❓ Question regarding the disposal of waste, including carcasses, wastewater, manure and fellmongering products, at the Kimberley Meat Company abattoir, which is currently under external administration. The Minister provides information on waste management practices and ongoing discussions with relevant departments and administrators.
AnsweredQoN 2029Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the report of 400 dead cattle at the Kimberley Meat Company
abattoir and the Minister for Agriculture and Food's response to question on notice 1892, and I ask: (a) have the piles of carcasses filmed by the ABC been removed from the abattoir site; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) if yes to (a), when were the piles removed and how were they disposed of; (d) if the piles of carcasses have not been removed, will the abattoir owners be directed to remove them; (e) if no to (d), why not; (f) if yes to (d), how will they be directed to dispose of them; (g) will the Minister table all annual reports for the abattoir; (h) where and how is the wastewater disposed of; (i) has any wastewater entered adjacent waterways, wetlands or groundwater; (j) where and how is manure disposed of; (k) where are the fellmongering products disposed of; (l) has the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation investigation into this matter, to determine whether activities are compliant or non-compliant, been finalised; (m) if yes to (l), what did the investigation find; (n) if yes to (l), will the Minister table the investigation report; and (o) if no to (n), why not?
abattoir and the Minister for Agriculture and Food's response to question on notice 1892, and I ask: (a) have the piles of carcasses filmed by the ABC been removed from the abattoir site; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) if yes to (a), when were the piles removed and how were they disposed of; (d) if the piles of carcasses have not been removed, will the abattoir owners be directed to remove them; (e) if no to (d), why not; (f) if yes to (d), how will they be directed to dispose of them; (g) will the Minister table all annual reports for the abattoir; (h) where and how is the wastewater disposed of; (i) has any wastewater entered adjacent waterways, wetlands or groundwater; (j) where and how is manure disposed of; (k) where are the fellmongering products disposed of; (l) has the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation investigation into this matter, to determine whether activities are compliant or non-compliant, been finalised; (m) if yes to (l), what did the investigation find; (n) if yes to (l), will the Minister table the investigation report; and (o) if no to (n), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 June 2024
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment
Response time
12 days
a) There is waste stockpile comprised mostly of bone waste from abattoir processing operations, not full cattle carcasses.
b) Kimberley Meat Company (KMC) is currently under external administration The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is currently working with KMC’s external administrators to determine how this waste can be disposed of lawfully. The environmental risk of delays in the removal and disposal of this waste is considered to be low, given that the waste stockpile is comprised mostly of bone waste from abattoir processing operations, not full cattle carcasses.
c) Not applicable
d) DWER is currently in discussions with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the external administrators about appropriate disposal options for the bone waste.
e) Not applicable
f) See response to d)
g) All Annual Audit Compliance Reports (AACRs) and Annual Environmental Reports (AERs) submitted by KMC, since the Licence was granted on 31 October 2016, have been provided for tabling.
h) The facility is currently not operating. The Licence requires all wastewater to pass through a treatment system for disposal off-site to a licensed waste facility.
i) No
j)-k) The facility is currently not operating. The Licence requires all manure and fellmongering waste to be disposed of off-site to a licensed waste facility.
l) No
m) Not applicable
n) Not applicable
o) Not applicable
b) Kimberley Meat Company (KMC) is currently under external administration The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) is currently working with KMC’s external administrators to determine how this waste can be disposed of lawfully. The environmental risk of delays in the removal and disposal of this waste is considered to be low, given that the waste stockpile is comprised mostly of bone waste from abattoir processing operations, not full cattle carcasses.
c) Not applicable
d) DWER is currently in discussions with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the external administrators about appropriate disposal options for the bone waste.
e) Not applicable
f) See response to d)
g) All Annual Audit Compliance Reports (AACRs) and Annual Environmental Reports (AERs) submitted by KMC, since the Licence was granted on 31 October 2016, have been provided for tabling.
h) The facility is currently not operating. The Licence requires all wastewater to pass through a treatment system for disposal off-site to a licensed waste facility.
i) No
j)-k) The facility is currently not operating. The Licence requires all manure and fellmongering waste to be disposed of off-site to a licensed waste facility.
l) No
m) Not applicable
n) Not applicable
o) Not applicable
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