A parliamentary question regarding the halted water connection for the Dunsborough Centrepoint Shopping Centre due to Aboriginal heritage concerns, and the potential impact on businesses. The Minister's response outlines the legal requirements and steps being taken to address the issue.

AnsweredQoN 1463Legislative Council
Asked
12 November 2003
Portfolio
Indigenous Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Why has activity suddenly been stopped on the vital main water connection for the new Dunsborough Centrepoint Shopping Centre with only one day’s work required to complete the connection? (2) Is the minister aware that the new centre is due to open on Thursday, 11 December with work proceeding to this well-known timetable for a long time? (3) Is the minister concerned about the massive disruption and cost this will impose on many small businesses going into the new centre if it is prevented from opening as planned prior to Christmas? (4) Will the minister immediately authorise the commencement of work on the water connection so the centre can open as planned? (5) If no to (4), why not? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank Hon Barry House for notice of his question. (1) Ground disturbing activity was stopped when a member of the public advised that the work was impacting on a registered heritage Aboriginal site. Investigations by the Department of Indigenous Affairs revealed that the proponents did not have the required consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 for the use of the land on which the site is situated. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. However, the situation could have been avoided if the proponents had addressed Aboriginal heritage issues properly at an earlier stage of planning. If this had occurred, the site could either have been avoided or a notice seeking the consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the use of the relevant land under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act could have been lodged well in advance of the proposed work. (4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
(2) Is the minister aware that the new centre is due to open on Thursday, 11 December with work proceeding to this well-known timetable for a long time? (3) Is the minister concerned about the massive disruption and cost this will impose on many small businesses going into the new centre if it is prevented from opening as planned prior to Christmas? (4) Will the minister immediately authorise the commencement of work on the water connection so the centre can open as planned? (5) If no to (4), why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank Hon Barry House for notice of his question. (1) Ground disturbing activity was stopped when a member of the public advised that the work was impacting on a registered heritage Aboriginal site. Investigations by the Department of Indigenous Affairs revealed that the proponents did not have the required consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 for the use of the land on which the site is situated. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. However, the situation could have been avoided if the proponents had addressed Aboriginal heritage issues properly at an earlier stage of planning. If this had occurred, the site could either have been avoided or a notice seeking the consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the use of the relevant land under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act could have been lodged well in advance of the proposed work. (4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
(3) Is the minister concerned about the massive disruption and cost this will impose on many small businesses going into the new centre if it is prevented from opening as planned prior to Christmas? (4) Will the minister immediately authorise the commencement of work on the water connection so the centre can open as planned? (5) If no to (4), why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank Hon Barry House for notice of his question. (1) Ground disturbing activity was stopped when a member of the public advised that the work was impacting on a registered heritage Aboriginal site. Investigations by the Department of Indigenous Affairs revealed that the proponents did not have the required consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 for the use of the land on which the site is situated. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. However, the situation could have been avoided if the proponents had addressed Aboriginal heritage issues properly at an earlier stage of planning. If this had occurred, the site could either have been avoided or a notice seeking the consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the use of the relevant land under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act could have been lodged well in advance of the proposed work. (4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
(4) Will the minister immediately authorise the commencement of work on the water connection so the centre can open as planned? (5) If no to (4), why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank Hon Barry House for notice of his question. (1) Ground disturbing activity was stopped when a member of the public advised that the work was impacting on a registered heritage Aboriginal site. Investigations by the Department of Indigenous Affairs revealed that the proponents did not have the required consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 for the use of the land on which the site is situated. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. However, the situation could have been avoided if the proponents had addressed Aboriginal heritage issues properly at an earlier stage of planning. If this had occurred, the site could either have been avoided or a notice seeking the consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the use of the relevant land under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act could have been lodged well in advance of the proposed work. (4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
(5) If no to (4), why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank Hon Barry House for notice of his question. (1) Ground disturbing activity was stopped when a member of the public advised that the work was impacting on a registered heritage Aboriginal site. Investigations by the Department of Indigenous Affairs revealed that the proponents did not have the required consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 for the use of the land on which the site is situated. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. However, the situation could have been avoided if the proponents had addressed Aboriginal heritage issues properly at an earlier stage of planning. If this had occurred, the site could either have been avoided or a notice seeking the consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the use of the relevant land under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act could have been lodged well in advance of the proposed work. (4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank Hon Barry House for notice of his question. (1) Ground disturbing activity was stopped when a member of the public advised that the work was impacting on a registered heritage Aboriginal site. Investigations by the Department of Indigenous Affairs revealed that the proponents did not have the required consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 for the use of the land on which the site is situated. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. However, the situation could have been avoided if the proponents had addressed Aboriginal heritage issues properly at an earlier stage of planning. If this had occurred, the site could either have been avoided or a notice seeking the consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the use of the relevant land under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act could have been lodged well in advance of the proposed work. (4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
On behalf of the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development, I thank Hon Barry House for notice of his question. (1) Ground disturbing activity was stopped when a member of the public advised that the work was impacting on a registered heritage Aboriginal site. Investigations by the Department of Indigenous Affairs revealed that the proponents did not have the required consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 for the use of the land on which the site is situated. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. However, the situation could have been avoided if the proponents had addressed Aboriginal heritage issues properly at an earlier stage of planning. If this had occurred, the site could either have been avoided or a notice seeking the consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the use of the relevant land under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act could have been lodged well in advance of the proposed work. (4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
(1) Ground disturbing activity was stopped when a member of the public advised that the work was impacting on a registered heritage Aboriginal site. Investigations by the Department of Indigenous Affairs revealed that the proponents did not have the required consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 for the use of the land on which the site is situated. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. However, the situation could have been avoided if the proponents had addressed Aboriginal heritage issues properly at an earlier stage of planning. If this had occurred, the site could either have been avoided or a notice seeking the consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the use of the relevant land under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act could have been lodged well in advance of the proposed work. (4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
(2) Yes. (3) Yes. However, the situation could have been avoided if the proponents had addressed Aboriginal heritage issues properly at an earlier stage of planning. If this had occurred, the site could either have been avoided or a notice seeking the consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the use of the relevant land under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act could have been lodged well in advance of the proposed work. (4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
(3) Yes. However, the situation could have been avoided if the proponents had addressed Aboriginal heritage issues properly at an earlier stage of planning. If this had occurred, the site could either have been avoided or a notice seeking the consent of the Minister for Indigenous Affairs for the use of the relevant land under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act could have been lodged well in advance of the proposed work. (4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
(4) The minister cannot authorise the resumption of work on the water connection without receiving a recommendation from the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act in relation to the proposed use of the land. To assist the proponents, the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites has agreed to accept a late notice under section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act. This will ensure that the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee can consider the notice when it meets on 2 and 3 December 2003. (5) See answer to (4).
(5) See answer to (4).

Explore WA Government Data

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

Explore more