❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the lack of departmental economic and environmental analysis for the proposed Gogo Station irrigation project. The Minister's response indicates the onus is on the proponent to provide financial and environmental assessments.
AnsweredQoN 765Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the proposal on Gogo station for irrigated agriculture, and I ask: (a) has the Department undertaken an economic analysis of the business case for the irrigation project on Gogo Station; (b) if no to (a), why not; (c) if yes to (a), will the Minister table the analysis; (d) if no to (c), why not; (e) if no to (a), when will the analysis be undertaken; (f) historically there have been issues with the ability of the soils and environment in the Fitzroy Catchment to support broad scale irrigated agriculture. Has the Department conducted an assessment of the ability of the soils and environment at Gogo Station to support the crops proposed to be grown as part of the irrigation project; (g) if no to (f), why not; (h) if yes to (f), will the Minister table the analysis; and (i) if no to (h), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 April 2018
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
10 days
(a) No
(b) The Option Deed that will grant Gogo Station Pty Ltd (Gogo) the option of a Development Lease with the option of freehold tenure of the project area, is currently being prepared by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage. The Option Deed will require Gogo to provide a business plan accompanied by an independent financial assessment of the business plan by a suitably qualified consultant.
(c) Not applicable
(d) Not applicable
(e) The Government will determine whether an economic analysis of the business plan is required when the business plan is received, noting that the business plan will be accompanied by an independent financial assessment.
(f) No
(g)
The land and water assessments undertaken by the Department are, for the most part, strategic in nature aimed at identifying and understanding the broad opportunities and risks associated with irrigated agriculture development.
The Minister for the Environment has provided this additional information:
It is proponents’ responsibility to demonstrate the environmental acceptability of their individual projects. Gogo referred its proposal to the Environmental Protection Authority on 13 September 2017. The Environmental Protection Authority will advise the Government on the environmental acceptability of the proposal following a Public Environmental Review of the proposal.
Any questions or comments relating to the potential environmental impacts or risks associated with the proposal should be forwarded to the Environmental Protection Authority for consideration as part of the environmental impact assessment process.
(h) Not applicable
(i) Not applicable
(b) The Option Deed that will grant Gogo Station Pty Ltd (Gogo) the option of a Development Lease with the option of freehold tenure of the project area, is currently being prepared by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage. The Option Deed will require Gogo to provide a business plan accompanied by an independent financial assessment of the business plan by a suitably qualified consultant.
(c) Not applicable
(d) Not applicable
(e) The Government will determine whether an economic analysis of the business plan is required when the business plan is received, noting that the business plan will be accompanied by an independent financial assessment.
(f) No
(g)
The land and water assessments undertaken by the Department are, for the most part, strategic in nature aimed at identifying and understanding the broad opportunities and risks associated with irrigated agriculture development.
The Minister for the Environment has provided this additional information:
It is proponents’ responsibility to demonstrate the environmental acceptability of their individual projects. Gogo referred its proposal to the Environmental Protection Authority on 13 September 2017. The Environmental Protection Authority will advise the Government on the environmental acceptability of the proposal following a Public Environmental Review of the proposal.
Any questions or comments relating to the potential environmental impacts or risks associated with the proposal should be forwarded to the Environmental Protection Authority for consideration as part of the environmental impact assessment process.
(h) Not applicable
(i) Not applicable
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