❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks clarification on increased expenses, budget variances, and rising assessment costs within the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA), also inquiring about the potential transition to a fee-for-service model. The government attributes the increases to approval process reforms and project complexity, and states the fee-for-service model is under consideration.
AnsweredQoN 1858Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA) and ask: (a) why have the total expenses of the OEPA increased from $13.991 million in 2012 to $17.513 million in 2013; (b) why was there a variance of $812,313 in the budget estimate for 2013 to the budget actual in 2013 for the total cost of the OEPA; (c) why did the costs of environmental assessments on average increase by $3,652 in 2012–2013; and (d) when is the OEPA going to become a fee for service agency?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 March 2014
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
27 days
(a) The increase in total 'Cost of Services' for the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority is attributable to implementation of initiatives associated with approval processes reforms.
(b) The variance in the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority's budget estimate and actual expenditure for total cost of services for 2013 was $1 048 002 ($812 213 for Service 1 - Environmental Impact Assessment and Policies and $235 689 for Service 2 - Environmental Compliance Audits). The variance was due to expenditures associated with the department implementing initiatives associated with approvals processes reforms.
(c) The average cost of environmental impact assessments varies from year to year depending on complexity of projects assessed. A number of complex projects were assessed in 2013.
(d) The State Government is still considering the matter of fees for some services of the OEPA.
(b) The variance in the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority's budget estimate and actual expenditure for total cost of services for 2013 was $1 048 002 ($812 213 for Service 1 - Environmental Impact Assessment and Policies and $235 689 for Service 2 - Environmental Compliance Audits). The variance was due to expenditures associated with the department implementing initiatives associated with approvals processes reforms.
(c) The average cost of environmental impact assessments varies from year to year depending on complexity of projects assessed. A number of complex projects were assessed in 2013.
(d) The State Government is still considering the matter of fees for some services of the OEPA.
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