question, there is a potential for further leaching to occur through walls following heavy rains and the potential to mobilise salts into the adjacent vegetated areas. (4) N/A (5) Further rains would mobilise salt into the adjacent vegetated areas. The breached walls would also enable the salt in the evaporation ponds to spread into the adjacent vegetation areas. (6) N/A (7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
(3) The bund walls showed evidence of damage and having being breached previously. Very poorly constructed walls would lead to further breaching and mobilisation of salt into adjacent vegetated areas. As the integrity of the walls is in question, there is a potential for further leaching to occur through walls following heavy rains and the potential to mobilise salts into the adjacent vegetated areas. (4) N/A (5) Further rains would mobilise salt into the adjacent vegetated areas. The breached walls would also enable the salt in the evaporation ponds to spread into the adjacent vegetation areas. (6) N/A (7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
(4) N/A (5) Further rains would mobilise salt into the adjacent vegetated areas. The breached walls would also enable the salt in the evaporation ponds to spread into the adjacent vegetation areas. (6) N/A (7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
(5) Further rains would mobilise salt into the adjacent vegetated areas. The breached walls would also enable the salt in the evaporation ponds to spread into the adjacent vegetation areas. (6) N/A (7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
(6) N/A (7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
(7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
(3) The bund walls showed evidence of damage and having being breached previously. Very poorly constructed walls would lead to further breaching and mobilisation of salt into adjacent vegetated areas. As the integrity of the walls is in question, there is a potential for further leaching to occur through walls following heavy rains and the potential to mobilise salts into the adjacent vegetated areas. (4) N/A (5) Further rains would mobilise salt into the adjacent vegetated areas. The breached walls would also enable the salt in the evaporation ponds to spread into the adjacent vegetation areas. (6) N/A (7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
(4) N/A (5) Further rains would mobilise salt into the adjacent vegetated areas. The breached walls would also enable the salt in the evaporation ponds to spread into the adjacent vegetation areas. (6) N/A (7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
(5) Further rains would mobilise salt into the adjacent vegetated areas. The breached walls would also enable the salt in the evaporation ponds to spread into the adjacent vegetation areas. (6) N/A (7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
(6) N/A (7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
(7) The Department of Environmental Protection has been advised that the premises has changed ownership and mining activities will proceed. As these operations do not require licensing under the Environmental Protection Regulations, ongoing management of these premises is the responsibility of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
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