❓ Two parliamentary questions on notice are presented. The first, regarding karri forest management, is deferred due to time constraints. The second concerns potential hydraulic fracking impacts on Derby's drinking water, with the Minister outlining regulatory oversight and company responsibility.
AnsweredQoN 982Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENT
— KARRI FORESTS
982. Hon DARREN WEST to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to question on notice 1015 in the other place. Of the
49 950 hectares of post clear-felling regrowth karri available for wood
production —
(a) how many
hectares date from clear-felling conducted before selective logging was
introduced in about 1940;
(b) how much of this regrowth has been thinned;
(c) how many
hectares date from clear-felling conducted after the practice was reintroduced
in 1967; and
(d) how much of this regrowth has been thinned?
— KARRI FORESTS
982. Hon DARREN WEST to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to question on notice 1015 in the other place. Of the
49 950 hectares of post clear-felling regrowth karri available for wood
production —
(a) how many
hectares date from clear-felling conducted before selective logging was
introduced in about 1940;
(b) how much of this regrowth has been thinned;
(c) how many
hectares date from clear-felling conducted after the practice was reintroduced
in 1967; and
(d) how much of this regrowth has been thinned?
AnswerView source ↗
The Minister for Environment has provided the following
response.
It is not possible to provide the information in the time
available and I request that the honourable member place the question on
notice.
DERBY BLOCK TENEMENT — HYDRAULIC FRACKING
983. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the
minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
With regard to a proposal by Oil Basins Ltd to explore for
coal seam gas, tight gas and unconventional shale gas in the area known as the ''Derby
Block'' tenement using the hydraulic stimulation or hydraulic fracturing
process —
(1) Will the
exploration wells and, potentially, production wells be drilled through the
Derby drinking water aquifer and will these wells be fracked?
(2) If there
is a leak from the wells into the drinking water aquifer, who will be
responsible for its containment and clean up?
(3) Who is
responsible for monitoring the drilling and for safeguarding the drinking water
of Derby townsfolk?
(4) Which
method will Oil Basins Ltd use to transport its gas and oil?
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied:
On behalf of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, I thank the honourable
member for some notice of the question.
The Department of Mines and Petroleum advises that Oil Basins
Ltd and Backreef Oil Pty Ltd are the preferred applicants for petroleum title 5–07/8
PP in the Canning Basin, which is currently progressing through native title
future act processes, prior to a decision to grant an exploration permit.
(1) It is
possible that exploration drilling applications will be to drill through
potable aquifers. Whether hydraulic fracture stimulation is required will
depend on the results from the initial exploration drilling. All activities
will have to be approved by the Department of Mines and Petroleum to ensure
risks are minimised and acceptable. Approval will be given to drill wells only
if the risk of contaminating an aquifer is acceptably low to negligible. If
there is an accident, the permit holder is responsible for containment and
clean-up.
(2) It is the
permit holder.
(3) The permit
holder is required to monitor impacts on and to safeguard drinking water and
report results to the Department of Mines and Petroleum, which also ensures
compliance with regulations and environmental plans.
(4) This is a
decision for the company to make in discussion with government.
response.
It is not possible to provide the information in the time
available and I request that the honourable member place the question on
notice.
DERBY BLOCK TENEMENT — HYDRAULIC FRACKING
983. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the
minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
With regard to a proposal by Oil Basins Ltd to explore for
coal seam gas, tight gas and unconventional shale gas in the area known as the ''Derby
Block'' tenement using the hydraulic stimulation or hydraulic fracturing
process —
(1) Will the
exploration wells and, potentially, production wells be drilled through the
Derby drinking water aquifer and will these wells be fracked?
(2) If there
is a leak from the wells into the drinking water aquifer, who will be
responsible for its containment and clean up?
(3) Who is
responsible for monitoring the drilling and for safeguarding the drinking water
of Derby townsfolk?
(4) Which
method will Oil Basins Ltd use to transport its gas and oil?
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN replied:
On behalf of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, I thank the honourable
member for some notice of the question.
The Department of Mines and Petroleum advises that Oil Basins
Ltd and Backreef Oil Pty Ltd are the preferred applicants for petroleum title 5–07/8
PP in the Canning Basin, which is currently progressing through native title
future act processes, prior to a decision to grant an exploration permit.
(1) It is
possible that exploration drilling applications will be to drill through
potable aquifers. Whether hydraulic fracture stimulation is required will
depend on the results from the initial exploration drilling. All activities
will have to be approved by the Department of Mines and Petroleum to ensure
risks are minimised and acceptable. Approval will be given to drill wells only
if the risk of contaminating an aquifer is acceptably low to negligible. If
there is an accident, the permit holder is responsible for containment and
clean-up.
(2) It is the
permit holder.
(3) The permit
holder is required to monitor impacts on and to safeguard drinking water and
report results to the Department of Mines and Petroleum, which also ensures
compliance with regulations and environmental plans.
(4) This is a
decision for the company to make in discussion with government.
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