A WA parliamentary question seeks data on EPA recommendations against development projects and government overrides. The answer reveals 10% of projects were rejected by the EPA, and none were overruled by the government during the specified period.

AnsweredQoN 4726Legislative Council
Asked
4 April 2007
Portfolio
the Environment

QuestionView source ↗

In light of the recent controversy about the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) holding up a mining project, I ask -
(1) Of all the development projects formally assessed by the EPA during the present term of Government, how many did the EPA recommend should not proceed?
(2) What percentage is the above of the total number of projects?
(3) Ignoring those projects on which no final decision has yet been made, on how many occasions referred to in (1), did the Government overrule the EPA and allow the project to proceed?
(4) What percentage is the above of the total number of projects?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
29 May 2007
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
55 days
(2) 10%. (3) None. (4) Not applicable. .......................................................................... ........................ Notes: (a) The "present term of Government" has been taken to be post the election of February 2005. The answers cover the period from March 2005 to 10 April 2007 inclusive. (b) "development projects" have been taken to include all proposals referred to the EPA under s38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 which were formally assessed, and include major and minor projects, subdivisions and smaller developments. (c) There are two proposals for which the EPA recommended against approval, which are not included in the answer to question 3 as there has not been a final decision by the Minister under section 45(5) of the Act at this time. (Southern Extension of Sand Pit and Barrow Island.) In each case, the Minister has determined the appeals and indicated intent to grant approval, but the conditions are still being prepared, and final approval has therefore not been granted.
(3) None. (4) Not applicable. .......................................................................... ........................ Notes: (a) The "present term of Government" has been taken to be post the election of February 2005. The answers cover the period from March 2005 to 10 April 2007 inclusive. (b) "development projects" have been taken to include all proposals referred to the EPA under s38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 which were formally assessed, and include major and minor projects, subdivisions and smaller developments. (c) There are two proposals for which the EPA recommended against approval, which are not included in the answer to question 3 as there has not been a final decision by the Minister under section 45(5) of the Act at this time. (Southern Extension of Sand Pit and Barrow Island.) In each case, the Minister has determined the appeals and indicated intent to grant approval, but the conditions are still being prepared, and final approval has therefore not been granted.
(4) Not applicable. .......................................................................... ........................ Notes: (a) The "present term of Government" has been taken to be post the election of February 2005. The answers cover the period from March 2005 to 10 April 2007 inclusive. (b) "development projects" have been taken to include all proposals referred to the EPA under s38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 which were formally assessed, and include major and minor projects, subdivisions and smaller developments. (c) There are two proposals for which the EPA recommended against approval, which are not included in the answer to question 3 as there has not been a final decision by the Minister under section 45(5) of the Act at this time. (Southern Extension of Sand Pit and Barrow Island.) In each case, the Minister has determined the appeals and indicated intent to grant approval, but the conditions are still being prepared, and final approval has therefore not been granted.
.......................................................................... ........................ Notes: (a) The "present term of Government" has been taken to be post the election of February 2005. The answers cover the period from March 2005 to 10 April 2007 inclusive. (b) "development projects" have been taken to include all proposals referred to the EPA under s38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 which were formally assessed, and include major and minor projects, subdivisions and smaller developments. (c) There are two proposals for which the EPA recommended against approval, which are not included in the answer to question 3 as there has not been a final decision by the Minister under section 45(5) of the Act at this time. (Southern Extension of Sand Pit and Barrow Island.) In each case, the Minister has determined the appeals and indicated intent to grant approval, but the conditions are still being prepared, and final approval has therefore not been granted.
Notes: (a) The "present term of Government" has been taken to be post the election of February 2005. The answers cover the period from March 2005 to 10 April 2007 inclusive. (b) "development projects" have been taken to include all proposals referred to the EPA under s38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 which were formally assessed, and include major and minor projects, subdivisions and smaller developments. (c) There are two proposals for which the EPA recommended against approval, which are not included in the answer to question 3 as there has not been a final decision by the Minister under section 45(5) of the Act at this time. (Southern Extension of Sand Pit and Barrow Island.) In each case, the Minister has determined the appeals and indicated intent to grant approval, but the conditions are still being prepared, and final approval has therefore not been granted.
(a) The "present term of Government" has been taken to be post the election of February 2005. The answers cover the period from March 2005 to 10 April 2007 inclusive. (b) "development projects" have been taken to include all proposals referred to the EPA under s38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 which were formally assessed, and include major and minor projects, subdivisions and smaller developments. (c) There are two proposals for which the EPA recommended against approval, which are not included in the answer to question 3 as there has not been a final decision by the Minister under section 45(5) of the Act at this time. (Southern Extension of Sand Pit and Barrow Island.) In each case, the Minister has determined the appeals and indicated intent to grant approval, but the conditions are still being prepared, and final approval has therefore not been granted.
(b) "development projects" have been taken to include all proposals referred to the EPA under s38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 which were formally assessed, and include major and minor projects, subdivisions and smaller developments. (c) There are two proposals for which the EPA recommended against approval, which are not included in the answer to question 3 as there has not been a final decision by the Minister under section 45(5) of the Act at this time. (Southern Extension of Sand Pit and Barrow Island.) In each case, the Minister has determined the appeals and indicated intent to grant approval, but the conditions are still being prepared, and final approval has therefore not been granted.
(c) There are two proposals for which the EPA recommended against approval, which are not included in the answer to question 3 as there has not been a final decision by the Minister under section 45(5) of the Act at this time. (Southern Extension of Sand Pit and Barrow Island.) In each case, the Minister has determined the appeals and indicated intent to grant approval, but the conditions are still being prepared, and final approval has therefore not been granted.

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