Question On Notice No. 2649 asked in the Legislative Council on 30 October 2019 by Hon Robin Chapple
Question Directed to the: Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to question on notice No. 108 asked in the Legislative Council on 12 June 2013 and mineral lease 235SA containing the former Mount Goldsworthy mine, and I ask:
(a) has the acid forming material that had been detected in some of the waste dumps been contained or managed;
(b) has BHP completed a program to address discharges of heavy metals from the Goldsworthy waste dumps;
(c) if no to (b), why not;
(d) if yes to (b), will the Minister table any documents relating to the process used to investigate the location, quantity and testing of the potentially acid forming material, as well as any hydrological studies of the area;
(e) has BHP reported annually on the progress of its studies and works since 2013;
(f) if no to (e), why not;
(g) if yes to (e), will the Minister table any reports made available to them by BHP;
(h) have the rehabilitation works been completed and what rehabilitation works were undertaken;
(i) if rehabilitation has not been completed, why not, given that this work was supposed to have commenced after 2016; and
(j) what was the cost of rehabilitation?
Answered on 3 December 2019
The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation advises:
(a)-(j) BHP Iron Ore has been undertaking a program of work at the Mt Goldsworthy mine site to assess and characterise acid forming potential in the overburden storage areas. The site work is being completed in several stages and the results of the investigations will be used to develop a rehabilitation plan for the area. More recent activities on site have included reporting and investigations under the Contaminated Sites Act 2013, including the engagement of a Department of Water and Environmental Regulation accredited Contaminated Sites Auditor. A detailed report on site investigations and progress is expected in 2020.