A parliamentary question regarding the introduction of legislation to protect the Margaret River area from mining, following an EPA decision against a coalmine proposal. The government is considering special legislation similar to the Swan Valley Planning Act.

AnsweredQoN 185Legislative Council
Asked
23 March 2011
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier

QuestionView source ↗

OSMINGTON COALMINE — MARGARET RIVER AREA — LEGISLATIVE PROTECTION
I refer to the Environmental Protection Authority’s decision on the Osmington coalmine, and the Premier’s undertaking to legislate to protect the Margaret River area. (1) Will the Premier ensure that legislation is introduced into Parliament immediately to protect the Margaret River area? (2) If yes to (1), when can the community expect to see this legislation? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(3) The EPA has gone through a process, which has determined that Vasse Coal Management’s coalmining proposal is environmentally unacceptable. The EPA will now prepare an assessment report outlining reasons for its recommendations to the Minister for Environment. That report will be made public, and the public will have two weeks to comment on that report. Appeals will be considered by the Western Australian Appeals Convenor. The final decision will be made by the minister. In the meantime, the state government is considering special legislation for Margaret River to protect this important region, similar to the Swan Valley Planning Act 1995.
(1) Will the Premier ensure that legislation is introduced into Parliament immediately to protect the Margaret River area? (2) If yes to (1), when can the community expect to see this legislation? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(3) The EPA has gone through a process, which has determined that Vasse Coal Management’s coalmining proposal is environmentally unacceptable. The EPA will now prepare an assessment report outlining reasons for its recommendations to the Minister for Environment. That report will be made public, and the public will have two weeks to comment on that report. Appeals will be considered by the Western Australian Appeals Convenor. The final decision will be made by the minister. In the meantime, the state government is considering special legislation for Margaret River to protect this important region, similar to the Swan Valley Planning Act 1995.
(2) If yes to (1), when can the community expect to see this legislation? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(3) The EPA has gone through a process, which has determined that Vasse Coal Management’s coalmining proposal is environmentally unacceptable. The EPA will now prepare an assessment report outlining reasons for its recommendations to the Minister for Environment. That report will be made public, and the public will have two weeks to comment on that report. Appeals will be considered by the Western Australian Appeals Convenor. The final decision will be made by the minister. In the meantime, the state government is considering special legislation for Margaret River to protect this important region, similar to the Swan Valley Planning Act 1995.
(3) If no to (1), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(3) The EPA has gone through a process, which has determined that Vasse Coal Management’s coalmining proposal is environmentally unacceptable. The EPA will now prepare an assessment report outlining reasons for its recommendations to the Minister for Environment. That report will be made public, and the public will have two weeks to comment on that report. Appeals will be considered by the Western Australian Appeals Convenor. The final decision will be made by the minister. In the meantime, the state government is considering special legislation for Margaret River to protect this important region, similar to the Swan Valley Planning Act 1995.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(3) The EPA has gone through a process, which has determined that Vasse Coal Management’s coalmining proposal is environmentally unacceptable. The EPA will now prepare an assessment report outlining reasons for its recommendations to the Minister for Environment. That report will be made public, and the public will have two weeks to comment on that report. Appeals will be considered by the Western Australian Appeals Convenor. The final decision will be made by the minister. In the meantime, the state government is considering special legislation for Margaret River to protect this important region, similar to the Swan Valley Planning Act 1995.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)–(3) The EPA has gone through a process, which has determined that Vasse Coal Management’s coalmining proposal is environmentally unacceptable. The EPA will now prepare an assessment report outlining reasons for its recommendations to the Minister for Environment. That report will be made public, and the public will have two weeks to comment on that report. Appeals will be considered by the Western Australian Appeals Convenor. The final decision will be made by the minister. In the meantime, the state government is considering special legislation for Margaret River to protect this important region, similar to the Swan Valley Planning Act 1995.
(1)–(3) The EPA has gone through a process, which has determined that Vasse Coal Management’s coalmining proposal is environmentally unacceptable. The EPA will now prepare an assessment report outlining reasons for its recommendations to the Minister for Environment. That report will be made public, and the public will have two weeks to comment on that report. Appeals will be considered by the Western Australian Appeals Convenor. The final decision will be made by the minister. In the meantime, the state government is considering special legislation for Margaret River to protect this important region, similar to the Swan Valley Planning Act 1995.

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