❓ The Minister for Environment approved the Worsley Alumina refinery expansion with environmental conditions and offsets, including land relinquishment, conservation area establishment, and contributions to jarrah forest conservation. The expansion is expected to create jobs and boost alumina production.
AnsweredQoN 164Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PROJECT DECISIONS - ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENTS
Can the minister advise whether he has made any decisions on projects that will also have major environmental and conservation improvements associated with those decisions? Mr M. McGOWAN
Can the minister advise whether he has made any decisions on projects that will also have major environmental and conservation improvements associated with those decisions? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
Today I have given approval for Worsley Alumina to expand its Collie refinery to increase production from 3.7 million tonnes per annum to 4.4 million tonnes per annum, and to the associated expansion of areas subject to bauxite mining, including state forest. The upgrade will see the production of the refinery grow by around one million tonnes of alumina a year and represents a $900 million capital investment by Worsley. Up to 1 000 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project, along with an additional 70 permanent operational jobs. My approval will, however, see a comprehensive package of environmental conditions applied to the project. These relate to the further assessment and management of the impact of mining on areas of state forest and other vegetation, post-mining rehabilitation, air quality management, water supply protection and greenhouse gas emissions. Worsley currently provides a number of direct and indirect environmental offsets in relation to project impact on biodiversity. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why is the Minister for the Environment making this announcement when the minister responsible is sitting over there? The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: Today I have given approval for Worsley Alumina to expand its Collie refinery to increase production from 3.7 million tonnes per annum to 4.4 million tonnes per annum, and to the associated expansion of areas subject to bauxite mining, including state forest. The upgrade will see the production of the refinery grow by around one million tonnes of alumina a year and represents a $900 million capital investment by Worsley. Up to 1 000 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project, along with an additional 70 permanent operational jobs. My approval will, however, see a comprehensive package of environmental conditions applied to the project. These relate to the further assessment and management of the impact of mining on areas of state forest and other vegetation, post-mining rehabilitation, air quality management, water supply protection and greenhouse gas emissions. Worsley currently provides a number of direct and indirect environmental offsets in relation to project impact on biodiversity. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why is the Minister for the Environment making this announcement when the minister responsible is sitting over there? The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
Today I have given approval for Worsley Alumina to expand its Collie refinery to increase production from 3.7 million tonnes per annum to 4.4 million tonnes per annum, and to the associated expansion of areas subject to bauxite mining, including state forest. The upgrade will see the production of the refinery grow by around one million tonnes of alumina a year and represents a $900 million capital investment by Worsley. Up to 1 000 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project, along with an additional 70 permanent operational jobs. My approval will, however, see a comprehensive package of environmental conditions applied to the project. These relate to the further assessment and management of the impact of mining on areas of state forest and other vegetation, post-mining rehabilitation, air quality management, water supply protection and greenhouse gas emissions. Worsley currently provides a number of direct and indirect environmental offsets in relation to project impact on biodiversity. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why is the Minister for the Environment making this announcement when the minister responsible is sitting over there? The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Why is the Minister for the Environment making this announcement when the minister responsible is sitting over there? The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: Today I have given approval for Worsley Alumina to expand its Collie refinery to increase production from 3.7 million tonnes per annum to 4.4 million tonnes per annum, and to the associated expansion of areas subject to bauxite mining, including state forest. The upgrade will see the production of the refinery grow by around one million tonnes of alumina a year and represents a $900 million capital investment by Worsley. Up to 1 000 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project, along with an additional 70 permanent operational jobs. My approval will, however, see a comprehensive package of environmental conditions applied to the project. These relate to the further assessment and management of the impact of mining on areas of state forest and other vegetation, post-mining rehabilitation, air quality management, water supply protection and greenhouse gas emissions. Worsley currently provides a number of direct and indirect environmental offsets in relation to project impact on biodiversity. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why is the Minister for the Environment making this announcement when the minister responsible is sitting over there? The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
Today I have given approval for Worsley Alumina to expand its Collie refinery to increase production from 3.7 million tonnes per annum to 4.4 million tonnes per annum, and to the associated expansion of areas subject to bauxite mining, including state forest. The upgrade will see the production of the refinery grow by around one million tonnes of alumina a year and represents a $900 million capital investment by Worsley. Up to 1 000 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project, along with an additional 70 permanent operational jobs. My approval will, however, see a comprehensive package of environmental conditions applied to the project. These relate to the further assessment and management of the impact of mining on areas of state forest and other vegetation, post-mining rehabilitation, air quality management, water supply protection and greenhouse gas emissions. Worsley currently provides a number of direct and indirect environmental offsets in relation to project impact on biodiversity. Mr P.D. Omodei : Why is the Minister for the Environment making this announcement when the minister responsible is sitting over there? The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Why is the Minister for the Environment making this announcement when the minister responsible is sitting over there? The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call the Leader of the Opposition to order for the first time. Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
Mr M. McGOWAN : These offsets include compensation payments to the Department of Conservation and Land Management for areas of state forest cleared. Following the proposed expansion, these payments will average $1.2 million per annum. They also include the relinquishment of approximately 20 439 hectares of land to date for conservation purposes; involvement in programs such as weed and feral animal control, and CALM’s Western Shield program; and active research programs focusing on continuous improvement of rehabilitation of mining areas. As part of the approval for the expansion, Worsley has agreed to expand its offsets program and add the following initiatives: the establishment of additional conservation areas comprising bushland on private land, equal to the area of state forest disturbed in the proposed new mining areas, or approximately 5 000 additional hectares; the establishment of up to $1 million over 10 years for catchment and landscape enhancement on previously cleared land within the region; and an additional contribution to programs for jarrah forest conservation initiatives, including research of jarrah forests, biodiversity values, forest disease management, and flora and fauna conservation programs, including additional contributions to the Western Shield program. These are on top of the requirements for rehabilitation of areas mined by the company. This is a great example of how a major project approval can provide additional conservation and environmental benefits.
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