❓ Question investigates BHP Billiton's involvement and concerns regarding the Mundijong Road extension's proximity to tailings ponds. The answer reveals WMC (previous owner) raised concerns about the road's impact on infrastructure and buffer zones protecting the ponds.
AnsweredQoN 3026Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can the Minister confirm if BHP Billiton Nickel West was involved in the initial planning, feasibility and design stages of the first Mundijong Road extension alignment?
(2) If yes to (1), did BHP Billiton Nickel West voice any concerns that the original alignment was so close to its tailings ponds?
(3) Were planning authorities aware that the first Mundijong Road alignment was so close to the tailings ponds?
(4) If yes to (3), what was the official description of the tailings pond in the initial planning, feasibility and design stages of the Mundijong Road extension?
(5) If no to (3), why not?
(2) If yes to (1), did BHP Billiton Nickel West voice any concerns that the original alignment was so close to its tailings ponds?
(3) Were planning authorities aware that the first Mundijong Road alignment was so close to the tailings ponds?
(4) If yes to (3), what was the official description of the tailings pond in the initial planning, feasibility and design stages of the Mundijong Road extension?
(5) If no to (3), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 December 2010
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Planning
Response time
23 days
(1)Western Mining Corporation Limited (WMC), the owner of the Kwinana Nickel Refinery at the time, was not involved in the determination of the alignment of the first Mundijong Road alignment proposed for reservation in the Metropolitan Region Scheme in MRS Amendment 900/33A in 1992/3.
(2) WMC and Freehill Hollingdale & Page, solicitors to Muirwil Nominees Pty Ltd (as trustee for WMC) did express various concerns with the 1993 alignment of the Mundijong Road extension. They noted the proposed road had the potential to impact pipelines and production bores and intruded into the "buffer" created by WMC/Muirwill which protected the tailings ponds that were established in an isolated location not visible to the public.
(3) Yes
(4)The ponds were tailings ponds associated with the Kwinana Nickel Refinery process constructed pursuant to the
Nickel Refinery (Western Mining Corporation Limited) Agreement Act 1968
. In 1993, WMC was implementing a tailings pond rehabilitation project and effluent management system upgrade in accordance with a Consultative Environmental Review and works approval approved by the Environmental Protection Authority.
(5) Not applicable
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(2) WMC and Freehill Hollingdale & Page, solicitors to Muirwil Nominees Pty Ltd (as trustee for WMC) did express various concerns with the 1993 alignment of the Mundijong Road extension. They noted the proposed road had the potential to impact pipelines and production bores and intruded into the "buffer" created by WMC/Muirwill which protected the tailings ponds that were established in an isolated location not visible to the public.
(3) Yes
(4)The ponds were tailings ponds associated with the Kwinana Nickel Refinery process constructed pursuant to the
Nickel Refinery (Western Mining Corporation Limited) Agreement Act 1968
. In 1993, WMC was implementing a tailings pond rehabilitation project and effluent management system upgrade in accordance with a Consultative Environmental Review and works approval approved by the Environmental Protection Authority.
(5) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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