❓ Hon Alison Xamon questions the Minister for Environment regarding the protection of Banksia woodlands, habitat for black cockatoos, on the Swan Coastal Plain, seeking a moratorium on clearing and data on bushland clearing and coverage. The Minister declines the moratorium, citing existing environmental protection processes, and provides clearing data.
AnsweredQoN 5839Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the protection of habitats of endangered species, specifically the Banksia woodlands on the Swan Coastal Plain, which comprises the habitat for the black cockatoo, and I ask —
(1) Will the Minister commit to a moratorium on all clearing of the Banksia woodlands while a strategic assessment is undertaken?
(2) If yes to (1), how will this be enforced?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
(4) Please provide figures for the area of bushland cleared in the Swan Coastal Plain in the Perth and Peel regions in —
(a) 2011; and
(b) 2012 to date?
(5) Please provide figures for the area of the Swan Coastal Plain in the Perth and Peel regions covered by bushland in —
(a) 2011; and
(b) 2012 to date?
(1) Will the Minister commit to a moratorium on all clearing of the Banksia woodlands while a strategic assessment is undertaken?
(2) If yes to (1), how will this be enforced?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
(4) Please provide figures for the area of bushland cleared in the Swan Coastal Plain in the Perth and Peel regions in —
(a) 2011; and
(b) 2012 to date?
(5) Please provide figures for the area of the Swan Coastal Plain in the Perth and Peel regions covered by bushland in —
(a) 2011; and
(b) 2012 to date?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 September 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
(1) A moratorium on the clearing of banksia woodland within the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth and Peel regions is not necessary as there are existing legislative processes in place to ensure that the impacts of development on endangered species are fully considered.
(2) Not applicable
(3) There are existing processes for environmental impact assessment and regulation of clearing under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
which achieve high standards of environmental protection. In addition, the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities assesses actions that have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
, including actions which clear habitat for Carnaby's cockatoo.
(4) Data are available for the area of native vegetation cleared that is authorised by a clearing permit granted under the Environmental Protection Act, as follows:
(a) 153 hectares
(b) 39 hectares (at 20 August 2012).
These figures do not include areas authorised under statewide purpose permits, or clearing undertaken under exemptions such as clearing approved through another statutory process, for example, the relevant planning provisions.
(5) (a)-(b) The Department of Agriculture and Food has mapped remnant vegetation for 2009 and this is the most recent comprehensive analysis for the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth and Peel regions. This mapping shows that 106 798 hectares of vegetation remain within this area, which is approximately 25% of the total land area not including waterways.
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(2) Not applicable
(3) There are existing processes for environmental impact assessment and regulation of clearing under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
which achieve high standards of environmental protection. In addition, the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities assesses actions that have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
, including actions which clear habitat for Carnaby's cockatoo.
(4) Data are available for the area of native vegetation cleared that is authorised by a clearing permit granted under the Environmental Protection Act, as follows:
(a) 153 hectares
(b) 39 hectares (at 20 August 2012).
These figures do not include areas authorised under statewide purpose permits, or clearing undertaken under exemptions such as clearing approved through another statutory process, for example, the relevant planning provisions.
(5) (a)-(b) The Department of Agriculture and Food has mapped remnant vegetation for 2009 and this is the most recent comprehensive analysis for the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth and Peel regions. This mapping shows that 106 798 hectares of vegetation remain within this area, which is approximately 25% of the total land area not including waterways.
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
http://www.rtlib.com
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