❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding sand mine applications by Urban Resource and Rocla, focusing on environmental approvals, local government rejections, and potential impacts on endangered Carnaby's Cockatoos. The Minister provides information on the status of applications and refers some questions to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum.
AnsweredQoN 3059Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the sand mines proposed by Urban Resource Pty Ltd (Reserves 24786 and 32621, Banksia Road, Wellard) and also by Rocla (Lot 6 Banskia Road and Lots 300-301, Boomerang Rd, Oldbury), and ask:
(a) is it true that the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has rejected Rocla’s application for clearing native vegetation and that this organisation is now appealing this decision;
(b) when is a decision expected on this appeal;
(c) has Urban Resources applied for clearing native vegetation; and
(i) if so, has it been approved or rejected by DEC;
(d) have either of these companies undertaken full seasonal flora and fauna studies of these sites;
(e) is the Minister aware that the Town of Kwinana has rejected previous applications for a sand mine on the Urban Resources site four times, and that the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale has rejected previous applications on the Rocla site twice;
(f) given the presence of highly endangered Carnaby’s Cockatoos on these sites, have they both been referred for assessment under the federal
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
; and
(g) can the Minister advise the current status of both of these sand mine applications?
(a) is it true that the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) has rejected Rocla’s application for clearing native vegetation and that this organisation is now appealing this decision;
(b) when is a decision expected on this appeal;
(c) has Urban Resources applied for clearing native vegetation; and
(i) if so, has it been approved or rejected by DEC;
(d) have either of these companies undertaken full seasonal flora and fauna studies of these sites;
(e) is the Minister aware that the Town of Kwinana has rejected previous applications for a sand mine on the Urban Resources site four times, and that the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale has rejected previous applications on the Rocla site twice;
(f) given the presence of highly endangered Carnaby’s Cockatoos on these sites, have they both been referred for assessment under the federal
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
; and
(g) can the Minister advise the current status of both of these sand mine applications?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 June 2010
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
33 days
(a) Rocla submitted an appeal against the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) decision of 15 October 2009 to refuse its application to clear 24.8 hectares of native vegetation.
(b) The matter is currently being investigated by the Appeals Convenor. I understand that his investigations are nearing a conclusion. I am expecting a report from the Appeals Convenor within the coming weeks for my consideration.
(c) I am advised that an application was received by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) on 21 January 2009, in accordance with a delegation of the clearing provisions of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
(EP Act) between DEC and DMP.
(i) The application was declined by DMP on 19 February 2009, in accordance with section 51E(3) of the EP Act, as Urban Resources Pty Ltd did not have legal access to the land where the applied clearing was to occur.
(d) I am advised that several flora reports were prepared for both companies.
(e) In relation to the property subject to the Urban Resources sand mining application, I am aware that the Town of Kwinanahas both opposed and endorsed the grant of the mining lease on separate occasions. However, I refer Mr Cook to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum for details on this matter. In relation to the Rocla site, I understand that an earlier application over a smaller part of the site by a different proponent was refused by the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale.
(f) Details as to whether a proposal has been referred as a controlled action under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
is a matter for the Commonwealth. The obligation to refer a proposal to the Commonwealth rests with the proponent, not State agencies. I am unaware as to whether either proposal has been referred to the Commonwealth.
(g) I can advise that the current application for sand mining by Urban Resources on Mining Lease M70/915 is still under consideration by DMP. I refer Mr Cook to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum for further advice on this matter.
I am not aware if the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale has granted an extractive industry licence for the proposed sand mine by Rocla. I am aware that this property is not the subject of an application for a mining lease.
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(b) The matter is currently being investigated by the Appeals Convenor. I understand that his investigations are nearing a conclusion. I am expecting a report from the Appeals Convenor within the coming weeks for my consideration.
(c) I am advised that an application was received by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) on 21 January 2009, in accordance with a delegation of the clearing provisions of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
(EP Act) between DEC and DMP.
(i) The application was declined by DMP on 19 February 2009, in accordance with section 51E(3) of the EP Act, as Urban Resources Pty Ltd did not have legal access to the land where the applied clearing was to occur.
(d) I am advised that several flora reports were prepared for both companies.
(e) In relation to the property subject to the Urban Resources sand mining application, I am aware that the Town of Kwinanahas both opposed and endorsed the grant of the mining lease on separate occasions. However, I refer Mr Cook to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum for details on this matter. In relation to the Rocla site, I understand that an earlier application over a smaller part of the site by a different proponent was refused by the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale.
(f) Details as to whether a proposal has been referred as a controlled action under the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
is a matter for the Commonwealth. The obligation to refer a proposal to the Commonwealth rests with the proponent, not State agencies. I am unaware as to whether either proposal has been referred to the Commonwealth.
(g) I can advise that the current application for sand mining by Urban Resources on Mining Lease M70/915 is still under consideration by DMP. I refer Mr Cook to the Minister for Mines and Petroleum for further advice on this matter.
I am not aware if the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale has granted an extractive industry licence for the proposed sand mine by Rocla. I am aware that this property is not the subject of an application for a mining lease.
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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