❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about breached tailings dams, heavy metal contamination, and potential risks to livestock and native fauna. The Minister acknowledges the breach was repaired but lacks data on water contamination levels and has requested an update from the mining tenement holder.
AnsweredQoN 18Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of Environment and Conservation's contaminated site report on the land described as "Approximate spatial representation of part of Mining Tenements M15/497 and M15/498, located within Lot 101 on Plan 238594 as shown on certificate of title LR3135/691", and I ask:
(a) is the Minister aware that tailings dams on this land have been breached;
(b) is the Minister aware that heavy metal contaminated water flows from the tailings dam on to surrounding land;
(c) is the Minister aware that grazing livestock and native fauna have access to this leaked contaminated water;
(d) is the Minister concerned that heavy metals may enter the food chain through these grazing livestock;
(e) if yes to (c) and (d), what action does the Minister propose to protect the grazing livestock; and
(f) if no to (a), (b) or (c), will the Minister undertake an urgent investigation into these matters?
(a) is the Minister aware that tailings dams on this land have been breached;
(b) is the Minister aware that heavy metal contaminated water flows from the tailings dam on to surrounding land;
(c) is the Minister aware that grazing livestock and native fauna have access to this leaked contaminated water;
(d) is the Minister concerned that heavy metals may enter the food chain through these grazing livestock;
(e) if yes to (c) and (d), what action does the Minister propose to protect the grazing livestock; and
(f) if no to (a), (b) or (c), will the Minister undertake an urgent investigation into these matters?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 June 2013
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
28 days
The Minister for Environment has provided the following response.
(a) Yes. However, the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) has
advised the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) that the breach in
the tailings dam bund was repaired by the current mining tenement holder, to
DMP's satisfaction, in February 2013.
(b)-(d) DEC holds no records of any test results showing
the concentrations of metals in run-off water from the tailings
dam.
(e) Not applicable.
(f) DEC has written to the current mining tenement holder requesting an
update on the progress of investigations being undertaken to determine the
contamination status of the site.
(a) Yes. However, the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) has
advised the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) that the breach in
the tailings dam bund was repaired by the current mining tenement holder, to
DMP's satisfaction, in February 2013.
(b)-(d) DEC holds no records of any test results showing
the concentrations of metals in run-off water from the tailings
dam.
(e) Not applicable.
(f) DEC has written to the current mining tenement holder requesting an
update on the progress of investigations being undertaken to determine the
contamination status of the site.
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