❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Edna May Mine approval process, specifically concerning Ramelius Resources' proposed clearing area and the Appeals Convenor's role. The Minister confirms receipt of a letter from the Shire of Westonia highlighting Ramelius's positive environmental track record.
AnsweredQoN 522Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
EDNA MAY MINE
522. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the Minister for Environment:
(1) Did the
Appeals Convenor urge Ramelius Resources to submit an alternative proposal
during the appeals process?
(2) Did the
company follow this advice by submitting a proposal with a significantly
smaller footprint for clearing 26 hectares, and did the Appeals Convenor then
not assess the proposal?
(3) Can the
minister confirm that Ramelius Resources managing director, Mark Zeptner, has
stated that there is $100 million worth of gold sitting in the ground and 100
jobs on standby?
(4) Noting that a
year has already been wasted, will the government now expedite approval for the
alternative proposal?
(5) Will the
minister confirm that a letter dated 19 February 2019 addressed to the minister
and signed by the chief executive officer of the Shire of Westonia contained
this statement —
Ramelius � has shown a great ability
previously to preserve and enhance threatened flora such as Eremophila
Resinosa. Several successful translocation sites have been established in and
around the Town Common, increasing the E. Resinosa populations within the
district.
522. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the Minister for Environment:
(1) Did the
Appeals Convenor urge Ramelius Resources to submit an alternative proposal
during the appeals process?
(2) Did the
company follow this advice by submitting a proposal with a significantly
smaller footprint for clearing 26 hectares, and did the Appeals Convenor then
not assess the proposal?
(3) Can the
minister confirm that Ramelius Resources managing director, Mark Zeptner, has
stated that there is $100 million worth of gold sitting in the ground and 100
jobs on standby?
(4) Noting that a
year has already been wasted, will the government now expedite approval for the
alternative proposal?
(5) Will the
minister confirm that a letter dated 19 February 2019 addressed to the minister
and signed by the chief executive officer of the Shire of Westonia contained
this statement —
Ramelius � has shown a great ability
previously to preserve and enhance threatened flora such as Eremophila
Resinosa. Several successful translocation sites have been established in and
around the Town Common, increasing the E. Resinosa populations within the
district.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) I am
advised that the Appeals Convenor did not ask Ramelius Resources to submit an
alternative proposal; but, instead, consistent with her usual practice,
encouraged the company to submit any additional information it believed would address the concerns raised by the
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety in its decision to
refuse the permit, including opportunities to reduce the identified impacts.
(2) The
company did submit additional information as part of the appeal investigation,
which included a proposal to reduce the area of clearing to 26.3 hectares. The
Appeals Convenor provided this information to me as part of her report. As the
information represented a significantly different proposal to the one
considered by DMIRS, I agreed with the Appeals Convenor that it was more
appropriate that the revised proposal be the subject of a new assessment.
(3)–(4)
I have encouraged Ramelius Resources to make a new application so that the
revised proposal can be properly assessed. Given the work that has already been
undertaken to draft this new proposal, I expect that it will be submitted
promptly and that it contains high-quality information that substantially
addresses the identified environmental risks, and we will ensure that it is
processed efficiently.
(5) Yes. That
letter was received by my office on 26 February 2019.
question.
(1) I am
advised that the Appeals Convenor did not ask Ramelius Resources to submit an
alternative proposal; but, instead, consistent with her usual practice,
encouraged the company to submit any additional information it believed would address the concerns raised by the
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety in its decision to
refuse the permit, including opportunities to reduce the identified impacts.
(2) The
company did submit additional information as part of the appeal investigation,
which included a proposal to reduce the area of clearing to 26.3 hectares. The
Appeals Convenor provided this information to me as part of her report. As the
information represented a significantly different proposal to the one
considered by DMIRS, I agreed with the Appeals Convenor that it was more
appropriate that the revised proposal be the subject of a new assessment.
(3)–(4)
I have encouraged Ramelius Resources to make a new application so that the
revised proposal can be properly assessed. Given the work that has already been
undertaken to draft this new proposal, I expect that it will be submitted
promptly and that it contains high-quality information that substantially
addresses the identified environmental risks, and we will ensure that it is
processed efficiently.
(5) Yes. That
letter was received by my office on 26 February 2019.
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