❓ Hon Robin Chapple raises concerns about unfenced abandoned mining shafts near a highway and school, questioning why they haven't been filled, bunded, or fenced. The Minister acknowledges the issue, citing limited funds and prioritisation of high-risk sites, but offers no immediate guarantee of safety.
AnsweredQoN 403Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
UNFENCED ABANDONED MINING SHAFTS
403. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the
minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to photos
posted on my website of unfenced abandoned mining shafts referred to as ''Google
Goldfields Highway Mining Hole 1'', located 30.2 metres from the edge of
Goldfields Highway to the east, at longitude 3016'29.34''S and
latitude l2114'37.88''E, and to images titled ''1 Walton
Street Hole 5'' and ''2 Walton Street Hole 5'', which show
five holes located 70 metres east of Menzies Primary School, in which two
shafts are partly covered and the others open, and which also have residences
within 40 metres.
(1) Are these shafts
on the abandoned mine site register?
(2) If yes to (1),
why are they not filled in?
(3) If yes to (1),
why are they not bunded?
(4) If yes to (1),
why are they not fenced?
(5) If no to (1),
why not?
(6) Given the proximity of these unfenced
shafts to public access, what urgent action will the minister take to ensure
that they pose no risk to the public?
403. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the
minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to photos
posted on my website of unfenced abandoned mining shafts referred to as ''Google
Goldfields Highway Mining Hole 1'', located 30.2 metres from the edge of
Goldfields Highway to the east, at longitude 3016'29.34''S and
latitude l2114'37.88''E, and to images titled ''1 Walton
Street Hole 5'' and ''2 Walton Street Hole 5'', which show
five holes located 70 metres east of Menzies Primary School, in which two
shafts are partly covered and the others open, and which also have residences
within 40 metres.
(1) Are these shafts
on the abandoned mine site register?
(2) If yes to (1),
why are they not filled in?
(3) If yes to (1),
why are they not bunded?
(4) If yes to (1),
why are they not fenced?
(5) If no to (1),
why not?
(6) Given the proximity of these unfenced
shafts to public access, what urgent action will the minister take to ensure
that they pose no risk to the public?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question. The Department of Mines and Petroleum advises —
(1) Yes. These
shafts are on the abandoned mine site register. The register code for Google
Goldfields Highway Mining Hole l is CDS3478_0054; and the register codes for 1
Walton Street Hole 5 and 2 Walton Street Hole 5 are CDS38899, CDS38895,
CDS38893, CDS38892 and CDS38891. The abandoned mine site register is a publicly
accessible database on the DMP website.
(2) With more
than 130 years of mining heritage in Western Australia, many historical mine
features were abandoned before the current strict environmental rehabilitation
obligations were in place. Very limited funds have been provided by government
over the years to address abandoned mine sites, with only the very high-risk
sites being addressed. The mining rehabilitation fund, recently established by
this government, will for the first time create a perpetual fund so that the
state government can rehabilitate abandoned mine sites in Western Australia,
starting with the high-risk sites.
(3)–(4) See answer to (2).
(5) Not applicable.
(6) Unfortunately,
the government cannot provide a guarantee that the 10 000 documented abandoned
mine features pose no risk. It is also important to note that funds for
addressing these legacy mines can come only from the interest earned on the
funds in the mining rehabilitation fund. The available funds must be applied to
the high-risk sites. DMP will reassess the risk rating for the legacy sites and
prioritise them accordingly for rehabilitation action.
some notice of this question. The Department of Mines and Petroleum advises —
(1) Yes. These
shafts are on the abandoned mine site register. The register code for Google
Goldfields Highway Mining Hole l is CDS3478_0054; and the register codes for 1
Walton Street Hole 5 and 2 Walton Street Hole 5 are CDS38899, CDS38895,
CDS38893, CDS38892 and CDS38891. The abandoned mine site register is a publicly
accessible database on the DMP website.
(2) With more
than 130 years of mining heritage in Western Australia, many historical mine
features were abandoned before the current strict environmental rehabilitation
obligations were in place. Very limited funds have been provided by government
over the years to address abandoned mine sites, with only the very high-risk
sites being addressed. The mining rehabilitation fund, recently established by
this government, will for the first time create a perpetual fund so that the
state government can rehabilitate abandoned mine sites in Western Australia,
starting with the high-risk sites.
(3)–(4) See answer to (2).
(5) Not applicable.
(6) Unfortunately,
the government cannot provide a guarantee that the 10 000 documented abandoned
mine features pose no risk. It is also important to note that funds for
addressing these legacy mines can come only from the interest earned on the
funds in the mining rehabilitation fund. The available funds must be applied to
the high-risk sites. DMP will reassess the risk rating for the legacy sites and
prioritise them accordingly for rehabilitation action.
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