❓ A parliamentary question regarding the hydrographic survey and salt extraction at Pink Lake in Esperance, focusing on the lake's declining pink colour and the environmental impact of salt mining. The response details regulatory oversight and ongoing assessments.
AnsweredQoN 416Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the hydrographic survey of Pink or Spencer Lake in Esperance, and drilling investigations on and adjacent to the Lake undertaken in late 1984 of which the results and recommendations were published in 1986 in
Bulletin 262
and
Technical Series 4
by the then Department of Conservation and Environment -
(1) Given that the tourist, environmental and heritage values of the Lake have decreased as a result of the Lake losing much of its pink colour, could the Minister confirm that the study concluded that an annual extraction rate of 14 000 tonnes of salt was not considered significant and that this limit should apply for ten years after which it should be re-assessed?
(2) Has the extraction limit been re-assessed?
(3) If so, what was the outcome of the re-assessment?
(4) If there was a re-assessment, were the results published?
(5) If so, what is the name of the report and is it publicly available?
(6) What is the Department of Environment and Water Catchment Protection currently doing to identify the processes that are threatening a major tourist feature of Esperance?
Bulletin 262
and
Technical Series 4
by the then Department of Conservation and Environment -
(1) Given that the tourist, environmental and heritage values of the Lake have decreased as a result of the Lake losing much of its pink colour, could the Minister confirm that the study concluded that an annual extraction rate of 14 000 tonnes of salt was not considered significant and that this limit should apply for ten years after which it should be re-assessed?
(2) Has the extraction limit been re-assessed?
(3) If so, what was the outcome of the re-assessment?
(4) If there was a re-assessment, were the results published?
(5) If so, what is the name of the report and is it publicly available?
(6) What is the Department of Environment and Water Catchment Protection currently doing to identify the processes that are threatening a major tourist feature of Esperance?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 March 2002
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
27 days
The report recommended that the limit of 14,000 tonnes should apply for 10 years after which it should be re-assessed. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources regulates Western Salt Refinery's operations at Pink Lake through Mining Lease conditions set under the Mining Act 1978 . The premise is also currently licensed in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1986 . Western Salt Refinery is a prescribed premise under the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 as Category 14 - solar salt manufacturing. The licence is issued for the operation of the premises to ensure that the environmental impacts associated with the operations are controlled and managed. The objective of this is to ensure that any discharges do not have any detrimental effect on the environment. (2) Given the original relatively low level of salt extraction, and the inspection and follow-up in 1999, the DEP considered that the operation could continue to be adequately managed under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and through the Mining Lease conditions. The licence has been increased to 20,000 tonnes per annum based on this being approximately 1% of the lake's surface salt store. (3) Answered by (2). (4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources regulates Western Salt Refinery's operations at Pink Lake through Mining Lease conditions set under the Mining Act 1978 . The premise is also currently licensed in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1986 . Western Salt Refinery is a prescribed premise under the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 as Category 14 - solar salt manufacturing. The licence is issued for the operation of the premises to ensure that the environmental impacts associated with the operations are controlled and managed. The objective of this is to ensure that any discharges do not have any detrimental effect on the environment. (2) Given the original relatively low level of salt extraction, and the inspection and follow-up in 1999, the DEP considered that the operation could continue to be adequately managed under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and through the Mining Lease conditions. The licence has been increased to 20,000 tonnes per annum based on this being approximately 1% of the lake's surface salt store. (3) Answered by (2). (4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
The objective of this is to ensure that any discharges do not have any detrimental effect on the environment. (2) Given the original relatively low level of salt extraction, and the inspection and follow-up in 1999, the DEP considered that the operation could continue to be adequately managed under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and through the Mining Lease conditions. The licence has been increased to 20,000 tonnes per annum based on this being approximately 1% of the lake's surface salt store. (3) Answered by (2). (4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
(2) Given the original relatively low level of salt extraction, and the inspection and follow-up in 1999, the DEP considered that the operation could continue to be adequately managed under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and through the Mining Lease conditions. The licence has been increased to 20,000 tonnes per annum based on this being approximately 1% of the lake's surface salt store. (3) Answered by (2). (4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
(3) Answered by (2). (4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
(4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
(5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
(6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources regulates Western Salt Refinery's operations at Pink Lake through Mining Lease conditions set under the Mining Act 1978 . The premise is also currently licensed in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1986 . Western Salt Refinery is a prescribed premise under the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 as Category 14 - solar salt manufacturing. The licence is issued for the operation of the premises to ensure that the environmental impacts associated with the operations are controlled and managed. The objective of this is to ensure that any discharges do not have any detrimental effect on the environment. (2) Given the original relatively low level of salt extraction, and the inspection and follow-up in 1999, the DEP considered that the operation could continue to be adequately managed under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and through the Mining Lease conditions. The licence has been increased to 20,000 tonnes per annum based on this being approximately 1% of the lake's surface salt store. (3) Answered by (2). (4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
The objective of this is to ensure that any discharges do not have any detrimental effect on the environment. (2) Given the original relatively low level of salt extraction, and the inspection and follow-up in 1999, the DEP considered that the operation could continue to be adequately managed under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and through the Mining Lease conditions. The licence has been increased to 20,000 tonnes per annum based on this being approximately 1% of the lake's surface salt store. (3) Answered by (2). (4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
(2) Given the original relatively low level of salt extraction, and the inspection and follow-up in 1999, the DEP considered that the operation could continue to be adequately managed under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and through the Mining Lease conditions. The licence has been increased to 20,000 tonnes per annum based on this being approximately 1% of the lake's surface salt store. (3) Answered by (2). (4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
(3) Answered by (2). (4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
(4) No reports available except a hydrogeological report completed by the Water and Rivers Commission to assess the effect of groundwater abstraction on the water level of Pink Lake. (5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
(5) Answered by (4). (6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
(6) The colour of Pink Lake is due to a pigment in the algae Dunalella salina . The less pink colour in the lake may indicate either lower numbers of the algae, or less pigment the algae calls. Factors such as temperature, nutrient levels, salinity levels and other physical and chemical factors affect the degree of pigmentation. There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
There has also been suggestions that catchment clearing in the Esperance Western Lakes subcatchment has increased freshwater discharge to the lakes and produced an environment less favourable for the growth of the Dunalella salina . The Commission is assessing the impact of clearing on quality and quantity of water in Lake Warden, an adjacent wetland. In addition to this, the Commission is: Providing technical assistance and support to the management agencies of Pink Lake; Developing a region wide monitoring program for wetlands; Assessing water flow into Lake Warden to determine trends in water flow characteristics; Assessing water management options to protect Lake Gore (adjacent catchment); and Assessing developments and landuse planning changes that may impact on wetlands and groundwater in the district.
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