Mining and Petroleum

Greens Member for Mining and Pastoral Region, Robin Chapple MLC has quizzed the State Government over its funding support of a subsidiary of French uranium miner Areva, for its North Canning Project.

Earlier this week, Areva Resources Australia announced that it would move to abandon the Kimberley uranium project because it is not technically feasible.

“Did they get Royalties for Regions funding? Was it utilised or if not, was it returned? If not, why not?” Mr Chapple said.

“I am gobsmacked at the constant allocations of funding being poured into the pockets of those already at the very top of the super-rich mining pyramid. It’s an inequity of the highest order.

“The Royalties for Regions Scheme should be taking from the exploitative, extractive industries and supporting true regional development. We should be funding future industries, affordable housing and community infrastructure that will ensure sustainability beyond this limited mining boom. Why are we using these precious funds to facilitate unsustainable mining practices?

“It’s obvious that the State is struggling to provide affordable housing, energy infrastructure, good public transport options, community and health services, let alone take care of our fragile environment.

“Whichever way we look at it, we cannot justify this expenditure,” Mr Chapple said.

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

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral region Robin Chapple MLC has expressed his deep sadness at the reported suicide death of a worker on Barrow Island yesterday.

“I feel so terribly sad for the family, friends and colleagues of the person who was, I understand, a fly-in fly-out (FIFO) worker for one of the major sub-contractors to Chevron’s Gorgon project,” Mr Chapple said.

“To them I extend my heartfelt condolences.

“A person should be able to go to work and come home in safety; they should not expect to die at work, no matter what the cause or the circumstances. Their families should be able to wave them goodbye secure in the knowledge that they will return at the end of their shift, having been well looked after.

“This death must serve as a wake-up call to the Barnett Government to put better checks and balances, and mental health services, in place to service workers at remote mining and petroleum operations, especially those working in a fly-in fly-out capacity.

“Mining and Petroleum companies have a duty of care to their workers and to the workers of their sub-contractors. Neither they nor the Government should be awarding contracts to businesses whose workplace health and safety policies, procedures and methodology don’t measure up, and these should be under constant review.

“Eight suicides in 12 months in the Pilbara region tells a very bleak story indeed and I’d like to know what steps Minister Morton is taking to address this situation,” Mr Chapple said.

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

Thursday 24 July 2014

Last week, the Environmental Protection Authority received an application from Griffin Coal to begin the export of coal in shipping containers through the Port of Bunbury in anticipation of it proposed Coal Export Terminal Development at Berth 14A due for completion in 2017.

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC said for Lanco Infratech, the company who runs Griffin Coal, to claim the two projects as independent was ridiculous.

“This application is very clearly a pilot project for Lanco to test the waters for its upcoming larger port expansion,” Mr Chapple said.

“It’s likely that conditions associated with this temporary export facility will be used as precedents in its major port upgrade.

“As such, this smaller proposal must be subject to a Public Environmental Review – the same level of environmental assessment as the major upgrade.”

Mr Chapple said it was disingenuous for the federal and state governments to dismiss the global environmental impact an increase in coal exports would have.

“Lanco are estimating a fourfold increase in coal production as a result of these port upgrades,” he said.

“The EPA should be considering the contribution to global emissions of burning that coal on top of the significant local impacts.

“After all, we are responsible for taking it out of the ground.”

Mr Chapple said he was also concerned about the local impacts of transporting, storing and exporting coal in shipping containers.

“Aside from the massive increase in truck traffic on South-West Highway between the Picton rail container depot and Bunbury Port there could be an increase in coal dust and potential for accidental spillages into the harbour,” he said.

“I’m highly sceptical of this proposal in every respect - the two projects should be considered as an integrated development which is assessed at the highest possible level.”

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 9486 8255

Thursday 24 July 2014

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC has refuted claims by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA), following a report published in the United States Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that Coal Seam (CSG) and Shale gas have “environmental benefits”.

“Whilst it may be true that the life cycles of CSG and Shale gas produce less carbon emissions than coal-fired electricity generation, it is utter rubbish to claim that them as “environmentally beneficial”,” he said.

“APPEA is trying to mislead Australians with material such as this into backing what is ultimately an under-researched and environmentally hazardous method of producing electricity for our state.

Mr Chapple said a comparison between the greenhouse gas emissions of CSG life cycles and renewable energy alternatives would be much more informative.

“This is the kind of document our government will use to throw weight behind the fracking movement in Western Australia,’ he said.

“I would love to see a financial and environmental comparison between CSG and solar or wind – both renewable energy resources of which our state has ample reserves!”

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 9486 8255