Hon Robin Chapple raises concerns about potential dust contamination from core drilling near the Yeelirrie-Meekatharra road, questioning safety measures and worker decontamination. Hon Norman Moore defers the questions, citing unclear circumstances and requesting further investigation.

AnsweredQoN 1112Legislative Council
Asked
12 November 2009
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum

QuestionView source ↗

YEELIRRIE-MEEKATHARRA ROAD — CORE DRILLING — CONTAMINATION CONCERNS
I refer to photographs available on my website showing dust pluming from core drilling adjacent to the Yeelirrie-Meekatharra road that traverses the BHP-Billiton Yeelirrie uranium exploration project in temporary reserve 6899H. (1) Given that the dust plume photographed is adjacent to and crosses the road, and given that the workers photographed were wearing protective masks, why was there no signage or why were there no barriers to private vehicles in place on the road? (2) Did the workers undertaking the core drilling have access to personal showers and/or decontamination for their clothing on completion of their shift? (3) If yes to (2), at what location? (4) Does the minister regard the level of aerial dust contamination on display in the photographs as acceptable in terms of the health and safety of the workers and passers-by on the adjacent public road? (5) If yes to (4), why? (6) If no to (4), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of the question. At this stage, the circumstances in which these photographs were taken are unclear. It is also uncertain which company is involved and what the drilling is for. It might be for water. I therefore ask that the question be placed on notice so that an investigation can be completed and a detailed answer provided. If these photographs are advertisements for the member’s website, it is an interesting way of doing it.
(1) Given that the dust plume photographed is adjacent to and crosses the road, and given that the workers photographed were wearing protective masks, why was there no signage or why were there no barriers to private vehicles in place on the road? (2) Did the workers undertaking the core drilling have access to personal showers and/or decontamination for their clothing on completion of their shift? (3) If yes to (2), at what location? (4) Does the minister regard the level of aerial dust contamination on display in the photographs as acceptable in terms of the health and safety of the workers and passers-by on the adjacent public road? (5) If yes to (4), why? (6) If no to (4), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. At this stage, the circumstances in which these photographs were taken are unclear. It is also uncertain which company is involved and what the drilling is for. It might be for water. I therefore ask that the question be placed on notice so that an investigation can be completed and a detailed answer provided. If these photographs are advertisements for the member’s website, it is an interesting way of doing it.
(2) Did the workers undertaking the core drilling have access to personal showers and/or decontamination for their clothing on completion of their shift? (3) If yes to (2), at what location? (4) Does the minister regard the level of aerial dust contamination on display in the photographs as acceptable in terms of the health and safety of the workers and passers-by on the adjacent public road? (5) If yes to (4), why? (6) If no to (4), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. At this stage, the circumstances in which these photographs were taken are unclear. It is also uncertain which company is involved and what the drilling is for. It might be for water. I therefore ask that the question be placed on notice so that an investigation can be completed and a detailed answer provided. If these photographs are advertisements for the member’s website, it is an interesting way of doing it.
(3) If yes to (2), at what location? (4) Does the minister regard the level of aerial dust contamination on display in the photographs as acceptable in terms of the health and safety of the workers and passers-by on the adjacent public road? (5) If yes to (4), why? (6) If no to (4), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. At this stage, the circumstances in which these photographs were taken are unclear. It is also uncertain which company is involved and what the drilling is for. It might be for water. I therefore ask that the question be placed on notice so that an investigation can be completed and a detailed answer provided. If these photographs are advertisements for the member’s website, it is an interesting way of doing it.
(4) Does the minister regard the level of aerial dust contamination on display in the photographs as acceptable in terms of the health and safety of the workers and passers-by on the adjacent public road? (5) If yes to (4), why? (6) If no to (4), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. At this stage, the circumstances in which these photographs were taken are unclear. It is also uncertain which company is involved and what the drilling is for. It might be for water. I therefore ask that the question be placed on notice so that an investigation can be completed and a detailed answer provided. If these photographs are advertisements for the member’s website, it is an interesting way of doing it.
(5) If yes to (4), why? (6) If no to (4), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. At this stage, the circumstances in which these photographs were taken are unclear. It is also uncertain which company is involved and what the drilling is for. It might be for water. I therefore ask that the question be placed on notice so that an investigation can be completed and a detailed answer provided. If these photographs are advertisements for the member’s website, it is an interesting way of doing it.
(6) If no to (4), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. At this stage, the circumstances in which these photographs were taken are unclear. It is also uncertain which company is involved and what the drilling is for. It might be for water. I therefore ask that the question be placed on notice so that an investigation can be completed and a detailed answer provided. If these photographs are advertisements for the member’s website, it is an interesting way of doing it.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. At this stage, the circumstances in which these photographs were taken are unclear. It is also uncertain which company is involved and what the drilling is for. It might be for water. I therefore ask that the question be placed on notice so that an investigation can be completed and a detailed answer provided. If these photographs are advertisements for the member’s website, it is an interesting way of doing it.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. At this stage, the circumstances in which these photographs were taken are unclear. It is also uncertain which company is involved and what the drilling is for. It might be for water. I therefore ask that the question be placed on notice so that an investigation can be completed and a detailed answer provided. If these photographs are advertisements for the member’s website, it is an interesting way of doing it.
At this stage, the circumstances in which these photographs were taken are unclear. It is also uncertain which company is involved and what the drilling is for. It might be for water. I therefore ask that the question be placed on notice so that an investigation can be completed and a detailed answer provided. If these photographs are advertisements for the member’s website, it is an interesting way of doing it.

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