❓ Hodson-Thomas questions the Minister for Environment regarding odour pollution from ALCOA's Wagerup refinery, comparing it to action taken against Derby Industries. The Minister details actions taken since 2001, including community consultation and emission reduction programs.
AnsweredQoN 182Legislative Assembly
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(b) if so, when did the Minister receive these complaints, what action was taken to resolve them, and what was the outcome; (c) will the Minister advise why the Department of Environment took action to prosecute and fine a meat rendering company in Hazelmere for producing unacceptable smells (Derby Industries Pty Ltd, report in The West Australian on 25 June 2005), but will not take similar action against ALCOA; and (d) what action will the Minister take to ensure that residents living close to ALCOA are not subjected to unacceptable odours that interfere with their businesses and their everyday lives?
(c) will the Minister advise why the Department of Environment took action to prosecute and fine a meat rendering company in Hazelmere for producing unacceptable smells (Derby Industries Pty Ltd, report in The West Australian on 25 June 2005), but will not take similar action against ALCOA; and (d) what action will the Minister take to ensure that residents living close to ALCOA are not subjected to unacceptable odours that interfere with their businesses and their everyday lives?
(d) what action will the Minister take to ensure that residents living close to ALCOA are not subjected to unacceptable odours that interfere with their businesses and their everyday lives?
The Minister for the Environment; Science has provided the following response: (a) Yes (b) Since 2001 as Minister for the Environment, I have received a range of correspondence on these matters and such matters have been raised with me during discussions with various residents and community based groups. A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues. Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
The Minister for the Environment; Science has provided the following response: (a) Yes (b) Since 2001 as Minister for the Environment, I have received a range of correspondence on these matters and such matters have been raised with me during discussions with various residents and community based groups. A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues. Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
(a) Yes (b) Since 2001 as Minister for the Environment, I have received a range of correspondence on these matters and such matters have been raised with me during discussions with various residents and community based groups. A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues. Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
(b) Since 2001 as Minister for the Environment, I have received a range of correspondence on these matters and such matters have been raised with me during discussions with various residents and community based groups. A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues. Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues. Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
(d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
· provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
· reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
· ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
(c) will the Minister advise why the Department of Environment took action to prosecute and fine a meat rendering company in Hazelmere for producing unacceptable smells (Derby Industries Pty Ltd, report in The West Australian on 25 June 2005), but will not take similar action against ALCOA; and (d) what action will the Minister take to ensure that residents living close to ALCOA are not subjected to unacceptable odours that interfere with their businesses and their everyday lives?
(d) what action will the Minister take to ensure that residents living close to ALCOA are not subjected to unacceptable odours that interfere with their businesses and their everyday lives?
The Minister for the Environment; Science has provided the following response: (a) Yes (b) Since 2001 as Minister for the Environment, I have received a range of correspondence on these matters and such matters have been raised with me during discussions with various residents and community based groups. A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues. Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
The Minister for the Environment; Science has provided the following response: (a) Yes (b) Since 2001 as Minister for the Environment, I have received a range of correspondence on these matters and such matters have been raised with me during discussions with various residents and community based groups. A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues. Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
(a) Yes (b) Since 2001 as Minister for the Environment, I have received a range of correspondence on these matters and such matters have been raised with me during discussions with various residents and community based groups. A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues. Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
(b) Since 2001 as Minister for the Environment, I have received a range of correspondence on these matters and such matters have been raised with me during discussions with various residents and community based groups. A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues. Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues. Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report. The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup. The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues. In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
In summary, these actions and initiatives include, Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery; Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially. As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science; Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery; Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues; Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions. The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site. (c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success. (d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
(d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level. More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour. Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes; · provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
· provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts, · reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
· reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and; · ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
· ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed. The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 September 2005
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
30 days
Answer
The Minister for the Environment; Science has provided the following response:
(a) Yes
(b) Since 2001 as Minister for the Environment, I have received a range of correspondence on these matters and such matters have been raised with me during discussions with various residents and community based groups.
A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues.
Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report.
The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup.
The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues.
In summary, these actions and initiatives include,
Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery;
Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially.
As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science;
Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery;
Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues;
Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions.
The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site.
(c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success.
(d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level.
More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour.
Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes;
· provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts,
· reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and;
· ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed.
The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
The Minister for the Environment; Science has provided the following response:
(a) Yes
(b) Since 2001 as Minister for the Environment, I have received a range of correspondence on these matters and such matters have been raised with me during discussions with various residents and community based groups.
A large number of actions have been initiated by Government to resolve these issues.
Initiatives and actions in this regard were outlined in submission of the Ministerial Council on Health Environment and Industry Sustainability to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs' Alcoa Wagerup Refinery Inquiry. The Member is referred to that Committee's report and the Government's response to the recommendations from that report.
The Ministerial Council was itself established as a Government initiative to assist in resolveing issues related to Wagerup.
The outcomes to date of the actions and initiatives are extensive, and I acknowledge that further efforts are still required to satisfactorily resolve all issues.
In summary, these actions and initiatives include,
Creation of the Wagerup Medical Practitioners Forum to provide independent advice to Government on health related issues associated with the Wagerup refinery;
Operation of the Yarloop Community Clinic to provide potentially affected members of the community direct access to an independent health assessment. This clinic operated from October 2002 until December 2003 when inquiries had declined substantially.
As Minister for the Environment, I initiated the establishment of a Tripartite process involving Community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup. This provides a consultative forum where all stakeholder can work together to resolve issues, including the type the Member highlights, and develop mutually acceptable solutions based on robust information and relevant applicable science;
Significant programs have been undertaken to reduce emissions to the atmosphere from Alcoa's Wagerup refinery;
Alcoa engaged the CSIRO to review all the available emissions information at Wagerup. The CSIRO made 18 recommendations to progress relevant understanding aimed at resolving issues;
Significant programs of robust scientific research, based to a large degree on the above CSIRO recommendations, have been initiated and progressed through the environmental licensing at Wagerup to enhance the understanding of potential causal sources. This work is the essential first step to determining if anecdotally inferred "cause and effect" relationships are robust in order to optimise work to develop solutions.
The Wagerup Tripartite Group has continued to regularly review Alcoa's environmental performance, particularly in relation to emissions reduction initiatives and as input to the reissue of environmental licences for the site.
(c) Following thorough investigation by the Department's Environmental Enforcement Unit in accordance with its enforcement and prosecution policy, the DoE initiates a prosecution when the State Solicitor advises sufficient robust evidence is available to underpin the prosecution action which has a high likelihood of success.
(d) As the Minister for the Environment, I made a decision in 2002 to require Alcoa to undertake emission reduction works by a specified period or to ensure that odour emissions from the refinery were to be kept below a certain production level.
More recently, I initiated the establishment of a tripartite process involving community, Alcoa and Government at Wagerup in order to provide a consultative forum where all stakeholders could work together to resolve issues, including the odour.
Within the 2004/2005 licence Alcoa was required to manage calcine emissions to defined levels which have been below historical levels and to retain a production limit. By specifying a daily production limit and imposing limits on key emission, the licence has provided the following outcomes;
· provided a community a safety net in relation to refinery impacts,
· reduced emission peaks associated with production peaks, and;
· ensures a community benefit before any increase in annual production was allowed.
The Wagerup Tripartite Group continues to develop mutually acceptable solutions based upon robust information and applicable science. I encourage all stakeholders interested in resolving issues that relate to the Wagerup Refinery, to engage with this Tripartite process and help to develop positive solutions for the benefit of all parties.
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