❓ Question regarding the decision-making process for applying a 'Moderate Ecological Protection Area' level to dredging impacts in the Swan River during Fremantle Port dredging. The answer clarifies the roles of the EPA, Fremantle Ports, and the Swan River Trust, and highlights public availability of monitoring data.
AnsweredQoN 4247Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the decision to apply the Moderate Ecological Protection Area level, the primary criterion to assess environmental impacts of the dredging in the Swan River, for the ongoing dredging of Fremantle Port, I ask:
(a) on what date was the decision made;
(b) which Government agencies made the decision; and
(i) will the Minister please table a copy of the minutes of the meeting at which this decision was made;
(c) when was the Minister for the Environment made aware of this decision; and
(d) at which point during the Environmental Protection Agency environmental impact assessment process was the public informed of this decision?
(a) on what date was the decision made;
(b) which Government agencies made the decision; and
(i) will the Minister please table a copy of the minutes of the meeting at which this decision was made;
(c) when was the Minister for the Environment made aware of this decision; and
(d) at which point during the Environmental Protection Agency environmental impact assessment process was the public informed of this decision?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 February 2011
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
98 days
(a)-(d) The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) released its assessment Report 1339 for Fremantle Ports Inner Harbour Project in June 2009. No appeals were received on the EPA's assessment Report. The then Minister for Environment issued Ministerial Statement 801 that the proposal could be implemented, subject to conditions, on 18 August 2009.
Condition 6-1 of Ministerial Statement 801 addresses marine water quality and sediment quality. To satisfy the requirements of this condition Fremantle Ports submitted a Water Quality Monitoring Program.
During consultation on the Water Quality Monitoring Program the Swan River Trust identified the need to include monitoring upstream of the Inner Harbour in the program. In the absence of a previously established level of protection, Fremantle Ports proposed to the Office of the EPA a 'moderate' level of ecological protection for the estuarine waters upstream of the Inner Harbour. The Fremantle Ports rationale for proposing this level of ecological protection took into account the history of human disturbance in the area including boating facilities and yacht clubs and the temporary nature of the dredging project.
Fremantle Ports was advised that the Water Quality Monitoring Program was approved by the Office of the EPA on 4 January 2010.
The approved Water Quality Monitoring Program and the results of monitoring have been publicly available on Fremantle Ports website since the beginning of dredging.
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Condition 6-1 of Ministerial Statement 801 addresses marine water quality and sediment quality. To satisfy the requirements of this condition Fremantle Ports submitted a Water Quality Monitoring Program.
During consultation on the Water Quality Monitoring Program the Swan River Trust identified the need to include monitoring upstream of the Inner Harbour in the program. In the absence of a previously established level of protection, Fremantle Ports proposed to the Office of the EPA a 'moderate' level of ecological protection for the estuarine waters upstream of the Inner Harbour. The Fremantle Ports rationale for proposing this level of ecological protection took into account the history of human disturbance in the area including boating facilities and yacht clubs and the temporary nature of the dredging project.
Fremantle Ports was advised that the Water Quality Monitoring Program was approved by the Office of the EPA on 4 January 2010.
The approved Water Quality Monitoring Program and the results of monitoring have been publicly available on Fremantle Ports website since the beginning of dredging.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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