Following a fireworks explosion in Carmel, the Premier outlines the government's response, including a technical inquiry and the appointment of Mr Whitely (member for Roleystone) to lead a review of location specifications and inter-agency coordination.

AnsweredQoN 774Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 March 2002
Member
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

FIREWORKS EXPLOSION, CARMEL
Can the Premier inform the House what action the Government has taken to address the circumstances surrounding the recent explosion at the fireworks storage facility at Carmel in which I retrieved this piece of sea container, that effectively became shrapnel, 500 metres from the site? Dr GALLOP

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for Roleystone for the question, because it is one of great importance for his electors. I can report to the member that a technical advisory team consisting of representatives from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health will look at the cause of the initial ignition and the reasons for the subsequent detonation of neighbouring storage magazines. That technical inquiry is progressing currently. The member for Roleystone has expressed other concerns to the Government. I am pleased to announce to the Parliament today that I have asked the member for Roleystone to work with this committee, local government and the local community and to report to me on issues of concern that will require government action. I have asked the member for Roleystone specifically to look at achieving greater coordination between government agencies and between the State Government and local government authorities. I have also asked the member, in the light of the damage caused to surrounding buildings, to look at the location specifications that determine where these types of facilities should be located and to determine whether they need a formal review. I am pleased to announce that the member for Roleystone will chair that group, getting advice from government and the local community, and then will come to the State Government with advice on those very important issues. I was concerned that, as a result of that explosion, what the member correctly described as shrapnel was spread a great distance from that factory, yet the location criteria for licensing did not seem to take into account that consequence. That is an important issue that needs to be addressed. I note the problem in the relations between the shire and the state government authority and also the government agencies and I look forward to advice from the local member, the member for Roleystone, on all of those issues.
Dr GALLOP replied: I thank the member for Roleystone for the question, because it is one of great importance for his electors. I can report to the member that a technical advisory team consisting of representatives from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health will look at the cause of the initial ignition and the reasons for the subsequent detonation of neighbouring storage magazines. That technical inquiry is progressing currently. The member for Roleystone has expressed other concerns to the Government. I am pleased to announce to the Parliament today that I have asked the member for Roleystone to work with this committee, local government and the local community and to report to me on issues of concern that will require government action. I have asked the member for Roleystone specifically to look at achieving greater coordination between government agencies and between the State Government and local government authorities. I have also asked the member, in the light of the damage caused to surrounding buildings, to look at the location specifications that determine where these types of facilities should be located and to determine whether they need a formal review. I am pleased to announce that the member for Roleystone will chair that group, getting advice from government and the local community, and then will come to the State Government with advice on those very important issues. I was concerned that, as a result of that explosion, what the member correctly described as shrapnel was spread a great distance from that factory, yet the location criteria for licensing did not seem to take into account that consequence. That is an important issue that needs to be addressed. I note the problem in the relations between the shire and the state government authority and also the government agencies and I look forward to advice from the local member, the member for Roleystone, on all of those issues.
I thank the member for Roleystone for the question, because it is one of great importance for his electors. I can report to the member that a technical advisory team consisting of representatives from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health will look at the cause of the initial ignition and the reasons for the subsequent detonation of neighbouring storage magazines. That technical inquiry is progressing currently. The member for Roleystone has expressed other concerns to the Government. I am pleased to announce to the Parliament today that I have asked the member for Roleystone to work with this committee, local government and the local community and to report to me on issues of concern that will require government action. I have asked the member for Roleystone specifically to look at achieving greater coordination between government agencies and between the State Government and local government authorities. I have also asked the member, in the light of the damage caused to surrounding buildings, to look at the location specifications that determine where these types of facilities should be located and to determine whether they need a formal review. I am pleased to announce that the member for Roleystone will chair that group, getting advice from government and the local community, and then will come to the State Government with advice on those very important issues. I was concerned that, as a result of that explosion, what the member correctly described as shrapnel was spread a great distance from that factory, yet the location criteria for licensing did not seem to take into account that consequence. That is an important issue that needs to be addressed. I note the problem in the relations between the shire and the state government authority and also the government agencies and I look forward to advice from the local member, the member for Roleystone, on all of those issues.
The member for Roleystone has expressed other concerns to the Government. I am pleased to announce to the Parliament today that I have asked the member for Roleystone to work with this committee, local government and the local community and to report to me on issues of concern that will require government action. I have asked the member for Roleystone specifically to look at achieving greater coordination between government agencies and between the State Government and local government authorities. I have also asked the member, in the light of the damage caused to surrounding buildings, to look at the location specifications that determine where these types of facilities should be located and to determine whether they need a formal review. I am pleased to announce that the member for Roleystone will chair that group, getting advice from government and the local community, and then will come to the State Government with advice on those very important issues. I was concerned that, as a result of that explosion, what the member correctly described as shrapnel was spread a great distance from that factory, yet the location criteria for licensing did not seem to take into account that consequence. That is an important issue that needs to be addressed. I note the problem in the relations between the shire and the state government authority and also the government agencies and I look forward to advice from the local member, the member for Roleystone, on all of those issues.
I was concerned that, as a result of that explosion, what the member correctly described as shrapnel was spread a great distance from that factory, yet the location criteria for licensing did not seem to take into account that consequence. That is an important issue that needs to be addressed. I note the problem in the relations between the shire and the state government authority and also the government agencies and I look forward to advice from the local member, the member for Roleystone, on all of those issues.

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