❓ A parliamentary question regarding water discharge from Cable Sands Jangardup Mine into D’Entrecasteaux National Park, focusing on water quality testing, compliance with environmental conditions, and potential impacts on the environment. The response indicates monitoring is in place and no breach of conditions has occurred.
AnsweredQoN 574Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regards to the recent discharge of water from Cable Sands Jangardup Mine -
(1) Is the Minister aware that the ERMP states ‘The excess water will be pumped to a small pond and recycled as much as possible. Water will also be recycled from the dumped mixture of sand and clay which remains after the heavy minerals have been separated out, and from the stockpile of Heavy Minerals Concentrate. The excess water will be allowed to seep or drain from the ponds into the natural drainage. It will not be discharged as a surface flow into the State forest or the D’Entrecasteaux National Park’?
(2) What testing was carried out on this surface water discharge and by whom for -
(a) acid sulfate;
(b) pH;
(c) salinity;
(d) heavy metals; and
(e) flocculant,
and will the Minister table the results?
(3) Does the recent discharge of water into D’Entrecasteaux National Park compromise Ministerial Condition 3 for the Jangardup Mineral Sand Mine ‘The proponent shall ensure that there are no environmentally significant detrimental effects from the mining operation on the vegetation or groundwater quality or levels within adjacent National Park, State forest and private lands’?
(4) What action will the Minister take against Cable Sands?
(5) What action will the Minister be taking to ensure the protection of the D’Entrecasteaux National Park and Gingilup NR from such future events?
(1) Is the Minister aware that the ERMP states ‘The excess water will be pumped to a small pond and recycled as much as possible. Water will also be recycled from the dumped mixture of sand and clay which remains after the heavy minerals have been separated out, and from the stockpile of Heavy Minerals Concentrate. The excess water will be allowed to seep or drain from the ponds into the natural drainage. It will not be discharged as a surface flow into the State forest or the D’Entrecasteaux National Park’?
(2) What testing was carried out on this surface water discharge and by whom for -
(a) acid sulfate;
(b) pH;
(c) salinity;
(d) heavy metals; and
(e) flocculant,
and will the Minister table the results?
(3) Does the recent discharge of water into D’Entrecasteaux National Park compromise Ministerial Condition 3 for the Jangardup Mineral Sand Mine ‘The proponent shall ensure that there are no environmentally significant detrimental effects from the mining operation on the vegetation or groundwater quality or levels within adjacent National Park, State forest and private lands’?
(4) What action will the Minister take against Cable Sands?
(5) What action will the Minister be taking to ensure the protection of the D’Entrecasteaux National Park and Gingilup NR from such future events?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 May 2002
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
36 days
(b) pH; (c) salinity; (d) heavy metals; and (e) flocculant, and will the Minister table the results?
(c) salinity; (d) heavy metals; and (e) flocculant, and will the Minister table the results?
(d) heavy metals; and (e) flocculant, and will the Minister table the results?
(e) flocculant, and will the Minister table the results?
and will the Minister table the results?
The DEP has also advised that excess water that cannot be recycled is allowed to drain from the ponds into natural drainage, which then flows into State forest and the D'Entrecasteaux National Park. This procedure is stated in the ERMP and approved implicitly in statement 103 issued on 20/7/1990. Two section 46 amendments to the original statement were issued in statement 455 on 23/7/97, on truck haulage routes, and in statement 508 on 4/6/1999 for an extra area of state forest to be mined. The mining operation also has a licence issued annually which was issued on 19/6/2001 and amended on 30/7/2001, and a condition to sample the water quality at the discharge point was added. (2) Cable Sands undertakes water quality testing at the water supply dam, dredge pond and at various drainage points in accordance with condition W3(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 Licence. It is considered by the DEP that the critical parameters, with regard to vegetation protection, are acidity and acid sulphate levels. I now table the results on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Attachment 1). See tabled paper. (3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
This procedure is stated in the ERMP and approved implicitly in statement 103 issued on 20/7/1990. Two section 46 amendments to the original statement were issued in statement 455 on 23/7/97, on truck haulage routes, and in statement 508 on 4/6/1999 for an extra area of state forest to be mined. The mining operation also has a licence issued annually which was issued on 19/6/2001 and amended on 30/7/2001, and a condition to sample the water quality at the discharge point was added. (2) Cable Sands undertakes water quality testing at the water supply dam, dredge pond and at various drainage points in accordance with condition W3(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 Licence. It is considered by the DEP that the critical parameters, with regard to vegetation protection, are acidity and acid sulphate levels. I now table the results on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Attachment 1). See tabled paper. (3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
(2) Cable Sands undertakes water quality testing at the water supply dam, dredge pond and at various drainage points in accordance with condition W3(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 Licence. It is considered by the DEP that the critical parameters, with regard to vegetation protection, are acidity and acid sulphate levels. I now table the results on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Attachment 1). See tabled paper. (3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
It is considered by the DEP that the critical parameters, with regard to vegetation protection, are acidity and acid sulphate levels. I now table the results on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Attachment 1). See tabled paper. (3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
I now table the results on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Attachment 1). See tabled paper. (3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
(3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
(4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
(5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
(c) salinity; (d) heavy metals; and (e) flocculant, and will the Minister table the results?
(d) heavy metals; and (e) flocculant, and will the Minister table the results?
(e) flocculant, and will the Minister table the results?
and will the Minister table the results?
The DEP has also advised that excess water that cannot be recycled is allowed to drain from the ponds into natural drainage, which then flows into State forest and the D'Entrecasteaux National Park. This procedure is stated in the ERMP and approved implicitly in statement 103 issued on 20/7/1990. Two section 46 amendments to the original statement were issued in statement 455 on 23/7/97, on truck haulage routes, and in statement 508 on 4/6/1999 for an extra area of state forest to be mined. The mining operation also has a licence issued annually which was issued on 19/6/2001 and amended on 30/7/2001, and a condition to sample the water quality at the discharge point was added. (2) Cable Sands undertakes water quality testing at the water supply dam, dredge pond and at various drainage points in accordance with condition W3(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 Licence. It is considered by the DEP that the critical parameters, with regard to vegetation protection, are acidity and acid sulphate levels. I now table the results on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Attachment 1). See tabled paper. (3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
This procedure is stated in the ERMP and approved implicitly in statement 103 issued on 20/7/1990. Two section 46 amendments to the original statement were issued in statement 455 on 23/7/97, on truck haulage routes, and in statement 508 on 4/6/1999 for an extra area of state forest to be mined. The mining operation also has a licence issued annually which was issued on 19/6/2001 and amended on 30/7/2001, and a condition to sample the water quality at the discharge point was added. (2) Cable Sands undertakes water quality testing at the water supply dam, dredge pond and at various drainage points in accordance with condition W3(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 Licence. It is considered by the DEP that the critical parameters, with regard to vegetation protection, are acidity and acid sulphate levels. I now table the results on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Attachment 1). See tabled paper. (3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
(2) Cable Sands undertakes water quality testing at the water supply dam, dredge pond and at various drainage points in accordance with condition W3(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 Licence. It is considered by the DEP that the critical parameters, with regard to vegetation protection, are acidity and acid sulphate levels. I now table the results on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Attachment 1). See tabled paper. (3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
It is considered by the DEP that the critical parameters, with regard to vegetation protection, are acidity and acid sulphate levels. I now table the results on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Attachment 1). See tabled paper. (3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
I now table the results on behalf of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage (Attachment 1). See tabled paper. (3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
(3) Condition 3 has not been breached. Although there has been an elevation in groundwater level in the National Park, there appears to be no detrimental impact on vegetation or groundwater quality. Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
Other areas that are hydrologically unaffected by the discharge from the Cables Sands mine have also shown an increase in groundwater level. (4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
(4) The DEP has advised the Minister that it considers no enforcement action is warranted. The DEP and the Department of Conservation and Land Management conduct an on-going review of the monitoring program results to ensure that an adverse effect upon the vegetation would be detected in time to avoid significant loss of vegetation. (5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
(5) The Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Land Management are discussing possible alternative summer disposal options with Cable Sands.
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