[Greens-Media] State Government must disclose danger to Derby residents of Rey Resources activities

[Chapple, Robin]

Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region

MEDIA RELEASE

State Government must disclose danger to Derby residents of Rey Resources activities

Wednesday 14th May 2014

"The people of Derby can be forgiven for thinking that the State Government is giving them the runaround."

This is the view of Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC upon receiving answers to questions in Parliament recently.

Mr Chapple was commenting on two 'non-responses' from the Minister for the Environment regarding questions about the Rey Resources Duchess Paradise Coal Project.

"If approved, the project will see 100 road train movements, 24 hours per day, along Derby's main street, Mr Chapple said. "This equates to one road train every 14.4 minutes.

"I wonder if anyone has discussed this scheme and its health ramifications with the good folk of Derby.

"Matters such as air pollution from diesel particulates, increased potential for road and loading accidents, and hazards for pedestrians seem to have raised barely a shrug from the Minister for Environment.

"Asked why the impacts of the diesel carcinogenic pollution from Rey Resources' 24 hour trucking operation through the centre of Derby was not dealt with in the company's Public Environmental Review (PER), the Minister's first response on 1st April 2014 was: 'the combustion emissions from diesel-powered generators and vehicles are considered as a possible impact on air quality in the PER'.

"However, this answer was only in relation to the mine site, not the town of Derby.

"When asked again on 22nd April 2014, drawing attention to the apparent omission in the PER, the Minister washed his hands of all responsibility, saying 'the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is responsible for setting the form, content and timing for the assessment and is to report to me on the key environmental factors and whether the proposal should be implemented, and if so, recommend condition'.

"This is a clear case of the tail wagging the dog. How on earth can the Minister allow this situation to occur, without seemingly batting an eyelid, when people's health is at stake?" Mr Chapple said.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

Parliamentary Questions here<http://www.robinchapple.com/sites/default/files/2014-04-01%20QON%20Derby%20and%20Rey.pdf> and here<http://www.robinchapple.com/sites/default/files/2014-05-13%20QWON%20Diesel%20pollution%20in%20Derby.pdf>


All the best

Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region
PO Box 94, West Perth WA 6872
41 Havelock Street, West Perth. WA 6005

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