Question On Notice No. 2091 asked in the Legislative Council on 11 April 2019 by Hon Diane Evers
Question Directed to the: Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to a letter from the Radiological Council to Department of Water and Environmental Regulation on 24 July 2018, entitled Greenpatch Residential Development, Adjacent Former Cristal Pigment Dalyellup Waste Disposal Facility, tabled by the Minister for Environment on 4 December, and I ask:
(a) is the reserve boundary is situated within the boundaries of the Greenpatch or within the boundaries of the Waste Residue Disposal Facility;
(b) will the Minister provide an exact map with coordinates delineating the reserve boundary;
(c) if no to (b), why not;
(d) who provided the information to the Radiological Council about a buffer being unnecessary beyond the reserve boundary;
(e) will the Minister table the advice;
(f) if no to (e), why not;
(g) what does the Radiological Council define as 'an adequate internal buffer between the disposal cells and the reserve boundary' to be;
(h) will the Minister table a map or advise coordinates of the current internal buffer zone between the disposal cells and the reserve boundary;
(i) if no to (h), why not; and
(j) who is responsible for ensuring the internal buffer is maintained between disposal cells and the reserve boundary?
Answered on 6 June 2019
I am advised:
(a) The letter references the reserve boundary as that of the waste disposal facility itself.
(b) No.
(c) This information should be obtained through the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
(d) A radiation consultant employed by an environmental consulting firm provided advice to the Radiological Council that there was no scientific basis for a buffer.
(e) No.
(f) The information cannot be disclosed under Section 49 of the Radiation Safety Act.
(g) The disposal cells are a minimum of 15-20m from the reserve boundary, which is considered to be a more than adequate set back.
(h) Refer to answer (b).
(i) Refer to answer (c).
(j) This is achieved through a relevant memorial on property title under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003.