❓ A parliamentary question on notice regarding regulatory non-compliance, environmental and safety issues at the White Foil Mine, specifically concerning a potentially dangerous water impoundment. The Minister acknowledges the issues and provides information, including a commitment to table a relevant assessment.
AnsweredQoN 1126Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the White Foil Mine and various inspections undertaken by Department of Mineral and Petroleum officers in September, November and December 2002 -
(1) Can the Minister specifically state all of the specific regulatory non compliance issues concerning environmental and safety issues which were both identified by departmental officers and were reported to the department in September, November and December 2002 at the above mine site?
(2) If no to (1) why not?
(3) Is it correct that a water impoundment contained in the south of the pit at a higher elevation to the current mining operations was recognised as being a danger to mining operations?
(4) If yes to (3) how did the department allow or permit this to occur?
(5) If no to (3) then what is specifically correct?
(6) Is it correct that a Departmental inspector advised the mine in a record book entry on December 5 2002 to evaluate the dangers of flooding and or pit wall failure as a result of the presence of water in accordance with Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 4.11 and 13.8(2)(c)?
(7) If yes to (6) what was the departments final position on this matter?
(8) If no to (6) what specifically happened?
(9) Did the Department make an assessment of the dangers of flooding and or pit wall failure for the above mine site and form a view or position on the matter?
(10) If yes to (7) will the Minister table a copy of that assessment?
(11) If no to (9) why not?
(1) Can the Minister specifically state all of the specific regulatory non compliance issues concerning environmental and safety issues which were both identified by departmental officers and were reported to the department in September, November and December 2002 at the above mine site?
(2) If no to (1) why not?
(3) Is it correct that a water impoundment contained in the south of the pit at a higher elevation to the current mining operations was recognised as being a danger to mining operations?
(4) If yes to (3) how did the department allow or permit this to occur?
(5) If no to (3) then what is specifically correct?
(6) Is it correct that a Departmental inspector advised the mine in a record book entry on December 5 2002 to evaluate the dangers of flooding and or pit wall failure as a result of the presence of water in accordance with Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 4.11 and 13.8(2)(c)?
(7) If yes to (6) what was the departments final position on this matter?
(8) If no to (6) what specifically happened?
(9) Did the Department make an assessment of the dangers of flooding and or pit wall failure for the above mine site and form a view or position on the matter?
(10) If yes to (7) will the Minister table a copy of that assessment?
(11) If no to (9) why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
32 days
(1) Yes. This information is contained in reports from the company, the Department of Environment and the Department of Industry and Resources site inspections. Access to this information can be gained through the normal FOI process. (2) Not applicable. (3) Yes. (4) On becoming aware that this water could create a risk of flooding into the pit, the District Inspector requested the company to evaluate the situation so as to ensure there was no immediate danger to employees working in the pit. (5) Not applicable. (6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(2) Not applicable. (3) Yes. (4) On becoming aware that this water could create a risk of flooding into the pit, the District Inspector requested the company to evaluate the situation so as to ensure there was no immediate danger to employees working in the pit. (5) Not applicable. (6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(3) Yes. (4) On becoming aware that this water could create a risk of flooding into the pit, the District Inspector requested the company to evaluate the situation so as to ensure there was no immediate danger to employees working in the pit. (5) Not applicable. (6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(4) On becoming aware that this water could create a risk of flooding into the pit, the District Inspector requested the company to evaluate the situation so as to ensure there was no immediate danger to employees working in the pit. (5) Not applicable. (6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(5) Not applicable. (6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(11) Not applicable.
(2) Not applicable. (3) Yes. (4) On becoming aware that this water could create a risk of flooding into the pit, the District Inspector requested the company to evaluate the situation so as to ensure there was no immediate danger to employees working in the pit. (5) Not applicable. (6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(3) Yes. (4) On becoming aware that this water could create a risk of flooding into the pit, the District Inspector requested the company to evaluate the situation so as to ensure there was no immediate danger to employees working in the pit. (5) Not applicable. (6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(4) On becoming aware that this water could create a risk of flooding into the pit, the District Inspector requested the company to evaluate the situation so as to ensure there was no immediate danger to employees working in the pit. (5) Not applicable. (6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(5) Not applicable. (6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(6) Yes. (7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(7) The Department was of the view this water impoundment be removed as soon as possible. (8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(8) Not applicable. (9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(9) Yes. (10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(10) Yes, a copy will be forwarded to the Hon Member's office. (11) Not applicable.
(11) Not applicable.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.