❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses concerns regarding a review of Cockburn Cement's environmental practices, questioning the Minister's engagement with community groups and potential impacts on the area's reputation. The Minister's response outlines the review process, community involvement, and commitment to sustainable management.
AnsweredQoN 1447Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Why has the Minister ordered a review of the environmental aspects of the operation of Cockburn Cement's facilities at Munster?
(2) What is the expected cost of this review?
(3) Why has the Minister accepted the complaints and concerns of the Cockburn Association of Concerned Residents (CACR) without bothering to seek advice and a response from the Cockburn Cement Environmental Improvement Group (CCEIG)?
(4) Why has the Minister held regular and direct meetings or discussions with CACR and/or its members, while declining to allow CCEIG and/or its members to have the same access to the Minister?
(5) Is the Minister aware of the damage that is being done to the reputation of the geographical area around the Cockburn Cement site, including impacts on real estate values, as a result of over-stated claims being made and publicised by CACR?
(6) Is the Minister aware that the review ordered by yourself as a result of lobbying by CACR is threatening the cooperative relationship that has developed over the past year between CCEIG, the broader community and Cockburn Cement?
(7) Does the Minister believe that the review process being undertaken by the Department of Environment, Water and Catchment Protection into the operations of Cockburn Cement is the best way to support the sustainability strategy currently being prepared by the Department of Premier and Cabinet?
(2) What is the expected cost of this review?
(3) Why has the Minister accepted the complaints and concerns of the Cockburn Association of Concerned Residents (CACR) without bothering to seek advice and a response from the Cockburn Cement Environmental Improvement Group (CCEIG)?
(4) Why has the Minister held regular and direct meetings or discussions with CACR and/or its members, while declining to allow CCEIG and/or its members to have the same access to the Minister?
(5) Is the Minister aware of the damage that is being done to the reputation of the geographical area around the Cockburn Cement site, including impacts on real estate values, as a result of over-stated claims being made and publicised by CACR?
(6) Is the Minister aware that the review ordered by yourself as a result of lobbying by CACR is threatening the cooperative relationship that has developed over the past year between CCEIG, the broader community and Cockburn Cement?
(7) Does the Minister believe that the review process being undertaken by the Department of Environment, Water and Catchment Protection into the operations of Cockburn Cement is the best way to support the sustainability strategy currently being prepared by the Department of Premier and Cabinet?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 April 2002
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
56 days
(2) Tenders will be called to undertake the environmental audit and review of Cockburn Cement Limited. Until submissions have been received, I am unable to advise on the cost of the review. (3) I established a process that is being managed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which brings together the Cockburn Association of Concerned Residents (CACR) with CCEIG, Cockburn Cement and City of Cockburn and others to address the issues raised by CACR. DEP officers who attend CCEIG meetings have also briefed me. I am advised that this audit process is standard DEP practice and on occasions external contractors are engaged to conduct the audit. The important difference in this case is that interested community groups are involved in the process from start to finish. (4) I have only met once with CACR in relation to this matter. I was unable to accept an invitation to attend a meeting of CCEIG due to other commitments. I have, however, been briefed by DEP officers who attend CCEIG meetings. (5) I am not aware of any damage being done to the reputation of the geographical area around the Cockburn Cement site and real estate values. However, the reason for establishing an open and transparent audit and review involving the community is to resolve these issues. (6) I am not aware of this relationship being threatened by the review. I would expect the review to assist in dealing with issues impacting on residents living near the plant in an open and transparent way. (7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
(3) I established a process that is being managed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which brings together the Cockburn Association of Concerned Residents (CACR) with CCEIG, Cockburn Cement and City of Cockburn and others to address the issues raised by CACR. DEP officers who attend CCEIG meetings have also briefed me. I am advised that this audit process is standard DEP practice and on occasions external contractors are engaged to conduct the audit. The important difference in this case is that interested community groups are involved in the process from start to finish. (4) I have only met once with CACR in relation to this matter. I was unable to accept an invitation to attend a meeting of CCEIG due to other commitments. I have, however, been briefed by DEP officers who attend CCEIG meetings. (5) I am not aware of any damage being done to the reputation of the geographical area around the Cockburn Cement site and real estate values. However, the reason for establishing an open and transparent audit and review involving the community is to resolve these issues. (6) I am not aware of this relationship being threatened by the review. I would expect the review to assist in dealing with issues impacting on residents living near the plant in an open and transparent way. (7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
(4) I have only met once with CACR in relation to this matter. I was unable to accept an invitation to attend a meeting of CCEIG due to other commitments. I have, however, been briefed by DEP officers who attend CCEIG meetings. (5) I am not aware of any damage being done to the reputation of the geographical area around the Cockburn Cement site and real estate values. However, the reason for establishing an open and transparent audit and review involving the community is to resolve these issues. (6) I am not aware of this relationship being threatened by the review. I would expect the review to assist in dealing with issues impacting on residents living near the plant in an open and transparent way. (7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
(5) I am not aware of any damage being done to the reputation of the geographical area around the Cockburn Cement site and real estate values. However, the reason for establishing an open and transparent audit and review involving the community is to resolve these issues. (6) I am not aware of this relationship being threatened by the review. I would expect the review to assist in dealing with issues impacting on residents living near the plant in an open and transparent way. (7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
(6) I am not aware of this relationship being threatened by the review. I would expect the review to assist in dealing with issues impacting on residents living near the plant in an open and transparent way. (7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
(7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
(3) I established a process that is being managed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which brings together the Cockburn Association of Concerned Residents (CACR) with CCEIG, Cockburn Cement and City of Cockburn and others to address the issues raised by CACR. DEP officers who attend CCEIG meetings have also briefed me. I am advised that this audit process is standard DEP practice and on occasions external contractors are engaged to conduct the audit. The important difference in this case is that interested community groups are involved in the process from start to finish. (4) I have only met once with CACR in relation to this matter. I was unable to accept an invitation to attend a meeting of CCEIG due to other commitments. I have, however, been briefed by DEP officers who attend CCEIG meetings. (5) I am not aware of any damage being done to the reputation of the geographical area around the Cockburn Cement site and real estate values. However, the reason for establishing an open and transparent audit and review involving the community is to resolve these issues. (6) I am not aware of this relationship being threatened by the review. I would expect the review to assist in dealing with issues impacting on residents living near the plant in an open and transparent way. (7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
(4) I have only met once with CACR in relation to this matter. I was unable to accept an invitation to attend a meeting of CCEIG due to other commitments. I have, however, been briefed by DEP officers who attend CCEIG meetings. (5) I am not aware of any damage being done to the reputation of the geographical area around the Cockburn Cement site and real estate values. However, the reason for establishing an open and transparent audit and review involving the community is to resolve these issues. (6) I am not aware of this relationship being threatened by the review. I would expect the review to assist in dealing with issues impacting on residents living near the plant in an open and transparent way. (7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
(5) I am not aware of any damage being done to the reputation of the geographical area around the Cockburn Cement site and real estate values. However, the reason for establishing an open and transparent audit and review involving the community is to resolve these issues. (6) I am not aware of this relationship being threatened by the review. I would expect the review to assist in dealing with issues impacting on residents living near the plant in an open and transparent way. (7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
(6) I am not aware of this relationship being threatened by the review. I would expect the review to assist in dealing with issues impacting on residents living near the plant in an open and transparent way. (7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
(7) The review being undertaken by DEP is part of managing the company's licence condition. Compliance with licence conditions and a commitment to best management practice would be a clear demonstration of the company's commitment to sustainable management.
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