A parliamentary question regarding the delayed signing of the Kurra Village lease renewal, despite a prior assurance from the Premier to BHP Billiton. The Minister clarifies the situation and outlines ongoing negotiations with BHP.

AnsweredQoN 177Legislative Assembly
Asked
24 March 2016
Portfolio
Lands

QuestionView source ↗

KURRA VILLAGE LEASE
177. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the Minister for
Lands:
I refer to the Kurra camp lease,
which was not signed by 30 December despite an assurance given by the Premier
to BHP Billiton.
(1) Is the lease currently
continuing in its existing terms?
(2) Has the minister signed the
renewal of the lease yet?
(3) If yes to
(2), what are the conditions; and, if no to (2), why is he defying the Premier's
agreement with BHP?

AnswerView source ↗

(1)–(3) I
thank the member for Cannington for the question. The first answer is that I have
not signed the lease. It is my understanding that under the provisions of the
state agreement it can continue to operate, but it has issues with tenure and,
of course, that applies to development approvals that it might want to get
through local government, for example. I have written to the new chief
executive officer of BHP who is responsible for iron ore in Western Australia
to seek his support for a 600-bed cap on beds in the Kurra lease. Hopefully, that
change in leadership might have a change in view.

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