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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1882 asked in the Legislative Council on 19 February 2019 by Hon Diane Evers

Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Tabled Paper No: 2548- View tabled paper


Question

In regards to groundwater monitoring at and around the former Jangardup mineral sands mine:
(a) when was the acid sulphate groundwater plume first noticed;
(b) are any farming properties down-gradient of the acid sulphate groundwater plume:
(i) if yes to (b), what consultations with the property owners has taken place regarding potential impacts on their operations; and
(c) will the Minister please table all of the Annual Environmental Reports relating to monitoring of the acid sulphate groundwater plume:
(i) if no to (c), why not; and
(ii) are they publicly accessable?

Answered on 2 April 2019

(a) 2013

(b) Yes

(i) The plume is located entirely within one farming property and has been classified under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003 as ‘remediated for restricted use’. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has communicated with the owners of the property in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The classification notes that the land is suitable for ongoing agricultural use, provided that groundwater is not abstracted from the Superficial aquifer. As irrigation water at the farm is taken from the deeper Leederville aquifer, farming activities at the site have not been impacted. The Department understands that Cristal Mining continues to consult regularly with the landowners regarding the requirements for ongoing groundwater monitoring on their property.

(c)(i-ii) Each report is in excess of 800 pages. To aid succinctness, the relevant appendix to the last 5 years’ Annual Environmental Reports has instead been provided. These contain the relevant information concerning monitoring of the acid sulphate groundwater plume [paper no XX]