Goldfields explosives amnesty results in big hand-in

8/1/94

Mines Minister George Cash said today that the recent explosives amnesty in the Goldfields and surrounding districts resulted in big numbers of potentially lethal cartridges and detonators being handed in.

The amnesty, conducted by the Department of Minerals and Energy, expired late last year and aimed at encouraging people to hand in unwanted or illegally held explosives without fear of prosecution.

Mr Cash said during the amnesty more than 250 cartridges of explosives, about 600 detonators, some 50 metres of detonating cord and safety fuse and more than 150 railway track signals were collected.

By far the most dangerous explosives likely to be found outside mine sites were gelignite and detonators.

"One man handed in four sticks of sweating gelignite wrapped in brown paper and stored next to a wood stove in a house he recently bought in Kalgoorlie," the Minister said.

Mr Cash said the amnesty gave people an ideal opportunity to get rid of this type of dangerous material.

The explosives were handed in at the Kalgoorlie Explosives Reserve by a range of people including prospectors, pastoralists and farmers.

While most of the material came from the Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie area, some came from as far away as Merredin.

"The amnesty was designed to improve public safety and reduce the risk of personal injury and property damage from the misuse of explosives," the Minister said.

He warned explosives should only be handled by qualified people and said departmental files showed at least one or two accidents occurred every year as a result of children or other inexperienced people handling detonators.

Although the amnesty has officially ended, anyone with unwanted or illegal explosives could still hand them in without penalty.

A free collection and disposal service is available from the Kalgoorlie Explosives Reserve on 090 218 246.

Media contact: Caroline Lacy  222 9595/272 7222