❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Conservation Commission's change of position and withdrawal of appeals regarding the Mangles Bay Marina proposal, including potential ministerial influence and transparency concerns. The answer clarifies the reasons for the withdrawal, confirms contact between the Commission and the Minister's office, and states that the Commission responded to public inquiries.
AnsweredQoN 1991Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to the Conservation Commission, I ask: (a) with regard to the Mangles Bay Marina proposal, why did the Conservation Commission of Western Australia advise the Appeals Convenor in May 2013 that it had changed its position on the canal estate proposal at Mangles Bay Marina; (b) the Commission said that “on reflection” it wished to withdraw its appeals against the project, what reasons were given for the change of position; (c) did the Minister or any of his staff have any contact with the Commission with regard to its appeals against the proposal; and (d) why did the Commission not make public the reasons for its changed position?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 May 2014
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
(a)-(b) Following lodgement of an appeal against the content and recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)'s Report 1471 on the Mangles Bay Marina-Based Tourist Precinct, the Conservation Commission of Western Australia was able to clarify that the Commission's position in relation to the proposal had been adequately represented by the then Department of Environment and Conservation in its submission to the EPA, as part of the Public Environmental Review process. Accordingly, the Conservation Commission formally advised the Appeals Convenor of its decision to withdraw the appeal.
(c) Yes. The Chairman of the Conservation Commission spoke with the Minister for Environment's Chief of Staff on 17 May 2013 to advise that the Commission had submitted an appeal in response to the EPA's Report. Email correspondence between the Chairman of the Conservation Commission and the Minister's Chief of Staff confirmed the content of the telephone conversation.
(d) The Conservation Commission responded to all requests from the media and individual members of the public for information on the reason for the withdrawal of the appeal.
(c) Yes. The Chairman of the Conservation Commission spoke with the Minister for Environment's Chief of Staff on 17 May 2013 to advise that the Commission had submitted an appeal in response to the EPA's Report. Email correspondence between the Chairman of the Conservation Commission and the Minister's Chief of Staff confirmed the content of the telephone conversation.
(d) The Conservation Commission responded to all requests from the media and individual members of the public for information on the reason for the withdrawal of the appeal.
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