❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum regarding a vegetation clearing application at Banksia Road Reserve, Wellard, raising concerns about environmental impact, contamination, and community opposition. The Minister's response indicates the application is under assessment and due process is being followed.
AnsweredQoN 372Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
VEGETATION
CLEARING APPLICATION — BANKSIA ROAD RESERVE, WELLARD
372. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the application to clear vegetation CPS 6492/1 at
the Banksia Road reserve in Wellard.
(1) Has the
minister read GHD's report, dated March 2014, which recommended that
the area be vested as a nature reserve?
(2) Is the
minister aware of GHD's continuing surveys that have found that the
site has a very high species diversity and richness and provides habitat for
species identified as matters of national environmental significance, including
the Carnaby's black cockatoo and the forest red-tailed black cockatoo?
(3) Is the
minister aware that the site is occupied by several species of
conservation-significant fauna and that it is within the buffer of a threatened
ecological community?
(4) Can the
minister confirm that works on this registered contaminated site could expose
the community to contaminated dust and could pollute groundwater?
(5) Will the
minister reject the application in light of these problems, GHD's
ongoing research and significant local community opposition; and, if not, why
not?
CLEARING APPLICATION — BANKSIA ROAD RESERVE, WELLARD
372. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
minister representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I refer to the application to clear vegetation CPS 6492/1 at
the Banksia Road reserve in Wellard.
(1) Has the
minister read GHD's report, dated March 2014, which recommended that
the area be vested as a nature reserve?
(2) Is the
minister aware of GHD's continuing surveys that have found that the
site has a very high species diversity and richness and provides habitat for
species identified as matters of national environmental significance, including
the Carnaby's black cockatoo and the forest red-tailed black cockatoo?
(3) Is the
minister aware that the site is occupied by several species of
conservation-significant fauna and that it is within the buffer of a threatened
ecological community?
(4) Can the
minister confirm that works on this registered contaminated site could expose
the community to contaminated dust and could pollute groundwater?
(5) Will the
minister reject the application in light of these problems, GHD's
ongoing research and significant local community opposition; and, if not, why
not?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, I thank
the honourable member for some notice of this question and provide the following
answer.
(1) No. The
application has been made to the Department of Mines and Petroleum, and the
departmental officials are currently assessing the application and consulting
with other relevant state agencies. I am advised that DMP has received and
reviewed a report from GHD, commissioned by the City of Kwinana.
(2) I am
advised that through the assessment of the native vegetation clearing permit
application, these matters have been identified.
(3)–(4)
I am advised that DMP officials are aware of the registered status of the site,
and are consulting with the Department of Environment Regulation on the matter.
(5) The
assessment of the native vegetation clearing permit has not been completed and
a decision has not been made. It is important for all matters to follow due
process and that consistent and transparent assessments of proposals are
completed prior to applications being approved or refused.
the honourable member for some notice of this question and provide the following
answer.
(1) No. The
application has been made to the Department of Mines and Petroleum, and the
departmental officials are currently assessing the application and consulting
with other relevant state agencies. I am advised that DMP has received and
reviewed a report from GHD, commissioned by the City of Kwinana.
(2) I am
advised that through the assessment of the native vegetation clearing permit
application, these matters have been identified.
(3)–(4)
I am advised that DMP officials are aware of the registered status of the site,
and are consulting with the Department of Environment Regulation on the matter.
(5) The
assessment of the native vegetation clearing permit has not been completed and
a decision has not been made. It is important for all matters to follow due
process and that consistent and transparent assessments of proposals are
completed prior to applications being approved or refused.
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