Kagara Copper fined $120,000

Media Statements

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection
The Honourable Andrew Powell

Friday, November 22, 2013

High penalties for failing to meet environmental standards

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell urged the resources industry to ensure any water releases comply with environmental standards ahead of the traditional ‘wet season’.

The call comes after former operator of Baal Gammon copper mine, Kagara, pleaded guilty to three charges yesterday relating to the unauthorised release of contaminated water into Jamie Creek and the Walsh River west of Herberton during the 2011/12 wet season.

“The resources industry as a whole has done a significant amount of work in relation to water management and we are seeing improvements,” Mr Powell said.

“For example, in 2010 - 2011, under the former Labor Government, the former DERM investigated 56 breaches of environmental authorities by 22 coal mines in the Fitzroy Basin. 

“By comparison, there were 25 non-compliant mine water releases from 12 mines during the 2012-2013 wet season.    

However, Mr Powell warned that any company which fails to meet high environmental standards will face severe penalties.

“The unauthorised release of mine affected or contaminated water into creeks and streams is a serious offence,” he said.

Kagara was yesterday fined $120,000 contravening an environmental protection order, unlawfully causing material environmental harm, and breaching a condition of the mine’s Environmental Authority.

In September 2013, the owner of the mine, Baal Gammon Copper Pty Ltd, was fined $80,000 in relation to the discharges.

“These matters resulted from an investigation which was initiated in early March 2012 after Kagara notified the Department that the mine experienced a release of suspected contaminated water into a nearby creek,” Mr Powell said.

“High concentrations of heavy metals, including copper, cadmium and arsenic were identified in Jamie Creek and Walsh River.

“This posed a potential risk to people living near the Baal Gammon copper mine.

 “Residents where advised not to drink water from the Walsh River at the time following the releases.

 “The Newman Government takes non-compliance with conditions of environmental authorities very seriously even if the company is in receivership,” Mr Powell said.

“Authority holders are responsible for their mine even when another company, acting under the environment authority, manages the day to day operations at the site.

“This government has made sure the owner of the Baal Gammon mine has been held to account over mine water contamination in far north Queensland, and we will not hesitate to pursue any company who fails to meet our high environmental standards during this coming wet season.”

[ENDS] 22 November 2013

Media contact: Brooke Hargraves 0458 689 043

Water, Waste, Mine Fine

 Long Term Water Planning

 

The Qld Government is committed to releasing a discussion paper for a 30 year plan for Queensland’s water sector over the next six months.

The Newman Government has announced that a 30-year vision for affordable, secure, sustainable and high quality water, sewerage and sewage treatment services is being developed as part of the Six Month Action Plan.

Energy and Water Supply Minister: Mark McArdle said planning for Queensland’s future water sector was critical to delivering a reliable and cost effective water and sewerage service and to maintaining business growth and lifestyle choices.

A long-term water plan to harness the benefits and reduce the risks associated with Qld’s naturally-occurring climate (drought and flood), is an integral part of the Qld Government’s plan for growth.

The Newman Government is highly critical of the former Government’s SEQ Water plan. $7 billion was spent on the Western Corridor Water recycling scheme, a desalination plant on the Gold Coast and a (so-called) water grid.

It is easy to be critical in retrospect (following the floods in 2011) but the reality of the situation in 2009 was 7 years of consecutive drought.

Now the Department of Energy and Water Supply is working with other state departments and agencies to prepare a ‘whole-of-government’ discussion paper on the challenges and opportunities facing Qld’s water, sewerage and sewage treatment system.

One challenge to realising a clear 30-year water supply plan for Queensland is navigating the complex institutional arrangements (referred to by the Minister as a legislative, bureaucratic and jurisdictional maze).

The Queensland Water Sector Discussion Paper, to be released in December 2012.

The discussion paper will consider water security and reliability, public health and safety, environmental outcomes, liveability (integrated water and land-use planning), industry resilience (including industry skills), water for Queensland industries (including agriculture and mining), partnerships and engagement, and affordability.

Local Government Association of Queensland President Paul Bell said the Government had promised to work with local councils in establishing a 30 year vision for the state’s water and sewerage services.

He said Water and Energy Supply Minister Mark McArdle understood the need for proper and inclusive planning to ensure the state’s future water supply and sewage transport and treatment systems operated efficiently and effectively.

Cr Bell said the LGAQ had long been urging successive governments to streamline regulatory and reporting arrangements covering water and it was good that Mr McArdle’s had pointed to navigating the existing bureaucratic and legislative maze as the biggest stumbling block to water reform.

Work on the plan, which the Government has said was aimed at delivering affordable, secure, sustainable and high quality water and sewage transport and treatment services, will include extensive consultation with utilities, industry experts, business and the community. 

Waste Levy Media Frenzy

One of the first tasks for the new Environment Minister – Andrew Powell was given was to repeal the former Government’s Waste Levy.

The previous Labor Government only recently introduced a Waste Tax in December 2011, with a focus on reducing waste & promoting improved resource recovery.

The Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 was introduced as an industry waste levy to create a price signal to encourage waste generators to focus on waste avoidance & resource recovery & to discourage unnecessary landfill disposal.

The levy was designed to ensure a level of consistency with waste disposal costs in other states to deter unnecessary disposal of interstate waste in Queensland.

It remains to be seen if the Qld LNP Government can find alternative funding streams to deliver an industry driven waste strategy as part of the budget process.

This week, Tony Moore contacted ASBG to ask for a comment on the increase of waste being trucked into Queensland as a result of the removal of the $35/t Waste Levy.

The next day, this story appeared in the Brisbane Times.

ASBG was invited to be interviewed on ABC Local Radio Station: 612Brisbane.

This story aired on Steve Austin's Morning Program.  A little later this story appear in the Telegraph.   Gary Hargraves from 4BC chatted to ASBG briefly on his drive program.

ASBG don't fore see the Qld Government backing down on the removal of the waste levy in this term of Government.   The NSW Government is set to increase their levy.

Mine Fine

A North-West Queensland mining company was fined $500,000 and ordered to pay approximately $83,000 in investigation costs for unlawfully causing serious environmental harm as a result of uncontrolled discharges of highly contaminated water from its mine site in early 2009.

The Prosecution bulletin no. 3/2012 has been published on the EHP website. 

Mixed Messages

Here is a media release from the new Qld Government.

It is a strong message. I just don't quite know what it means.

Mining fine sends strong message

The Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney said today’s half million dollar fine against the owners of the Lady Annie mine for causing serious environmental harm should send a strong message to the mining industry.

The Mt Isa Magistrates Court today issued the record fine against the company for an uncontrolled release of contaminated water from stormwater ponds into surrounding creeks during the 2009 wet season.

Mr Seeney said it showed that a failure to comply with environmental and industry standards would not be tolerated.

He said the LNP Government strongly supported the mining industry and companies that maintained high standards.

“We support those who do the right thing and will hold to account those who do not.”