❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding alleged breaches of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 by the Gingin Meatworks. The Minister's response indicates ongoing investigations and a lack of substantiated evidence for some claims.
AnsweredQoN 1317Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With reference to the Gingin Meatworks, located at Lot 195 Cockram Road Gingin, Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Licence No. L6112/1996/9, I ask -
(1) Is the Minister aware of any of the following breaches of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
by the licensee, -
(a) noise pollution;
(b) odour pollution;
(c) water pollution;
(d) fly breeding;
(e) waste disposal;
(f) over killing; and
(g) building extensions?
(2) If yes to (1), -
(a) please provide full details; and
(b) can the Minister provide detailed accounts of appropriate action taken by the DEC in accordance with the
Environmental Protection Act
and its Enforcement and Prosecution Policy 2008?
(3) Is the Minister aware of a formal complaint lodged on 18 October 2009 to the local council by a community group of the alleged illegal dumping of putrescent waste by the Gingin Meatworks?
(4) Does the DEC have any information from its investigations of, -
(a) alleged breaches of the Environmental Protection Act by the licensee; and
(b) to determine the Gingin Meatworks’ compliance with its licence conditions?
(5) Is the Minister aware that the Gingin Meatworks has future plans for the works including, upgrading to become export accredited for European and US markets and possible expansion?
(6) If yes to (5), please give details?
(7) Does the existing premise comply with the license conditions that require a ‘buffer-zone’?
(8) If yes to (7), what are the requirements and how is the premise noncompliant?
(9) With regards to your answers to questions without notice dated 14 October 2009, would the Minister please explain why the response from the DEC on 3 September 2009 did not provide answers to any of the queries in the email from the community member on 30 April 2009?
(10) The Minister has previously stated she is aware of the possibility of pollution from this abattoir and that investigations have been carried out by the DEC, would the Minister please provide details of what investigations were carried out by the DEC and provide a copy of the analysis of soil and water samples or any other report(s) which provide(s) evidence to support the stated contention that pollution does not exist?
(11) Further to (10), the Minister has indicated that the investigation was a joint DEC / Gingin Shire action, can the Minister provide details of, -
(a) what investigations were carried out by the Shire; and
(b) what were the results of these investigations?
(12) How does the Minister explain the existence of green pasture in areas immediately adjacent to the residue ponds where in a normal summer none would exist without the addition of water?
(13) If no analysis has been carried out on soil and water samples from paddocks and waterways adjacent to the residue ponds, how can it be stated with any certainty that the residue is fully contained within the ponds?
(14) If details cannot be provided on investigations carried out by the DEC, can it be assumed that the DEC is operating on limited knowledge following cursory observations?
(15) Without production of detailed reports of sample analysis and conclusions drawn from same, what confidence can be placed in any findings reported to date?
(16) Do the residue ponds ever reach capacity and require residue to be carted off site?
(17) If yes to (16), how is this activity monitored and/or reported?
(18) Can the Minister provide a complete assurance that material from the residue pond is never disposed of into adjacent waterways?
(1) Is the Minister aware of any of the following breaches of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
by the licensee, -
(a) noise pollution;
(b) odour pollution;
(c) water pollution;
(d) fly breeding;
(e) waste disposal;
(f) over killing; and
(g) building extensions?
(2) If yes to (1), -
(a) please provide full details; and
(b) can the Minister provide detailed accounts of appropriate action taken by the DEC in accordance with the
Environmental Protection Act
and its Enforcement and Prosecution Policy 2008?
(3) Is the Minister aware of a formal complaint lodged on 18 October 2009 to the local council by a community group of the alleged illegal dumping of putrescent waste by the Gingin Meatworks?
(4) Does the DEC have any information from its investigations of, -
(a) alleged breaches of the Environmental Protection Act by the licensee; and
(b) to determine the Gingin Meatworks’ compliance with its licence conditions?
(5) Is the Minister aware that the Gingin Meatworks has future plans for the works including, upgrading to become export accredited for European and US markets and possible expansion?
(6) If yes to (5), please give details?
(7) Does the existing premise comply with the license conditions that require a ‘buffer-zone’?
(8) If yes to (7), what are the requirements and how is the premise noncompliant?
(9) With regards to your answers to questions without notice dated 14 October 2009, would the Minister please explain why the response from the DEC on 3 September 2009 did not provide answers to any of the queries in the email from the community member on 30 April 2009?
(10) The Minister has previously stated she is aware of the possibility of pollution from this abattoir and that investigations have been carried out by the DEC, would the Minister please provide details of what investigations were carried out by the DEC and provide a copy of the analysis of soil and water samples or any other report(s) which provide(s) evidence to support the stated contention that pollution does not exist?
(11) Further to (10), the Minister has indicated that the investigation was a joint DEC / Gingin Shire action, can the Minister provide details of, -
(a) what investigations were carried out by the Shire; and
(b) what were the results of these investigations?
(12) How does the Minister explain the existence of green pasture in areas immediately adjacent to the residue ponds where in a normal summer none would exist without the addition of water?
(13) If no analysis has been carried out on soil and water samples from paddocks and waterways adjacent to the residue ponds, how can it be stated with any certainty that the residue is fully contained within the ponds?
(14) If details cannot be provided on investigations carried out by the DEC, can it be assumed that the DEC is operating on limited knowledge following cursory observations?
(15) Without production of detailed reports of sample analysis and conclusions drawn from same, what confidence can be placed in any findings reported to date?
(16) Do the residue ponds ever reach capacity and require residue to be carted off site?
(17) If yes to (16), how is this activity monitored and/or reported?
(18) Can the Minister provide a complete assurance that material from the residue pond is never disposed of into adjacent waterways?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 November 2009
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
(1)
(a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
(d) This question should be directed to the Minister for Health.
(e) No.
(f) No.
(g) No.
(2)(a-b) This matter is currently under investigation by DEC and it is not appropriate for me to make any comment as it may prejudice the outcome of the investigation.
(3) This question should be directed to the Minister for Local Government.
(4)(a-b) See the answer to (2)(a-b).
(5 - 6) The DEC has advised me that the Gingin Meatworks is considering the installation of a hide curing shed on the premises and a proposal of this nature will require a works approval.
(7 - 8) I have been advised that there is no requirement for a buffer zone in Gingin Meatworks' licence issued under the
Environmental Protection Act
1986
.
(9) I am aware that DEC investigated the allegations made in the email dated 30 April 2009 and found no evidence to substantiate the claims. The complainant was informed of the outcome of the investigation by telephone on 1 May, and in writing on 3 September 2009.
(10-11) See the answer to (2)(a-b).
(12) I have been advised by DEC that there is no evidence of green pasture immediately adjacent to the ponds.
(13) I understand that when DEC officers investigated this matter, there was no evidence of any discharge from the ponds to the environment, by either seepage or pumping out of residue. Gingin Meatworks upgraded the clay compacted ponds with high density polyethylene liner to prevent seepage in March 2009.
(14) The DEC has advised me that any investigation of allegations is carried out in accordance with the
Environmental Protection
Act 1986
and DEC's
Enforcement and Prosecution Policy
2008
.
(15) DEC investigated allegations of unauthorised discharges at the time, but could not substantiate the claim and sampling was therefore not required.
(16 - 17) Yes. I have been advised by DEC that this activity is covered by Gingin Meatworks' licence conditions for solid waste management. The conditions include a requirement that Gingin Meatworks makes desludging waste residue generated at the premises available for transport off-site. The licence conditions do not require Gingin Meatworks to report to DEC when desludging is undertaken.
(18) The disposal of material from the residue pond is managed through Gingin Meatworks' licence conditions. DEC has advised me that it has found no substantiated evidence to date of the material being disposed of into adjacent waterways.
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(a) Yes.
(b) Yes.
(c) No.
(d) This question should be directed to the Minister for Health.
(e) No.
(f) No.
(g) No.
(2)(a-b) This matter is currently under investigation by DEC and it is not appropriate for me to make any comment as it may prejudice the outcome of the investigation.
(3) This question should be directed to the Minister for Local Government.
(4)(a-b) See the answer to (2)(a-b).
(5 - 6) The DEC has advised me that the Gingin Meatworks is considering the installation of a hide curing shed on the premises and a proposal of this nature will require a works approval.
(7 - 8) I have been advised that there is no requirement for a buffer zone in Gingin Meatworks' licence issued under the
Environmental Protection Act
1986
.
(9) I am aware that DEC investigated the allegations made in the email dated 30 April 2009 and found no evidence to substantiate the claims. The complainant was informed of the outcome of the investigation by telephone on 1 May, and in writing on 3 September 2009.
(10-11) See the answer to (2)(a-b).
(12) I have been advised by DEC that there is no evidence of green pasture immediately adjacent to the ponds.
(13) I understand that when DEC officers investigated this matter, there was no evidence of any discharge from the ponds to the environment, by either seepage or pumping out of residue. Gingin Meatworks upgraded the clay compacted ponds with high density polyethylene liner to prevent seepage in March 2009.
(14) The DEC has advised me that any investigation of allegations is carried out in accordance with the
Environmental Protection
Act 1986
and DEC's
Enforcement and Prosecution Policy
2008
.
(15) DEC investigated allegations of unauthorised discharges at the time, but could not substantiate the claim and sampling was therefore not required.
(16 - 17) Yes. I have been advised by DEC that this activity is covered by Gingin Meatworks' licence conditions for solid waste management. The conditions include a requirement that Gingin Meatworks makes desludging waste residue generated at the premises available for transport off-site. The licence conditions do not require Gingin Meatworks to report to DEC when desludging is undertaken.
(18) The disposal of material from the residue pond is managed through Gingin Meatworks' licence conditions. DEC has advised me that it has found no substantiated evidence to date of the material being disposed of into adjacent waterways.
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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