Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Minister for Environment regarding exemptions for native vegetation clearing by the WA Planning Commission under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, specifically concerning subdivision approvals. The Minister's response indicates that such clearing is exempt and therefore not tracked by the Department of Environment Regulation.

AnsweredQoN 906Legislative Council
Asked
28 November 2013
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

CLEARING PERMITS — EXEMPTIONS
906. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
(1) Under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986, what exemption entitles the WA Planning
Commission to clear native vegetation in accordance with a subdivision approval
without a clearing permit?
(2) What
government department reports on the number and area of clearing permits
approved under this exemption?
(3) Can the
minister identify how much native vegetation was cleared for urban development
under this exemption in the last year and in the last five years?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) Under
clause 9 of schedule 6 of the Environmental Protection Act, clearing that is in
accordance with a subdivision approval under the Planning and Development Act
2005 is exempt from the requirement for a clearing permit.
(2) As clause 9
provides an exemption from the requirement for a clearing permit, a clearing
permit is not required or granted.
(3) As a
clearing permit or application is not required, the Department of Environment
Regulation cannot advise on the amount of native vegetation cleared for urban
development under this exemption.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more