How the values and uses of the Mammy Johnson's River and surrounding catchments will evaluated when deciding whether to approve a trial release of mine waste water from Duralie Coal mine into the river? Which of the following uses and values of the Mammy Johnson's River will be used to assess the application by Duralie Coal? Protection of aquatic ecosystems? Drinking water? Agricultural water supply? Recreation? Fishing and aquiculture? What criteria will be used to assess the impact of the trial release on local water supplies? What was the consultation process both with the local community and government environmental experts to assess the application by Duralie Coal? Since previous Minister for Climate Change and the Environment announced that no discharge was allowed into the river on 31 July 2006, has any new information on this issue been received? If so, what? What role will the Department play in protecting the values and uses of the Mammy Johnson River? What water quality data will be used to determine any modifications to the Duralie Coal Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) 11701? What water quality monitoring and testing would take place during a trial? How often would water pollution be monitored during a trial? What type of water testing would be undertaken? What is the suitability of the waste water salinity levels reported by Duralie Coal in its dam of 1,200 µS⁄cm and PH 7.4? How do these levels compare to normal levels for the Mammy Johnson River? Will a limit be placed on salinity and PH levels for any discharge trial into the Mammy Johnson River? If so, what will the limit be? What proposed discharge points are you considering? Will Duralie Coal be requested to fund an independent third party assessment of the discharge impact on the river as a condition of the trial?
Neither I nor the Department of Planning has received an application seeking approval for the release of mine water from the Duralie coal mine. However, should such an application be received, the impacts of the proposal would be assessed against the relevant criteria in the National Water Quality Management Strategy: Australian Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality and any other applicable policy guidelines. See 1 above. See 1 above. Not applicable. See 1 above. This question should be directed to the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment. The Department of Planning is not the primary agency responsible for protecting the values and use of Mammy Johnsons River. Nevertheless, it would co-ordinate the environmental assessment of any proposal seeking to release mine water from the Duralie coal mine. This question should be directed to the Department of the Environment and Climate Change, which administers Environment Protection Licence No. 11701. See 1 above. Water with salinity levels of 1,200 µS/cm is suitable for a range of agricultural uses. The salinity levels of Mammy Johnsons River vary along the length of the river. See 1 above. See 1 above. See 1 above.