MINING — GINGILUP–JASPER
WETLAND SYSTEM
680. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to exploration licence
E70/5200 in the Gingilup–Jasper wetlands area.
(1) Is the
minister aware that part of the exploration licence is in an area identified as
having moderate to high risk of acid sulphate soils?
(2) Did the
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety assess the potential
disturbance of acid sulphate soils during any exploration activity; and, if
not, why not; and, if yes, what were the results?
(3) Did the
department seek the advice of, or collaborate with, any other state government
department on this issue; and, if yes, which department or departments?
(4) Did the
department communicate with the Environmental Protection Authority about the
conservation area or the dieback risk zone area; and, if not, why not; and, if
yes, what was the conclusion?
(5) Is the department
part of any acid sulphate soils working group or committee; and, if yes, who
are the department's representatives?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the
question. The following information has been provided to me by the Minister for
Mines and Petroleum.
(1) Yes. However, in the event that there is to be
disturbance on any specific part of the licence, the disturbance would
be subject to appropriate assessment.
(2) Yes. Only
low-impact, shallow drilling is currently proposed on existing tracks, which
presents a low acid sulphate soil disturbance risk.
(3) No. However,
the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety maintains close
relationships with other agencies to ensure that its assessment methodologies
are appropriate.
(4) No. DMIRS has approved one program of work on the
exploration licence. The proposed activities in this program do not intersect
with a conservation reserve and would be unlikely to impact on the reserve;
hence, no communication with the EPA was necessary. Dieback management was
assessed by DMIRS during the program of work assessment. The tenement
holder is required to adhere to a dieback management plan.
(5) No.