❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses environmental concerns related to the Mt Cattlin mine, including dust, asbestos, water, air quality, noise, and compliance, particularly during care and maintenance. The response provides data, clarifies monitoring requirements, and addresses community concerns.
AnsweredQoN 800Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Mt Cattlin mine (licence L8469/2010/2), and I ask: (a) what date is Mt Cattlin mine due to fully cease operations (including the end of care and maintenance stage); (b) how many dust complaints have been lodged in the following years: (i) 2025 (so far); (ii) 2024; (iii) 2023; (iv) 2022; (v) 2021; and (vi) in total since operations commenced; (c) what is the process of responding to complaints that relate to dust monitoring; (d) of the dust complaints referred to in (b), how many have been: (i) investigated; (ii) responded to; and (iii) resolved; (e) have any dust monitoring requirements changed in response to complaints; (f) how many complaints in total have been received in relation to the mine's operation; (g) does the mine process, handle or crush any material containing (or potentially containing) asbestos; (h) if yes to (g), how is this monitored; (i) if yes to (g), can all relevant reports be provided; (j) if no to (i), why not; (k) what ongoing monitoring is required of dust now that the mine is in ‘care and maintenance’; (l) in relation to dust monitoring: (i) who is responsible for this monitoring; (ii) how are monitoring requirements enforced by the Department; (iii) what dust monitoring was required prior to the mine being placed in ‘care and maintenance’; (iv) can reports from this monitoring in (iii) be provided; and (v) if no to (iv), why not; (m) is drinking water required to be monitored under the Mt Cattlin mine licence; (n) if yes to (m), what is the process for this; (o) if yes to (m), can these reports be tabled; (p) if no to (o), why not; (q) is air quality required to be monitored under the Mt Cattlin mine licence; (r) if yes to (q), what is the process for this; (s) if yes to (q), can these reports be tabled; (t) if no to (s), why not; (u) what ongoing monitoring is required of noise now that the mine is in ‘care and maintenance’; (v) who is responsible for this monitoring in (u); (w) in reference to (u), how are monitoring requirements enforced; (x) is it standard practice for mine operators to self-monitor and self-report the following elements from the mine's operations: (i) dust levels; (ii) air quality; (iii) water quality; and (iv) noise levels; (y) does the Mt Cattlin mine have current approvals for crushing operations: (i) in the day time; (ii) if yes to (i), what are these; (iii) in the night time; and (iv) if yes to (iii), what are these; (z) if no to (y)(i) or (y)(iii), how are crushing operations monitored and enforced; (aa) what environmental noise assessment has been undertaken in relation to ongoing nightly operations; (bb) in reference to (aa), can these reports be tabled; (cc) if no to (bb), why not; (dd) how many appeals have been lodged against this mine; (ee) what have been the outcomes of these appeals in (dd); (ff) has the mine ever ceased activities "causing visible dust lift-off where dust management measures have not prevented dust lift-off and there is a risk of dust affecting sensitive external receptors (residences)", as required by ‘Fugitive dust management requirements’ (Table 2.1.1 of the licence); (gg) if yes to (ff), what dates did this occur; (hh) if yes to (ff), what was the length of time that activities ceased; (ii) in reference to (ff), how is compliance with fugitive dust management requirements monitored by the Department; (jj) for Mt Cattlin mine, have any instances of non-compliance with licence conditions occurred: (i) 2025 (so far); (ii) 2024; (iii) 2023; (iv) 2022; (v) 2021; and (vi) during the total time of this licence; and (kk) can the Department provide all reports relating to water, environmental and noise monitoring that relate to this mine, including all Annual Environmental Reports?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 December 2025
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
9 days
(a) No date for full cessation of operations is specified in Galaxy Lithium Australia Limited’s (Galaxy) licence, and Galaxy has not provided a date for full cessation of operations at its Mt Cattlin mine to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (the Department). The licence is due to expire on 13 October 2029; the holder may apply to extend or renew it.
(b)
(i) 15 (up to 20 November 2025)
(ii) 5
(iii) Nil
(iv) Nil
(v) Nil
(vi) 25
(c) Complaints received by the Department are triaged based on any risks to public health, water and the environment. Previous complaints and compliance history are also considered. Complaints triaged for investigation are further risk assessed and relevant information and evidence is reviewed. If necessary, further information is requested from the complainant or instrument holder.? Action is taken to ensure that issues identified through the investigation process, if any, are adequately addressed. The complainant (if not anonymous) is then informed of the results of the investigation.
(d) Of the 25 dust complaints lodged in total since operations commenced
(i) 25 investigated
(ii) 25 responded
(iii) 25 resolved
(e) No
(f) 28
(g) No. Licence L8469/2010/2 does not authorise the processing, handling or crushing of material containing, or potentially containing asbestos. Since 2016, there have been four investigations into the presence of asbestiform or fibrous materials at the mine. All testing returned negative results for the presence of these materials.
(h) – (j) Not applicable
(k) Licence L8469/2010/2 requires continuous monitoring of deposited dust at four specified dust deposition gauges whether or not the premises is in ‘care and maintenance’. Two monitoring locations are situated on the boundary of the premises upwind and downwind of the mobile crushing and screening plant (which remains in operation) and two monitoring locations are close to the nearest residential receptor.
(l)
(i) Galaxy Lithium Australia Limited (the holder of Licence L8469/2010/2).
(ii) Licence conditions require Galaxy to submit an Annual Environmental Report containing monitoring results, and an Annual Audit Compliance Report documenting the extent to which the licence holder has complied with licence conditions. If non-compliance is detected or reported, the Department will determine the appropriate action or response in accordance with its Compliance and Enforcement Policy (available online).
(iii) Prior to the 16 September 2025 licence amendment adjusting monitoring obligations during periods of ‘care and maintenance’, Licence L8469/2010/2 required continuous monitoring of deposited dust via 16 dust deposition gauges. Monitoring of a single HiVolume Air Sampler unit, located within the town of Ravensthorpe and capable of sampling particulate matter of 10 micrometres or less (PM 10 ), and analysis of lithium, manganese and zinc concentrations within the dust, was also required. Following the amendment, these monitoring requirements continue to apply when the premises is not in ‘care and maintenance’.
(iv) Yes, the reports can be provided; however, as the licence has been in force for 15 years, a substantial number of air quality monitoring reports have been submitted to the Department. Compiling and reviewing these documents to exclude any personal or commercially sensitive information prior to tabling would require a significant diversion of resources.
(v) Not applicable.
(m) No.
(n) – (p) Not applicable.
(q) – (t) Yes. See response to (k) – (l).
(u)?Noise monitoring is not required during ‘care and maintenance’.
(v) - (w) Not applicable.
(x) Yes.
(y)
(i) Yes.
(ii) Licence L8469/2010/2 authorises the operation of an ore processing plant up to 2,000,000 tonnes of ore per annum, and a mobile crushing and screening plant to crush up to 80,000 tonnes per annum of waste rock. The crushing and screening plant is allowed to operate within the hours of 0700 to 1900 Monday to Saturday and between 0900 to 1900 on Sundays and Public Holidays.
(iii) No. Only ore processing, not crushing, is authorised at nighttime.
(iv) Not applicable.
(z) See response to (l)(ii).
(aa) The Department undertook a risk assessment of noise emissions from nighttime operations through a licence holder-initiated licence amendment granted 30 June 2020. The licence holder’s application included a noise assessment for nighttime operations.
As a result of the Department’s risk assessment, noise verification conditions were added to the licence which required Galaxy to undertake nighttime noise monitoring to compare actual noise emission levels with modelled predictions.
(bb) Yes. I table a copy of the report titled Environmental Noise Assessment (Ref: 24632-3-19046) – Mt Cattlin Operations: Night Operations – prepared for Galaxy Lithium Australia Limited, authored by Herring Storer Acoustics and dated September 2019.
The Department’s risk assessment is contained within the June 2020 amendment report for licence L8469/2010/2, which is available on the Department’s website.
(cc) Not applicable
(dd) Two
(ee) The Minister allowed in part Appeal 017/25 against the 11 April 2025 amendment of licence L8469/2010/2 to the extent that condition 3.5.2 is amended to strengthen monitoring to manage the risk from dust emissions from activities (crushing and screening operations) authorised by the amended licence. The Department gave effect to the Minister’s decision on 14 August 2025.
Appeal C13/18 lodged against clearing permit CPS 8052/1 was withdrawn.
(ff) – (hh) Licence L8469/2010/2 does not require reporting of this information, and it is not held on the Department’s records.
(ii) See response to (l)(ii).
(jj)
(i) Yes
(ii) Yes
(iii) Yes
(iv) Yes
(v) Yes
(vi) Yes
(kk) Yes, the reports can be provided; however, as the licence has been in force for 15 years, a substantial number of reports have been submitted to the Department. Compiling and reviewing these documents to exclude any personal or commercially sensitive information prior to tabling would require a significant diversion of resources.
(b)
(i) 15 (up to 20 November 2025)
(ii) 5
(iii) Nil
(iv) Nil
(v) Nil
(vi) 25
(c) Complaints received by the Department are triaged based on any risks to public health, water and the environment. Previous complaints and compliance history are also considered. Complaints triaged for investigation are further risk assessed and relevant information and evidence is reviewed. If necessary, further information is requested from the complainant or instrument holder.? Action is taken to ensure that issues identified through the investigation process, if any, are adequately addressed. The complainant (if not anonymous) is then informed of the results of the investigation.
(d) Of the 25 dust complaints lodged in total since operations commenced
(i) 25 investigated
(ii) 25 responded
(iii) 25 resolved
(e) No
(f) 28
(g) No. Licence L8469/2010/2 does not authorise the processing, handling or crushing of material containing, or potentially containing asbestos. Since 2016, there have been four investigations into the presence of asbestiform or fibrous materials at the mine. All testing returned negative results for the presence of these materials.
(h) – (j) Not applicable
(k) Licence L8469/2010/2 requires continuous monitoring of deposited dust at four specified dust deposition gauges whether or not the premises is in ‘care and maintenance’. Two monitoring locations are situated on the boundary of the premises upwind and downwind of the mobile crushing and screening plant (which remains in operation) and two monitoring locations are close to the nearest residential receptor.
(l)
(i) Galaxy Lithium Australia Limited (the holder of Licence L8469/2010/2).
(ii) Licence conditions require Galaxy to submit an Annual Environmental Report containing monitoring results, and an Annual Audit Compliance Report documenting the extent to which the licence holder has complied with licence conditions. If non-compliance is detected or reported, the Department will determine the appropriate action or response in accordance with its Compliance and Enforcement Policy (available online).
(iii) Prior to the 16 September 2025 licence amendment adjusting monitoring obligations during periods of ‘care and maintenance’, Licence L8469/2010/2 required continuous monitoring of deposited dust via 16 dust deposition gauges. Monitoring of a single HiVolume Air Sampler unit, located within the town of Ravensthorpe and capable of sampling particulate matter of 10 micrometres or less (PM 10 ), and analysis of lithium, manganese and zinc concentrations within the dust, was also required. Following the amendment, these monitoring requirements continue to apply when the premises is not in ‘care and maintenance’.
(iv) Yes, the reports can be provided; however, as the licence has been in force for 15 years, a substantial number of air quality monitoring reports have been submitted to the Department. Compiling and reviewing these documents to exclude any personal or commercially sensitive information prior to tabling would require a significant diversion of resources.
(v) Not applicable.
(m) No.
(n) – (p) Not applicable.
(q) – (t) Yes. See response to (k) – (l).
(u)?Noise monitoring is not required during ‘care and maintenance’.
(v) - (w) Not applicable.
(x) Yes.
(y)
(i) Yes.
(ii) Licence L8469/2010/2 authorises the operation of an ore processing plant up to 2,000,000 tonnes of ore per annum, and a mobile crushing and screening plant to crush up to 80,000 tonnes per annum of waste rock. The crushing and screening plant is allowed to operate within the hours of 0700 to 1900 Monday to Saturday and between 0900 to 1900 on Sundays and Public Holidays.
(iii) No. Only ore processing, not crushing, is authorised at nighttime.
(iv) Not applicable.
(z) See response to (l)(ii).
(aa) The Department undertook a risk assessment of noise emissions from nighttime operations through a licence holder-initiated licence amendment granted 30 June 2020. The licence holder’s application included a noise assessment for nighttime operations.
As a result of the Department’s risk assessment, noise verification conditions were added to the licence which required Galaxy to undertake nighttime noise monitoring to compare actual noise emission levels with modelled predictions.
(bb) Yes. I table a copy of the report titled Environmental Noise Assessment (Ref: 24632-3-19046) – Mt Cattlin Operations: Night Operations – prepared for Galaxy Lithium Australia Limited, authored by Herring Storer Acoustics and dated September 2019.
The Department’s risk assessment is contained within the June 2020 amendment report for licence L8469/2010/2, which is available on the Department’s website.
(cc) Not applicable
(dd) Two
(ee) The Minister allowed in part Appeal 017/25 against the 11 April 2025 amendment of licence L8469/2010/2 to the extent that condition 3.5.2 is amended to strengthen monitoring to manage the risk from dust emissions from activities (crushing and screening operations) authorised by the amended licence. The Department gave effect to the Minister’s decision on 14 August 2025.
Appeal C13/18 lodged against clearing permit CPS 8052/1 was withdrawn.
(ff) – (hh) Licence L8469/2010/2 does not require reporting of this information, and it is not held on the Department’s records.
(ii) See response to (l)(ii).
(jj)
(i) Yes
(ii) Yes
(iii) Yes
(iv) Yes
(v) Yes
(vi) Yes
(kk) Yes, the reports can be provided; however, as the licence has been in force for 15 years, a substantial number of reports have been submitted to the Department. Compiling and reviewing these documents to exclude any personal or commercially sensitive information prior to tabling would require a significant diversion of resources.
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