❓ Hon Paul Llewellyn asks about groundwater levels and purpose of recovery bores at the Fimiston Tailings Storage Facility. The Minister provides information on the purpose of the bores and explains why specific water level data is not readily available, but is being reviewed.
AnsweredQoN 4693Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question on notice number 3410, dated 2 May 2006, in relation to ‘Fimiston 1 and II tailings Storage Facilities Groundwater Monitoring Review Fourth Quarter 2006’, report dated ,15 February 2007, which I understand in part states ‘Six recovery bores were installed to the north of Fimiston 1(PB F132 to PB F137. Five recovery bores were drilled to the north east of Fimiston II (PB F 127 to PB F131). A new recovery bore (PB F46A) was drilled next to PB F46 as the casing failed’, and I ask -
(1) Can the Minister state for each of the recovery bores numbers PB F127 through to PB F131 what the current depth to groundwater in metres below the surface is?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister state for each of the recovery bores numbers PB F127 through to PB F131, what depth in metres below the surface was groundwater encountered/intersected when the bores were constructed?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister explain for what specific purpose these recovery bores PB F127 through to PB F131 have been installed?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(1) Can the Minister state for each of the recovery bores numbers PB F127 through to PB F131 what the current depth to groundwater in metres below the surface is?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister state for each of the recovery bores numbers PB F127 through to PB F131, what depth in metres below the surface was groundwater encountered/intersected when the bores were constructed?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister explain for what specific purpose these recovery bores PB F127 through to PB F131 have been installed?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
3 May 2007
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
42 days
(2) Environmental Licence 6420/11 relating to the Fimiston Tailing Storage Facility requires the monitoring of water levels from specific monitoring bores. The water levels in production bores (also referred to as recovery bores) are affected by the abstraction of groundwater from the bore and therefore water level monitoring is not required by the licence. (3) No. (4) DEC is reviewing its records to determine whether this information has been provided to it. (5) Recovery bores are installed in line with Kalgoorlie Consolidate Gold Mines' stated objective within their Seepage and Groundwater Management Plan, which is to "Establish increased pumping capacity to increase seepage recovery". It is understood that these bores were drilled during October and November 2006, and will be equipped in due course in order to fulfil this objective. (6) Not applicable.
(3) No. (4) DEC is reviewing its records to determine whether this information has been provided to it. (5) Recovery bores are installed in line with Kalgoorlie Consolidate Gold Mines' stated objective within their Seepage and Groundwater Management Plan, which is to "Establish increased pumping capacity to increase seepage recovery". It is understood that these bores were drilled during October and November 2006, and will be equipped in due course in order to fulfil this objective. (6) Not applicable.
(4) DEC is reviewing its records to determine whether this information has been provided to it. (5) Recovery bores are installed in line with Kalgoorlie Consolidate Gold Mines' stated objective within their Seepage and Groundwater Management Plan, which is to "Establish increased pumping capacity to increase seepage recovery". It is understood that these bores were drilled during October and November 2006, and will be equipped in due course in order to fulfil this objective. (6) Not applicable.
(5) Recovery bores are installed in line with Kalgoorlie Consolidate Gold Mines' stated objective within their Seepage and Groundwater Management Plan, which is to "Establish increased pumping capacity to increase seepage recovery". It is understood that these bores were drilled during October and November 2006, and will be equipped in due course in order to fulfil this objective. (6) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable.
(3) No. (4) DEC is reviewing its records to determine whether this information has been provided to it. (5) Recovery bores are installed in line with Kalgoorlie Consolidate Gold Mines' stated objective within their Seepage and Groundwater Management Plan, which is to "Establish increased pumping capacity to increase seepage recovery". It is understood that these bores were drilled during October and November 2006, and will be equipped in due course in order to fulfil this objective. (6) Not applicable.
(4) DEC is reviewing its records to determine whether this information has been provided to it. (5) Recovery bores are installed in line with Kalgoorlie Consolidate Gold Mines' stated objective within their Seepage and Groundwater Management Plan, which is to "Establish increased pumping capacity to increase seepage recovery". It is understood that these bores were drilled during October and November 2006, and will be equipped in due course in order to fulfil this objective. (6) Not applicable.
(5) Recovery bores are installed in line with Kalgoorlie Consolidate Gold Mines' stated objective within their Seepage and Groundwater Management Plan, which is to "Establish increased pumping capacity to increase seepage recovery". It is understood that these bores were drilled during October and November 2006, and will be equipped in due course in order to fulfil this objective. (6) Not applicable.
(6) Not applicable.
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