❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice from Hon Robin Chapple to the Minister for Regional Development regarding information provided by the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission (GEDC) concerning mining operations, particularly KCGM's Super Pit, and infrastructure projects in the Goldfields region. The questions probe the accuracy of information provided by the GEDC CEO and seek details on project planning and costs.
AnsweredQoN 5106Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answers for questions on notice No. 4193, dated 26 May 2011, No. 3826, dated 12 April 2011, the proposed Lucknow, Phar lap, Milanese Open cuts, the Westralia Lode gold mineralization, the gold resources known as Sons of Gwalia, Charlotte Fault and Golden Dream located close to the Trans Australian Railway line in the vicinity of the Mt Charlotte/Cassidy mining operations owned by Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining managed by KCGM and the Goldfields Esperance Region 2010-2020 Strategic Plan produced by the Goldfields Esperance Development Commission (GEDC), and I ask -
(1) Can the Minister explain the importance and relevance of all staff, including the staff of the GEDC, providing accurate and precise information to the Minister with respect to all ministerial correspondence and any parliamentary questions?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the Minister support staff from the GEDC providing incorrect and misleading information to the Minister and the Minister's staff in relation to the answers provided for question on No. 4193, dated 26 May 2011?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) In relation to the answer for question on notice No. 4193, part (4), does the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GEDC deny that Mr Russell Cole from KCGM visited the GEDC offices on 20 May 2011 and told a group of people that the life expectancy of the super pit was at least 2030 and can be pushed out to the year 2040 and beyond?
(6) If yes to (5), what did Mr Russell Cole precisely tell the GEDC in relation to this matter?
(7) What is the penalty, if any, for a CEO providing incorrect and misleading information to a Minister in answers to parliamentary questions or in ministerial correspondence or memorandums?
(8) Does the CEO of the GEDC deny that a senior Barrick employee/staff member visited the GEDC on 7 April 2011 and explained that the gold resources of the Kalgoorlie super pit are enough to have a life expectancy of around the year 2040?
(9) If yes to (8), what did the senior Barrick person precisely advise the GEDC of the gold resources and life expectancy of the super pit mine?
(10) Does the CEO of the GEDC deny that Mr Russell Cole told a group of people on 20 May 2011 that KCGM had discovered a new large ore body in the Mt Percy/Williamstown area located in the area of the old Mt Percy Pits, previously missed by the open cut mining and exploration in the early to mid 1990's?
(11) If yes to (10), what did Mr Russell Cole precisely tell the GEDC in relation to this matter?
(12) Does the CEO of the GEDC deny that Mr Russell Cole told a group of people on 20 May 2011 that KCGM was embarking on seeking the approval of the owners of the super pit, Barrick and Newmont, to agree to spend up to $300 million on a new gold roaster to reduce sulphur dioxide and mercury emissions in the Goldfields region?
(13) If yes to (12), what did Mr Russell Cole precisely tell the GEDC in relation to this matter?
(14) What are the estimated costs for constructing the 'proposed intermodal freight facility' in the Kalgoorlie area?
(15) Can the Minister indicate -
(a) what detailed planning has been undertaken for the proposed 'new rail realignment around Kalgoorlie' and 'proposed intermodal freight facility' as part of the $5 million allocated; and
(b) why no detailed consultation with the local community outside of government agencies on a broad scale has been initiated?
(16) If no to (15)(a) and (b), why not?
(17) Does the Minister still anticipate that the 'Port Link Proposal' costings and information will be submitted to State Cabinet for approval in the year 2012 well before the next State election?
(18) If no to (17), why not?
(19) If yes to (17), how far advanced are the planning costs of implementing the Port Link Proposal?
(20) Can the Minister advise what the GEDC was precisely told by Mr Russell Cole on 20 May 2011 in relation to the proposed even time working hours roster position of KCGM, Barrick and Newmont for the employees in the super pit operations?
(21) If no to (20), why not?
(22) Can the Minister advise what the GEDC was precisely told by Mr Russell Cole on 20 May 2011 in relation to how he reports to both owners Barrick and Newmont when he attends any meetings on behalf of KCGM?
(23) If no to (22), why not?
(1) Can the Minister explain the importance and relevance of all staff, including the staff of the GEDC, providing accurate and precise information to the Minister with respect to all ministerial correspondence and any parliamentary questions?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the Minister support staff from the GEDC providing incorrect and misleading information to the Minister and the Minister's staff in relation to the answers provided for question on No. 4193, dated 26 May 2011?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) In relation to the answer for question on notice No. 4193, part (4), does the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GEDC deny that Mr Russell Cole from KCGM visited the GEDC offices on 20 May 2011 and told a group of people that the life expectancy of the super pit was at least 2030 and can be pushed out to the year 2040 and beyond?
(6) If yes to (5), what did Mr Russell Cole precisely tell the GEDC in relation to this matter?
(7) What is the penalty, if any, for a CEO providing incorrect and misleading information to a Minister in answers to parliamentary questions or in ministerial correspondence or memorandums?
(8) Does the CEO of the GEDC deny that a senior Barrick employee/staff member visited the GEDC on 7 April 2011 and explained that the gold resources of the Kalgoorlie super pit are enough to have a life expectancy of around the year 2040?
(9) If yes to (8), what did the senior Barrick person precisely advise the GEDC of the gold resources and life expectancy of the super pit mine?
(10) Does the CEO of the GEDC deny that Mr Russell Cole told a group of people on 20 May 2011 that KCGM had discovered a new large ore body in the Mt Percy/Williamstown area located in the area of the old Mt Percy Pits, previously missed by the open cut mining and exploration in the early to mid 1990's?
(11) If yes to (10), what did Mr Russell Cole precisely tell the GEDC in relation to this matter?
(12) Does the CEO of the GEDC deny that Mr Russell Cole told a group of people on 20 May 2011 that KCGM was embarking on seeking the approval of the owners of the super pit, Barrick and Newmont, to agree to spend up to $300 million on a new gold roaster to reduce sulphur dioxide and mercury emissions in the Goldfields region?
(13) If yes to (12), what did Mr Russell Cole precisely tell the GEDC in relation to this matter?
(14) What are the estimated costs for constructing the 'proposed intermodal freight facility' in the Kalgoorlie area?
(15) Can the Minister indicate -
(a) what detailed planning has been undertaken for the proposed 'new rail realignment around Kalgoorlie' and 'proposed intermodal freight facility' as part of the $5 million allocated; and
(b) why no detailed consultation with the local community outside of government agencies on a broad scale has been initiated?
(16) If no to (15)(a) and (b), why not?
(17) Does the Minister still anticipate that the 'Port Link Proposal' costings and information will be submitted to State Cabinet for approval in the year 2012 well before the next State election?
(18) If no to (17), why not?
(19) If yes to (17), how far advanced are the planning costs of implementing the Port Link Proposal?
(20) Can the Minister advise what the GEDC was precisely told by Mr Russell Cole on 20 May 2011 in relation to the proposed even time working hours roster position of KCGM, Barrick and Newmont for the employees in the super pit operations?
(21) If no to (20), why not?
(22) Can the Minister advise what the GEDC was precisely told by Mr Russell Cole on 20 May 2011 in relation to how he reports to both owners Barrick and Newmont when he attends any meetings on behalf of KCGM?
(23) If no to (22), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2012
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Regional Development
Response time
56 days
Answer
(1) - (4) Staff of the GEDC are aware of the importance of providing accurate and precise information to the Minister.
(5) & (6) Mr Russell Cole did visit the GEDC Offices on 20 May 2011. The GEDC CEO does not recall the precise words used by Mr Cole however recalls comment that the super pit operations 'may' have a life expectancy beyond 2021. Given that previous reported life expectancy deadlines had been passed, there is community speculation that the life expectancy could go beyond 2021.
(7) Not applicable
(8) & (9) A senior Barrick employee did visit the GEDC on 7 April 2011. The CEO recalls the Barrick employee came to announce his transfer from the Kanowna Belle operations to the Barrick Perth head office. The CEO has no recollection of the discussion being around the super pit operations.
(10) & (11) The GEDC CEO cannot recall any discussion around any discovery of a new large ore body in the Mt Percy/Williamstown area. The CEO does recall Mr Cole stating that KCGM had one drill rig operating in that area at the time.
(12) & (13) The GEDC CEO has no recollection of a discussion around the issue of $300 million for a new gold roaster.
(14) Estimated construction costs will be determined once the Portlinks Study, now underway, is completed.
(15) - (19) The Portlinks Study is now underway using a $5 million Royalties for Regions budget allocation. An additional $2 million has been provided by the Commonwealth to assist the planning process.
(20) - (23) The GEDC CEO does not recall precisely what was said by Mr Russell Cole in relation to these matters.
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(1) - (4) Staff of the GEDC are aware of the importance of providing accurate and precise information to the Minister.
(5) & (6) Mr Russell Cole did visit the GEDC Offices on 20 May 2011. The GEDC CEO does not recall the precise words used by Mr Cole however recalls comment that the super pit operations 'may' have a life expectancy beyond 2021. Given that previous reported life expectancy deadlines had been passed, there is community speculation that the life expectancy could go beyond 2021.
(7) Not applicable
(8) & (9) A senior Barrick employee did visit the GEDC on 7 April 2011. The CEO recalls the Barrick employee came to announce his transfer from the Kanowna Belle operations to the Barrick Perth head office. The CEO has no recollection of the discussion being around the super pit operations.
(10) & (11) The GEDC CEO cannot recall any discussion around any discovery of a new large ore body in the Mt Percy/Williamstown area. The CEO does recall Mr Cole stating that KCGM had one drill rig operating in that area at the time.
(12) & (13) The GEDC CEO has no recollection of a discussion around the issue of $300 million for a new gold roaster.
(14) Estimated construction costs will be determined once the Portlinks Study, now underway, is completed.
(15) - (19) The Portlinks Study is now underway using a $5 million Royalties for Regions budget allocation. An additional $2 million has been provided by the Commonwealth to assist the planning process.
(20) - (23) The GEDC CEO does not recall precisely what was said by Mr Russell Cole in relation to these matters.
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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