❓ The Minister for Environment provides an update on the installation and performance of new pollution control equipment (baghouse filter) at Cockburn Cement's Munster plant, specifically on kiln 6, and future plans for kiln 5. The government has accepted recommendations from the Legislative Council's Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report.
AnsweredQoN 120Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
cockburn cement — pollution control
120. Mr J.M. FRANCIS to the Minister for Environment:
Can the minister please update the house on the new pollution
control equipment installed at Cockburn Cement's Munster plant?
120. Mr J.M. FRANCIS to the Minister for Environment:
Can the minister please update the house on the new pollution
control equipment installed at Cockburn Cement's Munster plant?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Jandakot for an excellent question.
I visited Cockburn Cement's plant at Munster for the
second time on 8 March, a couple of weeks ago. I was very pleased to see that
it was in a lot better condition than the time I visited previously, which was
last year. I visited the plant to inspect the new pollution control equipment
that has been installed on kiln 6. It is called a baghouse filter and is a
requirement of the licence conditions as amended by the Department of
Environment and Conservation in December 2010. I am pleased to inform the house
that the filter is operating and performing very well. Dust levels are
significantly below the required levels. I can show members the levels in this
graph I am holding. These are the dust levels and the red line is the
requirement. This is kiln 5. The members for Cockburn and Jandakot will be very
interested in this.
In kiln 5 the levels are around about 100 milligrams a cubic
metre, but on the —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Table it!
Mr
W.R. MARMION : I am happy to table it.
But the baghouse filter, kiln 6, is
down there; it is only 11 milligrams a cubic metre. This is an outstanding
achievement; we have just about gotten rid of all the dust out of kiln 6. I am
pleased to say that the licence is coming up for renewal, and there will be a
requirement for a baghouse filter to be put on kiln 5. So we can see from this
chart that in about 12 months' time the level will be down to 11 milligrams
a cubic metre for kiln 5—an outstanding achievement. I am conscious
that people in the area are still concerned about issues. The new licence will
have stronger conditions, including a limit on sulfur dioxide emissions, as
well as a requirement to report compliance with the limits set by the
environmental protection policy for atmospheric waste in Kwinana.
I am also conscious, and members
would be aware, that the government tabled its response to the Legislative
Council's Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report
into its inquiry into the Cockburn Cement, Munster operations. The government has,
essentially, accepted all the recommendations, and when the new licence comes
out at the end of this month it will take up those that we have not yet
addressed.
I visited Cockburn Cement's plant at Munster for the
second time on 8 March, a couple of weeks ago. I was very pleased to see that
it was in a lot better condition than the time I visited previously, which was
last year. I visited the plant to inspect the new pollution control equipment
that has been installed on kiln 6. It is called a baghouse filter and is a
requirement of the licence conditions as amended by the Department of
Environment and Conservation in December 2010. I am pleased to inform the house
that the filter is operating and performing very well. Dust levels are
significantly below the required levels. I can show members the levels in this
graph I am holding. These are the dust levels and the red line is the
requirement. This is kiln 5. The members for Cockburn and Jandakot will be very
interested in this.
In kiln 5 the levels are around about 100 milligrams a cubic
metre, but on the —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Table it!
Mr
W.R. MARMION : I am happy to table it.
But the baghouse filter, kiln 6, is
down there; it is only 11 milligrams a cubic metre. This is an outstanding
achievement; we have just about gotten rid of all the dust out of kiln 6. I am
pleased to say that the licence is coming up for renewal, and there will be a
requirement for a baghouse filter to be put on kiln 5. So we can see from this
chart that in about 12 months' time the level will be down to 11 milligrams
a cubic metre for kiln 5—an outstanding achievement. I am conscious
that people in the area are still concerned about issues. The new licence will
have stronger conditions, including a limit on sulfur dioxide emissions, as
well as a requirement to report compliance with the limits set by the
environmental protection policy for atmospheric waste in Kwinana.
I am also conscious, and members
would be aware, that the government tabled its response to the Legislative
Council's Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report
into its inquiry into the Cockburn Cement, Munster operations. The government has,
essentially, accepted all the recommendations, and when the new licence comes
out at the end of this month it will take up those that we have not yet
addressed.
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