❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for the Environment and Heritage regarding alleged pollution from Total Waste Management in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Department's response. The Minister responds that no license conditions were breached and prosecution is not warranted.
AnsweredQoN 662Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a newspaper article dated April 2 2003 which appeared in the
Kalgoorlie Miner
concerning the toxic Total Waste Management Facility in Kalgoorlie-Boulder titled ‘Its just disgusting and its killing us, Driven out of home’ -
(1) Can the Minister state how many days the Department of Protection is going to continue to allow Total Waste Management to cause pollution breaching the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
with the odour from these premises which is severely affecting the health, welfare, convenience, comfort and amenity of the Miller family and others?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Will the Minister or the Department of Environmental Protection prosecute Total Waste Management for causing pollution with odour given that it is seriously affecting the health, welfare, convenience, comfort and amenity of the Miller family and others?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
Kalgoorlie Miner
concerning the toxic Total Waste Management Facility in Kalgoorlie-Boulder titled ‘Its just disgusting and its killing us, Driven out of home’ -
(1) Can the Minister state how many days the Department of Protection is going to continue to allow Total Waste Management to cause pollution breaching the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
with the odour from these premises which is severely affecting the health, welfare, convenience, comfort and amenity of the Miller family and others?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Will the Minister or the Department of Environmental Protection prosecute Total Waste Management for causing pollution with odour given that it is seriously affecting the health, welfare, convenience, comfort and amenity of the Miller family and others?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 May 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
36 days
(1) Total Waste Management has not breached any licence conditions since the commencement of de-sludging operations in February 2003. De-sludging operations ceased on 7 April 2003 and odours that appear to have been associated with the de-sludging appear to have reduced since then. I am advised that de-sludging is a maintenance operation conducted over a relatively short period of time every few years. (2) Answered by (1). (3) I am advised that there is no basis to initiate prosecution of Total Waste Management for breach of licence conditions relating to de-sludging activities commenced in February 2003. Also, Section 49(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 allows consideration of unreasonable emissions for prosecution.. This section defines an unreasonable emission as one which “unreasonably interferes with the health, welfare, convenience, comfort or amenity of any person”. Each odour incident that may have caused an unreasonable emission is examined as to potential contraventions of the Act. Enforcement action is taken in accordance with the Department’s enforcement policy. I am advised that there is no basis to initiate prosecution of Total Waste Management in this instance. (4) Answered by (3).
Also, Section 49(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 allows consideration of unreasonable emissions for prosecution.. This section defines an unreasonable emission as one which “unreasonably interferes with the health, welfare, convenience, comfort or amenity of any person”. Each odour incident that may have caused an unreasonable emission is examined as to potential contraventions of the Act. Enforcement action is taken in accordance with the Department’s enforcement policy. I am advised that there is no basis to initiate prosecution of Total Waste Management in this instance. (4) Answered by (3).
Also, Section 49(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 allows consideration of unreasonable emissions for prosecution.. This section defines an unreasonable emission as one which “unreasonably interferes with the health, welfare, convenience, comfort or amenity of any person”. Each odour incident that may have caused an unreasonable emission is examined as to potential contraventions of the Act. Enforcement action is taken in accordance with the Department’s enforcement policy. I am advised that there is no basis to initiate prosecution of Total Waste Management in this instance. (4) Answered by (3).
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