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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1758 asked in the Legislative Council on 8 November 2018 by Hon Robin Chapple

Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

I refer to the BHP train derailment near Turner Siding on the 5 November 2018 and ask:
(a) was the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) informed of this accident;
(b) if yes to (a), on what date and time;
(c) did officers from DBCA attend the site;
(d) how much fuel oil leaked from the locomotives;
(e) what methods were used to contain any spills of hydrocarbons;
(f) what methods were used for the remediation of the impact of hydrocarbon material that was spilt;
(g) was destroyed rolling stock disposed of locally or removed from site;
(h) if destroyed rolling stock was disposed of locally, what methods were used to contain all forms of hydrocarbons from axels;
(i) what was the estimated tonnage of iron ore spilt;
(j) what happened to the iron ore that was spilt;
(k) given there was a similar derailment at this location in 2011, is DBCA assessing cumulative impacts of buried material; and
(l) if no to (k), why not?

Answered on 6 December 2018

(a) No. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) was notified of the incident through a report made under section 72 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

(b) Not applicable.

(c) No.

(d) BHP advised DWER that between 10,000 to 16,000 litres of hydrocarbon was released.

(e) No one was in attendance at the time of the derailment and no immediate containment was undertaken. The diesel spilled onto the soil at the incident site.

(f) Diesel-affected soil was excavated and placed into bunded areas that were lined with heavy duty plastic. Further remediation has not yet commenced.

(g) Rolling stock will be cut up on scene and removed by truck for recycling.

(h) Not applicable.

(i) Approximately 30,000 tonnes of iron ore was split.

(j) BHP advised that it will be disposed of to a licensed landfill.

(k) No.

(l) The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions has no statutory role in relation to assessing these incidents.