Hon Diane Evers questions the Minister for Health regarding radiation levels at the Greenpatch development site and Dalyellup Waste Residue Disposal Facility, seeking radiation readings and background level data. The Minister declines to provide specific readings citing Section 49 of the Radiation Safety Act.

AnsweredQoN 3402Legislative Council
Asked
5 November 2020
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Minister’s response on 27 June 2019 to questions on notice 2164 and 2166 (that the Greenpatch development site is not regulated under the Radiation Safety Act 1975 , and that outdoor levels of radon and thoron registered at the boundaries of the Dalyellup Waste Residue Disposal Facility (DWRDF) were not higher than expected in comparison to other coastal areas of Western Australia), and I ask: (a) will the Minister provide a copy of the radiation readings of the areas surveyed; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) where did the Radiological Council obtain the background environmental radiation levels for Dalyellup upon which it based its conclusion that “There was no evidence of radiation levels above background over the areas surveyed. Thus, these areas could be considered for unrestricted use with respect to radiation"; and (d) what are the expected background outdoor levels of radon and thoron (Bq/m3) in a coastal area like Bunbury or Dalyellup?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
26 November 2020
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
8 days
I am advised:
(a) No.
(b) The information cannot be disclosed under Section 49 of the Radiation Safety Act.
(c) The quoted statement is not from the response to questions on notice 2164 or 2166.
(d) Radon levels vary across Australia.  The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency’s (ARPANSA) updated radon map of Australia shows the average radon level for the Bunbury region as 7 Bq/m3 and the average radon level for the Gelorup-Dalyellup-Stratham region of 9 Bq/m3.

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