❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for State Development regarding KCGM's proposal to raise the height of a tailings dam, citing environmental concerns and requesting departmental assessment details and investigation into alleged pollution. The Minister responds that the assessment is underway and will consider environmental impacts, but declines to table interim advice, citing freedom of information processes.
AnsweredQoN 1267Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a newspaper article dated August 14 2003 titled ‘KCGM bid to raise height of tailings dam’ concerning the proposal by KCGM (Barrick Mines and Newmont Mining) to raise the height of the tailings dam from 30 metres to 40 metres and increase its capacity by 30 per cent which contains saline, alkaline and cyanide constituents -
(1) Will the Minister quote the specific text of the Departmental ‘assessment’ made of this proposal?
(2) If no to (1) why not?
(3) Can the Minister state a specific date on which a Departmental ‘assessment’ had been completed for the above proposal?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Will the Minister ask or request the Department to urgently investigate in Kalgoorlie all of Mr S. Kean’s concerns outlined in accordance with letters dated March 13 2003, May 6 2003 as part of its ‘assessment’ in providing any advice/approval to any person for the above proposal given that it has been alleged that seepage of mine water and pollutants from their Fimiston I and Fimiston II tailings dams is causing dangerous and unsafe working conditions, significant adverse environmental impacts including contamination of soil/topsoil and damage/death to hundreds of trees/vegetation contrary to the laws of protection under the
Mining Act
and Regulations?
(6) If no to (5) why not?
(7) Will the Minister table any departmental advice/’assessment’ of the above proposal provided to any party?
(8) If no to (7) why not?
(1) Will the Minister quote the specific text of the Departmental ‘assessment’ made of this proposal?
(2) If no to (1) why not?
(3) Can the Minister state a specific date on which a Departmental ‘assessment’ had been completed for the above proposal?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Will the Minister ask or request the Department to urgently investigate in Kalgoorlie all of Mr S. Kean’s concerns outlined in accordance with letters dated March 13 2003, May 6 2003 as part of its ‘assessment’ in providing any advice/approval to any person for the above proposal given that it has been alleged that seepage of mine water and pollutants from their Fimiston I and Fimiston II tailings dams is causing dangerous and unsafe working conditions, significant adverse environmental impacts including contamination of soil/topsoil and damage/death to hundreds of trees/vegetation contrary to the laws of protection under the
Mining Act
and Regulations?
(6) If no to (5) why not?
(7) Will the Minister table any departmental advice/’assessment’ of the above proposal provided to any party?
(8) If no to (7) why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 November 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
54 days
(1) The Department has yet to complete its assessment. (2) A Notice of Intent to raise the height of the Fimiston 1 Tailings Storage Facility was received by the Department on 26/8/2003 and an assessment has not yet been completed. (3) See answer 2. (4) Not applicable. (5) The Department will properly assess the NOI and in doing so will take into account any impact the proposal may or may not have on adjoining nearby land. (6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(2) A Notice of Intent to raise the height of the Fimiston 1 Tailings Storage Facility was received by the Department on 26/8/2003 and an assessment has not yet been completed. (3) See answer 2. (4) Not applicable. (5) The Department will properly assess the NOI and in doing so will take into account any impact the proposal may or may not have on adjoining nearby land. (6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(3) See answer 2. (4) Not applicable. (5) The Department will properly assess the NOI and in doing so will take into account any impact the proposal may or may not have on adjoining nearby land. (6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(4) Not applicable. (5) The Department will properly assess the NOI and in doing so will take into account any impact the proposal may or may not have on adjoining nearby land. (6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(5) The Department will properly assess the NOI and in doing so will take into account any impact the proposal may or may not have on adjoining nearby land. (6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(8) N/A.
(2) A Notice of Intent to raise the height of the Fimiston 1 Tailings Storage Facility was received by the Department on 26/8/2003 and an assessment has not yet been completed. (3) See answer 2. (4) Not applicable. (5) The Department will properly assess the NOI and in doing so will take into account any impact the proposal may or may not have on adjoining nearby land. (6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(3) See answer 2. (4) Not applicable. (5) The Department will properly assess the NOI and in doing so will take into account any impact the proposal may or may not have on adjoining nearby land. (6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(4) Not applicable. (5) The Department will properly assess the NOI and in doing so will take into account any impact the proposal may or may not have on adjoining nearby land. (6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(5) The Department will properly assess the NOI and in doing so will take into account any impact the proposal may or may not have on adjoining nearby land. (6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(6) Assessment of Notices of Intent is part of the Department’s regulatory responsibility. (7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(7) Any assessment would be based upon information provided to the Department by third parties. Consequently, on this occasion it is considered appropriate for the normal freedom of information process to be followed should any other party seek access to documentation. (8) N/A.
(8) N/A.
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