❓ Hon Diane Evers inquired about groundwater monitoring at the former Jangardup mineral sands mine, specifically regarding an acid sulphate plume. The Minister responded, providing details on its discovery, impact on farming properties, and access to environmental reports.
AnsweredQoN 1882Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
In regards to groundwater monitoring at and around the former Jangardup mineral sands mine: (a) when was the acid sulphate groundwater plume first noticed; (b) are any farming properties down-gradient of the acid sulphate groundwater plume: (i) if yes to (b), what consultations with the property owners has taken place regarding potential impacts on their operations; and (c) will the Minister please table all of the Annual Environmental Reports relating to monitoring of the acid sulphate groundwater plume: (i) if no to (c), why not; and (ii) are they publicly accessable?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 April 2019
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
9 days
(a) 2013
(b) Yes
(i) The plume is located entirely within one farming property and has been classified under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 as ‘ remediated for restricted use ’. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has communicated with the owners of the property in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The classification notes that the land is suitable for ongoing agricultural use, provided that groundwater is not abstracted from the Superficial aquifer. As irrigation water at the farm is taken from the deeper Leederville aquifer, farming activities at the site have not been impacted. The Department understands that Cristal Mining continues to consult regularly with the landowners regarding the requirements for ongoing groundwater monitoring on their property.
(c)(i-ii) Each report is in excess of 800 pages. To aid succinctness, the relevant appendix to the last 5 years’ Annual Environmental Reports has instead been provided. These contain the relevant information concerning monitoring of the acid sulphate groundwater plume [paper no XX]
(b) Yes
(i) The plume is located entirely within one farming property and has been classified under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 as ‘ remediated for restricted use ’. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has communicated with the owners of the property in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The classification notes that the land is suitable for ongoing agricultural use, provided that groundwater is not abstracted from the Superficial aquifer. As irrigation water at the farm is taken from the deeper Leederville aquifer, farming activities at the site have not been impacted. The Department understands that Cristal Mining continues to consult regularly with the landowners regarding the requirements for ongoing groundwater monitoring on their property.
(c)(i-ii) Each report is in excess of 800 pages. To aid succinctness, the relevant appendix to the last 5 years’ Annual Environmental Reports has instead been provided. These contain the relevant information concerning monitoring of the acid sulphate groundwater plume [paper no XX]
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