❓ A parliamentary question regarding the government's commitment to protect the Margaret River area from mining, specifically coal mining, through specialist legislation and planning policy reviews. The answer clarifies the government's position and actions taken.
AnsweredQoN 36Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MARGARET
RIVER AREA — PROTECTION LEGISLATION
36. Hon ADELE
FARINA to the minister representing the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the government's commitment to provide
specialist legislation to protect the Margaret River area.
(1) Has the Department of Planning completed its review of —
(a) the ''South-West
Framework''; and
(b) the Leeuwin–Naturaliste
Ridge state planning policy 6.1?
(2) What
changes have been made or are proposed to be made to the framework and the
policy to protect the Margaret River area from coalmining and other high impact
mining?
(3) If these
reviews and amendments have not been finalised, when can the community expect
the government to deliver on its promise to protect the Margaret River area by
finalising the necessary amendments?
(4) When will the government consult the community on the details
of the proposed planning changes?
RIVER AREA — PROTECTION LEGISLATION
36. Hon ADELE
FARINA to the minister representing the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the government's commitment to provide
specialist legislation to protect the Margaret River area.
(1) Has the Department of Planning completed its review of —
(a) the ''South-West
Framework''; and
(b) the Leeuwin–Naturaliste
Ridge state planning policy 6.1?
(2) What
changes have been made or are proposed to be made to the framework and the
policy to protect the Margaret River area from coalmining and other high impact
mining?
(3) If these
reviews and amendments have not been finalised, when can the community expect
the government to deliver on its promise to protect the Margaret River area by
finalising the necessary amendments?
(4) When will the government consult the community on the details
of the proposed planning changes?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
government has not made a commitment to provide specialist legislation to
protect the Margaret River area. The Minister for Planning requested that the
Department of Planning review the key state planning documents that cover the
Margaret River area.
(a) The review
of the ''South-West Framework'' is nearing completion and a new
draft south west planning and infrastructure framework is to be advertised for
public comment later this year.
(b) A review
of state planning policy 6.1—Leeuwin–Naturaliste Ridge—is
no longer considered a priority, given the effect of the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum's announcement in relation to coalmining in the area,
combined with planning provisions in the draft south west planning and
infrastructure framework and future amendments to the Shire of Augusta–Margaret
River's local planning strategy and local planning scheme.
(2) The draft
south west planning and infrastructure framework will reinforce the government's
decision of 2012 not to approve coalmining in the Margaret River area.
(3) The
Margaret River area has been protected by the government's rejection in
February 2012 of the Vasse Coal proposed coalmine and the Minister for Mines
and Petroleum's announcement of July 2012 that he would exercise his
powers under the Mining Act 1978 to refuse all applications for mining
tenements or mine proposals within the Vasse Coal resources area.
(4) Refer to answer (1)(a).
(1) The
government has not made a commitment to provide specialist legislation to
protect the Margaret River area. The Minister for Planning requested that the
Department of Planning review the key state planning documents that cover the
Margaret River area.
(a) The review
of the ''South-West Framework'' is nearing completion and a new
draft south west planning and infrastructure framework is to be advertised for
public comment later this year.
(b) A review
of state planning policy 6.1—Leeuwin–Naturaliste Ridge—is
no longer considered a priority, given the effect of the Minister for Mines and
Petroleum's announcement in relation to coalmining in the area,
combined with planning provisions in the draft south west planning and
infrastructure framework and future amendments to the Shire of Augusta–Margaret
River's local planning strategy and local planning scheme.
(2) The draft
south west planning and infrastructure framework will reinforce the government's
decision of 2012 not to approve coalmining in the Margaret River area.
(3) The
Margaret River area has been protected by the government's rejection in
February 2012 of the Vasse Coal proposed coalmine and the Minister for Mines
and Petroleum's announcement of July 2012 that he would exercise his
powers under the Mining Act 1978 to refuse all applications for mining
tenements or mine proposals within the Vasse Coal resources area.
(4) Refer to answer (1)(a).
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.