❓ A WA parliamentary question concerning a proposed limestone quarry and batching plant in Nowergup, focusing on the possibility of a land-swap to mitigate environmental concerns and ensure resource availability for development in the northern corridor.
AnsweredQoN 5622Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the development application by WA Limestone for a limestone quarry and batching plant on Lot 1 (2350) Wanneroo Rd, Nowergup, I ask:
(a) as the Minister was quoted in a community newspaper on 1 March 2011 as not having an objection, in principle, to the idea of a land-swap, is this still the Minister’s position;
(b) could the Minister please outline the suitability or problems arising from the seven sites identified by him in his response to the grievance of 24 March 2011, with regard to land-swap possibilities;
(c) can the Minister confirm that a letter from Hon. Michael Mischin, MLC was sent to him alerting him of a more likely other site in reference to the acquiring of 717 hectares by Landcorp of limestone priority resource land from Cockburn Cement just to the south and east of Lot 1, Nowergup Road;
(d) can the Minister confirm that WA Limestone have publicly stated that they are open to a land-swap and that the company had already met with Landcorp;
(e) due to the limited access to alternative limestone sources, is mining the limestone at Lot 1 the only option to serve the growing demand of development in the northern corridor;
(f) has the Minister liaised with Landcorp and the Minister for Mines and Petroleum as to the possibility of WA Limestone accessing this new resource as a land-swap option;
(g) if there must be a tendering process for access, is it possible for WA Limestone to offer its holding at Lot 1 as part of its bid for the Landcorp resource;
(h) if a suitable land-swap can be arranged, will the Minister undertake for Lot 1, (2350) Wanneroo Road, Nowergup to be incorporated into the Neerabup National Park which sits adjacent to the said parcel of land;
(i) what other solutions besides a land-swap are being considered to resolve this issue; and
(j) the Western Australian Planning Commission’s land acquisition program for the 2009–2010 included purchases of land totalling some $67,000,000. Will the Minister consider purchasing this property for the whole of the community and to protect the environmental values of the Neerabup National Park, Bush Forever Site 383 and the Lake Nowergup Sanctuary?
(a) as the Minister was quoted in a community newspaper on 1 March 2011 as not having an objection, in principle, to the idea of a land-swap, is this still the Minister’s position;
(b) could the Minister please outline the suitability or problems arising from the seven sites identified by him in his response to the grievance of 24 March 2011, with regard to land-swap possibilities;
(c) can the Minister confirm that a letter from Hon. Michael Mischin, MLC was sent to him alerting him of a more likely other site in reference to the acquiring of 717 hectares by Landcorp of limestone priority resource land from Cockburn Cement just to the south and east of Lot 1, Nowergup Road;
(d) can the Minister confirm that WA Limestone have publicly stated that they are open to a land-swap and that the company had already met with Landcorp;
(e) due to the limited access to alternative limestone sources, is mining the limestone at Lot 1 the only option to serve the growing demand of development in the northern corridor;
(f) has the Minister liaised with Landcorp and the Minister for Mines and Petroleum as to the possibility of WA Limestone accessing this new resource as a land-swap option;
(g) if there must be a tendering process for access, is it possible for WA Limestone to offer its holding at Lot 1 as part of its bid for the Landcorp resource;
(h) if a suitable land-swap can be arranged, will the Minister undertake for Lot 1, (2350) Wanneroo Road, Nowergup to be incorporated into the Neerabup National Park which sits adjacent to the said parcel of land;
(i) what other solutions besides a land-swap are being considered to resolve this issue; and
(j) the Western Australian Planning Commission’s land acquisition program for the 2009–2010 included purchases of land totalling some $67,000,000. Will the Minister consider purchasing this property for the whole of the community and to protect the environmental values of the Neerabup National Park, Bush Forever Site 383 and the Lake Nowergup Sanctuary?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 June 2011
Responded by
Minister for Planning
Response time
21 days
(a) I have no objection in principle to a land swap being contemplated between the relevant parties, on the understanding that any land exchange should not result in a net 'loss' in overall supply of limestone in the region.
(b) The Department of Planning, in consultation with the Department of Mines and Petroleum, has conducted a preliminary 'desk top' analysis of the proposed seven sites. The majority of the sites are Crown land and constrained by the
Mining Act 1978
and subject to existing mining tenements. The sites not subject to mining tenements are owned in freehold by the Water Corporation for water servicing purposes and/or located within an approved district structure plan urban area. Several of the sites are significantly vegetated and are within or abutting identified Bush Forever sites.
In summary, having regard to existing mining tenements and other potential planning constraints, none of the sites proposed is considered suitable for further investigation.
(c) Correspondence dated 25 March 2011 was received from the Hon Michael Mischin MLC.
(d) I am not aware of any public statements made by WA Limestone and have not been a party to any meetings between WA Limestone and LandCorp on this matter. Recent media coverage suggests that a WA Limestone representative and LandCorp have had preliminary discussions and that WA Limestone is reviewing alternative sites in the region.
(e) Basic raw material resources are finite and quality supplies are site specific. Lot 1 Wanneroo Road is an identified Priority Resource in the Western Australian Planning Commission State Planning Policy 2.4 - Basic Raw Materials, and the landholding has been identified for continued supply for high quality limestone for the region.
(f) No. While I appreciate the community endeavours to ameliorate concerns regarding the proposed quarry on Lot 1 Wanneroo Road, I consider my involvement in any potential land swap limited, as this is a matter for the proponent, WA Limestone, to pursue having regard to its intentions for Lot 1 and whether it decides to act on the current development approval(s) for this site.
(g) When LandCorp seeks to appoint a quarry operator for its landholding Lot 21 Flynn Drive, Neerabup, it will be subject to a competitive tender process and under the terms and conditions set out by LandCorp. It will be at WA Limestone's discretion whether it submits a tender bid and in what form.
(h) It would be pre-emptive to contemplate such a proposal, having regard to my earlier responses, the current planning framework and the current statutory planning approvals in place. Once the priority resource has been extracted and the site successfully rehabilitated, further consideration can be given to this proposition.
(i) No other solutions have been put forward to me at this time.
(j) Having regard to my previous responses, no. However, it should be noted that the portion of Lot 1 that is on the north-west side of Nowergup Road, representing some 40% of the property, was reserved in the Metropolitan Region Scheme in 1994 as an addition to the Neerabup National Park. The Western Australian Planning Commission has yet to acquire this part of Lot 1. The portion of Lot 1 proposed for limestone extraction has never been identified for inclusion in the national park under the Environmental Protection Authority System 6 recommendations (1983), the North West Corridor Structure Plans of the Western Australian Planning Commission (1977 and 1992) or Bush Forever.
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(b) The Department of Planning, in consultation with the Department of Mines and Petroleum, has conducted a preliminary 'desk top' analysis of the proposed seven sites. The majority of the sites are Crown land and constrained by the
Mining Act 1978
and subject to existing mining tenements. The sites not subject to mining tenements are owned in freehold by the Water Corporation for water servicing purposes and/or located within an approved district structure plan urban area. Several of the sites are significantly vegetated and are within or abutting identified Bush Forever sites.
In summary, having regard to existing mining tenements and other potential planning constraints, none of the sites proposed is considered suitable for further investigation.
(c) Correspondence dated 25 March 2011 was received from the Hon Michael Mischin MLC.
(d) I am not aware of any public statements made by WA Limestone and have not been a party to any meetings between WA Limestone and LandCorp on this matter. Recent media coverage suggests that a WA Limestone representative and LandCorp have had preliminary discussions and that WA Limestone is reviewing alternative sites in the region.
(e) Basic raw material resources are finite and quality supplies are site specific. Lot 1 Wanneroo Road is an identified Priority Resource in the Western Australian Planning Commission State Planning Policy 2.4 - Basic Raw Materials, and the landholding has been identified for continued supply for high quality limestone for the region.
(f) No. While I appreciate the community endeavours to ameliorate concerns regarding the proposed quarry on Lot 1 Wanneroo Road, I consider my involvement in any potential land swap limited, as this is a matter for the proponent, WA Limestone, to pursue having regard to its intentions for Lot 1 and whether it decides to act on the current development approval(s) for this site.
(g) When LandCorp seeks to appoint a quarry operator for its landholding Lot 21 Flynn Drive, Neerabup, it will be subject to a competitive tender process and under the terms and conditions set out by LandCorp. It will be at WA Limestone's discretion whether it submits a tender bid and in what form.
(h) It would be pre-emptive to contemplate such a proposal, having regard to my earlier responses, the current planning framework and the current statutory planning approvals in place. Once the priority resource has been extracted and the site successfully rehabilitated, further consideration can be given to this proposition.
(i) No other solutions have been put forward to me at this time.
(j) Having regard to my previous responses, no. However, it should be noted that the portion of Lot 1 that is on the north-west side of Nowergup Road, representing some 40% of the property, was reserved in the Metropolitan Region Scheme in 1994 as an addition to the Neerabup National Park. The Western Australian Planning Commission has yet to acquire this part of Lot 1. The portion of Lot 1 proposed for limestone extraction has never been identified for inclusion in the national park under the Environmental Protection Authority System 6 recommendations (1983), the North West Corridor Structure Plans of the Western Australian Planning Commission (1977 and 1992) or Bush Forever.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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