❓ Hon Paul Llewellyn questions the Environment Minister regarding the potential impact of KCGM's Fimiston tailings dams on freshwater resources, referencing a previous QoN. The Minister refers back to the previous QoN for some answers and provides clarification on the location of the dams and groundwater control.
AnsweredQoN 3407Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to both the Fimiston 1 and Fimiston 2 tailings dams owned by Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining, operated by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd (KCGM), and question on notice number 2890 of 10 November 2005 -
(1) Can the Minister quote the specific text of the licence conditions on the early licence which were focused on protecting fresh water resources including any fresh water dams which are fed by the major and minor drainage lines in the area?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister quote the specific text of the licence conditions on the most recent licence which relate to protecting from contamination fresh water resources including any fresh water dams which are fed by the major and minor drainage lines in the area?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister present evidence to show that KCGM’s tailings dams are unlikely to impact on the fresh water resources including any fresh water dams fed by the major and minor drainage lines in the area?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Is it correct that the Fimiston 2 tailings dam was built in close proximity to a major fresh water drainage line?
(8) If no to (7), then what specific water feature was it built close to?
(9) Is it correct that the Fimiston 2 tailings dam was constructed over some fresh water drainage lines/channels which previously fed into the major fresh water drainage line which abuts the tailings dam near Bulong Road?
(10) If no to (9), what specific water features were previously located in the dam’s current position?
(11) Is it correct that the Fimiston 1 tailings dam was constructed over a fresh water drainage line/channel which previously fed into a major fresh water drainage line abutting the Fimiston 2 tailings dam near Bulong Road?
(12) If no to (11), what specific water features were previously located in the dam’s current position?
(13) Can the Minister state precisely what does ‘providing groundwater levels are controlled’ mean?
(14) If no to (13), why not?
(1) Can the Minister quote the specific text of the licence conditions on the early licence which were focused on protecting fresh water resources including any fresh water dams which are fed by the major and minor drainage lines in the area?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister quote the specific text of the licence conditions on the most recent licence which relate to protecting from contamination fresh water resources including any fresh water dams which are fed by the major and minor drainage lines in the area?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister present evidence to show that KCGM’s tailings dams are unlikely to impact on the fresh water resources including any fresh water dams fed by the major and minor drainage lines in the area?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Is it correct that the Fimiston 2 tailings dam was built in close proximity to a major fresh water drainage line?
(8) If no to (7), then what specific water feature was it built close to?
(9) Is it correct that the Fimiston 2 tailings dam was constructed over some fresh water drainage lines/channels which previously fed into the major fresh water drainage line which abuts the tailings dam near Bulong Road?
(10) If no to (9), what specific water features were previously located in the dam’s current position?
(11) Is it correct that the Fimiston 1 tailings dam was constructed over a fresh water drainage line/channel which previously fed into a major fresh water drainage line abutting the Fimiston 2 tailings dam near Bulong Road?
(12) If no to (11), what specific water features were previously located in the dam’s current position?
(13) Can the Minister state precisely what does ‘providing groundwater levels are controlled’ mean?
(14) If no to (13), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
30 May 2006
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
28 days
(2) Not applicable. (3) As per answers to Questions on Notice 2890 of 10 November 2005. (4) Not applicable. (5) As per answers to Questions on Notice 2890 of 10 November 2005. (6) Not applicable. (7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(3) As per answers to Questions on Notice 2890 of 10 November 2005. (4) Not applicable. (5) As per answers to Questions on Notice 2890 of 10 November 2005. (6) Not applicable. (7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(4) Not applicable. (5) As per answers to Questions on Notice 2890 of 10 November 2005. (6) Not applicable. (7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(5) As per answers to Questions on Notice 2890 of 10 November 2005. (6) Not applicable. (7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(6) Not applicable. (7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(14) Not applicable
(3) As per answers to Questions on Notice 2890 of 10 November 2005. (4) Not applicable. (5) As per answers to Questions on Notice 2890 of 10 November 2005. (6) Not applicable. (7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(4) Not applicable. (5) As per answers to Questions on Notice 2890 of 10 November 2005. (6) Not applicable. (7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(5) As per answers to Questions on Notice 2890 of 10 November 2005. (6) Not applicable. (7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(6) Not applicable. (7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(7) Fimiston 1 & 2 tailings storage facilities are built adjacent to a drainage line that captures surface water runoff from the area and eventually leads to the Hannans Lake system. A number of smaller order drainage lines in the area feed into the main drainage line. Any significant rainfall will result in runoff down drainage lines and channels and will therefore be predominantly fresh. (8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(8) Not applicable. (9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(9) As per (7). (10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(10) Not applicable. (11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(11) As per (7). (12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(12) Not applicable. (13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(13) In the context of answers to Questions on Notice 2890, the control of groundwater levels means maintaining water levels below the ground surface level such that groundwater does not impact on the quality of surface water runoff. (14) Not applicable
(14) Not applicable
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