Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 23 November 2012:

With reference to the 27 September 2012 NT News article indicating that cracks are appearing in the top of the northern wall of Pit 3 at the Ranger uranium mine:

(1) Has the Office of the Supervising Scientist (OSS) examined the pit wall cracks; if so, what is the OSS assessment of the potential threats posed by these cracks, particularly given the impact of recent wet seasons on mine operations.

(2) What are the implications for the overall integrity of the wall of the pit.

(3) Is the instability limited only to the road surface; if not, how far down into the pit wall does the instability go.

(4) What remediation plans, including timeframes, are in place to address the cracks appearing in the pit wall.

(5) What challenges does this situation pose for rehabilitation plans at Ranger.