Chapter 1 Introduction
Referral of Work
1.1
On 16 June 2005 the proposal to construct extensions to the Commonwealth
Scientific Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Minerals Laboratory at
Waterford, Perth, Western Australia (WA) was referred to the Public Works
Committee for consideration and report to the Parliament in accordance with the
provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 (the Act).[1]
1.2
The Hon Dr Sharman Stone MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for
Finance and Administration, advised the House that the total estimated cost of
the proposed works was $12 million. She reported that, subject to
parliamentary approval, tenders would be called early in 2006, with completion
of construction anticipated for mid-2007.
Location
1.3
The CSIRO Minerals facility occupies a 2.95 hectare site within the
Curtin Precinct of the town of Victoria park, WA, south of the Perth central business district (CBD). The site is bounded by Canning College to the north, residential development to the east, Brand Drive to the west and Conlon
Street and Townsing Drive to the south.[2] The proposed Curtin
University Chemistry Precinct will be located immediately to the west of the
CSIRO Minerals site.[3]
Background
1.4
The CSIRO Division of Minerals was established in 1994 from a merger
between the CSIRO Division of Mineral Products and the Division of Minerals and
Process Engineering. CSIRO conducts research through eight programs at five
sites around Australia, including Waterford. The three programs based at Waterford are Alumina Production, Base Metals and Gold, which focus particularly on
hydrometallurgical research for the minerals processing industry.[4]
1.5
CSIRO established a mineral processing research capability in WA in
1984.[5] In 1992 CSIRO minerals,
together with the Curtin University of Technology (CUT), Murdoch University, the WA Department of Industry and Resources (DOIR), and a number of mineral
processing companies formed the AJ Parker Cooperative Research Centre for
Hydrometallurgy (Parker Centre).[6] The success of this
program was such that CSIRO staff numbers soon outgrew available accommodation
the CUT’s School of Applied Chemistry. The WA Government, through DOIR,
developed a new minerals research facility at Waterford. This facility,
comprising the Koch and Becher buildings, was designed to accommodate 65 staff
and students. The two buildings were leased by CSIRO in 1994 and 1998
respectively and the leases are ongoing.
1.6
The Waterford facility reached full capacity at Waterford by 2002.
Subsequent growth to 70 staff and ten students has necessitated the use of
temporary transportable buildings to house staff, students and support
functions.[7]
Inquiry Process
1.7
The Committee is required by the Act to consider public works over $6
million[8] and report to Parliament
on:
n the purpose of the
work and its suitability for that purpose;
n the need for, or the
advisability of, carrying out the work;
n whether the money to
be expended on the work is being spent in the most cost effective manner;
n the amount of revenue
the work will generate for the Commonwealth, if that is its purpose; and
n the present and
prospective public value of the work.[9]
1.8
The Committee called for submissions by advertising the inquiry in The
West Australian on Saturday, 30 July 2005. The Committee also sought
submissions from relevant government agencies, local government, private
organisations and individuals, who may be materially affected by or have an
interest in the proposed work. The Committee subsequently placed submissions
and other information relating to the inquiry on its web site in order to
encourage further public participation.
Public Hearings
1.9
On Thursday, 22 September 2005 the Committee visited the CSIRO Minerals
Laboratory at Waterford, Perth to inspect at first hand the scope and environs of
the proposed works. A confidential briefing on project costs and a public
hearing were conducted in Perth later that day.[10]