❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses air quality concerns related to emissions from the Caversham Metro Brick plant, focusing on scrubbers, monitoring, and community health impacts. The Minister acknowledges concerns and outlines plans for revised licensing and community engagement.
AnsweredQoN 2037Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Caversham Metro Brick emissions stack operate with scrubbers?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) If Caversham Metro Brick is not required to operate with scrubbers, does Metro Brick monitor for health impacts in the surrounding community, or have a complaints register?
(4) Does the Caversham Metro Brick plant monitor for dioxins in their emissions?
(5) Will the Minister for the Environment table the most recent emissions monitoring data from this plant?
(6) Is the Minister for the Environment aware of any health concerns in the community surrounding the Caversham plant?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) If Caversham Metro Brick is not required to operate with scrubbers, does Metro Brick monitor for health impacts in the surrounding community, or have a complaints register?
(4) Does the Caversham Metro Brick plant monitor for dioxins in their emissions?
(5) Will the Minister for the Environment table the most recent emissions monitoring data from this plant?
(6) Is the Minister for the Environment aware of any health concerns in the community surrounding the Caversham plant?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 June 2005
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
34 days
The Minister for the Environment; Science has provided the following response: 1. The Department of Environment (DoE) has advised that the Metro (now Austral) Brick Site at Caversham does not have a scrubber in place. 2. The DoE has advised the Minister that the kiln at the Caversham site was designed and built prior to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 coming into effect and that the tonnage of product produced at this kiln is quite low compared to other kilns in the area. It is for these reasons that Metro Brick has not been required to install pollution control equipment to date. 3. Metro Brick is required to monitor for ambient emissions of fluoride. The licence for the premises also requires Metro Brick to keep written records of all complaints and provide the details to the DoE on a quarterly basis. 4. DoE has advised that dioxins are not required to be monitored, as they are not considered to be a contaminant of concern in the operation of brickworks. 5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
1. The Department of Environment (DoE) has advised that the Metro (now Austral) Brick Site at Caversham does not have a scrubber in place. 2. The DoE has advised the Minister that the kiln at the Caversham site was designed and built prior to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 coming into effect and that the tonnage of product produced at this kiln is quite low compared to other kilns in the area. It is for these reasons that Metro Brick has not been required to install pollution control equipment to date. 3. Metro Brick is required to monitor for ambient emissions of fluoride. The licence for the premises also requires Metro Brick to keep written records of all complaints and provide the details to the DoE on a quarterly basis. 4. DoE has advised that dioxins are not required to be monitored, as they are not considered to be a contaminant of concern in the operation of brickworks. 5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
2. The DoE has advised the Minister that the kiln at the Caversham site was designed and built prior to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 coming into effect and that the tonnage of product produced at this kiln is quite low compared to other kilns in the area. It is for these reasons that Metro Brick has not been required to install pollution control equipment to date. 3. Metro Brick is required to monitor for ambient emissions of fluoride. The licence for the premises also requires Metro Brick to keep written records of all complaints and provide the details to the DoE on a quarterly basis. 4. DoE has advised that dioxins are not required to be monitored, as they are not considered to be a contaminant of concern in the operation of brickworks. 5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
3. Metro Brick is required to monitor for ambient emissions of fluoride. The licence for the premises also requires Metro Brick to keep written records of all complaints and provide the details to the DoE on a quarterly basis. 4. DoE has advised that dioxins are not required to be monitored, as they are not considered to be a contaminant of concern in the operation of brickworks. 5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
4. DoE has advised that dioxins are not required to be monitored, as they are not considered to be a contaminant of concern in the operation of brickworks. 5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
1. The Department of Environment (DoE) has advised that the Metro (now Austral) Brick Site at Caversham does not have a scrubber in place. 2. The DoE has advised the Minister that the kiln at the Caversham site was designed and built prior to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 coming into effect and that the tonnage of product produced at this kiln is quite low compared to other kilns in the area. It is for these reasons that Metro Brick has not been required to install pollution control equipment to date. 3. Metro Brick is required to monitor for ambient emissions of fluoride. The licence for the premises also requires Metro Brick to keep written records of all complaints and provide the details to the DoE on a quarterly basis. 4. DoE has advised that dioxins are not required to be monitored, as they are not considered to be a contaminant of concern in the operation of brickworks. 5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
2. The DoE has advised the Minister that the kiln at the Caversham site was designed and built prior to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 coming into effect and that the tonnage of product produced at this kiln is quite low compared to other kilns in the area. It is for these reasons that Metro Brick has not been required to install pollution control equipment to date. 3. Metro Brick is required to monitor for ambient emissions of fluoride. The licence for the premises also requires Metro Brick to keep written records of all complaints and provide the details to the DoE on a quarterly basis. 4. DoE has advised that dioxins are not required to be monitored, as they are not considered to be a contaminant of concern in the operation of brickworks. 5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
3. Metro Brick is required to monitor for ambient emissions of fluoride. The licence for the premises also requires Metro Brick to keep written records of all complaints and provide the details to the DoE on a quarterly basis. 4. DoE has advised that dioxins are not required to be monitored, as they are not considered to be a contaminant of concern in the operation of brickworks. 5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
4. DoE has advised that dioxins are not required to be monitored, as they are not considered to be a contaminant of concern in the operation of brickworks. 5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
5. Please [See tabled paper no] for the emissions monitoring data for the first quarter of 2005. 6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
6. The Minister for the Environment is aware of community concerns in relation to brickworks in the Swan Valley area. In order to address the concerns of the community surrounding the brickworks, the Department is currently in the process of redrafting licences for all brickworks in the Swan Valley, including the Caversham brickworks. It is envisaged that the new licence for the Caversham premises will include emission limits that have been recommended in the DoE's Brickworks Licensing Policy. The DoE is also working towards establishing a community and industry reference group for the Swan Valley. The Department is currently talking with key stakeholders about the form and membership of the committee. Expressions of interest for membership of the Committee will be advertised widely.
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