❓ A WA parliamentarian questions the Minister for Environment regarding dust pollution from a quarry impacting Lumen Christi Catholic College, seeking data, safety procedures, and agency responsibilities. The Minister provides some data, refers to public resources, and clarifies agency roles.
AnsweredQoN 5771Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With reference to question on notice No. 5156 to the Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment, answered on 2 May 2012, and pertaining to the fugitive dust impacting the Lumen Christi Catholic College (LCCC), I ask —
(1) With reference to answer (1) of question on notice No. 5156, is it correct that the extractive licence has been for more than 500,000 and less than 5,000,000 tonnes per annum since 2004?
(2) With reference to answer (15) of question on notice No. 5156, where do the other dust sources in the area of Martin originate from that influence the dust on the campus of LCCC, exclusive of bushfires and pollen?
(3) How many times in a year do the dust exceedences reach just under the safety net National Environment Protection Measures (NEPM) 50, and therefore not reported?
(4) Will the Minister table the Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) monitoring carried out by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) conducted at the Lumen Christi College between 22 November 2007 and 18 September 2009?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) What are the safety procedures now used by Holcim, that DEC have put in place to stop visible dust particles crossing the buffer boundary of the quarry?
(7) Which agencies or departments listed below are ultimately responsible for the duty of care and monitoring the air quality in West Martin —
(a) Gosnells City Council;
(b) Department of Environment and Conservation;
(c) Environmental Protection Authority;
(d) Department of Planning and Infrastructure;
(e) Department of Health; and
(f) WA Planning Commission?
(8) With reference to answer to (27) of question on notice No. 5156, will the Minister table the minutes or notes from the briefing conducted by Environmental Resources Management for the Principal of Lumen Christi College and the West Martin Residents Group?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Has DEC ever collected a sample, or samples, from the air in the immediate vicinity of Lumen Christi College and had it tested in a laboratory for physical size?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) If yes to (10), will the Minister table the results?
(13) If no to (12), why not?
(14) Has DEC ever collected a sample, or samples, from the air in the immediate vicinity of Lumen Christi College and assessed how much silica is present in the sample?
(15) If no to (14), why not?
(16) If yes to (14), will the Minister table the results?
(17) If no to (16), why not?
(1) With reference to answer (1) of question on notice No. 5156, is it correct that the extractive licence has been for more than 500,000 and less than 5,000,000 tonnes per annum since 2004?
(2) With reference to answer (15) of question on notice No. 5156, where do the other dust sources in the area of Martin originate from that influence the dust on the campus of LCCC, exclusive of bushfires and pollen?
(3) How many times in a year do the dust exceedences reach just under the safety net National Environment Protection Measures (NEPM) 50, and therefore not reported?
(4) Will the Minister table the Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) monitoring carried out by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) conducted at the Lumen Christi College between 22 November 2007 and 18 September 2009?
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) What are the safety procedures now used by Holcim, that DEC have put in place to stop visible dust particles crossing the buffer boundary of the quarry?
(7) Which agencies or departments listed below are ultimately responsible for the duty of care and monitoring the air quality in West Martin —
(a) Gosnells City Council;
(b) Department of Environment and Conservation;
(c) Environmental Protection Authority;
(d) Department of Planning and Infrastructure;
(e) Department of Health; and
(f) WA Planning Commission?
(8) With reference to answer to (27) of question on notice No. 5156, will the Minister table the minutes or notes from the briefing conducted by Environmental Resources Management for the Principal of Lumen Christi College and the West Martin Residents Group?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) Has DEC ever collected a sample, or samples, from the air in the immediate vicinity of Lumen Christi College and had it tested in a laboratory for physical size?
(11) If no to (10), why not?
(12) If yes to (10), will the Minister table the results?
(13) If no to (12), why not?
(14) Has DEC ever collected a sample, or samples, from the air in the immediate vicinity of Lumen Christi College and assessed how much silica is present in the sample?
(15) If no to (14), why not?
(16) If yes to (14), will the Minister table the results?
(17) If no to (16), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 September 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
75 days
(1) The Extractive Industries Licence for Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd's quarry operation in Martin is administered by the City of Gosnells and I recommend that the Hon Member seeks the requested information directly from the City.
(2) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has been advised by Lumen Christi College that there is no dust issue at the campus. Dust sources in the Martin area may include transport activities, windblown dust from cleared areas, other land uses, smoke and atmospheric dust.
(3) DEC had a dust monitor at the College between 22 November 2007 and 18 September 2009, which recorded three results above 45.0µg/m as follows:
· 46.2µg/m
3
on 11 December 2007;
· 47.8µg/m
3
on 13 February 2008; and
· 49.5µg/m
3
on 26 March 2008.
DEC no longer has a dust monitor at the College.
(4) DEC's
2008 Western Australia Air Monitoring Report Written to comply with the National Environment Protection Measure (Ambient Air Quality) December 2009
is publicly available at
www.dec.wa.gov.au
.
(5) Not applicable
(6) Holcim's licence conditions set out the measures required to ensure that visible dust does not cross the boundary of the premises. A copy of Holcim's licence is available on DEC's website at www.dec.wa.gov.au.
(7) There is no statutory obligation under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
for DEC to monitor air quality in West Martin or in any other locality in Western Australia. However, where warranted, DEC undertakes air monitoring to ensure that the relevant air quality and health guidelines are met. DEC will take appropriate action against premises with emissions, to ensure air guidelines are met.
In relation to other agencies or departments, I refer the Hon Member to answers 18 and 20 in response to question 5156.
(8) No
(9) No minutes or notes were taken by DEC at the briefing.
(10) No
(11) DEC has not been requested to take samples and have them tested for physical size.
(12)-(13) Not applicable
(14) No
(15) DEC has not been requested to take samples and have them assessed for the presence of silica.
(16)-(17) Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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(2) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has been advised by Lumen Christi College that there is no dust issue at the campus. Dust sources in the Martin area may include transport activities, windblown dust from cleared areas, other land uses, smoke and atmospheric dust.
(3) DEC had a dust monitor at the College between 22 November 2007 and 18 September 2009, which recorded three results above 45.0µg/m as follows:
· 46.2µg/m
3
on 11 December 2007;
· 47.8µg/m
3
on 13 February 2008; and
· 49.5µg/m
3
on 26 March 2008.
DEC no longer has a dust monitor at the College.
(4) DEC's
2008 Western Australia Air Monitoring Report Written to comply with the National Environment Protection Measure (Ambient Air Quality) December 2009
is publicly available at
www.dec.wa.gov.au
.
(5) Not applicable
(6) Holcim's licence conditions set out the measures required to ensure that visible dust does not cross the boundary of the premises. A copy of Holcim's licence is available on DEC's website at www.dec.wa.gov.au.
(7) There is no statutory obligation under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
for DEC to monitor air quality in West Martin or in any other locality in Western Australia. However, where warranted, DEC undertakes air monitoring to ensure that the relevant air quality and health guidelines are met. DEC will take appropriate action against premises with emissions, to ensure air guidelines are met.
In relation to other agencies or departments, I refer the Hon Member to answers 18 and 20 in response to question 5156.
(8) No
(9) No minutes or notes were taken by DEC at the briefing.
(10) No
(11) DEC has not been requested to take samples and have them tested for physical size.
(12)-(13) Not applicable
(14) No
(15) DEC has not been requested to take samples and have them assessed for the presence of silica.
(16)-(17) Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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