❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Environment regarding development proposals in Koombana Bay and progress on the Dolphin and Estuarine Health Working Group report. The Minister provides information on jetty developments, EPA referrals, and ongoing efforts related to dolphin health.
AnsweredQoN 5120Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answer given to my question without notice No. 728 of 7 September 2011, which was that the proposal to develop a floating jetty is no longer being pursued, and I ask -
(1) Is the Minister or your Department, aware of any development proposal/s for Bunbury's Koombana Bay?
(2) If yes to (1), has the proposal/s been referred to the Environmental Protection Authority?
(3) If yes to (2) -
(a) when; and
(b) what is the nature of the proposal/s?
(4) If no to (2) -
(a) why not; and
(b) does the Minister concur with the statement by the previous Minister that 'It is a requirement that significant development proposals in Western Australia be assessed under the requirements of the
Environmental Protection Authority Act 1986
. This will necessarily occur if conceptual plans for KBSC are progressed to a development proposal stage'?
(5) If no to (4)(b), why not?
(6) I refer to the August 2011 report of the Dolphin and Estuarine Health Working Group and ask what progress has the Minister and your environment and water departments made in addressing the report's recommendations?
(1) Is the Minister or your Department, aware of any development proposal/s for Bunbury's Koombana Bay?
(2) If yes to (1), has the proposal/s been referred to the Environmental Protection Authority?
(3) If yes to (2) -
(a) when; and
(b) what is the nature of the proposal/s?
(4) If no to (2) -
(a) why not; and
(b) does the Minister concur with the statement by the previous Minister that 'It is a requirement that significant development proposals in Western Australia be assessed under the requirements of the
Environmental Protection Authority Act 1986
. This will necessarily occur if conceptual plans for KBSC are progressed to a development proposal stage'?
(5) If no to (4)(b), why not?
(6) I refer to the August 2011 report of the Dolphin and Estuarine Health Working Group and ask what progress has the Minister and your environment and water departments made in addressing the report's recommendations?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
56 days
The Minister for Environment has provided the following response:
(1) I am aware of the following developments in Koombana Bay
· an old timber jetty in Koombana Bay is being dismantled; and
· a jetty for the mooring of large boats was completed at the end of the existing groyne in Koombana Bay in early 2012. This jetty is being managed by the Koombana Bay Sailing Club.
(2) No
(3) Not applicable
(4a) (i) The proposal to dismantle the timber jetty was referred to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). The DEC provided advice to the proponent regarding the potential impacts of underwater marine noise on the local bottlenose dolphin population. The DEC included in its advice management mechanisms designed to limit these impacts. This proposal did not have the potential to significantly impact the environment and so was not referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
(ii) The development application for the Koombana Bay Sailing Club jetty was referred to the DEC for comment. The DEC had no comments to make on the proposal and as it did not have the potential to significantly impact the environment it was not referred to the EPA.
(4b) I concur with the previous Minister's statement to the extent that any significant development proposals in Western Australia be assessed under the requirements of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
. Future proposals proposed by the Koombana Bay Sailing Club may require assessment by the EPA depending on the nature and the scale of the impacts.
(5) Not applicable
(6) Recommendations from the report are being progressed by departments in my portfolio and they are continuing to work closely with research institutions on these. Examples include:
· The Swan River Trust's continued partnership with Murdoch University to undertake detailed assessment of the size and structure of the dolphin population in the Riverpark.
· The Report recommended involving community and industry in decision making and planning and there are now 375 trained volunteers actively involved in the Dolphin Watch Program.
· The River Forum - Sharing Knowledge, Use and Responsibility was held in November 2011. The forum aimed to generate greater collaboration between river managers and researchers which aligns directly with recommendations from the Dolphin and Estuarine Health Working Group report.
· The Department of Water is investigating an approach to integrate and enhance estuarine health science to address management and policy needs.
· DEC's Marine Science Program is developing long-term monitoring, evaluation and reporting for a range of marine assets, including marine fauna, with a focus on WA's marine parks and reserves system.
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
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(1) I am aware of the following developments in Koombana Bay
· an old timber jetty in Koombana Bay is being dismantled; and
· a jetty for the mooring of large boats was completed at the end of the existing groyne in Koombana Bay in early 2012. This jetty is being managed by the Koombana Bay Sailing Club.
(2) No
(3) Not applicable
(4a) (i) The proposal to dismantle the timber jetty was referred to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). The DEC provided advice to the proponent regarding the potential impacts of underwater marine noise on the local bottlenose dolphin population. The DEC included in its advice management mechanisms designed to limit these impacts. This proposal did not have the potential to significantly impact the environment and so was not referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
(ii) The development application for the Koombana Bay Sailing Club jetty was referred to the DEC for comment. The DEC had no comments to make on the proposal and as it did not have the potential to significantly impact the environment it was not referred to the EPA.
(4b) I concur with the previous Minister's statement to the extent that any significant development proposals in Western Australia be assessed under the requirements of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
. Future proposals proposed by the Koombana Bay Sailing Club may require assessment by the EPA depending on the nature and the scale of the impacts.
(5) Not applicable
(6) Recommendations from the report are being progressed by departments in my portfolio and they are continuing to work closely with research institutions on these. Examples include:
· The Swan River Trust's continued partnership with Murdoch University to undertake detailed assessment of the size and structure of the dolphin population in the Riverpark.
· The Report recommended involving community and industry in decision making and planning and there are now 375 trained volunteers actively involved in the Dolphin Watch Program.
· The River Forum - Sharing Knowledge, Use and Responsibility was held in November 2011. The forum aimed to generate greater collaboration between river managers and researchers which aligns directly with recommendations from the Dolphin and Estuarine Health Working Group report.
· The Department of Water is investigating an approach to integrate and enhance estuarine health science to address management and policy needs.
· DEC's Marine Science Program is developing long-term monitoring, evaluation and reporting for a range of marine assets, including marine fauna, with a focus on WA's marine parks and reserves system.
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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