❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for State Development regarding alleged breaches of tenement conditions by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines concerning the Fimiston I tailings dam, specifically regarding seepage and environmental impact. The Minister delays a direct response pending review of technical reports and public feedback.
AnsweredQoN 2499Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Mining Lease 26/383 owned by Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining, operated by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd, and the Fimiston I tailings dam -
(1) Is it correct that Mining Lease 26/383 has a tenement condition imposed on it which states ‘The construction and operation of the tailings dam being such as to maximise settled tailings density, minimise water seepage and to collect any such seepage and return it to the tailings dam’?
(2) If no to (1), will the Minister table a copy of all the tenement conditions on Mining Lease 26/383?
(3) If yes to (1), on what date was this condition imposed on the Mining Lease?
(4) Has the owners/operator breached the tenement condition stated in question (1) above in operating the tailings dam allowing a extensive amount of seepage since 1988 through 2004 to escape from their tenement boundaries onto the Trans Australian Railway Reserve and downstream onto Optimum Resources tenements, and given that the dam has not been operating with seepage being minimised, collected and returned to the tailings dam in accordance with the tenement condition and other written commitments contained in various documents listed in condition 11 on the mining lease?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) Will the Minister/Department immediately issue a stop work order to the owners/operators of the Tailings dam for breaching tenement condition number 22 on Mining Lease 26/383?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(8) Will the Minister/Department issue/commence forfeiture proceedings to the owners/operator for breaching tenement condition number 22 on Mining Lease 26/383 and impose the maximum penalty?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister state the rationale as to what was the specific intention when the Department recommended that condition number 22 be imposed on Mining Lease 26/383?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(1) Is it correct that Mining Lease 26/383 has a tenement condition imposed on it which states ‘The construction and operation of the tailings dam being such as to maximise settled tailings density, minimise water seepage and to collect any such seepage and return it to the tailings dam’?
(2) If no to (1), will the Minister table a copy of all the tenement conditions on Mining Lease 26/383?
(3) If yes to (1), on what date was this condition imposed on the Mining Lease?
(4) Has the owners/operator breached the tenement condition stated in question (1) above in operating the tailings dam allowing a extensive amount of seepage since 1988 through 2004 to escape from their tenement boundaries onto the Trans Australian Railway Reserve and downstream onto Optimum Resources tenements, and given that the dam has not been operating with seepage being minimised, collected and returned to the tailings dam in accordance with the tenement condition and other written commitments contained in various documents listed in condition 11 on the mining lease?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) Will the Minister/Department immediately issue a stop work order to the owners/operators of the Tailings dam for breaching tenement condition number 22 on Mining Lease 26/383?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(8) Will the Minister/Department issue/commence forfeiture proceedings to the owners/operator for breaching tenement condition number 22 on Mining Lease 26/383 and impose the maximum penalty?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Can the Minister state the rationale as to what was the specific intention when the Department recommended that condition number 22 be imposed on Mining Lease 26/383?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 November 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
27 days
The matters you raise in the series of Parliamentary Questions dated 20 October 2004 and 26 October 2004 include complex technical and legal issues with a long history of differing perspectives and interpretations. The recent completion of the independent technical review relating to the Fimiston I Tailings Storage Facility has provided a clearer understanding of the performance of that structure and the impacts on groundwater in the vicinity of the structure. The independent technical review has now been the subject of public comment which closed on 10 November 2004. The independent technical review, completed by Thompson and Brett in October 2004 is extensively quoted as a reference in the series of Parliamentary Questions. It is interesting to note that the independent technical review and the Skinner review have been criticised as a waste of taxpayer's funds. In this context it is pertinent to note that the former report is extensively quoted by the Hon member. The Government has had the courage and commitment to progress examination of the complex technical and legal issues relating to mining in Kalgoorlie in a thorough, consultative and open manner. The Final Report of the Cooke Review is relevant to many of the issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions. The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The recent completion of the independent technical review relating to the Fimiston I Tailings Storage Facility has provided a clearer understanding of the performance of that structure and the impacts on groundwater in the vicinity of the structure. The independent technical review has now been the subject of public comment which closed on 10 November 2004. The independent technical review, completed by Thompson and Brett in October 2004 is extensively quoted as a reference in the series of Parliamentary Questions. It is interesting to note that the independent technical review and the Skinner review have been criticised as a waste of taxpayer's funds. In this context it is pertinent to note that the former report is extensively quoted by the Hon member. The Government has had the courage and commitment to progress examination of the complex technical and legal issues relating to mining in Kalgoorlie in a thorough, consultative and open manner. The Final Report of the Cooke Review is relevant to many of the issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions. The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The recent completion of the independent technical review relating to the Fimiston I Tailings Storage Facility has provided a clearer understanding of the performance of that structure and the impacts on groundwater in the vicinity of the structure. The independent technical review has now been the subject of public comment which closed on 10 November 2004. The independent technical review, completed by Thompson and Brett in October 2004 is extensively quoted as a reference in the series of Parliamentary Questions. It is interesting to note that the independent technical review and the Skinner review have been criticised as a waste of taxpayer's funds. In this context it is pertinent to note that the former report is extensively quoted by the Hon member. The Government has had the courage and commitment to progress examination of the complex technical and legal issues relating to mining in Kalgoorlie in a thorough, consultative and open manner. The Final Report of the Cooke Review is relevant to many of the issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions. The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
It is interesting to note that the independent technical review and the Skinner review have been criticised as a waste of taxpayer's funds. In this context it is pertinent to note that the former report is extensively quoted by the Hon member. The Government has had the courage and commitment to progress examination of the complex technical and legal issues relating to mining in Kalgoorlie in a thorough, consultative and open manner. The Final Report of the Cooke Review is relevant to many of the issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions. The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The Final Report of the Cooke Review is relevant to many of the issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions. The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The recent completion of the independent technical review relating to the Fimiston I Tailings Storage Facility has provided a clearer understanding of the performance of that structure and the impacts on groundwater in the vicinity of the structure. The independent technical review has now been the subject of public comment which closed on 10 November 2004. The independent technical review, completed by Thompson and Brett in October 2004 is extensively quoted as a reference in the series of Parliamentary Questions. It is interesting to note that the independent technical review and the Skinner review have been criticised as a waste of taxpayer's funds. In this context it is pertinent to note that the former report is extensively quoted by the Hon member. The Government has had the courage and commitment to progress examination of the complex technical and legal issues relating to mining in Kalgoorlie in a thorough, consultative and open manner. The Final Report of the Cooke Review is relevant to many of the issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions. The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The recent completion of the independent technical review relating to the Fimiston I Tailings Storage Facility has provided a clearer understanding of the performance of that structure and the impacts on groundwater in the vicinity of the structure. The independent technical review has now been the subject of public comment which closed on 10 November 2004. The independent technical review, completed by Thompson and Brett in October 2004 is extensively quoted as a reference in the series of Parliamentary Questions. It is interesting to note that the independent technical review and the Skinner review have been criticised as a waste of taxpayer's funds. In this context it is pertinent to note that the former report is extensively quoted by the Hon member. The Government has had the courage and commitment to progress examination of the complex technical and legal issues relating to mining in Kalgoorlie in a thorough, consultative and open manner. The Final Report of the Cooke Review is relevant to many of the issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions. The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
It is interesting to note that the independent technical review and the Skinner review have been criticised as a waste of taxpayer's funds. In this context it is pertinent to note that the former report is extensively quoted by the Hon member. The Government has had the courage and commitment to progress examination of the complex technical and legal issues relating to mining in Kalgoorlie in a thorough, consultative and open manner. The Final Report of the Cooke Review is relevant to many of the issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions. The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The Final Report of the Cooke Review is relevant to many of the issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions. The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The Department of Industry and Resources is also actively working on these issues. The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The Minister for State Development notes: 1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
1) The matters raised are important matters that deserve a considered response; 2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
2) In the past there has been criticism of answers relating to these issues where Government has provided answers in a short time frame to complex situations; and 3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
3) A response will be able to be provided to the core issues raised by these questions once feedback has been received on the independent technical review and further progress made on the implementation of the Government Response to the Final Report of the Cooke Review. The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
The Minister for State Development will provide a written response to the Hon Robin Chapple on the core issues raised in the series of Parliamentary Questions once all the comments on the independent technical review have been examined and considered.
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