❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses delays in the EPA assessment of a limestone and sand extraction proposal at Preston Beach, questioning the reasons for the prolonged process and lack of prioritisation given lime shortages.
AnsweredQoN 2006Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the application to extract limestone and sand at Lot 1002 Preston Beach Road North, Preston Beach which has come under Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) assessment No. 2095, and I ask: (a) can you confirm that this proposal was first referred to the EPA in 2016; (b) can you confirm that the decision to assess this proposal as a Public Environmental Review (PER) was released on the 3 October 2016; (c) has the proponent worked with the EPA since 2016 to address issues examined in the PER; (d) why has it taken seven years to get to the point of the EPA continuing to ask for new or additional information; (e) is the Minister aware of the shortage of lime in Western Australia; and (f) if yes to (e), why has this project not been prioritised by the Government and the EPA?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 May 2024
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment
Response time
8 days
(a) The original limestone extraction proposal for Lots 1001 and 1002 Preston Beach Road North was referred to the EPA in August 2013. The EPA Chair at the time determined that the proposal did not warrant formal assessment. After appeals, in September 2015 the then Minister for Environment, the Hon Albert Jacob MLA determined to remit the proposal to the EPA for ‘detailed assessment’. This proposal is a revision of the former proposal and was referred to the EPA for Lot 1002 Preston Beach Road North in 2016.
(b) Yes. The EPA Chair at the time determined to undertake a detailed assessment.
(c) I have been advised that the assessment has been inactive while the EPA was awaiting further information. This includes the EPA awaiting advice on whether a referral was to be made under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . The proposal was also subject to pauses between May 2019 and March 2022 while the EPA was awaiting the proponent to develop the Environmental Review Document for public comment.
(d) I have been advised that the proponent has not addressed concerns raised by the local government authority and key government departments adequately following comments during the public review.
(e – f) Under the Cook Labor Government’s commitment to streamline WA’s environmental approvals framework, additional resourcing and new processes are being implemented to ensure assessments can be progressed in a more timely manner
(b) Yes. The EPA Chair at the time determined to undertake a detailed assessment.
(c) I have been advised that the assessment has been inactive while the EPA was awaiting further information. This includes the EPA awaiting advice on whether a referral was to be made under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . The proposal was also subject to pauses between May 2019 and March 2022 while the EPA was awaiting the proponent to develop the Environmental Review Document for public comment.
(d) I have been advised that the proponent has not addressed concerns raised by the local government authority and key government departments adequately following comments during the public review.
(e – f) Under the Cook Labor Government’s commitment to streamline WA’s environmental approvals framework, additional resourcing and new processes are being implemented to ensure assessments can be progressed in a more timely manner
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