❓ A parliamentary question on notice addresses alleged breaches of contract and environmental damage by Wallardar during sandalwood harvesting at Walling Rock Station. The Minister's response acknowledges some incidents but downplays the severity and outlines corrective actions taken by the Forest Products Commission (FPC).
AnsweredQoN 6048Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the contract with Wallardar to gather sandalwood from Walling Rock Station, I ask —
(1) Is the Minister aware of excessive land clearing by Wallardar, beyond what is reasonably necessary for the carrying out of their sandalwood gathering?
(2) If yes to (1), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(3) Is the Minister aware that Wallardar have not been reseeding areas where sandalwood has been harvested, contrary to the conditions of their contract?
(4) If yes to (3), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(5) Is the Minister aware that Wallardar have left quantities of diesel and oil on Walling Station without adequate containment bunkers, and that this has caused contamination of the surrounding environment?
(6) If yes to (5), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(7) Is the Minister aware that Wallardar have operated road building machinery with the blade down, to an extent beyond what is reasonably required for the purposes of track construction, thereby unnecessarily destroying native vegetation?
(8) If yes to (7), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(1) Is the Minister aware of excessive land clearing by Wallardar, beyond what is reasonably necessary for the carrying out of their sandalwood gathering?
(2) If yes to (1), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(3) Is the Minister aware that Wallardar have not been reseeding areas where sandalwood has been harvested, contrary to the conditions of their contract?
(4) If yes to (3), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(5) Is the Minister aware that Wallardar have left quantities of diesel and oil on Walling Station without adequate containment bunkers, and that this has caused contamination of the surrounding environment?
(6) If yes to (5), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
(7) Is the Minister aware that Wallardar have operated road building machinery with the blade down, to an extent beyond what is reasonably required for the purposes of track construction, thereby unnecessarily destroying native vegetation?
(8) If yes to (7), what action does the Minister intend to take in respect to this matter?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 October 2012
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Forestry
Response time
28 days
(1) Sandalwood harvesting, including operations on Walling Rock Pastoral Lease does not involve land clearing.
(2) Not applicable
(3) Seeding operations associated with sandalwood harvesting on Walling Rock Pastoral Lease have mostly been completed to contract requirements. The only exception reported under the Forest Products Commission's (FPC) Environmental Management System was an isolated incident in 2009.
(4) Corrective actions associated with the incident in 2009 were identified and implemented immediately.
(5) Hydrocarbons are retained by Wallardar in storage areas on Walling Rock Pastoral Lease. Within these storage areas, the hydrocarbons are contained within vessels and bunds to Australian Standard 1940-2004 for the storage of flammable and combustible liquids.
An oil spill was detected by FPC within a maintenance area under the control of the contractor during April 2012.
(6) Corrective actions associated with the oil spill have been put in place by the FPC, including removal of the contaminated soil from Walling Rock and disposal at a registered disposal facility.
(7) Where temporary harvesting tracks are required for harvesting operations, any blade down construction must first be approved by the FPC Authorised Officer. FPC recorded an incident earlier in 2012 where some tracks were constructed blade down by Wallardar without approval.
(8) FPC requested that the contractor cultivate the tracks and replant with Sandalwood seeds. Approximately two thirds of the affected area has been remediated to date. However, as the tracks were constructed through natural openings wherever possible, there is negligible environmental impact resulting from the construction of these tracks.
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(2) Not applicable
(3) Seeding operations associated with sandalwood harvesting on Walling Rock Pastoral Lease have mostly been completed to contract requirements. The only exception reported under the Forest Products Commission's (FPC) Environmental Management System was an isolated incident in 2009.
(4) Corrective actions associated with the incident in 2009 were identified and implemented immediately.
(5) Hydrocarbons are retained by Wallardar in storage areas on Walling Rock Pastoral Lease. Within these storage areas, the hydrocarbons are contained within vessels and bunds to Australian Standard 1940-2004 for the storage of flammable and combustible liquids.
An oil spill was detected by FPC within a maintenance area under the control of the contractor during April 2012.
(6) Corrective actions associated with the oil spill have been put in place by the FPC, including removal of the contaminated soil from Walling Rock and disposal at a registered disposal facility.
(7) Where temporary harvesting tracks are required for harvesting operations, any blade down construction must first be approved by the FPC Authorised Officer. FPC recorded an incident earlier in 2012 where some tracks were constructed blade down by Wallardar without approval.
(8) FPC requested that the contractor cultivate the tracks and replant with Sandalwood seeds. Approximately two thirds of the affected area has been remediated to date. However, as the tracks were constructed through natural openings wherever possible, there is negligible environmental impact resulting from the construction of these tracks.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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