❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the State Development Minister regarding seepage and stability concerns related to the Fimiston I tailings dam, specifically its impact on the water table and Bulong Road. The Minister declines to answer, citing the ongoing Cooke Inquiry.
AnsweredQoN 1378Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Fimiston I tailings dam operated by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd for Barrick Mines and Newmont Mining -
(1) Is it correct that the water table in 1994 had risen as a consequence of seepage from the Fimiston I tailings dam where there were damp areas along proportions of the toe of the northern and southern walls of Fimiston I?
(2) If no to (1), what is specifically correct?
(3) Is it correct that in 1994 and 1995 there was free water in sections of the diversion drain and the damp patches as a consequence of seepage extended across Bulong Road which is a major public access road?
(4) If no to (3), what is specifically correct?
(5) Has seepage from the Fimiston I tailings dam since the dam was commenced caused the water table to rise where damp areas were present on Bulong Road itself and across Bulong Road?
(6) If yes to (5), on what date did this occur?
(7) What is the current depth to groundwater in metres below the surface on Bulong Road in closest proximity to the Fimiston I tailings dam?
(8) Did the owner/operator of the Fimiston I tailings dam give any serious consideration to aspects of seepage and stability when the notice of intent was first lodged with the department for approval prior to construction?
(9) If no to (8), why didn’t the department prior to approving the project make sure that the owner/operator did give serious consideration to aspects of seepage and stability?
(10) If yes to (8), what were those specific considerations in relation to aspects of seepage and stability?
(11) Can the Minister state what was the depth to the groundwater in metres below the surface prior to the construction of the Fimiston I tailings dam at the specific location covering the entire areas of Bulong Road, Trans Australian National Railway Line and the specific area under the Fimiston I tailings dam?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(1) Is it correct that the water table in 1994 had risen as a consequence of seepage from the Fimiston I tailings dam where there were damp areas along proportions of the toe of the northern and southern walls of Fimiston I?
(2) If no to (1), what is specifically correct?
(3) Is it correct that in 1994 and 1995 there was free water in sections of the diversion drain and the damp patches as a consequence of seepage extended across Bulong Road which is a major public access road?
(4) If no to (3), what is specifically correct?
(5) Has seepage from the Fimiston I tailings dam since the dam was commenced caused the water table to rise where damp areas were present on Bulong Road itself and across Bulong Road?
(6) If yes to (5), on what date did this occur?
(7) What is the current depth to groundwater in metres below the surface on Bulong Road in closest proximity to the Fimiston I tailings dam?
(8) Did the owner/operator of the Fimiston I tailings dam give any serious consideration to aspects of seepage and stability when the notice of intent was first lodged with the department for approval prior to construction?
(9) If no to (8), why didn’t the department prior to approving the project make sure that the owner/operator did give serious consideration to aspects of seepage and stability?
(10) If yes to (8), what were those specific considerations in relation to aspects of seepage and stability?
(11) Can the Minister state what was the depth to the groundwater in metres below the surface prior to the construction of the Fimiston I tailings dam at the specific location covering the entire areas of Bulong Road, Trans Australian National Railway Line and the specific area under the Fimiston I tailings dam?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 December 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
39 days
(1)-(12) The questions asked and the issues raised are the subject of the Cooke Inquiry. The Minister for State Development understands that the final report on the Inquiry is going to be released soon and he does not wish to pre-empt its findings.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.