Move to set up mining 'safety zone' (A/Prem)

The interests of people who live near Kalgoorlie/Boulder's 'super pit' gold mine have been met under a State Government initiative announced today.

The move involves establishing a special safety zone so that the mine operations do not pose undue risks to nearby residents.

It follows concerns expressed by residents in Hainault Road, Powell Street and Williamstown.

Acting Premier and Kalgoorlie MLA Ian Taylor today said the size of the zone would be determined jointly by the pit's operator, Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines, and the Mines Department.

"It is important the KCGM operations and the local community should co-exist in a way acceptable to everyone," Mr Taylor said.

"The residents' concerns are understandable and while the risks may be very small, it is in the whole community's interests that they be taken into account and appropriate measures introduced."

Mr Taylor said the decision, endorsed by State Cabinet, followed the release earlier this year of a report, 'Golden Mile Social Impact Study, June 1991', prepared by the Social Impact Steering Committee chaired by Eyre MLA Julian Grill.

The Golden Mile Mining Development Planning Committee had extensive consultations with other Government agencies on the impact of the mining proposals and put recommendations to Mines Minister Gordon Hill.

Mr Taylor said the decision meant that only new industry, houses, infrastructure and facilities owned or sanctioned by the mining company would be established within the zone.

"These requirements will affect only residents in the immediate vicinity of the super pit.  Williamstown residents will not be affected," he said.

Mr Taylor said Cabinet also had considered other safety matters and issues such as dust and vibration.  However, monitoring had shown vibration levels were well within required standards.

KCMG and the Mines Department would continue to review blasting practice at Mount Charlotte, where underground blasting had occasionally resulted in vibration levels at Williamstown higher than the standard set for residential areas.

"The program to revegetate bare areas to minimise the dust problem will continue, and KCGM will be asked to review its super pit blasting practices to reduce blasts to a practical minimum when unfavourable winds are blowing," Mr Taylor said.

"It is not possible to assess the level of dust generated from mining, when a lot of dust is generated from surrounding land, from tailings dumps and from traffic on unsealed roads.  The company is also being asked to review all potential dust sources and implement procedures to reduce dust levels.

"KCGM will also be requested to undertake noise surveys and to investigate how noise levels can be reduced."