❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on mining and exploration activities, approvals, and agreements related to Lake Wells Station, particularly concerning potash mining. The response provides details on approvals, road usage, and relevant legislation, deferring water license information to the Minister for Water.
AnsweredQoN 578Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the running of Lake Wells Station north of Laverton and the exploration and mining of potash in the area, and I ask: (a) what mining or exploration approvals have been submitted for the lands covered by Lake Wells Station; (b) what mining or exploration has been approved for the lands covered by Lake Wells Station; (c) have any camp sites been approved for mining applicants on Lake Wells Station, and, if so, who received the approvals and for what sites; (d) are any roads on Lake Wells Station being used by mining companies; (e) if yes to (d), which roads are being used, and by what authority or approval has this access been granted; (f) has any mining company been granted a water license on Lake Wells Station; (g) if yes to (f), what water extraction licenses have been approved; (h) do any mining companies have contracts with the owners of Lake Wells Station to enable them to access the station; (i) are any access agreements or contracts formalising access required; and (j) if no to (i), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 May 2022
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
9 days
(a) At least 65 exploration proposals and at least four mining proposals.
(b) At least 41 exploration approvals, generally involve drilling, clearing of tracks, test pits, and pump testing of bores. Three mining proposals, all for Australian Potash Limited’s Lake Wells Potash Project, have been approved. The first was to develop a trial evaporation pond. The second was for early works at the Project, including a camp, access tracks, borefields and causeways. The third was for the substantial commencement of the Lake Wells Project.
(c) Yes, for Australian Potash Limited’s Lake Wells Potash Project.
(d) Yes.
(e) Many unnamed roads and tracks are used by mining companies. Named roads that are used include the Lake Wells Road, Yilly Yilly Road and Warren Bore Road. Publicly gazetted roads can be used without approval under the Mining Act 1978 . Generally, agreements are struck between mining companies and pastoral station owners regarding use of other tracks.
(f) This would be a matter for the Minister for Water.
(g) Not applicable.
(h) Any private agreements between mining companies and pastoralists are a matter between those parties.
(i) The Mining Act 1978 provides protection for certain areas of crown land, including some pastoral infrastructure. Tenement holders cannot mine in these areas unless they have the agreement of the occupier of the land. The Mining Act 1978 also provides provisions for compensation to pastoral lessees by tenement holders in certain circumstances.
(j) Not applicable.
(b) At least 41 exploration approvals, generally involve drilling, clearing of tracks, test pits, and pump testing of bores. Three mining proposals, all for Australian Potash Limited’s Lake Wells Potash Project, have been approved. The first was to develop a trial evaporation pond. The second was for early works at the Project, including a camp, access tracks, borefields and causeways. The third was for the substantial commencement of the Lake Wells Project.
(c) Yes, for Australian Potash Limited’s Lake Wells Potash Project.
(d) Yes.
(e) Many unnamed roads and tracks are used by mining companies. Named roads that are used include the Lake Wells Road, Yilly Yilly Road and Warren Bore Road. Publicly gazetted roads can be used without approval under the Mining Act 1978 . Generally, agreements are struck between mining companies and pastoral station owners regarding use of other tracks.
(f) This would be a matter for the Minister for Water.
(g) Not applicable.
(h) Any private agreements between mining companies and pastoralists are a matter between those parties.
(i) The Mining Act 1978 provides protection for certain areas of crown land, including some pastoral infrastructure. Tenement holders cannot mine in these areas unless they have the agreement of the occupier of the land. The Mining Act 1978 also provides provisions for compensation to pastoral lessees by tenement holders in certain circumstances.
(j) Not applicable.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.