❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the government's stance on fracking, particularly regarding project approvals, consultation with Traditional Owners and landowners, environmental assessments, and economic viability modelling. The government's response outlines its commitment to environmental assessment and obtaining consent from Traditional Owners and landowners before fracking production is allowed.
AnsweredQoN 1825Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to statements made in the media at https://www.communitynews.com.au/hills-gazette/news/mcgowan-lifts-wa-fracking-ban/ about fracking now being allowed in parts of Western Australia, and ask: (a) for the four projects that would likely get the go-ahead for fracking in Western Australia, what are these projects and where is their location; (b) what stage of development are each of these
projects in; (c) have any of the proponents stated that they will
put forward plans to develop production facilities; (d) if yes to (c), which proponents have
said they plan to develop production facilities; (e) will the Minister table any documentation relating to any proposal to develop production facilities for onshore gas; (f) if no to (e), why not; (g) have Traditional Owners been consulted on any of
the four aforementioned proposals; (h) if no to (g), why not; (i) have Traditional Owners agreed to any of the four projects mentioned; (j) if no to (i), why has the Minister said they will likely
go ahead; (k) have any landowners been consulted on any of the four aforementioned proposals; (l) if no to (k), why not; (m) do any of the four projects the Minister mentioned in the
media have environmental approval under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 , Native Title Act 1993 or Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 ; (n) I refer to the statement about the four projects that would likely get the
go ahead, and given that no approvals have been granted, does the Minister accept that the
statements made to the media about the four projects likely to get the go ahead were
premature; (o) if no to (n), why not; (p) I refer to the quote “…it was hard to value the potential gas
production and royalties from these projects as some of the estimates by the
companies involved appeared over-optimistic.”, and ask if the Government has done any
modelling of production and/or royalties on the four projects mentioned as
likely to go ahead; (q) if no to (p), why not; (r) has the Government done any modelling on what
the oil price, which is an indicator of gas prices, would need to be for
projects to be viable; and (s) if no to (r), why not?
projects in; (c) have any of the proponents stated that they will
put forward plans to develop production facilities; (d) if yes to (c), which proponents have
said they plan to develop production facilities; (e) will the Minister table any documentation relating to any proposal to develop production facilities for onshore gas; (f) if no to (e), why not; (g) have Traditional Owners been consulted on any of
the four aforementioned proposals; (h) if no to (g), why not; (i) have Traditional Owners agreed to any of the four projects mentioned; (j) if no to (i), why has the Minister said they will likely
go ahead; (k) have any landowners been consulted on any of the four aforementioned proposals; (l) if no to (k), why not; (m) do any of the four projects the Minister mentioned in the
media have environmental approval under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 , Native Title Act 1993 or Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 ; (n) I refer to the statement about the four projects that would likely get the
go ahead, and given that no approvals have been granted, does the Minister accept that the
statements made to the media about the four projects likely to get the go ahead were
premature; (o) if no to (n), why not; (p) I refer to the quote “…it was hard to value the potential gas
production and royalties from these projects as some of the estimates by the
companies involved appeared over-optimistic.”, and ask if the Government has done any
modelling of production and/or royalties on the four projects mentioned as
likely to go ahead; (q) if no to (p), why not; (r) has the Government done any modelling on what
the oil price, which is an indicator of gas prices, would need to be for
projects to be viable; and (s) if no to (r), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 March 2019
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
9 days
(a)-(d) The state government has accepted all of the recommendations of the report of the Independent Scientific Panel Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in Western Australia 2018 and will lift the moratorium on existing petroleum titles. To implement the recommendations and government policy decisions, an Implementation Plan is being developed. As part of this response, all exploration and development fracking projects will be assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority.
(e) Details of any projects under consideration will be available through the Environmental Protection Authority assessment process.
(f) Not applicable
(g)-(j) As announced in the government’s response to the Inquiry, the consent of Traditional Owners will be required before fracking production is allowed.
(k)-(l) As announced in the government’s response to the Inquiry, the consent of landowners will be required before fracking production is allowed.
(m) As mentioned above in (a), all fracking projects will be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority for assessment.
(n) No
(o) The Minister’s statement correctly reflects the complexity of resource development and titleholder’s determination of viability.
(p) No
(q) As noted by the Minister, development scenarios based on industry estimates are difficult to value.
(r) Not applicable
(s) Whether any particular project is viable is determined by the holders of the titles.
(e) Details of any projects under consideration will be available through the Environmental Protection Authority assessment process.
(f) Not applicable
(g)-(j) As announced in the government’s response to the Inquiry, the consent of Traditional Owners will be required before fracking production is allowed.
(k)-(l) As announced in the government’s response to the Inquiry, the consent of landowners will be required before fracking production is allowed.
(m) As mentioned above in (a), all fracking projects will be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority for assessment.
(n) No
(o) The Minister’s statement correctly reflects the complexity of resource development and titleholder’s determination of viability.
(p) No
(q) As noted by the Minister, development scenarios based on industry estimates are difficult to value.
(r) Not applicable
(s) Whether any particular project is viable is determined by the holders of the titles.
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