❓ Hon Tim Clifford questions the enforcement of wetland buffer guidelines given delays in finalizing new guidelines. The Minister assures that existing policies provide adequate protection while a streamlined policy is developed.
AnsweredQoN 826Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WETLAND BUFFER GUIDELINE
826. Hon TIM CLIFFORD to the minister representing the
Minister for Planning:
I
thank the minister for providing a response to question without notice 759
relating to the 2005 draft ''Guideline for the Determination of Wetland
Buffer Requirements'', and I would like to seek some clarity on the
response.
(1) Given that
the new wetland buffer guidelines will not be finalised until 2019 or 2020, can
the minister confirm that the 2005 draft guidelines will be enforced in the
interim?
(2) If not, does
the minister share my concern that developments will be approved that do not
meet the requirements in the 2005 draft guidelines and that our urban wetlands
will not have been adequately protected for almost 15 years?
826. Hon TIM CLIFFORD to the minister representing the
Minister for Planning:
I
thank the minister for providing a response to question without notice 759
relating to the 2005 draft ''Guideline for the Determination of Wetland
Buffer Requirements'', and I would like to seek some clarity on the
response.
(1) Given that
the new wetland buffer guidelines will not be finalised until 2019 or 2020, can
the minister confirm that the 2005 draft guidelines will be enforced in the
interim?
(2) If not, does
the minister share my concern that developments will be approved that do not
meet the requirements in the 2005 draft guidelines and that our urban wetlands
will not have been adequately protected for almost 15 years?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the minister
representing the Minister for Planning, I am advised of the following.
(1)–(2) In addition to the 2005 draft ''Guideline
for the Determination of Wetland Buffer Requirements'', there are a number
of other contemporary government policy instruments that ensure adequate
wetland buffers are secured in planning and development decision-making such as
the Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 33, ''Environmental
Guidance for Planning and Development'', May 2008; the 2006 ''State
Planning Policy 2.9: Water Resources''; ''Better Urban Water
Management'', October 2008; and the 2002 ''Development Control
Policy 2.3: Public Open Space in Residential Areas''. Current government regulatory arrangements surrounding wetland buffer requirements afford
adequate protection during land planning and development decision-making.
Although the aforementioned policies provide for adequate protection, work is
being undertaken, in line with the intent of the planning reform, to have
streamlined and transparent policies, towards a single cross-governmental
policy position on wetland buffers.
representing the Minister for Planning, I am advised of the following.
(1)–(2) In addition to the 2005 draft ''Guideline
for the Determination of Wetland Buffer Requirements'', there are a number
of other contemporary government policy instruments that ensure adequate
wetland buffers are secured in planning and development decision-making such as
the Environmental Protection Authority guidance statement 33, ''Environmental
Guidance for Planning and Development'', May 2008; the 2006 ''State
Planning Policy 2.9: Water Resources''; ''Better Urban Water
Management'', October 2008; and the 2002 ''Development Control
Policy 2.3: Public Open Space in Residential Areas''. Current government regulatory arrangements surrounding wetland buffer requirements afford
adequate protection during land planning and development decision-making.
Although the aforementioned policies provide for adequate protection, work is
being undertaken, in line with the intent of the planning reform, to have
streamlined and transparent policies, towards a single cross-governmental
policy position on wetland buffers.
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