❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details on the Department of State Development's handling of climate change impacts on its sectoral responsibilities, including adaptation, mitigation, and funding. The Department's response outlines various initiatives, including involvement in state-wide strategies, emissions offsetting, LNG project facilitation, renewable energy support, and consideration of sea-level rise in planning.
AnsweredQoN 3527Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the first paragraph of the answer given to question without notice No. 27, on 16 February 2011 asked by the Hon Giz Watson, and I ask -
(1) Is the Department of State Development addressing climate change issues, as it affects the Office’s sectoral responsibilities?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), which climate change issues have been identified as affecting the Office’s sectoral responsibilities?
(4) In respect of each issue identified, how is it being addressed (please provide full details) in terms of, -
(a) adaptation;
(b) mitigation; and
(c) modification of activities likely to maintain or increase the severity of the impacts of climate change?
(5) In respect of each answer to (4), -
(a) how much funding has been allocated to this work;
(b) how many FTE staff have been allocated to this work; and
(c) how is success being measured?
(6) Regarding the answer to (5)(c), is this information publicly available?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(8) If yes to (6), -
(a) where is it publicly reported; and
(b) how often is it updated?
(1) Is the Department of State Development addressing climate change issues, as it affects the Office’s sectoral responsibilities?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) If yes to (1), which climate change issues have been identified as affecting the Office’s sectoral responsibilities?
(4) In respect of each issue identified, how is it being addressed (please provide full details) in terms of, -
(a) adaptation;
(b) mitigation; and
(c) modification of activities likely to maintain or increase the severity of the impacts of climate change?
(5) In respect of each answer to (4), -
(a) how much funding has been allocated to this work;
(b) how many FTE staff have been allocated to this work; and
(c) how is success being measured?
(6) Regarding the answer to (5)(c), is this information publicly available?
(7) If no to (6), why not?
(8) If yes to (6), -
(a) where is it publicly reported; and
(b) how often is it updated?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 March 2011
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
21 days
Department of State Development advises:
(1) Yes, the Department is addressing climate change issues as it affects its sectoral responsibilities.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Adaptation and mitigation issues have been identified as affecting the Department's sectoral responsibilities.
(4a-c) For adaptation and mitigation, the Department of State Development is involved in the following activities:
* The Department is working with the Climate Change Unit in the Department of Environment and Conservation through the Climate Change Policy Interdepartmental Steering Group to develop the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy for Western Australia.
* The emissions from the Department's fleet vehicles are being offset through the State Fleet Vehicle Emissions Offset Scheme.
* The Department's greenhouse gas emissions are measured through the System of Accounting and Reporting Government Emissions.
* The Department is attracting investment and facilitating development of LNG projects and securing domestic gas supply, increasing the use of cleaner energy globally and domestically. LNG is considered a comparatively low emissions fuel, producing approximately half the amount of carbon dioxide as coal or oil. Western Australia's LNG exports have almost doubled over the past 5 years and further LNG exports growth is expected as Gorgon and other major LNG projects become operational. Natural gas currently supplies 50 per cent of Western Australia's primary energy requirements and at least 60 per cent of the State's electricity generation. The Gorgon project alone will add a further 300 terrajoules per day capacity to the domestic gas supply. The State used 976 terrajoules per day in 2009.
* The Department has provided information to 17 investment leads on Western Australia's capacity in renewable energy in 2010. It has recently facilitated the development of the Aurora Algae production facility in the north west of the State, which produces renewable fuels, Omega-3 fatty acids and fish feed from industrial carbon dioxide emissions. The Department also provided preliminary assistance to a company that is investigating land and grid access for a large (50 megawatt) photovoltaic array near Kalgoorlie (solar energy).
* The Department is facilitating projects that adopt climate change abatement and adaptation measures and is involved with the geological storage of carbon dioxide associated with the projects of the Gorgon Joint Venture Gas Processing Plant and Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers' Coal-to-Urea Plant. The carbon dioxide capture and storage (geosequestration) programs of the Gorgon and Perdaman projects are a major part of the Agreement Acts developed and monitored by the Department of State Development.
* The Department's work in planning the Browse LNG Precinct has seen provisions made for rising sea levels and increased storm surges in its design and management. The Browse LNG Precinct Master Plan determined the final location of the Precinct by taking into account height above sea level to incorporate the 100 year 'extreme' storm surge levels. The Browse LNG Precinct Strategic Assessment Report defines the expected emissions from the Precinct together with strategic management measures to reduce impacts. Proponents within the Precinct will be expected to demonstrate best practicable measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through the implementation of Greenhouse Gas Abatement plans and benchmarking to demonstrate a project's efficiency.
* The Department's work in assisting with the creation of a new strategic industrial area at Ashburton North near Onslow has seen provisions made for rising sea levels and increased storm surges. LandCorp's planning for the estate will need to comply with the State's Coastal Planning Policy (SPP 2.6), which incorporates an allowance for climate change.
(5a-c) Climate change is integral to the project facilitation work of the Department of State Development, and as such has no requirement for specific allocation of funds, FTE staff or measurement.
(6-8) Not applicable.
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(1) Yes, the Department is addressing climate change issues as it affects its sectoral responsibilities.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Adaptation and mitigation issues have been identified as affecting the Department's sectoral responsibilities.
(4a-c) For adaptation and mitigation, the Department of State Development is involved in the following activities:
* The Department is working with the Climate Change Unit in the Department of Environment and Conservation through the Climate Change Policy Interdepartmental Steering Group to develop the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy for Western Australia.
* The emissions from the Department's fleet vehicles are being offset through the State Fleet Vehicle Emissions Offset Scheme.
* The Department's greenhouse gas emissions are measured through the System of Accounting and Reporting Government Emissions.
* The Department is attracting investment and facilitating development of LNG projects and securing domestic gas supply, increasing the use of cleaner energy globally and domestically. LNG is considered a comparatively low emissions fuel, producing approximately half the amount of carbon dioxide as coal or oil. Western Australia's LNG exports have almost doubled over the past 5 years and further LNG exports growth is expected as Gorgon and other major LNG projects become operational. Natural gas currently supplies 50 per cent of Western Australia's primary energy requirements and at least 60 per cent of the State's electricity generation. The Gorgon project alone will add a further 300 terrajoules per day capacity to the domestic gas supply. The State used 976 terrajoules per day in 2009.
* The Department has provided information to 17 investment leads on Western Australia's capacity in renewable energy in 2010. It has recently facilitated the development of the Aurora Algae production facility in the north west of the State, which produces renewable fuels, Omega-3 fatty acids and fish feed from industrial carbon dioxide emissions. The Department also provided preliminary assistance to a company that is investigating land and grid access for a large (50 megawatt) photovoltaic array near Kalgoorlie (solar energy).
* The Department is facilitating projects that adopt climate change abatement and adaptation measures and is involved with the geological storage of carbon dioxide associated with the projects of the Gorgon Joint Venture Gas Processing Plant and Perdaman Chemicals and Fertilisers' Coal-to-Urea Plant. The carbon dioxide capture and storage (geosequestration) programs of the Gorgon and Perdaman projects are a major part of the Agreement Acts developed and monitored by the Department of State Development.
* The Department's work in planning the Browse LNG Precinct has seen provisions made for rising sea levels and increased storm surges in its design and management. The Browse LNG Precinct Master Plan determined the final location of the Precinct by taking into account height above sea level to incorporate the 100 year 'extreme' storm surge levels. The Browse LNG Precinct Strategic Assessment Report defines the expected emissions from the Precinct together with strategic management measures to reduce impacts. Proponents within the Precinct will be expected to demonstrate best practicable measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through the implementation of Greenhouse Gas Abatement plans and benchmarking to demonstrate a project's efficiency.
* The Department's work in assisting with the creation of a new strategic industrial area at Ashburton North near Onslow has seen provisions made for rising sea levels and increased storm surges. LandCorp's planning for the estate will need to comply with the State's Coastal Planning Policy (SPP 2.6), which incorporates an allowance for climate change.
(5a-c) Climate change is integral to the project facilitation work of the Department of State Development, and as such has no requirement for specific allocation of funds, FTE staff or measurement.
(6-8) Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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