❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister for Transport about the location of Perth's next container port, given environmental concerns about Kwinana. The Minister defends the government's position, stating a full environmental assessment is needed before proceeding with the Kwinana outer harbour.
AnsweredQoN 270Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH FREIGHT IMPORTS — OUTER HARBOUR,
KWINANA
270. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the minister's
reported view that it is environmentally unacceptable to build an outer harbour
at Kwinana. Where should the next container port for Perth freight imports and
exports be located?
KWINANA
270. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the minister's
reported view that it is environmentally unacceptable to build an outer harbour
at Kwinana. Where should the next container port for Perth freight imports and
exports be located?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the learned member for the
question.
Several members interjected.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : I need to apologise; I have just been informed that I have
misled the house!
The member opposite actually tried
to block me tabling the strategic assessment on the outer harbour yesterday.
You allowed it to be tabled, Mr Speaker, but if the member had actually taken
some time to read it, he would be well aware that what I am trying to say is
that, when it is required, the government wants to build an outer harbour at
Kwinana, but we have said that this cannot be a quick fix. There are
environmental sensitivities there, and if the member for Cannington believes
that he can ram through an outer harbour solution and maintain jobs in this
state by cancelling a project that will deliver 2 400 direct jobs and 10 000
indirect jobs at a time when that is extremely important for this state, he is —
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, through the Chair, a quick answer.
Mr
P.C. Tinley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, through the Chair.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Members opposite are sadly mistaken if they think they can get
up an outer harbour in Kwinana without a full and proper environmental
assessment.
Mr
P.C. Tinley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I call you to order for the second time. I should
actually call you for the third time.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Let us just remind the house that four options were looked at,
and the area that would be required to be dredged is in the order, across the
four options, of 337 to 397 hectares. I have endured hours of scrutiny over the
environmental aspects of the Beeliar wetlands.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Right, that is enough.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : There has been enormous scrutiny of the impact on six hectares
of the Beeliar wetlands, which accounts for one half of one per cent. If we
look at the area that we will be looking at in Cockburn Sound, we want to
progress, when it is required, an outer harbour solution, but we are saying two
things. The first is that we will need to undertake a full assessment. The
second thing is—it has been talked about by previous Labor governments
and this government—that it will be used as an overflow port. There has
been no change in that language whatsoever. We are saying that there is far
more capacity in the inner harbour. I have said in this house a number of times
that the issue will not be the ultimate capacity of the inner harbour of
Fremantle Harbour, but what we as a community are prepared to accept for the
inner harbour. There is plenty of time to develop the proposal for the outer
harbour, but it cannot be a quick solution because, as the report commissioned
for the then minister states, there are extreme sensitivities in Cockburn Sound,
and they need to be properly considered.
question.
Several members interjected.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : I need to apologise; I have just been informed that I have
misled the house!
The member opposite actually tried
to block me tabling the strategic assessment on the outer harbour yesterday.
You allowed it to be tabled, Mr Speaker, but if the member had actually taken
some time to read it, he would be well aware that what I am trying to say is
that, when it is required, the government wants to build an outer harbour at
Kwinana, but we have said that this cannot be a quick fix. There are
environmental sensitivities there, and if the member for Cannington believes
that he can ram through an outer harbour solution and maintain jobs in this
state by cancelling a project that will deliver 2 400 direct jobs and 10 000
indirect jobs at a time when that is extremely important for this state, he is —
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, through the Chair, a quick answer.
Mr
P.C. Tinley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, through the Chair.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Members opposite are sadly mistaken if they think they can get
up an outer harbour in Kwinana without a full and proper environmental
assessment.
Mr
P.C. Tinley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Willagee, I call you to order for the second time. I should
actually call you for the third time.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : Let us just remind the house that four options were looked at,
and the area that would be required to be dredged is in the order, across the
four options, of 337 to 397 hectares. I have endured hours of scrutiny over the
environmental aspects of the Beeliar wetlands.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Right, that is enough.
Mr
D.C. NALDER : There has been enormous scrutiny of the impact on six hectares
of the Beeliar wetlands, which accounts for one half of one per cent. If we
look at the area that we will be looking at in Cockburn Sound, we want to
progress, when it is required, an outer harbour solution, but we are saying two
things. The first is that we will need to undertake a full assessment. The
second thing is—it has been talked about by previous Labor governments
and this government—that it will be used as an overflow port. There has
been no change in that language whatsoever. We are saying that there is far
more capacity in the inner harbour. I have said in this house a number of times
that the issue will not be the ultimate capacity of the inner harbour of
Fremantle Harbour, but what we as a community are prepared to accept for the
inner harbour. There is plenty of time to develop the proposal for the outer
harbour, but it cannot be a quick solution because, as the report commissioned
for the then minister states, there are extreme sensitivities in Cockburn Sound,
and they need to be properly considered.
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