GALAXY RESOURCES —
LITHIUM MINE — DUST MANAGEMENT
1023. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the lithium mine at Old
Newdegate Road, Ravensthorpe, which is operated by Galaxy Resources.
(1) What environmental safety
compliance conditions have been imposed on the operator?
(2) What dust
suppression systems are in place to prevent spodumene silicate dust from the
mine contaminating the surrounding environment?
(3) Is the
minister aware that spodumene silicate dust from the mine has been blowing onto
neighbouring properties, creating health hazards for humans and fauna; and, if
yes, does the minister intend implementing measures to ameliorate the problem;
and, if no, will the minister investigate complaints from neighbouring
properties about silica dust contamination from the mine?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Galaxy Resources
Ltd holds a licence issued by the Department of Water and Environmental
Regulation under part V, division 3, of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 for
the Mt Cattlin project in Ravensthorpe. The licence includes a range of legally
binding conditions that regulate emissions and discharges from the mineral
processing and tailings facilities at the mine.
Questions relating to mine safety and
the regulation of other mining activities should be directed to the Minister
for Mines and Petroleum.
(2) The licence
requires Galaxy to manage dust from mineral processing operations according to
an approved airborne materials management plan. Water sprays are placed
strategically around the rock crushing and screening facilities in the process
area. The tailings are deposited as a wet slurry with minimal risk of
generating dust.
Questions relating to the management
of dust emissions from mining, as opposed to mineral processing, should be
directed to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum because such matters are regulated
by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety under the Mining Act
1978.
(3) The
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has one active complaint
relating to dust from this premises. I understand that as part of the investigation,
the department will consider the adequacy of dust management practices and
controls for licensed activities at the mine.