JANGARDUP MINE — ACID SULPHATE
CONTAMINATION
820. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to mining lease application
M70/1385 located adjacent to Lake Jasper.
(1) Is the
minister aware that the proposed application is located in an area of very high
acid sulphate soil occurrence?
(2) Is the
minister aware that the former Jangardup mineral sands mine to the north—M70/362,
M70/363 and M70/997—is also located in a similar acid sulphate soil
region?
(3) How far from
the former Jangardup mineral sands mine has the acid sulphate groundwater
plume, caused by former mining operations, migrated offsite from the former
mine?
(4) Given that
there is acid sulphate contamination of the local groundwater, why is the
minister still considering a proposal for a mineral sands mine next to Lake
Jasper?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
The following information has been provided by the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum.
(1) I am aware that it is within an
area identified as an acid sulphate soils risk.
(2) Yes.
(3) The
contamination from the Jangardup mineral sands mine is managed and regulated by
the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation under the Contaminated
Sites Act 2003, so this question should be directed to the Minister for
Environment.
(4) M70/1385 has
been applied for in accordance with the Mining Act 1978. The applicant has not
submitted a formal mining proposal for assessment of any environmental concerns
by relevant authorities.