❓ Hon Tom Helm questions the Minister for the Environment regarding water management and tailings mobilisation concerns at the Big Bell Gold Mine, referencing a letter from the Department of Environmental Protection. The Minister confirms the department's concerns regarding excessive water volume and potential contamination from historic tailings.
AnsweredQoN 896Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
896. Hon Tom Helm to the Attorney General representing the Minister for the Environment:
I refer to a letter dated May 25 1998 signed by Alan Bradley for Andrew Baker, Director Pollution Prevention Division addressed to Mr Ross Bailey, Wirralie Gold Mines Pty Ltd titled Big Bell Tailings Structures - Water Management -
(1) Can the Minister for the Environment advise why the volume of water in the TSF and that collected in the drainage system was still of concern?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) Can the Minister advise why the historic tailings at the site remain a concern due to their ability to become mobilised through storm events?
(4) If not, why not?
I refer to a letter dated May 25 1998 signed by Alan Bradley for Andrew Baker, Director Pollution Prevention Division addressed to Mr Ross Bailey, Wirralie Gold Mines Pty Ltd titled Big Bell Tailings Structures - Water Management -
(1) Can the Minister for the Environment advise why the volume of water in the TSF and that collected in the drainage system was still of concern?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) Can the Minister advise why the historic tailings at the site remain a concern due to their ability to become mobilised through storm events?
(4) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 November 2000
Response time
61 days
The Minister Replied:
(1) The inspection of the Big Bell tailings dam on 14 May 1998 found an excessive volume of free water on the tailings dam which was likely to contribute to the continuing seepage collected outside of the dam. The department was concerned that water management practices at the Big Bell mine were not minimising but were contributing to the seepage management problem at the tailings dam.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The mobilisation of tailings from the historic tailings deposit at Big Bell remained a concern to the department as this material had the potential to contaminate a creek system draining north of the mine site. The drains along the boundary of the historic tailings deposit were nearing capacity and the department was concerned that a storm event may result in a breach of the drainage system.
(4) Not applicable.
(1) The inspection of the Big Bell tailings dam on 14 May 1998 found an excessive volume of free water on the tailings dam which was likely to contribute to the continuing seepage collected outside of the dam. The department was concerned that water management practices at the Big Bell mine were not minimising but were contributing to the seepage management problem at the tailings dam.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The mobilisation of tailings from the historic tailings deposit at Big Bell remained a concern to the department as this material had the potential to contaminate a creek system draining north of the mine site. The drains along the boundary of the historic tailings deposit were nearing capacity and the department was concerned that a storm event may result in a breach of the drainage system.
(4) Not applicable.
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