❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses public access to environmental assessment documents, particularly for rural residents, suggesting online availability or additional copies. The Minister's response indicates a case-by-case approach to providing information and exploring digital options.
AnsweredQoN 1413Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can documents provided to the Environmental Protection Authority and/or to the Department of Environmental Protection for determination of the level of assessment for a proposal be provided to the public?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) If yes, is the Minister aware that, for a project such as Western Power's Waterloo to Busselton power line, it is financially and otherwise difficult for a member of the public to be required to travel to Bunbury or Perth in order to examine the documents?
(4) Will the Minister investigate whether additional copies of proponents' documentation can be provided to the EPA/DEP for loan to the public, especially for non-metropolitan residents?
(5) Alternatively, will the Minister investigate whether such documentation can be made available for viewing on the proponent's or DEP/EPA's website, so that cost and travel imposts to rural people are minimised?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) If yes, is the Minister aware that, for a project such as Western Power's Waterloo to Busselton power line, it is financially and otherwise difficult for a member of the public to be required to travel to Bunbury or Perth in order to examine the documents?
(4) Will the Minister investigate whether additional copies of proponents' documentation can be provided to the EPA/DEP for loan to the public, especially for non-metropolitan residents?
(5) Alternatively, will the Minister investigate whether such documentation can be made available for viewing on the proponent's or DEP/EPA's website, so that cost and travel imposts to rural people are minimised?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 April 2002
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
49 days
(2) Not applicable. (3) When members of the public contact the EPA regarding proposals that have recently had a level of assessment set, the EPA endeavours to make all pertinent information available to members of the public. Documentation is provided in the most practicable way, depending on the nature of the referral documentation and the enquirers preferred format, which in the past has included fax, email and post. (4) Additional copies of proponents' documentation may be produced by the proponent and provided to members of the public, however, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis. (5) Proponents' documentation provided to the EPA to determine the level of assessment could be made available in email format or be available on the proponent's website. However, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
(3) When members of the public contact the EPA regarding proposals that have recently had a level of assessment set, the EPA endeavours to make all pertinent information available to members of the public. Documentation is provided in the most practicable way, depending on the nature of the referral documentation and the enquirers preferred format, which in the past has included fax, email and post. (4) Additional copies of proponents' documentation may be produced by the proponent and provided to members of the public, however, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis. (5) Proponents' documentation provided to the EPA to determine the level of assessment could be made available in email format or be available on the proponent's website. However, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
(4) Additional copies of proponents' documentation may be produced by the proponent and provided to members of the public, however, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis. (5) Proponents' documentation provided to the EPA to determine the level of assessment could be made available in email format or be available on the proponent's website. However, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
(5) Proponents' documentation provided to the EPA to determine the level of assessment could be made available in email format or be available on the proponent's website. However, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
(3) When members of the public contact the EPA regarding proposals that have recently had a level of assessment set, the EPA endeavours to make all pertinent information available to members of the public. Documentation is provided in the most practicable way, depending on the nature of the referral documentation and the enquirers preferred format, which in the past has included fax, email and post. (4) Additional copies of proponents' documentation may be produced by the proponent and provided to members of the public, however, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis. (5) Proponents' documentation provided to the EPA to determine the level of assessment could be made available in email format or be available on the proponent's website. However, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
(4) Additional copies of proponents' documentation may be produced by the proponent and provided to members of the public, however, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis. (5) Proponents' documentation provided to the EPA to determine the level of assessment could be made available in email format or be available on the proponent's website. However, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
(5) Proponents' documentation provided to the EPA to determine the level of assessment could be made available in email format or be available on the proponent's website. However, the requirement for this would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
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