❓ A Member of Parliament questions the Minister for Environment and Heritage regarding the role and timing of decision-making authority (DMA) consultation in the environmental assessment process, particularly after the formal assessment and appeals stages. The question also seeks clarification on the Sustainability Unit's involvement.
AnsweredQoN 741Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the EPA/DEP current formal assessment process outlined in current EPA publications. It is stated that at the end of the process the ‘Minister Publishes report (Delegated to EPA)’, then ‘Appeals to the Minister’ are received, then ‘Minister determines appeals’, followed by ‘Minister consults with DMAs (decision-making authorities) to seek agreement on whether or not and in what manner the proposal may be implemented’ -
(1) Why is the agreement of DMAs sought after the proposal has been through all its formal assessment processes in which the views of the relevant DMAs have already been sought?
(2) Is there any specific list of DMAs that are to be consulted at this final stage of the process and if so will the Minister provide that list?
(3) Can the Minister provide a list of those DMA’s that she has consulted with at this final stage of the process?
(4) What roll do these DMA’s have in determining if a project should be supported or not and can they at this late stage of the project alter the final outcome of whether a project should be implemented or not?
(5) In relation to the formal assessment process, does the Sustainability Unit have any role to in play in assessing projects and at what stage?
(1) Why is the agreement of DMAs sought after the proposal has been through all its formal assessment processes in which the views of the relevant DMAs have already been sought?
(2) Is there any specific list of DMAs that are to be consulted at this final stage of the process and if so will the Minister provide that list?
(3) Can the Minister provide a list of those DMA’s that she has consulted with at this final stage of the process?
(4) What roll do these DMA’s have in determining if a project should be supported or not and can they at this late stage of the project alter the final outcome of whether a project should be implemented or not?
(5) In relation to the formal assessment process, does the Sustainability Unit have any role to in play in assessing projects and at what stage?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 June 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
33 days
(1) Section 45 (1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (the EP Act) requires that after the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) report has been released, I consult with decision-making authorities on whether or not the proposal to which the report relates may be implemented, and what conditions and procedures should be applied. (2) No. Section 3 of the EP Act defines “decision-making authority”. The decision-making authorities for each proposal are determined in accordance with this definition and may vary from proposal to proposal. (3) Answered by (2). (4) Decision-making authorities advise whether they consider a proposal may be implemented or not, and on conditions and procedures which should be applied. (5) It is presumed this question relates to the Sustainability Unit in the Department of Premier and Cabinet. The Unit may make a submission to the EPA during the assessment process.
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