❓ A parliamentary question regarding the closure of the Brookdale waste plant and the subsequent increase in chromium waste accepted at the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder, raising concerns about potential health impacts and seeking relocation of the plant. The Minister deflects some responsibility and cites reports indicating no health risk.
AnsweredQoN 783Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the state Labor Government’s political decision to close the Brookdale waste plant in Perth, forcing the redirection of that hazardous waste to the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder. (1) Is the minister aware that, prior to the Government’s decision to close the Brookdale waste plant, the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder was accepting virtually no chromium at all, a substance that has been blamed by Brookdale residents for severe illnesses. (2) Is the minister further aware that, immediately following the Labor Party’s decision to close the Brookdale waste plant, the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder started accepting chromium, including 84 700 litres in October 2002, 53 500 litres in November 2002 and 23 000 litres in December 2002? (3) Given that many of the health concerns of the people of Brookdale still have not been put to rest, will the Labor Party now commit to moving the Total Waste Management plant from Boulder to a remote area that is well away from all residential areas; and, if not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
(1) Is the minister aware that, prior to the Government’s decision to close the Brookdale waste plant, the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder was accepting virtually no chromium at all, a substance that has been blamed by Brookdale residents for severe illnesses. (2) Is the minister further aware that, immediately following the Labor Party’s decision to close the Brookdale waste plant, the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder started accepting chromium, including 84 700 litres in October 2002, 53 500 litres in November 2002 and 23 000 litres in December 2002? (3) Given that many of the health concerns of the people of Brookdale still have not been put to rest, will the Labor Party now commit to moving the Total Waste Management plant from Boulder to a remote area that is well away from all residential areas; and, if not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
(2) Is the minister further aware that, immediately following the Labor Party’s decision to close the Brookdale waste plant, the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder started accepting chromium, including 84 700 litres in October 2002, 53 500 litres in November 2002 and 23 000 litres in December 2002? (3) Given that many of the health concerns of the people of Brookdale still have not been put to rest, will the Labor Party now commit to moving the Total Waste Management plant from Boulder to a remote area that is well away from all residential areas; and, if not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
(3) Given that many of the health concerns of the people of Brookdale still have not been put to rest, will the Labor Party now commit to moving the Total Waste Management plant from Boulder to a remote area that is well away from all residential areas; and, if not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
(1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
(3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
(1) Is the minister aware that, prior to the Government’s decision to close the Brookdale waste plant, the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder was accepting virtually no chromium at all, a substance that has been blamed by Brookdale residents for severe illnesses. (2) Is the minister further aware that, immediately following the Labor Party’s decision to close the Brookdale waste plant, the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder started accepting chromium, including 84 700 litres in October 2002, 53 500 litres in November 2002 and 23 000 litres in December 2002? (3) Given that many of the health concerns of the people of Brookdale still have not been put to rest, will the Labor Party now commit to moving the Total Waste Management plant from Boulder to a remote area that is well away from all residential areas; and, if not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
(2) Is the minister further aware that, immediately following the Labor Party’s decision to close the Brookdale waste plant, the Total Waste Management plant in Boulder started accepting chromium, including 84 700 litres in October 2002, 53 500 litres in November 2002 and 23 000 litres in December 2002? (3) Given that many of the health concerns of the people of Brookdale still have not been put to rest, will the Labor Party now commit to moving the Total Waste Management plant from Boulder to a remote area that is well away from all residential areas; and, if not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
(3) Given that many of the health concerns of the people of Brookdale still have not been put to rest, will the Labor Party now commit to moving the Total Waste Management plant from Boulder to a remote area that is well away from all residential areas; and, if not, why not? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. There is some concern about the third part of the question. The Minister for the Environment does not comment on Labor Party matters. (1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
(1)-(2) The Brookdale liquid waste facility was closed after the Minister for the Environment was informed that the facility had been accepting hazardous waste outside the ministerial conditions, despite the fact that the previous coalition Minister for the Environment was informed of this outrageous situation and refused to take any decisive action. When the Total Waste Management facility was opened by the previous coalition Minister for the Environment without formal Environmental Protection Authority assessment or community consultation, the facility was licensed to accept chromium wastes. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH: Some chromium waste is generated in Kalgoorlie. It is the minister’s understanding that approximately 6 000 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated at the Total Waste Management facility in 2000. A further 18 400 litres was treated in 2001, of which 9 000 litres was from the local area. In 2002 a total of 2 500 litres of waste containing some chromium from the local area was treated. The Brookdale liquid waste treatment facility closed on 31 December 2003. (3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
(3) There is no evidence of the Brookdale facility causing health problems to workers or residents. Recent monitoring of the air quality around the TWM facility, which has been reviewed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, also has shown no health risk to the workers or residents. Further to this, a recent exposure pathway analysis, which will be independently reviewed by Professor D’Arcy Holman, has found that the site does not pose a risk to public health from the toxicological perspective. However, in view of potential later problems, it is proposed to relocate TWM waste ponds to the Mungari industrial estate.
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