❓ Hon Paul Llewellyn questions the Minister for the Environment regarding EPA guidelines on separation distances between industrial and sensitive land uses, specifically concerning mineral sands processing and open cut mining buffer zones. The Minister declines to answer, citing the EPA's independence.
AnsweredQoN 3755Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) June 2005 ‘Guidelines for the Assessment of Environmental Factors in accordance with the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
factors, separation distances between Industrial and Sensitive land uses; signed by Walter Cox -
(1) Can the Minister explain why the ‘EPA expects proponents and responsible authorities to take all reasonable and practicable measures to protect the environment and to view the requirement of this guidance as representing the minimum necessary process to achieve an appropriate level of environmental protection’?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Is it correct that the June 2005 document referred to above provides advice on the use of generic separation distances (buffers) between industrial and sensitive land uses to avoid conflicts between incompatible land uses?
(4) If no to (3), what specifically is correct?
(5) Is it correct that the June 2005 document referred to above recommends a minimum buffer distance of between 1000 - 2000 metres for the category ‘mineral sands dry processing only’?
(6) If yes to (5), can the Minister state what are the types of impacts/emissions from this type of industry that warrant a minimum buffer distance of between 1000 - 2000 metres?
(7) If no to (5), what specifically is correct?
(8) Can the Minister state the rationale as to how the distance of 1000 - 2000 metres as a minimum buffer was determined for the category ‘minerals sands dry processing only’?
(9) Is it correct that the June 2005 document referred to above recommends a minimum buffer distance of between 1500 - 3000 metres for the industry ‘Open Cut mining (large operations)?
(10) Is yes to (9), can the Minister state what are the types of impacts/emissions from this type of industry that warrant a minimum buffer distance of between 1500 - 3000 metres?
(11) Can the Minister state that the rationale as to how the distance of 1500 - 3000 metres as a minimum buffer was determined for the category ‘Open Cut mining (large operations)’?
(12) If not to (11), why not?
Environmental Protection Act 1986
factors, separation distances between Industrial and Sensitive land uses; signed by Walter Cox -
(1) Can the Minister explain why the ‘EPA expects proponents and responsible authorities to take all reasonable and practicable measures to protect the environment and to view the requirement of this guidance as representing the minimum necessary process to achieve an appropriate level of environmental protection’?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Is it correct that the June 2005 document referred to above provides advice on the use of generic separation distances (buffers) between industrial and sensitive land uses to avoid conflicts between incompatible land uses?
(4) If no to (3), what specifically is correct?
(5) Is it correct that the June 2005 document referred to above recommends a minimum buffer distance of between 1000 - 2000 metres for the category ‘mineral sands dry processing only’?
(6) If yes to (5), can the Minister state what are the types of impacts/emissions from this type of industry that warrant a minimum buffer distance of between 1000 - 2000 metres?
(7) If no to (5), what specifically is correct?
(8) Can the Minister state the rationale as to how the distance of 1000 - 2000 metres as a minimum buffer was determined for the category ‘minerals sands dry processing only’?
(9) Is it correct that the June 2005 document referred to above recommends a minimum buffer distance of between 1500 - 3000 metres for the industry ‘Open Cut mining (large operations)?
(10) Is yes to (9), can the Minister state what are the types of impacts/emissions from this type of industry that warrant a minimum buffer distance of between 1500 - 3000 metres?
(11) Can the Minister state that the rationale as to how the distance of 1500 - 3000 metres as a minimum buffer was determined for the category ‘Open Cut mining (large operations)’?
(12) If not to (11), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 August 2006
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
54 days
The guidance document to which the Honourable Member refers has been prepared by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to assist the environmental impact assessment process. Because the EPA is an independent statutory authority, it would be inappropriate for the Minister for the Environment; Racing and Gaming to comment on the document. It is therefore recommended that the Honourable Member direct these questions to the Chairman of the EPA.
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