❓ Mrs Roberts questions the Minister for Environment regarding the environmental approval process for an Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council pyrolysis plant, specifically concerning public review and proximity to the CBD. The Minister defends the process and accuses Mrs Roberts of political motivation.
AnsweredQoN 38Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EASTERN METROPOLITAN REGIONAL COUNCIL PYROLYSIS
PLANT —ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL
38. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for
Environment:
(1) Is the
Minister for Environment aware of a proposal for the Eastern Metropolitan
Regional Council to gain a works approval from the Department of Environment
Regulation for a pyrolysis plant without submitting that proposal to a full
public environmental review?
(2) Are any other pyrolysis plants
operating in WA; and if so, where?
(3) What can
the minister do to ensure a full PER for a facility that is proposed for a site
only 14 kilometres from the CBD?
PLANT —ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL
38. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for
Environment:
(1) Is the
Minister for Environment aware of a proposal for the Eastern Metropolitan
Regional Council to gain a works approval from the Department of Environment
Regulation for a pyrolysis plant without submitting that proposal to a full
public environmental review?
(2) Are any other pyrolysis plants
operating in WA; and if so, where?
(3) What can
the minister do to ensure a full PER for a facility that is proposed for a site
only 14 kilometres from the CBD?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
did catch the member for Midland's comment on this matter earlier. I
would have thought that someone who had been around in this game for a lot
longer than I would have a far better general understanding of the
environmental approvals process. Her reaction to this particular project might
have a little bit more to do with 23 votes in Midland rather than the issue
itself.
I absolutely recognise that there
is a level of community concern in and around this issue. Some of it has been
whipped up by the member for Midland, but that is recognised and we are only at
the very front end of this process. Typically, what will happen through the
process is that this particular project will be referred to the Environmental
Protection Authority. The EPA will consult publically for seven days on a
decision whether to assess and then make a decision on what level of assessment
it will apply. We are within that period right now and the EPA has not yet put
out its decision.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : That's
happened already. Are you aware of that?
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Yes, the EPA has done its period of public consultation. The member for Midland
arced up during the first two days of it; we are at the end of it now. The EPA
will now make a decision on whether to accept it and/or what level of
assessment it will make. If the EPA decides to assess it, it will go ahead and
do that. That is its prerogative. The Minister for Environment does not direct
the EPA; the EPA provides impartial and independent advice to the Minister for
Environment. If it decides not to assess it, the matter will be open for public
appeal, and that will go through the appeals process. That process also
includes a significant level of public consultation and engagement and that
would come up to me as Minister for Environment for a decision one way or the
other.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire : You give directives.
Mr A.P. JACOB : That is correct, member
for Gosnells.
If the EPA decides to assess it, either at the assessment on
proponent information or public environmental review level, that also at the
end of the process will have levels of public consultation often on the way
through, depending on the level, or at the end of that it is also open for
appeal for another two weeks and another round of public consultation. At that
point it will then come to me as Minister for Environment for a decision one
way or another.
did catch the member for Midland's comment on this matter earlier. I
would have thought that someone who had been around in this game for a lot
longer than I would have a far better general understanding of the
environmental approvals process. Her reaction to this particular project might
have a little bit more to do with 23 votes in Midland rather than the issue
itself.
I absolutely recognise that there
is a level of community concern in and around this issue. Some of it has been
whipped up by the member for Midland, but that is recognised and we are only at
the very front end of this process. Typically, what will happen through the
process is that this particular project will be referred to the Environmental
Protection Authority. The EPA will consult publically for seven days on a
decision whether to assess and then make a decision on what level of assessment
it will apply. We are within that period right now and the EPA has not yet put
out its decision.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : That's
happened already. Are you aware of that?
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Yes, the EPA has done its period of public consultation. The member for Midland
arced up during the first two days of it; we are at the end of it now. The EPA
will now make a decision on whether to accept it and/or what level of
assessment it will make. If the EPA decides to assess it, it will go ahead and
do that. That is its prerogative. The Minister for Environment does not direct
the EPA; the EPA provides impartial and independent advice to the Minister for
Environment. If it decides not to assess it, the matter will be open for public
appeal, and that will go through the appeals process. That process also
includes a significant level of public consultation and engagement and that
would come up to me as Minister for Environment for a decision one way or the
other.
Mr
C.J. Tallentire : You give directives.
Mr A.P. JACOB : That is correct, member
for Gosnells.
If the EPA decides to assess it, either at the assessment on
proponent information or public environmental review level, that also at the
end of the process will have levels of public consultation often on the way
through, depending on the level, or at the end of that it is also open for
appeal for another two weeks and another round of public consultation. At that
point it will then come to me as Minister for Environment for a decision one
way or another.
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