State Government issues new licence for Cockburn Cement Limited

The State Government today reached an agreement with Cockburn Cement Limited (CCL) over the company's licence conditions, following CCL's Supreme Court challenge to an appeal determination made by Environment Minister Bill Marmion.

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has issued an amended licence to CCL which gives effect to the Minister's appeal decision made earlier this year,  and the Court's determination.

Key elements of the Minister's determination included in the licence conditions are:

·         a requirement to obtain DEC approval before recommencing feed to kilns that have exceeded a certain dust emission level

·         the introduction of ambient dust monitoring, targets and management actions if the targets are exceeded

·         a more proactive investigation and reporting by CCL of limit and target exceedences

·         a requirement to publish real time kiln dust emission data on the company's website to increase transparency of operations

·         a requirement to respond to complaints within 72 hours and publishing of complaint summary information on the company's website.

The court quashed the condition requiring new pollution control equipment to be installed on kiln 5 by November 2012, given that this condition was beyond the life of the licence.

However, the Minister requested that DEC immediately commence discussions with CCL on the installation of pollution control equipment on kiln 5.

CCL's challenge to the Minister's appeal determination was otherwise dismissed.