❓ Hon Paul Llewellyn questions the EPA and Department of Environment regarding the Fimiston Project and historical environmental assessments, particularly concerning waste dump locations and community impact. The Minister's response largely defers, citing the need to retrieve archived files for review.
AnsweredQoN 3645Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Fimiston Project Stage 11- mine and waste dumps Report and Recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) dated July 1991, a letter dated 16 April 1991 signed by Barry Carbon Chairman of the EPA addressed to the Secretary, Golden Mile Social Impact Study Steering Committee titled ‘Status of Mining Assessments’ and the ‘Golden Mile Environmental Strategy’ document dated 29 December 1987 -
(1) Does the EPA and Department of Environment (DoE) still support the statements made by Mr Barry Carbon in the letter dated 16 April 1991 which in part states ‘Environmental Impact Assessment process in Western Australia is aimed at environmental protection through ensuring that development is environmentally sound and well managed. A cornerstone of the process is public involvement, based on the public’s right to know about proposals and to have a say in the decisions about them. In intensively developed parts of the state such as Kalgoorlie, environmental protection means that people values are protected- the air and water are kept clean; noise is kept low; and personal risk is kept low. Any project which may detract from the people values of the environment must be referred to the EPA for assessment?’
(2) If no to (1), can the Minister state which specific statements the EPA/DoE does not support and the reasons why?
(3) If yes to (1), can the Minister state the reasons why?
(4) Can the Minister explain how it was ‘found’, as referred to in the letter dated 16 April 1991 that states ‘It was found during this consultation period that the location of the proposed waste dumps was very close to a number of residences that had not been identified in the CER submitted by KCGM. This necessitated further consultation and thus resulted in the project being removed from the list of projects to be assessed quickly. The project is now being dealt with in the normal environmental assessment process?’
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) Is it correct that the Golden Mile Environmental Strategy document dated 29 December 1987 under the heading of ‘Other Landusers’ states ‘It is generally accepted that the primary land use of the Golden Mile is gold mining. It must, however be acknowledged that there are a number of other important land uses in the region covered by this strategy. Some of these will not be compatible with the mining developments outlined above and decisions will need to be made as to the future of these land uses. It may be necessary, in some cases, to relocate particular land uses or to increase the area available for such users at other locations. The cost of such action will need to be borne by the gold mining industry?’
(7) If no to (6), will the Minister quote the full text from this document dated 29 December 1987?
(1) Does the EPA and Department of Environment (DoE) still support the statements made by Mr Barry Carbon in the letter dated 16 April 1991 which in part states ‘Environmental Impact Assessment process in Western Australia is aimed at environmental protection through ensuring that development is environmentally sound and well managed. A cornerstone of the process is public involvement, based on the public’s right to know about proposals and to have a say in the decisions about them. In intensively developed parts of the state such as Kalgoorlie, environmental protection means that people values are protected- the air and water are kept clean; noise is kept low; and personal risk is kept low. Any project which may detract from the people values of the environment must be referred to the EPA for assessment?’
(2) If no to (1), can the Minister state which specific statements the EPA/DoE does not support and the reasons why?
(3) If yes to (1), can the Minister state the reasons why?
(4) Can the Minister explain how it was ‘found’, as referred to in the letter dated 16 April 1991 that states ‘It was found during this consultation period that the location of the proposed waste dumps was very close to a number of residences that had not been identified in the CER submitted by KCGM. This necessitated further consultation and thus resulted in the project being removed from the list of projects to be assessed quickly. The project is now being dealt with in the normal environmental assessment process?’
(5) If no to (4), why not?
(6) Is it correct that the Golden Mile Environmental Strategy document dated 29 December 1987 under the heading of ‘Other Landusers’ states ‘It is generally accepted that the primary land use of the Golden Mile is gold mining. It must, however be acknowledged that there are a number of other important land uses in the region covered by this strategy. Some of these will not be compatible with the mining developments outlined above and decisions will need to be made as to the future of these land uses. It may be necessary, in some cases, to relocate particular land uses or to increase the area available for such users at other locations. The cost of such action will need to be borne by the gold mining industry?’
(7) If no to (6), will the Minister quote the full text from this document dated 29 December 1987?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 August 2006
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
70 days
(2) Not applicable. (3) Not applicable. (4) I am advised that the files relevant to this 1991 matter need to be recalled from archival storage to determine what records exist about how findings were made on this matter. (5) Not applicable. (6) I am advised that the statement referred to appears in the document "The Golden Mile Environmental Strategy" dated January 1988. (7) As per answer (6).
(3) Not applicable. (4) I am advised that the files relevant to this 1991 matter need to be recalled from archival storage to determine what records exist about how findings were made on this matter. (5) Not applicable. (6) I am advised that the statement referred to appears in the document "The Golden Mile Environmental Strategy" dated January 1988. (7) As per answer (6).
(4) I am advised that the files relevant to this 1991 matter need to be recalled from archival storage to determine what records exist about how findings were made on this matter. (5) Not applicable. (6) I am advised that the statement referred to appears in the document "The Golden Mile Environmental Strategy" dated January 1988. (7) As per answer (6).
(5) Not applicable. (6) I am advised that the statement referred to appears in the document "The Golden Mile Environmental Strategy" dated January 1988. (7) As per answer (6).
(6) I am advised that the statement referred to appears in the document "The Golden Mile Environmental Strategy" dated January 1988. (7) As per answer (6).
(7) As per answer (6).
(3) Not applicable. (4) I am advised that the files relevant to this 1991 matter need to be recalled from archival storage to determine what records exist about how findings were made on this matter. (5) Not applicable. (6) I am advised that the statement referred to appears in the document "The Golden Mile Environmental Strategy" dated January 1988. (7) As per answer (6).
(4) I am advised that the files relevant to this 1991 matter need to be recalled from archival storage to determine what records exist about how findings were made on this matter. (5) Not applicable. (6) I am advised that the statement referred to appears in the document "The Golden Mile Environmental Strategy" dated January 1988. (7) As per answer (6).
(5) Not applicable. (6) I am advised that the statement referred to appears in the document "The Golden Mile Environmental Strategy" dated January 1988. (7) As per answer (6).
(6) I am advised that the statement referred to appears in the document "The Golden Mile Environmental Strategy" dated January 1988. (7) As per answer (6).
(7) As per answer (6).
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