❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the EPA's communication with landowners affected by the Swan Coastal Plains Wetlands Policy. It questions the accuracy of landowner contact information and the efforts made to notify all affected parties.
AnsweredQoN 2438Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Swan Coastal Plains Wetlands Policy, and ask -
(1) Can the EPA justify not having correct postal addresses for all the affected land-holders before it released the draft Wetlands Policy?
(2) How many and what percentage of the affected landowners have now been identified and contacted by the Department?
(3) The submission deadline has been extended to October 15, is it the Government’s intention to notify the land-holders who have so far not received any documentation that they are in the wetland area?
(1) Can the EPA justify not having correct postal addresses for all the affected land-holders before it released the draft Wetlands Policy?
(2) How many and what percentage of the affected landowners have now been identified and contacted by the Department?
(3) The submission deadline has been extended to October 15, is it the Government’s intention to notify the land-holders who have so far not received any documentation that they are in the wetland area?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 October 2004
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
27 days
(1) The EPA has undertaken an extensive process to gather the correct postal addresses for affected landowners. Initially, the draft set of wetlands were sent to the State's cadastre custodian, the Department of Land Information (DLI) for the identification of postal addresses prior to the release of the draft Policy. A significant portion of addresses were a property address (with a lot number) rather than a postal address. The EPA sought Australia Post's advice on the validity of the addresses and was advised that they were valid. The EPA sent letters to those addresses. However, the EPA subsequently found that many were returned as undeliverable. The EPA then contacted 24 Local Governments requesting their assistance in identifying all outstanding landowner postal addresses from their rate bases. (2) The EPA has conducted a series of five postal mail outs to affected landowners. A total of 3683 notifications were sent out, aimed at reaching 2930 private landowners, but noting complications arise where a landowner owns multiple lots and where a lot has multiple owners. It is therefore difficult to estimate the number of affected landowners that have been contacted however, based on the number of letters returned the EPA believes the success rate of contacting landowners to be over approximately 60%. (3) The EPA has taken all reasonable endeavours to contact landowners directly and indirectly. The EPA has worked closely with DLI and Local Governments in an attempt to notify involved landowners. In addition, notification has been published in State and local newspapers and over 200 information packages have been sent to stakeholder groups including community bodies, local libraries and interested parties. The EPA has also issued a number of press releases and staff have attended a range of briefings with community and landowner groups to ensure people are aware of the draft Policy.
(2) The EPA has conducted a series of five postal mail outs to affected landowners. A total of 3683 notifications were sent out, aimed at reaching 2930 private landowners, but noting complications arise where a landowner owns multiple lots and where a lot has multiple owners. It is therefore difficult to estimate the number of affected landowners that have been contacted however, based on the number of letters returned the EPA believes the success rate of contacting landowners to be over approximately 60%. (3) The EPA has taken all reasonable endeavours to contact landowners directly and indirectly. The EPA has worked closely with DLI and Local Governments in an attempt to notify involved landowners. In addition, notification has been published in State and local newspapers and over 200 information packages have been sent to stakeholder groups including community bodies, local libraries and interested parties. The EPA has also issued a number of press releases and staff have attended a range of briefings with community and landowner groups to ensure people are aware of the draft Policy.
(3) The EPA has taken all reasonable endeavours to contact landowners directly and indirectly. The EPA has worked closely with DLI and Local Governments in an attempt to notify involved landowners. In addition, notification has been published in State and local newspapers and over 200 information packages have been sent to stakeholder groups including community bodies, local libraries and interested parties. The EPA has also issued a number of press releases and staff have attended a range of briefings with community and landowner groups to ensure people are aware of the draft Policy.
(2) The EPA has conducted a series of five postal mail outs to affected landowners. A total of 3683 notifications were sent out, aimed at reaching 2930 private landowners, but noting complications arise where a landowner owns multiple lots and where a lot has multiple owners. It is therefore difficult to estimate the number of affected landowners that have been contacted however, based on the number of letters returned the EPA believes the success rate of contacting landowners to be over approximately 60%. (3) The EPA has taken all reasonable endeavours to contact landowners directly and indirectly. The EPA has worked closely with DLI and Local Governments in an attempt to notify involved landowners. In addition, notification has been published in State and local newspapers and over 200 information packages have been sent to stakeholder groups including community bodies, local libraries and interested parties. The EPA has also issued a number of press releases and staff have attended a range of briefings with community and landowner groups to ensure people are aware of the draft Policy.
(3) The EPA has taken all reasonable endeavours to contact landowners directly and indirectly. The EPA has worked closely with DLI and Local Governments in an attempt to notify involved landowners. In addition, notification has been published in State and local newspapers and over 200 information packages have been sent to stakeholder groups including community bodies, local libraries and interested parties. The EPA has also issued a number of press releases and staff have attended a range of briefings with community and landowner groups to ensure people are aware of the draft Policy.
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