❓ A parliamentary question addresses environmental safety and dust contamination concerns from a lithium mine in Ravensthorpe. The Minister outlines existing dust suppression measures and clarifies regulatory responsibilities between departments.
AnsweredQoN 38Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the lithium mine at Old Newdegate Road, Ravensthorpe, which is operated by Galaxy Resources/Galaxy Lithium Australia Limited, and I ask: (a) what environmental safety compliance conditions have been imposed on the operator; (b) what dust suppression systems are in place to prevent spodumene silicate dust from the mine contaminating the surrounding environment; (c) is the Minister aware that spodumene silicate dust from the mine has been blowing onto neighbouring properties, creating health hazards for humans and fauna; (d) if yes to (c), does the Minister intend to implement measures to ameliorate the problem; and (e) if no to (c), will the Minister investigate complaints from neighbouring properties about silica dust contamination from the mine?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 May 2025
Responded by
Minister for the Environment representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
6 days
(a) The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) has imposed conditions on Galaxy Resources’ Mt Cattlin operations mining tenements requiring the operator to take all reasonable measures to prevent or minimise the generation of dust.
(b) Dust suppression systems in place at the Mt Cattlin operations include:
- Use of onboard dust collectors and air-water mixers on drill rigs.
- Postponing blasts when wind direction is in the direction of Ravensthorpe and watering blasted materials.
- Haul roads being watered on a regular basis and vehicle speeds being limited.
- An air/water fogging system to suppress dust generated by crushing; this system activates automatically when material enters the crusher.
- Once dried, tailings storage facilities are covered by waste rock or coarse material to prevent fine materials from becoming airborne.
(c-e) No. Off-site dust impacts from the mine are primarily regulated by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).
Where concerns are raised from neighbours, the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) will work with DWER and Galaxy Resources to ensure they are addressed.
(b) Dust suppression systems in place at the Mt Cattlin operations include:
- Use of onboard dust collectors and air-water mixers on drill rigs.
- Postponing blasts when wind direction is in the direction of Ravensthorpe and watering blasted materials.
- Haul roads being watered on a regular basis and vehicle speeds being limited.
- An air/water fogging system to suppress dust generated by crushing; this system activates automatically when material enters the crusher.
- Once dried, tailings storage facilities are covered by waste rock or coarse material to prevent fine materials from becoming airborne.
(c-e) No. Off-site dust impacts from the mine are primarily regulated by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).
Where concerns are raised from neighbours, the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) will work with DWER and Galaxy Resources to ensure they are addressed.
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