18/1/05
Premier Geoff Gallop has again had to challenge Leader of the Opposition Colin Barnett to reveal his top secret location for the Total Waste Management Plant.
"While the State Government has moved to fix this problem with both short and long term measures, Mr Barnett has made a hollow promise to move the plant to an unknown location, at an unknown cost, without any planned public consultation," Dr Gallop said.
"Residents of Boulder deserve to know a little more than he is prepared to reveal.
“Even worse, if the ponds remain in Boulder while the Opposition procrastinates there is potential for the odours to return.”
The Premier reiterated the Government’s plan to temporarily relocate the ponds at a cost of $3million to the Mungari Industrial Estate, 26km west of Kalgoorlie.
"Our proposal for a temporary relocation means that the process for the Core Consultative Committee on Industrial Waste (3Cs) will not be compromised," Dr Gallop said.
"Any plan to locate the ponds at a private facility on private land would be costly and might only encounter further difficulties with environmental standards.
"The Opposition's proposal has the potential to cause havoc for the waste management industry, leaving it without a destination for most of the State's bulk liquid industrial waste.
“Meantime in the Goldfields over 300 businesses, including mine sites, await news of the Opposition plans for their liquid waste.
“Hotels, fish and chip shops, bakeries restaurants and workshops all generate liquid waste and need, for economic reasons, to know its future destination now.
"I would also ask Mr Barnett how he has costed his proposal, given that he will not reveal his mystery location. The Opposition's solution is deliberately secretive and completely uncosted."
Premier's Office - 9222 9475
