❓ Question regarding community consultation deficiencies in water management planning related to the Fimiston I Tailings Storage Facility in Kalgoorlie, owned by Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining. The Minister acknowledges past deficiencies due to outdated legislation and prioritisation.
AnsweredQoN 2547Legislative Council
Asked
25 August 2005
Member
Portfolio
Minister Assisting the Minister for Water Resources
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a letter dated January 12 2005, addressed to Hon Robin Chapple, MLC signed by Minister Judy Edwards titled, ‘Fimiston I Tailings Storage Facility Kalgoorlie’, which is owned by Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining, and a letter dated November 9 2004, signed by D Carew Hopkins, Acting Director General titled ‘Independent Technical Review of the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mine Pty Ltd’s (KCGM) proposal to raise the Fimiston I tailings storage facility (TSF) -
(1) Is it correct that part of the letter dated November 9 2004, states ‘The DoE accepts that past water management planning may have been deficient in the level of community consultation’?
(2) If no to (1), will the Minister state the full text from the letter dated November 9 2004?
(3) Can the Minister explain the reasons why the Department accepts that past water management planning may have been deficient in the level of community consultation?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(1) Is it correct that part of the letter dated November 9 2004, states ‘The DoE accepts that past water management planning may have been deficient in the level of community consultation’?
(2) If no to (1), will the Minister state the full text from the letter dated November 9 2004?
(3) Can the Minister explain the reasons why the Department accepts that past water management planning may have been deficient in the level of community consultation?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 September 2005
Responded by
Minister for Fisheries representing the Minister Assisting the Minister for Water Resources
Response time
27 days
(2) N/A. (3) The Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 was amended in 2000 to include greater community consultation during the setting of environmental values for groundwater resources in the State. The current Goldfields Groundwater Area Management Plan (Water Authority, June 1994) was developed prior to these amendments. The Department of Environment is conducting reviews of all water management plans, and the limited community consultation in establishing the Goldfields Groundwater Area Management Plan has been noted. This will be addressed when the plan undergoes a major review. However, the review of the Goldfields Groundwater Area Management Plan needs to be considered in a State wide perspective of increased demand for water and as a result this particular review is not an immediate priority. (4) N/A.
(3) The Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 was amended in 2000 to include greater community consultation during the setting of environmental values for groundwater resources in the State. The current Goldfields Groundwater Area Management Plan (Water Authority, June 1994) was developed prior to these amendments. The Department of Environment is conducting reviews of all water management plans, and the limited community consultation in establishing the Goldfields Groundwater Area Management Plan has been noted. This will be addressed when the plan undergoes a major review. However, the review of the Goldfields Groundwater Area Management Plan needs to be considered in a State wide perspective of increased demand for water and as a result this particular review is not an immediate priority. (4) N/A.
(4) N/A.
(3) The Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 was amended in 2000 to include greater community consultation during the setting of environmental values for groundwater resources in the State. The current Goldfields Groundwater Area Management Plan (Water Authority, June 1994) was developed prior to these amendments. The Department of Environment is conducting reviews of all water management plans, and the limited community consultation in establishing the Goldfields Groundwater Area Management Plan has been noted. This will be addressed when the plan undergoes a major review. However, the review of the Goldfields Groundwater Area Management Plan needs to be considered in a State wide perspective of increased demand for water and as a result this particular review is not an immediate priority. (4) N/A.
(4) N/A.
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