❓ Hon Paul Llewellyn questions the Minister for the Environment regarding noise levels from proposed waste dumps near Kalgoorlie, Williamstown, and Ninga Mia, seeking rejection of the proposal due to noise concerns. The Minister responds that the matter is under appeal and awaits advice.
AnsweredQoN 5966Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can the Minister indicate what are the specific noise levels and the amount that will be exceeded from the current assigned levels during both the day and night time as a result of bringing the two northern wast dumps closer to Williamstown, other parts of Kalgoorlie and the Ninga Mia Aboriginal community?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Given the answer provided for parts 3 and 4 for question on notice No. 3206 where the Minister has stated ‘No, I would not expect the public to tolerate noise, dust and vibration levels above the standards as set by legislation’, to reduce the overall long term impact of noise on the wider community for the entire life of the mining operations and to provide for orderly development of the Super pit operations, will the Minister reject the two northern waste dumps proposed by KCGM with respect to the noise regulation 17 application (to increase noise levels) as being environmentally unacceptable and suggest or invite the proponent to look at alternatives, including placing the mullock material for these waste dumps to the South and East of their mining operations by either diverting the surface drainage channel or using large concrete culverts, just as is done in other open pit mining operations, in order that waste material can be deposited to the South and East of the mining operations further away from residences and the community?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) To reduce the overall long term impact of noise on the wider community for the life of the operations and to provide for orderly development of the Super Pit operations, will the Minister reject parts of the waste dumps proposed by KCGM in the areas closer to the community near the environmental noise bund in Boulder, as part of the noise regulation 17 application to increase noise levels as a means to ensure that all residents living closest to the mining operations in Boulder are protected, and afforded a reasonable level of noise during the evenings for the entire life of the mining operations, and are also protected from closer increased dust emissions?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Given the answer provided for parts 3 and 4 for question on notice No. 3206 where the Minister has stated ‘No, I would not expect the public to tolerate noise, dust and vibration levels above the standards as set by legislation’, to reduce the overall long term impact of noise on the wider community for the entire life of the mining operations and to provide for orderly development of the Super pit operations, will the Minister reject the two northern waste dumps proposed by KCGM with respect to the noise regulation 17 application (to increase noise levels) as being environmentally unacceptable and suggest or invite the proponent to look at alternatives, including placing the mullock material for these waste dumps to the South and East of their mining operations by either diverting the surface drainage channel or using large concrete culverts, just as is done in other open pit mining operations, in order that waste material can be deposited to the South and East of the mining operations further away from residences and the community?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) To reduce the overall long term impact of noise on the wider community for the life of the operations and to provide for orderly development of the Super Pit operations, will the Minister reject parts of the waste dumps proposed by KCGM in the areas closer to the community near the environmental noise bund in Boulder, as part of the noise regulation 17 application to increase noise levels as a means to ensure that all residents living closest to the mining operations in Boulder are protected, and afforded a reasonable level of noise during the evenings for the entire life of the mining operations, and are also protected from closer increased dust emissions?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 April 2008
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
34 days
(1) The predicted noise levels in Williamstown, at the Ninga Mia Aboriginal community and in the nearest areas of Kalgoorlie and Boulder, resulting from the operation of the existing and proposed KCGM Fimiston pit and waste dumps would range from 49 to 55 dB(A) under worst case weather conditions.
These levels are based on data in the Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) Bulletin 1274. They would represent a maximum exceedance over the L
A10
assigned noise levels in the
Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997
by 2-5 dB in the daytime, and 12-15 dB at night. The predicted noise levels are similar to the existing noise levels in these areas.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The EPA's report on the proposed Fimiston Gold Mine Operations Extension (Stage 3) and Mine Closure Planning, which includes the northern waste dumps, is currently under appeal. The Minister is awaiting the Appeals Convenor's advice before making any decision on the environmental acceptability of the waste dumps.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) See the answer to (3).
(6) Not applicable.
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These levels are based on data in the Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) Bulletin 1274. They would represent a maximum exceedance over the L
A10
assigned noise levels in the
Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997
by 2-5 dB in the daytime, and 12-15 dB at night. The predicted noise levels are similar to the existing noise levels in these areas.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The EPA's report on the proposed Fimiston Gold Mine Operations Extension (Stage 3) and Mine Closure Planning, which includes the northern waste dumps, is currently under appeal. The Minister is awaiting the Appeals Convenor's advice before making any decision on the environmental acceptability of the waste dumps.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) See the answer to (3).
(6) Not applicable.
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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