The Minister acknowledges community concerns regarding live sheep exports through Bunbury port and emphasizes the need for strong community support and environmental approvals before any proposal proceeds. The government prioritizes Bunbury's recent growth and will consider community views.

AnsweredQoN 425Legislative Assembly
Asked
16 October 2001
Member
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

LIVE SHEEP EXPORTS, PORT OF BUNBURY
Will the minister give the Government’s position on live sheep exports through the port of Bunbury? Ms MacTIERNAN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for this question. The member has been a strong opponent of the live sheep trade through Bunbury, and he has made his position clear to me over the past week. When I was in Bunbury last week, the Bunbury Port Authority advised me that it had been approached by a meat exporter, which had indicated that it wished to establish a feed lot at Kemerton and to export live sheep through the port of Bunbury. The port authority indicated that it was keen to pursue this matter, because it believed that there would be economic benefit for the port and for the community from that activity. I made it clear to the port authority that although it was its right to pursue the application, from the Government’s point of view, the port authority would require strong community support and also environmental approvals before it could proceed with any such proposal. I also understand that a variety of federal government approvals may be required. I can assure the member for Bunbury that if this proposal does not secure community support, it will not go ahead. I understand the member’s concerns. A lot of effort has gone into upgrading the area of Bunbury around the port. Bunbury has gone through somewhat of a renaissance with the Marlston Hill development, and the Government does not want that real growth that has been achieved in Bunbury to be jeopardised. I assure the member for Bunbury that his representations will be taken into account. Unless there is good community support for the live sheep export trade through Bunbury, it will not happen.
Ms MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for this question. The member has been a strong opponent of the live sheep trade through Bunbury, and he has made his position clear to me over the past week. When I was in Bunbury last week, the Bunbury Port Authority advised me that it had been approached by a meat exporter, which had indicated that it wished to establish a feed lot at Kemerton and to export live sheep through the port of Bunbury. The port authority indicated that it was keen to pursue this matter, because it believed that there would be economic benefit for the port and for the community from that activity. I made it clear to the port authority that although it was its right to pursue the application, from the Government’s point of view, the port authority would require strong community support and also environmental approvals before it could proceed with any such proposal. I also understand that a variety of federal government approvals may be required. I can assure the member for Bunbury that if this proposal does not secure community support, it will not go ahead. I understand the member’s concerns. A lot of effort has gone into upgrading the area of Bunbury around the port. Bunbury has gone through somewhat of a renaissance with the Marlston Hill development, and the Government does not want that real growth that has been achieved in Bunbury to be jeopardised. I assure the member for Bunbury that his representations will be taken into account. Unless there is good community support for the live sheep export trade through Bunbury, it will not happen.
I thank the member for this question. The member has been a strong opponent of the live sheep trade through Bunbury, and he has made his position clear to me over the past week. When I was in Bunbury last week, the Bunbury Port Authority advised me that it had been approached by a meat exporter, which had indicated that it wished to establish a feed lot at Kemerton and to export live sheep through the port of Bunbury. The port authority indicated that it was keen to pursue this matter, because it believed that there would be economic benefit for the port and for the community from that activity. I made it clear to the port authority that although it was its right to pursue the application, from the Government’s point of view, the port authority would require strong community support and also environmental approvals before it could proceed with any such proposal. I also understand that a variety of federal government approvals may be required. I can assure the member for Bunbury that if this proposal does not secure community support, it will not go ahead. I understand the member’s concerns. A lot of effort has gone into upgrading the area of Bunbury around the port. Bunbury has gone through somewhat of a renaissance with the Marlston Hill development, and the Government does not want that real growth that has been achieved in Bunbury to be jeopardised. I assure the member for Bunbury that his representations will be taken into account. Unless there is good community support for the live sheep export trade through Bunbury, it will not happen.
I can assure the member for Bunbury that if this proposal does not secure community support, it will not go ahead. I understand the member’s concerns. A lot of effort has gone into upgrading the area of Bunbury around the port. Bunbury has gone through somewhat of a renaissance with the Marlston Hill development, and the Government does not want that real growth that has been achieved in Bunbury to be jeopardised. I assure the member for Bunbury that his representations will be taken into account. Unless there is good community support for the live sheep export trade through Bunbury, it will not happen.

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