❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for State Development regarding monitoring data related to the Fimiston I tailings dam, specifically seeking baseline data on water levels and cyanide content prior to commissioning. The Minister deflects, referring to a previous answer.
AnsweredQoN 2503Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Mining Lease 26/383 owned by Barrick Gold of Australia and Newmont Mining Limited, operated by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd, the Fimiston I tailings dam and a document dated August 1988 titled ‘Notice of intent and works approval for Fimiston leases expansion project, North Kalgurli Mine prepared by Australian Groundwater Consultants Pty Ltd’ -
(1) Given the above document dated August 1988 in part on page 24 states ‘Assessment of the degree of seepage from the storage will be determined by monitoring bores to be positioned by NKML. These bores will be drilled to bedrock and monitored as required by the Department of Mines for water level and cyanide content. Baseline data will be taken prior to the commissioning of the new storage’, will the Minister table all baseline data, depth of bores drilled, including water levels, if any, and cyanide content prior to the commissioning of the new storage?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister explain specifically what monitoring by the Department was undertaken in terms of water levels and cyanide content prior to the commissioning of the new storage and thereafter up to late 1992?
(4) If no to (3), why not, given the enormous significance and implications for other commitments made as part of the Notice of Intent approvals given by the Department?
(5) Can the Minister state specifically what were the precise depths to groundwater, if any, below the surface under the specific area of the Fimiston I tailings dam prior to its commissioning?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister state how many monitoring bores were first put in and the dates first constructed to check for any seepage?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Can the Minister state what was the precise cyanide content, if any, in the water, the precise location of the samples taken including a scaled map prior to the commissioning of the new storage?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(1) Given the above document dated August 1988 in part on page 24 states ‘Assessment of the degree of seepage from the storage will be determined by monitoring bores to be positioned by NKML. These bores will be drilled to bedrock and monitored as required by the Department of Mines for water level and cyanide content. Baseline data will be taken prior to the commissioning of the new storage’, will the Minister table all baseline data, depth of bores drilled, including water levels, if any, and cyanide content prior to the commissioning of the new storage?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister explain specifically what monitoring by the Department was undertaken in terms of water levels and cyanide content prior to the commissioning of the new storage and thereafter up to late 1992?
(4) If no to (3), why not, given the enormous significance and implications for other commitments made as part of the Notice of Intent approvals given by the Department?
(5) Can the Minister state specifically what were the precise depths to groundwater, if any, below the surface under the specific area of the Fimiston I tailings dam prior to its commissioning?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Can the Minister state how many monitoring bores were first put in and the dates first constructed to check for any seepage?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Can the Minister state what was the precise cyanide content, if any, in the water, the precise location of the samples taken including a scaled map prior to the commissioning of the new storage?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 November 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
27 days
I refer the Hon member to the answer to Question on Notice 2499.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.