❓ A parliamentary question regarding the monitoring of water quality near the Hanson Red Hill Quarry, specifically concerning Susannah and Strelley Brooks, and the DEC's oversight of Hanson's environmental obligations. The DEC's response indicates reliance on Hanson's reporting, but with investigation protocols in place.
AnsweredQoN 1141Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Hanson Red Hill Quarry, and ask -
(1) Could the Minister outline the specific monitoring undertaken by the Department of Environment (DEC) to ensure local water courses including the Susannah and Strelley Brooks, are not adversely affected by the Hanson Red Hill Quarry operations?
(2) Does the DEC conduct any testing to ensure Hanson complies with undertakings to maintain the quality and quantity of water in the Susannah and Strelley Brooks?
(3) If no to (2), does the DEC rely solely on the reported results of water sampling and water testing conducted in-house by Hanson?
(4) If yes to (3), how does the DEC ensure sampling locations and methods give accurate results of any environmental hazardous event?
(5) Does the DEC consider the water sampling points used by Hanson as indicated in its PER to be appropriately located to give accurate readings of any potential changes to water quality resulting from the Red Hill Quarry operations?
(6) Does the DEC investigate reported instances of increased sediment in water courses close to the Red Hill Quarry?
(7) If yes to (6), please detail any investigations of this nature conducted by the DEC and any findings?
(1) Could the Minister outline the specific monitoring undertaken by the Department of Environment (DEC) to ensure local water courses including the Susannah and Strelley Brooks, are not adversely affected by the Hanson Red Hill Quarry operations?
(2) Does the DEC conduct any testing to ensure Hanson complies with undertakings to maintain the quality and quantity of water in the Susannah and Strelley Brooks?
(3) If no to (2), does the DEC rely solely on the reported results of water sampling and water testing conducted in-house by Hanson?
(4) If yes to (3), how does the DEC ensure sampling locations and methods give accurate results of any environmental hazardous event?
(5) Does the DEC consider the water sampling points used by Hanson as indicated in its PER to be appropriately located to give accurate readings of any potential changes to water quality resulting from the Red Hill Quarry operations?
(6) Does the DEC investigate reported instances of increased sediment in water courses close to the Red Hill Quarry?
(7) If yes to (6), please detail any investigations of this nature conducted by the DEC and any findings?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 September 2009
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
40 days
(1) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) does not undertake any specific water quality monitoring of Susannah and StrelleyBrooks.
(2) No. As required by its licence issued under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, Hanson Quarry is required to undertake monthly samples for total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, chloride, pH, oil and grease between July and October each year, in accordance with the relevant Australian standards.
The licence also requires annual reporting of monitoring results. DEC assesses these reports and any results which do not meet the relevant guidelines are investigated by DEC.
(3) See the answer to (2). It is an offence under Section 112 of the Environmental Protection Act to provide false or misleading information. Should DEC have any reason to believe the results could be outside the expected range or if any results do not meet the relevant guidelines DEC may, as part of its investigation, undertake its own sampling.
Ministerial Statement 199 (which was amended by Statement 705 of 21 December 2005) required Herne Hill Quarry Operation to prepare and implement a Drainage Management Program to the satisfaction of the Minister for the Environment on advice from the Environmental Protection Authority and the former Water Authority of Western Australia.
The Ministerial Statement also requires that drainage of the quarry site is to have no unacceptable detrimental effects on the water quality of Susannah Brook.
The quarry is also subject to conditions under its licence, which require the retention of contaminated storm water and monitoring of surface waters. The monitoring program includes sampling points both upstream and downstream of the quarry, so that any impacts on water quality from the quarry can be distinguished from impacts further up the catchment
The Hanson Quarry is required to report any discharge of waste, which has occurred as a result of an emergency, accident or malfunction otherwise than in accordance with any condition of the licence, and has caused, or is likely to cause, pollution.
(5) Yes.
(6) Yes.
(7) DEC has investigated complaints of an increase in sediment in Susannah Brook and has found the turbidity of the water, both up and down stream of the quarry, was the same.
DEC has inspected sections of Susannah Brook to find possible discharge points that may indicate sediment inputs from the quarry. DEC has also inspected Hanson Quarry and found no evidence that would indicate any illegal discharges had occurred.
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(2) No. As required by its licence issued under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, Hanson Quarry is required to undertake monthly samples for total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, chloride, pH, oil and grease between July and October each year, in accordance with the relevant Australian standards.
The licence also requires annual reporting of monitoring results. DEC assesses these reports and any results which do not meet the relevant guidelines are investigated by DEC.
(3) See the answer to (2). It is an offence under Section 112 of the Environmental Protection Act to provide false or misleading information. Should DEC have any reason to believe the results could be outside the expected range or if any results do not meet the relevant guidelines DEC may, as part of its investigation, undertake its own sampling.
Ministerial Statement 199 (which was amended by Statement 705 of 21 December 2005) required Herne Hill Quarry Operation to prepare and implement a Drainage Management Program to the satisfaction of the Minister for the Environment on advice from the Environmental Protection Authority and the former Water Authority of Western Australia.
The Ministerial Statement also requires that drainage of the quarry site is to have no unacceptable detrimental effects on the water quality of Susannah Brook.
The quarry is also subject to conditions under its licence, which require the retention of contaminated storm water and monitoring of surface waters. The monitoring program includes sampling points both upstream and downstream of the quarry, so that any impacts on water quality from the quarry can be distinguished from impacts further up the catchment
The Hanson Quarry is required to report any discharge of waste, which has occurred as a result of an emergency, accident or malfunction otherwise than in accordance with any condition of the licence, and has caused, or is likely to cause, pollution.
(5) Yes.
(6) Yes.
(7) DEC has investigated complaints of an increase in sediment in Susannah Brook and has found the turbidity of the water, both up and down stream of the quarry, was the same.
DEC has inspected sections of Susannah Brook to find possible discharge points that may indicate sediment inputs from the quarry. DEC has also inspected Hanson Quarry and found no evidence that would indicate any illegal discharges had occurred.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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