2821—Climate Change and the Environment—MAMMY JOHNSON'S RIVER

Ms Rhiannon to the Attorney General, Minister for Industrial Relations representing the Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, and Minister for Commerce—

1. 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?
2. Which of the following uses and values of the Mammy Johnson's River will be used to assess the application by Duralie Coal?
1. Protection of aquatic ecosystems?
2. Drinking water?
3. Agricultural water supply?
4. Recreation?
5. Fishing and aquiculture?
3. What criteria will be used to assess the impact of the trial release on local water supplies?
4. What was the consultation process both with the local community and government environmental experts to assess the application by Duralie Coal?
5. 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?
1. If so, what?
6. What role will the Department play in protecting the values and uses of the Mammy Johnson River?
7. What water quality data will be used to determine any modifications to the Duralie Coal Environmental Protection Licence (EPL) 11701?
1. What water quality monitoring and testing would take place during a trial?
2. How often would water pollution be monitored during a trial?
3. What type of water testing would be undertaken?
1. 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?
2. How do these levels compare to normal levels for the Mammy Johnson River?
1. Will a limit be placed on salinity and PH levels for any discharge trial into the Mammy Johnson River?
2. If so, what will the limit be?
11. What proposed discharge points are you considering?
12. 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?

Answer—

1. - 3. The Department of Planning is responsible for determining the development application submitted by Duralie Coal. The environmental assessment requirements are available from the Department of Planning.

 

Any technical assessment or advice by the Department of Environment and Climate Change regarding water quality criteria will be based on the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality 2000.

 

The Department of Environment and Climate Change will consider the application to amend Duralie Coal's Environment Protection Licence to allow discharge of mine water to the river if development consent is issued for this activity.

 

4. This matter is the portfolio responsibility of the Minister for Planning.

 

5. Duralie Coal has lodged a development application with the Department of Planning to vary its current development consent conditions to allow an expansion of the mine. This application includes a proposal to discharge mine water to the river. Duralie Coal also lodged an application to vary its Environment Protection Licence to discharge mine water from the premises, which will be considered pending the outcome of the development consent application.

 

6. The Department of Environment and Climate Change will provide advice and technical support to assist the Department of Planning in assessing the current project proposal.

 

7. The Department of Environment and Climate Change will use data submitted by Duralie Coal, as part of its project application to the Department of Planning.

 

8. This would be determined through the assessment of the application to vary the current licence conditions.

 

9.

a. The Department of Environment and Climate Change has not determined the suitability of the water in Duralie Coal's dam for discharge.

b. The Department of Environment and Climate Change has not conducted a survey of salinity levels in Mammy Johnson River. Duralie Coal is expected to submit this data with its project application to the Department of Planning.

10.

a. Yes.

b. Limits will be determined when the licence application is comprehensively assessed.

11. This cannot be determined until the assessment of the application to vary the current consent conditions has been finalised.

 

12. This is a matter for the Minister for Planning.