❓ A parliamentary question probes the Environment Minister regarding the EPA's concerns about a proposed mine dewatering discharge into Greta Lake, focusing on salinity, ecological impacts, and the EPA's rationale for potentially halting mine operations. The Minister declines to answer, citing the EPA's independence.
AnsweredQoN 3642Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer a letter dated 25 February 2003 titled ‘White Foil Gold Project: Proposal to discharge water from Mine dewatering to Greta Lake’, signed by Bernard Bowen from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) addressed to Mr Jean- Pierre Nicoud, Mines and Resources Australia Pty Ltd -
(1) Can the Minister state how far in kilometres is Greta Lake from Kalgoorlie Boulder and Coolgardie?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister explain why the EPA was concerned with the proposed, two week, interim discharge of 100,000 kilolitres of salt water given that the place into which the discharge was to go was identified by the EPA as being ‘a relatively small salt lake?’
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Is it correct that most if not all of the salt lakes in the Goldfields region receive fresh water flows after rainfall periods?
(6) If no to (5), what specifically is correct?
(7) Can the Minister explain how the water quality of salt lakes remains relatively fresh for a considerable period of time and which forms the basis for a complex ecological cycle?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Can the Minister state what was the salinity of the groundwater in Greta Lake as compared to the salinity of the proposed 100 000 kilolitres of discharge, and how this was a serious concern under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986,
given that Greta Lake was identified as being a salt lake?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Can the Minister state the name of the specific types of ‘aquatic biota and potentially biota further along the food chain’ the EPA was referring to that would be impacted in both the ‘long term’ and the ‘short term’?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) Can the Minister state why the EPA stated in the letter dated 25 February 2003 the following ‘I appreciate that, if short term discharge to Greta Lake is not approved, this will probably mean that the mine will need to shut down for a short period of time, until an alternative and acceptable discharge option is implemented. However there is clearly a need to approach this matter in a more strategic manner, taking full account of the environmental impacts and management implications of mine water discharge?’
(14) If no to (13), why not?
(1) Can the Minister state how far in kilometres is Greta Lake from Kalgoorlie Boulder and Coolgardie?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister explain why the EPA was concerned with the proposed, two week, interim discharge of 100,000 kilolitres of salt water given that the place into which the discharge was to go was identified by the EPA as being ‘a relatively small salt lake?’
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Is it correct that most if not all of the salt lakes in the Goldfields region receive fresh water flows after rainfall periods?
(6) If no to (5), what specifically is correct?
(7) Can the Minister explain how the water quality of salt lakes remains relatively fresh for a considerable period of time and which forms the basis for a complex ecological cycle?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) Can the Minister state what was the salinity of the groundwater in Greta Lake as compared to the salinity of the proposed 100 000 kilolitres of discharge, and how this was a serious concern under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986,
given that Greta Lake was identified as being a salt lake?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
(11) Can the Minister state the name of the specific types of ‘aquatic biota and potentially biota further along the food chain’ the EPA was referring to that would be impacted in both the ‘long term’ and the ‘short term’?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) Can the Minister state why the EPA stated in the letter dated 25 February 2003 the following ‘I appreciate that, if short term discharge to Greta Lake is not approved, this will probably mean that the mine will need to shut down for a short period of time, until an alternative and acceptable discharge option is implemented. However there is clearly a need to approach this matter in a more strategic manner, taking full account of the environmental impacts and management implications of mine water discharge?’
(14) If no to (13), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 August 2006
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
70 days
These questions relate to correspondence between the Chairman of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and a proponent in relation to a proposal which had been formally referred to the Authority under Section 38 of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
. The EPA is an independent statutory authority. As the correspondence in question relates to the conduct of the EPA's assessment process, it is not appropriate for the Minister for the Environment to comment on the matter. It is recommended that the Honourable Member raises these questions directly with the EPA Chairman.
Environmental Protection Act 1986
. The EPA is an independent statutory authority. As the correspondence in question relates to the conduct of the EPA's assessment process, it is not appropriate for the Minister for the Environment to comment on the matter. It is recommended that the Honourable Member raises these questions directly with the EPA Chairman.
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