Hon Jim Scott asks about the number of EPA-assessed project development proposals approved despite majority public opposition over the last decade. The Minister clarifies the EPA advises, but the Minister approves, and the EPA considers all environmental matters, not just the number of submissions for or against.

AnsweredQoN 723Legislative Council
Asked
6 May 2003
Portfolio
the Environment and Heritage

QuestionView source ↗

(1) For each of the last ten years how many project development proposals assessed by the EPA at the CER level were approved by the EPA despite the majority of public submissions opposing the proposal?
(2) For each of the last ten years how many project development proposals assessed by the EPA at the PER level were approved by the EPA despite the majority of public submissions opposing the proposal?
(3) For each of the last ten years how many project development proposals assessed by the EPA at the ERMP level were approved by the EPA despite the majority of public submissions opposing the proposal?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
15 May 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
9 days
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following response.
(1-3) The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) does not approve or disallow projects. The EPA carries out environmental impact assessment and provides advice to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage who then determines whether they should be allowed to be implemented or not in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 (the EP Act). The EP Act requires the EPA to assess proposals and report on the relevant environmental factors. In assessing development proposals and determining its advice to the Minister the EPA considers all environmental matters made in public submissions. It does not base its assessment on the number of submissions for or against a proposal and does not keep records of this.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more