A parliamentary question regarding the Minister for Forest Products' alleged illegal land clearing on Main Roads property and the decision not to charge him. The Minister for Transport provides answers, deferring to Main Roads' assessment and actions.

AnsweredQoN 325Legislative Assembly
Asked
15 November 2000
Member
Portfolio
Transport

QuestionView source ↗

Notice of this question has been given. I refer to the Minister for Forest Products’ failure to obtain the necessary approval before clearing a stretch of vegetation on Main Roads property near his Pemberton vineyard. (1) Why has the minister not been charged? (2) Who in Main Roads made the decision not to charge the minister? (3) When did the Minister for Transport become aware of the illegal land clearing, and has he had any discussions with the Minister for Forest Products regarding this issue? (4) Will the minister table all documents relating to the illegal land clearing and the decision not to charge the minister? Mr COWAN

AnswerView source ↗

The Minister for Transport has provided the following response - (1) Main Roads has advised that its preferred option in such circumstances is to negotiate with the property owner concerned to have the affected area rehabilitated. The recent incident involving the member for Warren-Blackwood was not considered by Main Roads to be a serious breach, and the option of seeking rehabilitation was deemed the most appropriate. The process is already in train, and I understand that the member has commenced discussions with Main Roads technical staff concerning appropriate plantings for the site. (2) The Main Roads regional manager of the south west. (3) On 13 November 2000, the Minister for Forest Products briefly advised the Minister for Transport of the situation on that day. (4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
(1) Why has the minister not been charged? (2) Who in Main Roads made the decision not to charge the minister? (3) When did the Minister for Transport become aware of the illegal land clearing, and has he had any discussions with the Minister for Forest Products regarding this issue? (4) Will the minister table all documents relating to the illegal land clearing and the decision not to charge the minister? Mr COWAN replied: The Minister for Transport has provided the following response - (1) Main Roads has advised that its preferred option in such circumstances is to negotiate with the property owner concerned to have the affected area rehabilitated. The recent incident involving the member for Warren-Blackwood was not considered by Main Roads to be a serious breach, and the option of seeking rehabilitation was deemed the most appropriate. The process is already in train, and I understand that the member has commenced discussions with Main Roads technical staff concerning appropriate plantings for the site. (2) The Main Roads regional manager of the south west. (3) On 13 November 2000, the Minister for Forest Products briefly advised the Minister for Transport of the situation on that day. (4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
(2) Who in Main Roads made the decision not to charge the minister? (3) When did the Minister for Transport become aware of the illegal land clearing, and has he had any discussions with the Minister for Forest Products regarding this issue? (4) Will the minister table all documents relating to the illegal land clearing and the decision not to charge the minister? Mr COWAN replied: The Minister for Transport has provided the following response - (1) Main Roads has advised that its preferred option in such circumstances is to negotiate with the property owner concerned to have the affected area rehabilitated. The recent incident involving the member for Warren-Blackwood was not considered by Main Roads to be a serious breach, and the option of seeking rehabilitation was deemed the most appropriate. The process is already in train, and I understand that the member has commenced discussions with Main Roads technical staff concerning appropriate plantings for the site. (2) The Main Roads regional manager of the south west. (3) On 13 November 2000, the Minister for Forest Products briefly advised the Minister for Transport of the situation on that day. (4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
(3) When did the Minister for Transport become aware of the illegal land clearing, and has he had any discussions with the Minister for Forest Products regarding this issue? (4) Will the minister table all documents relating to the illegal land clearing and the decision not to charge the minister? Mr COWAN replied: The Minister for Transport has provided the following response - (1) Main Roads has advised that its preferred option in such circumstances is to negotiate with the property owner concerned to have the affected area rehabilitated. The recent incident involving the member for Warren-Blackwood was not considered by Main Roads to be a serious breach, and the option of seeking rehabilitation was deemed the most appropriate. The process is already in train, and I understand that the member has commenced discussions with Main Roads technical staff concerning appropriate plantings for the site. (2) The Main Roads regional manager of the south west. (3) On 13 November 2000, the Minister for Forest Products briefly advised the Minister for Transport of the situation on that day. (4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
(4) Will the minister table all documents relating to the illegal land clearing and the decision not to charge the minister? Mr COWAN replied: The Minister for Transport has provided the following response - (1) Main Roads has advised that its preferred option in such circumstances is to negotiate with the property owner concerned to have the affected area rehabilitated. The recent incident involving the member for Warren-Blackwood was not considered by Main Roads to be a serious breach, and the option of seeking rehabilitation was deemed the most appropriate. The process is already in train, and I understand that the member has commenced discussions with Main Roads technical staff concerning appropriate plantings for the site. (2) The Main Roads regional manager of the south west. (3) On 13 November 2000, the Minister for Forest Products briefly advised the Minister for Transport of the situation on that day. (4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
Mr COWAN replied: The Minister for Transport has provided the following response - (1) Main Roads has advised that its preferred option in such circumstances is to negotiate with the property owner concerned to have the affected area rehabilitated. The recent incident involving the member for Warren-Blackwood was not considered by Main Roads to be a serious breach, and the option of seeking rehabilitation was deemed the most appropriate. The process is already in train, and I understand that the member has commenced discussions with Main Roads technical staff concerning appropriate plantings for the site. (2) The Main Roads regional manager of the south west. (3) On 13 November 2000, the Minister for Forest Products briefly advised the Minister for Transport of the situation on that day. (4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
The Minister for Transport has provided the following response - (1) Main Roads has advised that its preferred option in such circumstances is to negotiate with the property owner concerned to have the affected area rehabilitated. The recent incident involving the member for Warren-Blackwood was not considered by Main Roads to be a serious breach, and the option of seeking rehabilitation was deemed the most appropriate. The process is already in train, and I understand that the member has commenced discussions with Main Roads technical staff concerning appropriate plantings for the site. (2) The Main Roads regional manager of the south west. (3) On 13 November 2000, the Minister for Forest Products briefly advised the Minister for Transport of the situation on that day. (4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
(1) Main Roads has advised that its preferred option in such circumstances is to negotiate with the property owner concerned to have the affected area rehabilitated. The recent incident involving the member for Warren-Blackwood was not considered by Main Roads to be a serious breach, and the option of seeking rehabilitation was deemed the most appropriate. The process is already in train, and I understand that the member has commenced discussions with Main Roads technical staff concerning appropriate plantings for the site. (2) The Main Roads regional manager of the south west. (3) On 13 November 2000, the Minister for Forest Products briefly advised the Minister for Transport of the situation on that day. (4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
(2) The Main Roads regional manager of the south west. (3) On 13 November 2000, the Minister for Forest Products briefly advised the Minister for Transport of the situation on that day. (4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
(3) On 13 November 2000, the Minister for Forest Products briefly advised the Minister for Transport of the situation on that day. (4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
(4) Main Roads has received correspondence from the member for Warren-Blackwood on the matter of revegetation. Once this has been replied to, and the matter finalised, the Minister for Transport will be quite pleased to make the documentation available. A letter was written by the minister on this matter and if you are agreeable, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to table it for the benefit of the member. [See paper No 487.]
[See paper No 487.]

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