❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Department of Environment (DoE) regarding alleged environmental harm caused by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) to trees near tailings dams, questioning why no action has been taken despite prior reports.
AnsweredQoN 2877Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a pamphlet dated August 2003 titled ‘Environmental Harm a new offence under the
Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2002
’ and a letter which I understand is dated August 29 2005 signed by Acting Director General, Department of Environment (DoE) titled ‘Various Issues relating to Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) Works Approval Application for the raise of the Fimiston I Tailings storage facility’ -
(1) Can the Minister explain why the DoE repeatedly over the past 11 years has allowed hundreds of trees to be stressed and die in the area, between the Oroya, Fimiston I and Fimiston II tailings dam which is pollution under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
with the trees being progressively being cut down to hide the damage and pollution when these matters have been identified in the Cooke Report, the Thompson and Brett Report and Departmental correspondence?
(2) If no to (2), why not?
(3) Will the DoE prosecute KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm in allowing trees to be stressed and dying caused by seepage emissions in the area between the Oroya, Fimiston I and Fimiston II tailings dams?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2002
’ and a letter which I understand is dated August 29 2005 signed by Acting Director General, Department of Environment (DoE) titled ‘Various Issues relating to Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) Works Approval Application for the raise of the Fimiston I Tailings storage facility’ -
(1) Can the Minister explain why the DoE repeatedly over the past 11 years has allowed hundreds of trees to be stressed and die in the area, between the Oroya, Fimiston I and Fimiston II tailings dam which is pollution under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
with the trees being progressively being cut down to hide the damage and pollution when these matters have been identified in the Cooke Report, the Thompson and Brett Report and Departmental correspondence?
(2) If no to (2), why not?
(3) Will the DoE prosecute KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm in allowing trees to be stressed and dying caused by seepage emissions in the area between the Oroya, Fimiston I and Fimiston II tailings dams?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 March 2006
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
124 days
The Minister for the Environment; Science has provided the following response: (1) The Thompson and Brett report identifies that there has been an, " identifiable loss of mature trees in the root zone previously affected by elevated water tables but without testing it is not possible at this stage to prove the cause of death ". It also states that " Some existing trees in the area appear noticeably stressed or recovering from previous stress. This impact has now been controlled by reducing high groundwater levels ". (2) Refer to Question 1. (3) The DoE does not have any current investigations into KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm, by way of seepage emissions. (4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
(1) The Thompson and Brett report identifies that there has been an, " identifiable loss of mature trees in the root zone previously affected by elevated water tables but without testing it is not possible at this stage to prove the cause of death ". It also states that " Some existing trees in the area appear noticeably stressed or recovering from previous stress. This impact has now been controlled by reducing high groundwater levels ". (2) Refer to Question 1. (3) The DoE does not have any current investigations into KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm, by way of seepage emissions. (4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
It also states that " Some existing trees in the area appear noticeably stressed or recovering from previous stress. This impact has now been controlled by reducing high groundwater levels ". (2) Refer to Question 1. (3) The DoE does not have any current investigations into KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm, by way of seepage emissions. (4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
(2) Refer to Question 1. (3) The DoE does not have any current investigations into KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm, by way of seepage emissions. (4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
(3) The DoE does not have any current investigations into KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm, by way of seepage emissions. (4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
(4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
(1) The Thompson and Brett report identifies that there has been an, " identifiable loss of mature trees in the root zone previously affected by elevated water tables but without testing it is not possible at this stage to prove the cause of death ". It also states that " Some existing trees in the area appear noticeably stressed or recovering from previous stress. This impact has now been controlled by reducing high groundwater levels ". (2) Refer to Question 1. (3) The DoE does not have any current investigations into KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm, by way of seepage emissions. (4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
It also states that " Some existing trees in the area appear noticeably stressed or recovering from previous stress. This impact has now been controlled by reducing high groundwater levels ". (2) Refer to Question 1. (3) The DoE does not have any current investigations into KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm, by way of seepage emissions. (4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
(2) Refer to Question 1. (3) The DoE does not have any current investigations into KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm, by way of seepage emissions. (4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
(3) The DoE does not have any current investigations into KCGM for causing pollution or environmental harm, by way of seepage emissions. (4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
(4) The DoE conducts investigations into potential breaches of legislation or licence conditions in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy. In this case the DoE does not consider that there has been a breach of legislation or licence.
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.