❓ Question on Notice regarding Bulong Nickel Mine closure and rehabilitation plan, and fauna protection during care and maintenance. The Minister deflects responsibility for the mine closure plan to the Minister for the Environment.
AnsweredQoN 1634Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a letter which I understand is dated 1 December 2003 signed by Mathew Stingemore, Environmental officer from the Department of Industry and Resources addressed to the Registered Manager Bulong Nickel Pty Ltd concerning the Bulong Nickel Mine -
(1) Is it correct that part of the letter states ‘Bulong Nickel Operations (Receivers and Managers Appointed) indicate that during the length of care and maintenance no further work will be undertaken to complete and submit a mine closure and rehabilitation plan, as required under the ministerial conditions and further requested in DOIR correspondence dated the 10 November 2003 and addressed to Xuan Nguyen, Manager Environment, Bulong committed to submitting a mine closure plan within 3 months of the temporary closure plan if no acceptable purchase offer was received. Clarification of the process that will be undertaken in regards to the mine closure and rehabilitation plan is required’?
(2) If no to (1) why not?
(3) Has a mine closure plan been submitted in accordance with ministerial conditions?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Has the owners breached ministerial licence conditions or tenement condition in not submitting a mine closure and rehabilitation plan?
(6) If no to (5) why not?
(7) If yes to (5) will prosecution proceedings or forfeiture proceedings be implemented?
(8) Is it correct that part of the letter states ‘The temporary closure plan states that no fauna egress mats will be implemented onsite in the various water storage dams as requested from the Annual Environmental Inspection. This practice is unacceptable and I request that fauna egress mats be installed on all water storage dams before all staff leave Bulong on the 5 December 2003. During care and maintenance, the lack of site activity around these dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. Fauna egress mats will assist any fauna that may inadvertently enter these dams to escape’?
(9) If no to (8) will the Minister table a copy of the letter I understand is dated 1 December 2003.
(10) Can the Minister state the rationale as to why it was so important that fauna egress mats be installed on all water storage dams given the mine is closing down and is quite some distance from a major population?
(11) If no to (10) why not?
(1) Is it correct that part of the letter states ‘Bulong Nickel Operations (Receivers and Managers Appointed) indicate that during the length of care and maintenance no further work will be undertaken to complete and submit a mine closure and rehabilitation plan, as required under the ministerial conditions and further requested in DOIR correspondence dated the 10 November 2003 and addressed to Xuan Nguyen, Manager Environment, Bulong committed to submitting a mine closure plan within 3 months of the temporary closure plan if no acceptable purchase offer was received. Clarification of the process that will be undertaken in regards to the mine closure and rehabilitation plan is required’?
(2) If no to (1) why not?
(3) Has a mine closure plan been submitted in accordance with ministerial conditions?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Has the owners breached ministerial licence conditions or tenement condition in not submitting a mine closure and rehabilitation plan?
(6) If no to (5) why not?
(7) If yes to (5) will prosecution proceedings or forfeiture proceedings be implemented?
(8) Is it correct that part of the letter states ‘The temporary closure plan states that no fauna egress mats will be implemented onsite in the various water storage dams as requested from the Annual Environmental Inspection. This practice is unacceptable and I request that fauna egress mats be installed on all water storage dams before all staff leave Bulong on the 5 December 2003. During care and maintenance, the lack of site activity around these dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. Fauna egress mats will assist any fauna that may inadvertently enter these dams to escape’?
(9) If no to (8) will the Minister table a copy of the letter I understand is dated 1 December 2003.
(10) Can the Minister state the rationale as to why it was so important that fauna egress mats be installed on all water storage dams given the mine is closing down and is quite some distance from a major population?
(11) If no to (10) why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
30 March 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
109 days
1. Yes 2. N/A 3. A Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Plan is a condition imposed by the Minister for the Environment. This matter should be addressed to this Minister. 4. N/A. 5. See answer (3) relating to the ministerial condition. There is no tenement condition relating to a Mine Closure Plan under the provision of the Mining Act 1978. 6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
2. N/A 3. A Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Plan is a condition imposed by the Minister for the Environment. This matter should be addressed to this Minister. 4. N/A. 5. See answer (3) relating to the ministerial condition. There is no tenement condition relating to a Mine Closure Plan under the provision of the Mining Act 1978. 6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
3. A Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Plan is a condition imposed by the Minister for the Environment. This matter should be addressed to this Minister. 4. N/A. 5. See answer (3) relating to the ministerial condition. There is no tenement condition relating to a Mine Closure Plan under the provision of the Mining Act 1978. 6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
4. N/A. 5. See answer (3) relating to the ministerial condition. There is no tenement condition relating to a Mine Closure Plan under the provision of the Mining Act 1978. 6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
5. See answer (3) relating to the ministerial condition. There is no tenement condition relating to a Mine Closure Plan under the provision of the Mining Act 1978. 6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
11. N/A
2. N/A 3. A Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Plan is a condition imposed by the Minister for the Environment. This matter should be addressed to this Minister. 4. N/A. 5. See answer (3) relating to the ministerial condition. There is no tenement condition relating to a Mine Closure Plan under the provision of the Mining Act 1978. 6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
3. A Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Plan is a condition imposed by the Minister for the Environment. This matter should be addressed to this Minister. 4. N/A. 5. See answer (3) relating to the ministerial condition. There is no tenement condition relating to a Mine Closure Plan under the provision of the Mining Act 1978. 6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
4. N/A. 5. See answer (3) relating to the ministerial condition. There is no tenement condition relating to a Mine Closure Plan under the provision of the Mining Act 1978. 6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
5. See answer (3) relating to the ministerial condition. There is no tenement condition relating to a Mine Closure Plan under the provision of the Mining Act 1978. 6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
6. N/A 7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
7. N/A 8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
8. Yes 9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
9. N/A 10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
10. During Care and Maintenance, the lack of site activity around all water storage dams, particularly near the processing plant, will encourage more fauna to enter the dam areas to drink, especially during the summer months. 11. N/A
11. N/A
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