A WA parliamentary question addresses the Bush Forever plan, seeking clarification on the adoption of state planning policy, funding adjustments due to rising land values, and increased powers to prevent illegal clearing. The Minister's response outlines existing controls and the WAPC's role.

AnsweredQoN 1050Legislative Council
Asked
15 November 2006
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

BUSH FOREVER
I refer to the Bush Forever plan. (1) Will state planning policy 2.8, “Bushland Policy for the Perth Metropolitan Region”, be adopted by local planning schemes to ensure that local government bodies are not able to clear Bush Forever sites? (2) If no to (1), why not? (3) Given the recent increase in land values and prices, will the funding of $100 million initially allocated to Bush Forever be increased to ensure the purchasing power remains at the level that was intended? (4) If yes to (3), by how much, and when? (5) If no to (3), why not? (6) To prevent Bush Forever sites from being cleared illegally, will the government provide the prosecuting authorities with increased powers of prosecution and increased penalties? Hon ADELE FARINA

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The clearing of Bush Forever sites by any party or person is controlled through the clearing legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. In respect of the implementation of state planning policy 2.8, local governments are required to have due regard to the policy in preparing or amending a planning scheme. They may also choose to specify that the policy be read as part of the scheme and will thereby have effect as part of the scheme. (3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
(1) Will state planning policy 2.8, “Bushland Policy for the Perth Metropolitan Region”, be adopted by local planning schemes to ensure that local government bodies are not able to clear Bush Forever sites? (2) If no to (1), why not? (3) Given the recent increase in land values and prices, will the funding of $100 million initially allocated to Bush Forever be increased to ensure the purchasing power remains at the level that was intended? (4) If yes to (3), by how much, and when? (5) If no to (3), why not? (6) To prevent Bush Forever sites from being cleared illegally, will the government provide the prosecuting authorities with increased powers of prosecution and increased penalties? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The clearing of Bush Forever sites by any party or person is controlled through the clearing legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. In respect of the implementation of state planning policy 2.8, local governments are required to have due regard to the policy in preparing or amending a planning scheme. They may also choose to specify that the policy be read as part of the scheme and will thereby have effect as part of the scheme. (3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
(2) If no to (1), why not? (3) Given the recent increase in land values and prices, will the funding of $100 million initially allocated to Bush Forever be increased to ensure the purchasing power remains at the level that was intended? (4) If yes to (3), by how much, and when? (5) If no to (3), why not? (6) To prevent Bush Forever sites from being cleared illegally, will the government provide the prosecuting authorities with increased powers of prosecution and increased penalties? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The clearing of Bush Forever sites by any party or person is controlled through the clearing legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. In respect of the implementation of state planning policy 2.8, local governments are required to have due regard to the policy in preparing or amending a planning scheme. They may also choose to specify that the policy be read as part of the scheme and will thereby have effect as part of the scheme. (3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
(3) Given the recent increase in land values and prices, will the funding of $100 million initially allocated to Bush Forever be increased to ensure the purchasing power remains at the level that was intended? (4) If yes to (3), by how much, and when? (5) If no to (3), why not? (6) To prevent Bush Forever sites from being cleared illegally, will the government provide the prosecuting authorities with increased powers of prosecution and increased penalties? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The clearing of Bush Forever sites by any party or person is controlled through the clearing legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. In respect of the implementation of state planning policy 2.8, local governments are required to have due regard to the policy in preparing or amending a planning scheme. They may also choose to specify that the policy be read as part of the scheme and will thereby have effect as part of the scheme. (3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
(4) If yes to (3), by how much, and when? (5) If no to (3), why not? (6) To prevent Bush Forever sites from being cleared illegally, will the government provide the prosecuting authorities with increased powers of prosecution and increased penalties? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The clearing of Bush Forever sites by any party or person is controlled through the clearing legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. In respect of the implementation of state planning policy 2.8, local governments are required to have due regard to the policy in preparing or amending a planning scheme. They may also choose to specify that the policy be read as part of the scheme and will thereby have effect as part of the scheme. (3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
(5) If no to (3), why not? (6) To prevent Bush Forever sites from being cleared illegally, will the government provide the prosecuting authorities with increased powers of prosecution and increased penalties? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The clearing of Bush Forever sites by any party or person is controlled through the clearing legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. In respect of the implementation of state planning policy 2.8, local governments are required to have due regard to the policy in preparing or amending a planning scheme. They may also choose to specify that the policy be read as part of the scheme and will thereby have effect as part of the scheme. (3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
(6) To prevent Bush Forever sites from being cleared illegally, will the government provide the prosecuting authorities with increased powers of prosecution and increased penalties? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The clearing of Bush Forever sites by any party or person is controlled through the clearing legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. In respect of the implementation of state planning policy 2.8, local governments are required to have due regard to the policy in preparing or amending a planning scheme. They may also choose to specify that the policy be read as part of the scheme and will thereby have effect as part of the scheme. (3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The clearing of Bush Forever sites by any party or person is controlled through the clearing legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. In respect of the implementation of state planning policy 2.8, local governments are required to have due regard to the policy in preparing or amending a planning scheme. They may also choose to specify that the policy be read as part of the scheme and will thereby have effect as part of the scheme. (3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) The clearing of Bush Forever sites by any party or person is controlled through the clearing legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. In respect of the implementation of state planning policy 2.8, local governments are required to have due regard to the policy in preparing or amending a planning scheme. They may also choose to specify that the policy be read as part of the scheme and will thereby have effect as part of the scheme. (3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
(1)-(2) The clearing of Bush Forever sites by any party or person is controlled through the clearing legislation under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. In respect of the implementation of state planning policy 2.8, local governments are required to have due regard to the policy in preparing or amending a planning scheme. They may also choose to specify that the policy be read as part of the scheme and will thereby have effect as part of the scheme. (3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
(3)-(5) In adopting the Bush Forever program, the Western Australian Planning Commission indicated that $100 million would be allocated over the first 10 years of this program. The WAPC is responsible for meeting the contingent liability for the purchase of reserved land generally and will adjust its acquisition program for Bush Forever to meet the general increase in land values. (6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.
(6) Clearing permits are required to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation, which is under the portfolio of the Minister for the Environment.

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