❓ Hon Dr Brad Pettitt asks about the investigation into discharges into Whim Creek and the Balla Balla River system, specifically regarding contamination extent and remedial action by Venturex Pilbara Pty Ltd and Blackrock Metals Pty Ltd. The Minister provides updates on the Environmental Protection Notice (EPN) implementation and ongoing monitoring.
AnsweredQoN 153Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question without notice 1329, asked in the Legislative Council on 24 November 2020, and I ask: (a) will the Minister table the report compiled by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) into its investigation into the event concerning discharges into Whim Creek and the Balla Balla River system; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) has Venturex Pilbara Pty Ltd and Blackrock Metals Pty Ltd determined the extent of contamination and what was it; (d) if no to (c), why not; (e) has DWER required appropriate remedial action; (f) if yes to (e), has the remedial action been undertaken; and (g) if no to (e), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2021
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
11 days
(a) Yes, The Decision Document for the Environmental Protection Notice (EPN) is tabled together with the current EPN.
(b) Not applicable
(c) No
(d) Monitoring of groundwater is ongoing to determine the extent of the contamination. In accordance with the EPN, reports are being submitted to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) on a regular basis to assess progress in the determination of the extent of contamination. DWER expects this process to take several years to determine the full extent of contamination.
(e) Yes. The original EPN was issued in December 2019 to prevent further discharges from the environmental pond, to establish impermeable process water ponds, and to develop and implement a groundwater and vegetation monitoring program to determine the extent and nature of the contaminated groundwater plume from the heap leach activities.
(f) Venturex Pilbara Pty Ltd and Blackrock Metals Pty Ltd are implementing the requirements of the EPN. As of July 2021, stormwater bunds have been completed, planning for the construction of a new HDPE-lined Environmental Pond has been undertaken and a revised Groundwater Monitoring Plan has been submitted to DWER.
(g) Not applicable
I provide the EPN [see tabled paper No.].
I provide the Decision Document to support the issuing of the EPN [see tabled paper No.]
(b) Not applicable
(c) No
(d) Monitoring of groundwater is ongoing to determine the extent of the contamination. In accordance with the EPN, reports are being submitted to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) on a regular basis to assess progress in the determination of the extent of contamination. DWER expects this process to take several years to determine the full extent of contamination.
(e) Yes. The original EPN was issued in December 2019 to prevent further discharges from the environmental pond, to establish impermeable process water ponds, and to develop and implement a groundwater and vegetation monitoring program to determine the extent and nature of the contaminated groundwater plume from the heap leach activities.
(f) Venturex Pilbara Pty Ltd and Blackrock Metals Pty Ltd are implementing the requirements of the EPN. As of July 2021, stormwater bunds have been completed, planning for the construction of a new HDPE-lined Environmental Pond has been undertaken and a revised Groundwater Monitoring Plan has been submitted to DWER.
(g) Not applicable
I provide the EPN [see tabled paper No.].
I provide the Decision Document to support the issuing of the EPN [see tabled paper No.]
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