❓ Hon Neil Thomson questions the Environmental Protection (Renewable Energy Proposals) Exemption Order 2023, inquiring about its impact on environmental referrals and the necessity of certain provisions under the Land Administration Act. The parliamentary secretary's response clarifies that referral processes remain unchanged and highlights the exemption as part of a broader decarbonisation initiative.
AnsweredQoN 1519Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(RENEWABLE ENERGY PROPOSALS) EXEMPTION ORDER 2023
1519. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the recent decision to
introduce the Environmental Protection (Renewable Energy Proposals) Exemption Order 2023, which exempts the Minister for Lands
under section 41 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 when granting
an option to lease or fixing related matters to that option.
(1) Under what
circumstances, if any, will renewable energy projects still be required to be
referred to the Environmental Protection Authority under part IV of the
Environmental Protection Act?
(2) Given that
part IV, division l of the EP act provides for the referral and assessment of
significant and strategic proposals, and proposals of a prescribed class, does
the minister consider the provisions under section 88 of the Land
Administration Act 1997 to be unnecessary?
(3) If yes to
(2), why will the minister not apply the order to all projects in which an
option to lease is being sought under the LA act?
(RENEWABLE ENERGY PROPOSALS) EXEMPTION ORDER 2023
1519. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the recent decision to
introduce the Environmental Protection (Renewable Energy Proposals) Exemption Order 2023, which exempts the Minister for Lands
under section 41 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 when granting
an option to lease or fixing related matters to that option.
(1) Under what
circumstances, if any, will renewable energy projects still be required to be
referred to the Environmental Protection Authority under part IV of the
Environmental Protection Act?
(2) Given that
part IV, division l of the EP act provides for the referral and assessment of
significant and strategic proposals, and proposals of a prescribed class, does
the minister consider the provisions under section 88 of the Land
Administration Act 1997 to be unnecessary?
(3) If yes to
(2), why will the minister not apply the order to all projects in which an
option to lease is being sought under the LA act?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment, I provide the
following answer.
(1) Referral to the Environmental Protection Authority
under part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 has not changed.
(2) Section 88 of
the Land Administration Act 1997 is a matter for the Minister for Lands.
(3) This new class exemption is just one of many initiatives
being driven by the green energy approvals initiative as part of the WA
government's commitment to decarbonise Western Australia. The class
exemption clearly sets out that the exemption applies only to renewable energy
proposals.
of the question. On behalf of the Minister for Environment, I provide the
following answer.
(1) Referral to the Environmental Protection Authority
under part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 has not changed.
(2) Section 88 of
the Land Administration Act 1997 is a matter for the Minister for Lands.
(3) This new class exemption is just one of many initiatives
being driven by the green energy approvals initiative as part of the WA
government's commitment to decarbonise Western Australia. The class
exemption clearly sets out that the exemption applies only to renewable energy
proposals.
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