❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Environment regarding the Gidgi Tailings Storage Facility, focusing on the rationale behind the liner system, water table depth, seepage management, and costs. The Minister declines to answer, citing excessive time already spent on similar questions and offering a briefing instead.
AnsweredQoN 3821Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Mining Proposal works approval dated December 2010, for the new Gidgi Tailings Storage Facility owned by Barrick Gold, and Newmont Mining and managed by KCGM, and ask -
(1) Can the Minister explain the rationale as to how the installation of a composite basal liner system will significantly reduce potential seepage from the facility?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister state what is the estimated natural water table depth in metres below ground level, prior to the construction of both the Gidgi one and Gidi two tailings storage facility?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister provide details of what a, ‘basal liner system’, that is proposed to be used for the construction of the Gidgi Tailings dam?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Is it correct that Newmont has a global standard for tailings management which includes the requirement for the supernatant pond of any Greenfields TSF at its operations to be lined in order to improve seepage management and protect groundwater?
(8) If no to (7), what is correct in relation to this matter?
(9) If yes to (7), will the Minister table a copy of the Newmont policy or global standard?
(10) Does the Department of Environment and Conservation consider that a new lined TSF provides for an improved environmental outcome in terms of seepage management?
(11) If yes to (10), can the Minister explain the rationale for this?
(12) If no to (10), why not?
(13) Can the Minister state what the total estimated cost of construction is, for the new Gidgi tailings dam, with a basal liner system installed?
(14) If no to (13), why not?
(15) Can the Minister provide an estimate of the anticipated seepage in litres per day predicted or anticipated from the Gidgi two tailings storage facility?
(16) If no to (15), why not?
(17) Can the Minister state what is the permeability of the liner for the Gidgi two tailings storage facility?
(18) If no to (17), why not?
(19) Does the design of the Gidgi two tailings dam actually incorporate plastic liner of some sort?
(20) If no to (19), why not?
(1) Can the Minister explain the rationale as to how the installation of a composite basal liner system will significantly reduce potential seepage from the facility?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Can the Minister state what is the estimated natural water table depth in metres below ground level, prior to the construction of both the Gidgi one and Gidi two tailings storage facility?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister provide details of what a, ‘basal liner system’, that is proposed to be used for the construction of the Gidgi Tailings dam?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Is it correct that Newmont has a global standard for tailings management which includes the requirement for the supernatant pond of any Greenfields TSF at its operations to be lined in order to improve seepage management and protect groundwater?
(8) If no to (7), what is correct in relation to this matter?
(9) If yes to (7), will the Minister table a copy of the Newmont policy or global standard?
(10) Does the Department of Environment and Conservation consider that a new lined TSF provides for an improved environmental outcome in terms of seepage management?
(11) If yes to (10), can the Minister explain the rationale for this?
(12) If no to (10), why not?
(13) Can the Minister state what the total estimated cost of construction is, for the new Gidgi tailings dam, with a basal liner system installed?
(14) If no to (13), why not?
(15) Can the Minister provide an estimate of the anticipated seepage in litres per day predicted or anticipated from the Gidgi two tailings storage facility?
(16) If no to (15), why not?
(17) Can the Minister state what is the permeability of the liner for the Gidgi two tailings storage facility?
(18) If no to (17), why not?
(19) Does the design of the Gidgi two tailings dam actually incorporate plastic liner of some sort?
(20) If no to (19), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 June 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
70 days
The Minister for Environment has provided the following response.
(1) - (20) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has spent approximately 200 hours answering questions from the Hon Member on projects owned by Barrick Gold, and Newmont Mining and managed by KCGM. Given the interest of the Member in this matter, I would be happy to arrange for DEC to provide the Member with a briefing on any matters of concern. However, I do not support any further work from DEC answering this question.
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
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(1) - (20) The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has spent approximately 200 hours answering questions from the Hon Member on projects owned by Barrick Gold, and Newmont Mining and managed by KCGM. Given the interest of the Member in this matter, I would be happy to arrange for DEC to provide the Member with a briefing on any matters of concern. However, I do not support any further work from DEC answering this question.
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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