❓ A WA parliamentary question scrutinizes land clearing by the Water Corporation near Broome, its arrangement with Mamabulanjin Aboriginal Corporation, and environmental impacts. The Minister's response clarifies the Corporation's role, in-kind support, and adherence to regulations.
AnsweredQoN 2604Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to land-clearing recently carried out by the Water Corporation, on a water reserve adjacent to
McGuigan Road, outside Broome, and I ask: (a) what is the nature of the arrangement between the Water Corporation (The Corporation) and Mamabulanjin Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), as it pertains to land-clearing: (i) will the Minister please table this agreement; and (ii) if not to (i), why not; (b) how much, in dollars, did The Corporation budget for the entire project: (i) how much of this budget was allocated solely to land clearing; (c) has the Department of Water and Environment Regulation been made aware of the land-clearing: (i) if no to (c), does The Corporation intend to do so; and (ii) if yes to (c), when was the department informed; (d) what area of land has been cleared at the site to-date; (e) what is the expected total area that will be cleared over the lifetime of this project; (f) had funding for the project been secured, in full, prior to land-clearing at the site: (i) if no to (f), and in a case where total funding is not obtained, will The Corporation rehabilitate the land they previously cleared; (g) is the Minister aware that land-clearing commenced at the site without in situ flora and fauna surveys, despite being a known habitat of the federally-protected Greater Bilby ( Macrotis lagotis ): (i) if no to (g), why not; and (ii) if yes to (g), does the Minister consider litigation to be a likely outcome; (h) why did The Corporation write an application for land-clearing for MAC; (i) did MAC have a valid land-clearing permit before any work commenced at the site: (i) if no to (i), why The Corporation preemptively clear land for this proposal; (j) what environmental safeguards has The Corporation put in place relating to this project; (k) is the area in question part of the 600 hectares of State Government land that was announced
to be leased, at no cost, to MAC, to establish a native fruit tree orchard, by the previous Water
Minister, Mia Davies; (l) the clearing permit application, drafted by Digby Short of the Water Corporation, says “Water Corporation supports the chemical-free indigenous farming methods that MAC will
use, and consider there will be no risk to the water source.” and so, how will weeds and any regrowth
of native vegetation be controlled at the site; (m) would the Minister give comment on MAC's proposal to abandon "Savannah enrichment" techniques in favour of a conventional orchard, realised via mechanical clearing; (n) has The Corporation investigated the viability of "Savannah enrichment" at the site, or other sites of similar ecological profile: (i) will the Minister please table any items relevant to (n); (o) does the Minister consider "Savannah enrichment" to be more efficient and viable than traditional orchards at these sites; (p) given the proposal by MAC has been labelled as a trial, what are the key performance indicators to measure the success of this trial: (i) what is the length of this trial; (ii) will The Corporation offer financial support for the duration of the trial; and (iii) if yes to (ii), would the Minister provide an estimate of total cost, borne by The Corporation, over the trial's duration; and (q) to the Minster's knowledge, have there been any other instances of land-clearing on water reserves, by the Water Corporation, since 2000: (i) if yes to (q), would the Minister please provide the relevant details?
McGuigan Road, outside Broome, and I ask: (a) what is the nature of the arrangement between the Water Corporation (The Corporation) and Mamabulanjin Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), as it pertains to land-clearing: (i) will the Minister please table this agreement; and (ii) if not to (i), why not; (b) how much, in dollars, did The Corporation budget for the entire project: (i) how much of this budget was allocated solely to land clearing; (c) has the Department of Water and Environment Regulation been made aware of the land-clearing: (i) if no to (c), does The Corporation intend to do so; and (ii) if yes to (c), when was the department informed; (d) what area of land has been cleared at the site to-date; (e) what is the expected total area that will be cleared over the lifetime of this project; (f) had funding for the project been secured, in full, prior to land-clearing at the site: (i) if no to (f), and in a case where total funding is not obtained, will The Corporation rehabilitate the land they previously cleared; (g) is the Minister aware that land-clearing commenced at the site without in situ flora and fauna surveys, despite being a known habitat of the federally-protected Greater Bilby ( Macrotis lagotis ): (i) if no to (g), why not; and (ii) if yes to (g), does the Minister consider litigation to be a likely outcome; (h) why did The Corporation write an application for land-clearing for MAC; (i) did MAC have a valid land-clearing permit before any work commenced at the site: (i) if no to (i), why The Corporation preemptively clear land for this proposal; (j) what environmental safeguards has The Corporation put in place relating to this project; (k) is the area in question part of the 600 hectares of State Government land that was announced
to be leased, at no cost, to MAC, to establish a native fruit tree orchard, by the previous Water
Minister, Mia Davies; (l) the clearing permit application, drafted by Digby Short of the Water Corporation, says “Water Corporation supports the chemical-free indigenous farming methods that MAC will
use, and consider there will be no risk to the water source.” and so, how will weeds and any regrowth
of native vegetation be controlled at the site; (m) would the Minister give comment on MAC's proposal to abandon "Savannah enrichment" techniques in favour of a conventional orchard, realised via mechanical clearing; (n) has The Corporation investigated the viability of "Savannah enrichment" at the site, or other sites of similar ecological profile: (i) will the Minister please table any items relevant to (n); (o) does the Minister consider "Savannah enrichment" to be more efficient and viable than traditional orchards at these sites; (p) given the proposal by MAC has been labelled as a trial, what are the key performance indicators to measure the success of this trial: (i) what is the length of this trial; (ii) will The Corporation offer financial support for the duration of the trial; and (iii) if yes to (ii), would the Minister provide an estimate of total cost, borne by The Corporation, over the trial's duration; and (q) to the Minster's knowledge, have there been any other instances of land-clearing on water reserves, by the Water Corporation, since 2000: (i) if yes to (q), would the Minister please provide the relevant details?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
29 November 2019
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Water
Response time
11 days
(a) The Water Corporation does not require a formal agreement with MAC in relation to the land clearing. The Corporation provided written consent, as the land owner, to support Mamabulanjin’s clearing permit request. This request is now with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to review and approve.
(i) Not applicable
(ii) Not applicable
(b) The Corporation has not budgeted to provide financial support for the fruit farm project. This project is being delivered by MAC with in-kind support from Water Corporation.
(i) The Corporation has no separate allocated budget for land clearing on this project. The land-clearing necessary for the maintenance of firebreaks was conducted as part of normal Water Corporation operations.
(c) Yes
(i) Not applicable
(ii) 4 October 2018
(d) Approximately 3ha of clearing has been undertaken for firebreaks.
(e) MAC’s application for clearing for the orchard is for 30ha.
(f) No land clearing has occurred on the site expect for 3 ha for firebreaks.
(i) Not applicable.
(g) The Water Corporation did not advise the Minister for Water before the clearing of the firebreaks, as it is an operational matter for the Water Corporation. The Minister for Water expects the Water Corporation to abide with all environmental regulations.
(i) Not applicable
(ii) Questions relating to the enforcement of clearing regulations should be directed to the Minister for Environment
(h) Water Corporation assisted MAC in applying for the clearing permit and submission of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Commonwealth) referral as part of our in-kind contribution support of the project.
(i) MAC has not as yet completed any clearing associated with the orchard.
(ii) The Water Corporation did not pre-emptively clear the land for the orchard.
(j) A Bilby Management Plan has been prepared to ensure the development and operation of the native fruit tree orchard does not have a detrimental direct or indirect impact on the local population of bilbies.
(k) No
(l) The orchard will be regularly inspected during its operations and weeds will be managed via mechanical equipment, with ongoing maintenance undertaken by MAC.
(m) The Water Corporation understands that MAC has a long history of trialling gubinge and other native species as horticultural crops using both savannah enrichment and inter-planted ‘cleared planting’ methods. These trials indicate that inter-planted ‘cleared planting’ is the most productive for growing gubinge.
(n) No, as this is not core business for Water Corporation.
(o) The Minister is not in a position to comment on orchard horticultural methods.
(p) For Water Corporation, the partnership success measures are the positive social outcomes achieved from the trial. The intention of the orchard is to provide meaningful local employment and training to local Aboriginal people to produce a local bush food, which is highly sought-after.
(i) The trial was initially set at two years – subject to review.
(ii) No, the partnership is for in-kind support only.
(iii) Not applicable
(q) As the Water Corporation is a land manager, it is obligated to maintain required firebreaks and access to existing assets. Clearing is also undertaken on Water Corporation land to construct and maintain water, wastewater and drainage assets. All clearing of native vegetation is assessed and undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation or if exemptions do not apply the required approvals are obtained from relevant government agencies.
(i) The clearing summarised in my previous response occurs state-wide and has been ongoing for decades. It is unrealistic to provide a concise summary of all historical activities over this period in this timeframe.
(i) Not applicable
(ii) Not applicable
(b) The Corporation has not budgeted to provide financial support for the fruit farm project. This project is being delivered by MAC with in-kind support from Water Corporation.
(i) The Corporation has no separate allocated budget for land clearing on this project. The land-clearing necessary for the maintenance of firebreaks was conducted as part of normal Water Corporation operations.
(c) Yes
(i) Not applicable
(ii) 4 October 2018
(d) Approximately 3ha of clearing has been undertaken for firebreaks.
(e) MAC’s application for clearing for the orchard is for 30ha.
(f) No land clearing has occurred on the site expect for 3 ha for firebreaks.
(i) Not applicable.
(g) The Water Corporation did not advise the Minister for Water before the clearing of the firebreaks, as it is an operational matter for the Water Corporation. The Minister for Water expects the Water Corporation to abide with all environmental regulations.
(i) Not applicable
(ii) Questions relating to the enforcement of clearing regulations should be directed to the Minister for Environment
(h) Water Corporation assisted MAC in applying for the clearing permit and submission of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Commonwealth) referral as part of our in-kind contribution support of the project.
(i) MAC has not as yet completed any clearing associated with the orchard.
(ii) The Water Corporation did not pre-emptively clear the land for the orchard.
(j) A Bilby Management Plan has been prepared to ensure the development and operation of the native fruit tree orchard does not have a detrimental direct or indirect impact on the local population of bilbies.
(k) No
(l) The orchard will be regularly inspected during its operations and weeds will be managed via mechanical equipment, with ongoing maintenance undertaken by MAC.
(m) The Water Corporation understands that MAC has a long history of trialling gubinge and other native species as horticultural crops using both savannah enrichment and inter-planted ‘cleared planting’ methods. These trials indicate that inter-planted ‘cleared planting’ is the most productive for growing gubinge.
(n) No, as this is not core business for Water Corporation.
(o) The Minister is not in a position to comment on orchard horticultural methods.
(p) For Water Corporation, the partnership success measures are the positive social outcomes achieved from the trial. The intention of the orchard is to provide meaningful local employment and training to local Aboriginal people to produce a local bush food, which is highly sought-after.
(i) The trial was initially set at two years – subject to review.
(ii) No, the partnership is for in-kind support only.
(iii) Not applicable
(q) As the Water Corporation is a land manager, it is obligated to maintain required firebreaks and access to existing assets. Clearing is also undertaken on Water Corporation land to construct and maintain water, wastewater and drainage assets. All clearing of native vegetation is assessed and undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation or if exemptions do not apply the required approvals are obtained from relevant government agencies.
(i) The clearing summarised in my previous response occurs state-wide and has been ongoing for decades. It is unrealistic to provide a concise summary of all historical activities over this period in this timeframe.
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