A parliamentary question regarding the clearing of a Bush Forever site and the alleged involvement of Brian Burke in the approval process. The Minister provides details of the clearing permit and contact tracing.

AnsweredQoN 159Legislative Assembly
Asked
5 April 2007
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

BUSH FOREVER SITE - NICHOLAS ROAD, WANNEROO
Given the information revealed yesterday about the clearing of 90 per cent of the Bush Forever site at lot 67 Nicholas Road, Wanneroo I ask - (1) Can the minister now inform the house why 90 per cent of this site was allowed to be cleared, given its Bush Forever status? (2) Can he confirm that Brian Burke was involved in gaining approval to clear this land? (3) What action has the minister taken to determine who in his department Brian Burke was in contact with regarding this matter? (4) As the responsible minister, what action will he be taking to ensure that Brian Burke had no undue influence on the granting of approvals for the clearing of this Bush Forever site or any other approval process. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(4) I can confirm that an application to clear native vegetation at Nicholas Road, Wanneroo, was received on 20 October 2005. The area under application had previously been unlawfully cleared by the former owners of the property prior to the introduction of the clearing provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 2004 and was, therefore, subject to the transitional provisions. A clearing permit was issued in February 2006, subject to several conditions following consideration of the clearing principles contained in schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act. Granting of the permit was based on the finding that there were no issues of environmental significance, which included consideration of biodiversity, water quality and land degradation, and all appropriate planning approvals had been obtained. The information regarding contact with Mr Brian Burke is as follows: as part of inquiries made, Brian Burke had made contact with Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, and Mr Carew-Hopkins was unaware of any approach to the Department of Environment and Conservation on the matter. As the new Minister for the Environment and for Climate Change, I take very seriously, and will continue to adhere to, the Premier’s directive with regard to lobbyists.
(1) Can the minister now inform the house why 90 per cent of this site was allowed to be cleared, given its Bush Forever status? (2) Can he confirm that Brian Burke was involved in gaining approval to clear this land? (3) What action has the minister taken to determine who in his department Brian Burke was in contact with regarding this matter? (4) As the responsible minister, what action will he be taking to ensure that Brian Burke had no undue influence on the granting of approvals for the clearing of this Bush Forever site or any other approval process. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(4) I can confirm that an application to clear native vegetation at Nicholas Road, Wanneroo, was received on 20 October 2005. The area under application had previously been unlawfully cleared by the former owners of the property prior to the introduction of the clearing provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 2004 and was, therefore, subject to the transitional provisions. A clearing permit was issued in February 2006, subject to several conditions following consideration of the clearing principles contained in schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act. Granting of the permit was based on the finding that there were no issues of environmental significance, which included consideration of biodiversity, water quality and land degradation, and all appropriate planning approvals had been obtained. The information regarding contact with Mr Brian Burke is as follows: as part of inquiries made, Brian Burke had made contact with Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, and Mr Carew-Hopkins was unaware of any approach to the Department of Environment and Conservation on the matter. As the new Minister for the Environment and for Climate Change, I take very seriously, and will continue to adhere to, the Premier’s directive with regard to lobbyists.
(2) Can he confirm that Brian Burke was involved in gaining approval to clear this land? (3) What action has the minister taken to determine who in his department Brian Burke was in contact with regarding this matter? (4) As the responsible minister, what action will he be taking to ensure that Brian Burke had no undue influence on the granting of approvals for the clearing of this Bush Forever site or any other approval process. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(4) I can confirm that an application to clear native vegetation at Nicholas Road, Wanneroo, was received on 20 October 2005. The area under application had previously been unlawfully cleared by the former owners of the property prior to the introduction of the clearing provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 2004 and was, therefore, subject to the transitional provisions. A clearing permit was issued in February 2006, subject to several conditions following consideration of the clearing principles contained in schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act. Granting of the permit was based on the finding that there were no issues of environmental significance, which included consideration of biodiversity, water quality and land degradation, and all appropriate planning approvals had been obtained. The information regarding contact with Mr Brian Burke is as follows: as part of inquiries made, Brian Burke had made contact with Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, and Mr Carew-Hopkins was unaware of any approach to the Department of Environment and Conservation on the matter. As the new Minister for the Environment and for Climate Change, I take very seriously, and will continue to adhere to, the Premier’s directive with regard to lobbyists.
(3) What action has the minister taken to determine who in his department Brian Burke was in contact with regarding this matter? (4) As the responsible minister, what action will he be taking to ensure that Brian Burke had no undue influence on the granting of approvals for the clearing of this Bush Forever site or any other approval process. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(4) I can confirm that an application to clear native vegetation at Nicholas Road, Wanneroo, was received on 20 October 2005. The area under application had previously been unlawfully cleared by the former owners of the property prior to the introduction of the clearing provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 2004 and was, therefore, subject to the transitional provisions. A clearing permit was issued in February 2006, subject to several conditions following consideration of the clearing principles contained in schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act. Granting of the permit was based on the finding that there were no issues of environmental significance, which included consideration of biodiversity, water quality and land degradation, and all appropriate planning approvals had been obtained. The information regarding contact with Mr Brian Burke is as follows: as part of inquiries made, Brian Burke had made contact with Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, and Mr Carew-Hopkins was unaware of any approach to the Department of Environment and Conservation on the matter. As the new Minister for the Environment and for Climate Change, I take very seriously, and will continue to adhere to, the Premier’s directive with regard to lobbyists.
(4) As the responsible minister, what action will he be taking to ensure that Brian Burke had no undue influence on the granting of approvals for the clearing of this Bush Forever site or any other approval process. Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(4) I can confirm that an application to clear native vegetation at Nicholas Road, Wanneroo, was received on 20 October 2005. The area under application had previously been unlawfully cleared by the former owners of the property prior to the introduction of the clearing provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 2004 and was, therefore, subject to the transitional provisions. A clearing permit was issued in February 2006, subject to several conditions following consideration of the clearing principles contained in schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act. Granting of the permit was based on the finding that there were no issues of environmental significance, which included consideration of biodiversity, water quality and land degradation, and all appropriate planning approvals had been obtained. The information regarding contact with Mr Brian Burke is as follows: as part of inquiries made, Brian Burke had made contact with Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, and Mr Carew-Hopkins was unaware of any approach to the Department of Environment and Conservation on the matter. As the new Minister for the Environment and for Climate Change, I take very seriously, and will continue to adhere to, the Premier’s directive with regard to lobbyists.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied: (1)-(4) I can confirm that an application to clear native vegetation at Nicholas Road, Wanneroo, was received on 20 October 2005. The area under application had previously been unlawfully cleared by the former owners of the property prior to the introduction of the clearing provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 2004 and was, therefore, subject to the transitional provisions. A clearing permit was issued in February 2006, subject to several conditions following consideration of the clearing principles contained in schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act. Granting of the permit was based on the finding that there were no issues of environmental significance, which included consideration of biodiversity, water quality and land degradation, and all appropriate planning approvals had been obtained. The information regarding contact with Mr Brian Burke is as follows: as part of inquiries made, Brian Burke had made contact with Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, and Mr Carew-Hopkins was unaware of any approach to the Department of Environment and Conservation on the matter. As the new Minister for the Environment and for Climate Change, I take very seriously, and will continue to adhere to, the Premier’s directive with regard to lobbyists.
(1)-(4) I can confirm that an application to clear native vegetation at Nicholas Road, Wanneroo, was received on 20 October 2005. The area under application had previously been unlawfully cleared by the former owners of the property prior to the introduction of the clearing provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 2004 and was, therefore, subject to the transitional provisions. A clearing permit was issued in February 2006, subject to several conditions following consideration of the clearing principles contained in schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act. Granting of the permit was based on the finding that there were no issues of environmental significance, which included consideration of biodiversity, water quality and land degradation, and all appropriate planning approvals had been obtained. The information regarding contact with Mr Brian Burke is as follows: as part of inquiries made, Brian Burke had made contact with Mr Derek Carew-Hopkins, and Mr Carew-Hopkins was unaware of any approach to the Department of Environment and Conservation on the matter. As the new Minister for the Environment and for Climate Change, I take very seriously, and will continue to adhere to, the Premier’s directive with regard to lobbyists.

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