❓ A parliamentary question regarding the South Coast Marine Park planning process, focusing on community concerns and adherence to statutory processes. The Minister's response defends the consultation process and highlights potential economic benefits, while also criticising the opposition's consultation practices.
AnsweredQoN 426Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTH COAST MARINE PARK
426. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the petition tabled in
the Legislative Council on 13 June 2024 by Hon Colin de Grussa, calling for a halt
to the south coast marine park, an inquiry into the Cook Labor government's
adherence to statutory processes, the extent
of influence wielded by external lobby groups on the planning process and the
lack of scientific and socio- economic data and research to underpin the
indicative management plans for the four proposed marine parks.
(1) In light of
the almost 6 000 signatories to the petition and the ongoing rallies against
the marine park in Esperance, does the minister accept the need for a review of
the entire marine park planning process?
(2) Is this just
another example of this arrogant Labor government ramming through an
ideologically driven policy at the expense of regional communities?
426. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the petition tabled in
the Legislative Council on 13 June 2024 by Hon Colin de Grussa, calling for a halt
to the south coast marine park, an inquiry into the Cook Labor government's
adherence to statutory processes, the extent
of influence wielded by external lobby groups on the planning process and the
lack of scientific and socio- economic data and research to underpin the
indicative management plans for the four proposed marine parks.
(1) In light of
the almost 6 000 signatories to the petition and the ongoing rallies against
the marine park in Esperance, does the minister accept the need for a review of
the entire marine park planning process?
(2) Is this just
another example of this arrogant Labor government ramming through an
ideologically driven policy at the expense of regional communities?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
could start by talking about consulting communities with a reference to what
was announced for Collie overnight. With
absolutely no contact with the community—just in the dead of night—it
is getting a nuclear power station! That is the standard of consultation
and collaboration with the community that we see from the other side. I could
talk about that. Maybe I will talk about it later.
What a cheek! Honestly, what an
absolute cheek the member has, coming in here today after what he and his partners proposed for Collie. Without even
visiting the town or conducting any consultation whatsoever , a nuclear
power station will be built in the middle of the community. Done deal. That is
how the member consults. Okay, we do it differently. We have bent over
backwards, and we are very happy to do so, on the
extent of consultation in the south coast marine park process. I do not know
what the Nationals WA are protesting about because we are not at the end
of the process. They are not able to see the outcome. They are obviously frozen
by ideology, so they are going to oppose it and condemn it no matter what.
There is a process. It has run for a month
longer, in terms of public comment that is statutorily required. It has been
done in a period to ensure we miss Christmas and the new year, so we have moved
it forward and extended it. We have opened
shopfronts in Esperance, which the member would know about. We had experts from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and
we invited the community into an office where they could look at a big screen
and get into the granular detail of what the proposal looks like. There has also been enormous contact through public
information and social media at all levels . We did not put
misinformation out in a leaflet like the member did with his mate, Hon Colin de
Grussa, misrepresenting what was being proposed and stirring up the angst of
local community members who were writing to me in protest at what they were
doing.
There is a process. I am very
proud of the process. Yes, there are emotions. Yes, there are people who have
alternative views. There are some people who simply do not want a marine park.
This government is committed to getting the right balance and the best possible
outcome. I want a marine park that works for the community. It will bring the
member's community great benefit in the long and short term.
As we saw in Exmouth with the Ningaloo
Marine Park, there was $100 million of economic activity and businesses flourished. We would be hard-pressed to
find anyone up there prepared to question the presence of that marine park. Things got pretty ugly in
Exmouth 20 years ago. People rammed the DBCA office and waved nooses around; they were angry. I am sure
people up there were stirring up that anxiety unnecessarily . Twenty
years later, we would not find anyone who would talk down the marine park. It
is successful; it protects biodiversity and business; and it encourages
business.
The
south coast marine park will provide an amazing opportunity to protect a unique
biodiverse environment, the likes of which does not exist anywhere else
on the planet. Businesses will have opportunities to thrive. We are working very closely with commercial
fishers and abalone fisheries. We are looking at the granular detail. We are looking at the maps. People are
coming to us and talking to our officers, saying, ''If we move that there, I will be able to go in there and I will be happy with that.''
It is a matter of give and take, it is constructive and it is about striking
the right balance.
I
do not have the letter in front of me but a long list of business owners in
Bremer Bay wrote to me recently , saying, ''We like what the
proposal looks like now; please don't reduce the sanctuary zones any
further.'' These are owners of caravan parks, bait and tackle shops,
earthmoving businesses and accommodation providers—people involved in a
range of businesses in Bremer Bay—who realise the value of the marine
park and want those values protected.
I will not jump the gun. I will
not pre-judge this. We had enormous input to the public comment process, with about 20 000 submissions—an
indication that people have had plenty of opportunity to have their say . We will get the right balance for business,
community, conservationists and traditional owners—everyone.
could start by talking about consulting communities with a reference to what
was announced for Collie overnight. With
absolutely no contact with the community—just in the dead of night—it
is getting a nuclear power station! That is the standard of consultation
and collaboration with the community that we see from the other side. I could
talk about that. Maybe I will talk about it later.
What a cheek! Honestly, what an
absolute cheek the member has, coming in here today after what he and his partners proposed for Collie. Without even
visiting the town or conducting any consultation whatsoever , a nuclear
power station will be built in the middle of the community. Done deal. That is
how the member consults. Okay, we do it differently. We have bent over
backwards, and we are very happy to do so, on the
extent of consultation in the south coast marine park process. I do not know
what the Nationals WA are protesting about because we are not at the end
of the process. They are not able to see the outcome. They are obviously frozen
by ideology, so they are going to oppose it and condemn it no matter what.
There is a process. It has run for a month
longer, in terms of public comment that is statutorily required. It has been
done in a period to ensure we miss Christmas and the new year, so we have moved
it forward and extended it. We have opened
shopfronts in Esperance, which the member would know about. We had experts from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and
we invited the community into an office where they could look at a big screen
and get into the granular detail of what the proposal looks like. There has also been enormous contact through public
information and social media at all levels . We did not put
misinformation out in a leaflet like the member did with his mate, Hon Colin de
Grussa, misrepresenting what was being proposed and stirring up the angst of
local community members who were writing to me in protest at what they were
doing.
There is a process. I am very
proud of the process. Yes, there are emotions. Yes, there are people who have
alternative views. There are some people who simply do not want a marine park.
This government is committed to getting the right balance and the best possible
outcome. I want a marine park that works for the community. It will bring the
member's community great benefit in the long and short term.
As we saw in Exmouth with the Ningaloo
Marine Park, there was $100 million of economic activity and businesses flourished. We would be hard-pressed to
find anyone up there prepared to question the presence of that marine park. Things got pretty ugly in
Exmouth 20 years ago. People rammed the DBCA office and waved nooses around; they were angry. I am sure
people up there were stirring up that anxiety unnecessarily . Twenty
years later, we would not find anyone who would talk down the marine park. It
is successful; it protects biodiversity and business; and it encourages
business.
The
south coast marine park will provide an amazing opportunity to protect a unique
biodiverse environment, the likes of which does not exist anywhere else
on the planet. Businesses will have opportunities to thrive. We are working very closely with commercial
fishers and abalone fisheries. We are looking at the granular detail. We are looking at the maps. People are
coming to us and talking to our officers, saying, ''If we move that there, I will be able to go in there and I will be happy with that.''
It is a matter of give and take, it is constructive and it is about striking
the right balance.
I
do not have the letter in front of me but a long list of business owners in
Bremer Bay wrote to me recently , saying, ''We like what the
proposal looks like now; please don't reduce the sanctuary zones any
further.'' These are owners of caravan parks, bait and tackle shops,
earthmoving businesses and accommodation providers—people involved in a
range of businesses in Bremer Bay—who realise the value of the marine
park and want those values protected.
I will not jump the gun. I will
not pre-judge this. We had enormous input to the public comment process, with about 20 000 submissions—an
indication that people have had plenty of opportunity to have their say . We will get the right balance for business,
community, conservationists and traditional owners—everyone.
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