❓ Hon Robin Chapple asks about the Bulong Nickel Mine's temporary closure plan, environmental compliance, and safety protocols. The Minister provides answers referencing relevant legislation and specific dates.
AnsweredQoN 1635Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a letter which I understand is dated 1 December 2003 signed by Mathew Stingemore, Environmental officer from the Department of Industry and Resources addressed to the Registered Manager Bulong Nickel Pty Ltd concerning the Bulong Nickel Mine -
(1) Is it correct that part of the letter dated 1 December 2003 states ‘Section 6.7 of the Temporary Closure plan states that during “the care and maintenance period small areas of clearing may be required for rehabilitation works. Any such disturbance of areas exceeding one hectare will be subject to the notification requirements under the
Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945-1982
”. ALL clearing undertaken onsite unless approved under previous Notice of Intents, will require approval from DOIR, particularly as the site is under care and maintenance status and very little clearing should be required to be conducted. Progressive rehabilitation of existing disturbances may continue and details are to be submitted in future Bulong Nickel Operations Annual Environmental Reports’?
(2) If no to (1) will the Minister table a copy of the letter?
(3) Can the Minister quote the specific text of the mining tenement condition(s) and the specific text of the section of the
Mining Act
under which ‘all clearing undertaken onsite, unless approved under previous Notice of Intents will require approval from the DOIR’?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Is it correct that part of the letter dated 1 December 2003 states ‘District Inspector Peter Capon also reviewed the Temporary Closure plan and provided the following comments. ‘In the Short term the plan is sufficient with respect to the management of safety at the mine. The manager of the Mine is still required to inform the District Inspector regarding the suspension of operations at the plant and need to detail to DOIR the safety precautions put in place. The District Inspector will then arrange for an inspection to verify that the precautions are in place’?
(6) If no to (5) will the Minister quote the specific text of the letter?
(7) Is the Temporary Closure Plan for management of safety at the mine sufficient in regard to the long term?
(8) If no to (7) can the Minister explain the detailed rationale as to why it is not sufficient in the long term?
(9) Can the Minister quote the specific text and section of the legislation which requires the manager of the mine to inform the District Inspector regarding suspension of operations at the plant and also the requirement to detail to the DOIR the safety precautions put in place?
(10) If no to (9) why not?
(11) Can the Minister state on what specific date the manager informed the District Inspector regarding the suspension of operations at the plant?
(12) If no to (11) why not?
(1) Is it correct that part of the letter dated 1 December 2003 states ‘Section 6.7 of the Temporary Closure plan states that during “the care and maintenance period small areas of clearing may be required for rehabilitation works. Any such disturbance of areas exceeding one hectare will be subject to the notification requirements under the
Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945-1982
”. ALL clearing undertaken onsite unless approved under previous Notice of Intents, will require approval from DOIR, particularly as the site is under care and maintenance status and very little clearing should be required to be conducted. Progressive rehabilitation of existing disturbances may continue and details are to be submitted in future Bulong Nickel Operations Annual Environmental Reports’?
(2) If no to (1) will the Minister table a copy of the letter?
(3) Can the Minister quote the specific text of the mining tenement condition(s) and the specific text of the section of the
Mining Act
under which ‘all clearing undertaken onsite, unless approved under previous Notice of Intents will require approval from the DOIR’?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Is it correct that part of the letter dated 1 December 2003 states ‘District Inspector Peter Capon also reviewed the Temporary Closure plan and provided the following comments. ‘In the Short term the plan is sufficient with respect to the management of safety at the mine. The manager of the Mine is still required to inform the District Inspector regarding the suspension of operations at the plant and need to detail to DOIR the safety precautions put in place. The District Inspector will then arrange for an inspection to verify that the precautions are in place’?
(6) If no to (5) will the Minister quote the specific text of the letter?
(7) Is the Temporary Closure Plan for management of safety at the mine sufficient in regard to the long term?
(8) If no to (7) can the Minister explain the detailed rationale as to why it is not sufficient in the long term?
(9) Can the Minister quote the specific text and section of the legislation which requires the manager of the mine to inform the District Inspector regarding suspension of operations at the plant and also the requirement to detail to the DOIR the safety precautions put in place?
(10) If no to (9) why not?
(11) Can the Minister state on what specific date the manager informed the District Inspector regarding the suspension of operations at the plant?
(12) If no to (11) why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
30 March 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
109 days
1. Yes 2. N/A 3. Section 84 of the Mining Act 1978 allows the Minister, on the granting of a mining lease or at any subsequent time, to impose reasonable conditions for the purpose of preventing or reducing or making good, injury to land. The tenement conditions for the site require that: “Unless the written approval of the District Mining Engineer is first obtained, the use of scrapers, graders, bulldozers, backhoes or other mechanised equipment for surface disturbance or the excavation of costeans is prohibited. Following approval, all topsoil being removed ahead of mining operations and separately stockpiled for replacement after backfilling and/or completion of operations”, and “Any alternation or expansion of operations within the lease boundaries beyond that outlined in the above document(s) not commencing until a plan of operations and a program to safeguard the environment are submitted to the State Mining Engineer for his assessment and until his written approval to proceed has been obtained.” 4. N/A 5. Yes 6. N/A 7. No 8. The site needs to be rehabilitated and made safe for the long-term use of the area. 9. Section 42 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 requires that the principal employer or the manager must notify the district inspector before mining operations are commenced, recommenced, suspended or abandoned. The notice should also provide evidence to satisfy the district inspector that the obligations under the Act have been complied. The district inspector must inspect the mine to verify the evidence and make a record accordingly. The principal employer or manager must also procure written approval from the State mining engineer before commencing mining operations. The 'mining operations' here does not include exploration operations. 10. N/A 11. 16 December 2003 12. N/A
The tenement conditions for the site require that: “Unless the written approval of the District Mining Engineer is first obtained, the use of scrapers, graders, bulldozers, backhoes or other mechanised equipment for surface disturbance or the excavation of costeans is prohibited. Following approval, all topsoil being removed ahead of mining operations and separately stockpiled for replacement after backfilling and/or completion of operations”, and “Any alternation or expansion of operations within the lease boundaries beyond that outlined in the above document(s) not commencing until a plan of operations and a program to safeguard the environment are submitted to the State Mining Engineer for his assessment and until his written approval to proceed has been obtained.” 4. N/A 5. Yes 6. N/A 7. No 8. The site needs to be rehabilitated and made safe for the long-term use of the area. 9. Section 42 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 requires that the principal employer or the manager must notify the district inspector before mining operations are commenced, recommenced, suspended or abandoned. The notice should also provide evidence to satisfy the district inspector that the obligations under the Act have been complied. The district inspector must inspect the mine to verify the evidence and make a record accordingly. The principal employer or manager must also procure written approval from the State mining engineer before commencing mining operations. The 'mining operations' here does not include exploration operations. 10. N/A 11. 16 December 2003 12. N/A
The tenement conditions for the site require that: “Unless the written approval of the District Mining Engineer is first obtained, the use of scrapers, graders, bulldozers, backhoes or other mechanised equipment for surface disturbance or the excavation of costeans is prohibited. Following approval, all topsoil being removed ahead of mining operations and separately stockpiled for replacement after backfilling and/or completion of operations”, and “Any alternation or expansion of operations within the lease boundaries beyond that outlined in the above document(s) not commencing until a plan of operations and a program to safeguard the environment are submitted to the State Mining Engineer for his assessment and until his written approval to proceed has been obtained.” 4. N/A 5. Yes 6. N/A 7. No 8. The site needs to be rehabilitated and made safe for the long-term use of the area. 9. Section 42 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 requires that the principal employer or the manager must notify the district inspector before mining operations are commenced, recommenced, suspended or abandoned. The notice should also provide evidence to satisfy the district inspector that the obligations under the Act have been complied. The district inspector must inspect the mine to verify the evidence and make a record accordingly. The principal employer or manager must also procure written approval from the State mining engineer before commencing mining operations. The 'mining operations' here does not include exploration operations. 10. N/A 11. 16 December 2003 12. N/A
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