Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 2456

❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions Aboriginal Affairs regarding heritage protection at Lake Wells mining tenements held by Piper Preston/Salt Lake Potash, alleging potential breaches of heritage regulations. The Minister's response deflects most questions to other portfolios.

AnsweredQoN 2456Legislative Council

Asked

4 September 2019

Member

Hon Robin Chapple

Portfolio

Aboriginal Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to Lake Wells, or Marlutja and the mining and exploration leases M38/1278 and E38/282 owned by Piper Preston Pty Ltd or Salt Lake Potash, and heritage area identified in Survey Report ID 106717 Ethnographic report on the Mantjiltjara and photos of the site available here, https://robinchapple.com/lake-wells-marlutja, and ask: (a) with reference to any of the tenements held by Piper Preston Pty Ltd or Salt Lake Potash over Lake Wells, were section 18 approvals sought; (b) if yes to (a), when was approval sought and was approval granted; (c) if no to (a), why not; (d) with reference to any of the tenements held by Piper Preston Pty Ltd or Salt Lake Potash over Lake Wells, were the native title parties consulted and, if so, who was consulted and when did consultations occur; (e) if no to (d), why not; (f) with reference to any of the tenements held by Piper Preston Pty Ltd or Salt Lake Potash over Lake Wells, were the knowledge holders consulted and, if so, who was consulted and when; (g) if no to (f), why not; (h) with reference to any of the tenements held by Piper Preston Pty Ltd or Salt Lake Potash over Lake Wells, were heritage surveys carried out and, if so, by whom; (i) if no to (h), why not; (j) if yes to (h), were the knowledge holders in attendance; (k) was the Department of Mines advised during the POW processes, over any of the tenements held by Piper Preston Pty Ltd or Salt Lake Potash over Lake Wells, under the Mining Act 1978 of the fact that this area had or had not been subject to a section 18 or heritage surveys; (l) if no to (k), why not; (m) did authorised officers approve the POW applications under the Mining Act 1978 ; (n) with reference to (m), did the POW by Piper Preston Pty Ltd or Salt Lake Potash over Lake Wells applications under the Mining Act 1978 address whether the activity would cause environmental impacts including impacts to Aboriginal heritage sites; (o) if yes or no to (n), will the Minister table the POW by Piper Preston Pty Ltd or Salt Lake Potash over Lake Wells; (p) if no to (o), why not; and (q) with reference to the photos of material left scattered on site at approximately 544864.13 m E, 6993603.20 m, will N Piper Preston Pty Ltd or Salt Lake Potash be required to remove this material and, if so, when?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

15 October 2019

Responded by

Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

Response time

8 days

(a)-(g) No. The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage has not received any section 18 applications and is not aware of any heritage surveys or consultation being undertaken for the mining and exploration leases mentioned.
(h)-(j) The only heritage survey report received by the Department or of which it is aware that covers this area is the one referenced by the member, being Ethnographic Report on the Mantjiltjara/Ngalia Native Title Claim Areas, Daniel de Gand and Gavin Jackson, 2000.
(k)-(p) The member should direct his questions to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
(q) The member should direct his question to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum and/or the Minister for Environment.

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