Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 2185

❓ Question regarding a proposal by the Shire of Esperance to clear 500,000 hectares of public land for agriculture, particularly concerning its location within the Great Western Woodlands and potential environmental impacts. The Minister clarifies the proposal's status and the government's due diligence process.

AnsweredQoN 2185Legislative Council

Asked

18 November 2014

Member

Hon Robin Chapple

Portfolio

Regional Development

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to a proposal by the Shire of Esperance to clear land for agriculture north of the town, and I ask: (a) is the Minister aware of a proposal from the Shire of Esperance for the allocation and clearing of public land for agricultural land releases north of Esperance; (b) is the Minister aware of a map provided to the Government by the Shire showing five separate locations for new agricultural land releases totalling 500,000 hectares; (c) can the Minister confirm that most, if not all the land identified by the Shire, is within the Great Western Woodlands as defined in the Government’s Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy Great Western Woodlands ; (d) is the Minister aware that the Department of Regional Development is providing advice to the Shire on how to go about securing new land releases in the north Esperance region: (i) if yes to (d), what does the advice say; and (ii) if yes to (d), will the Minister release this advice, and if not, why not; (e) given the massive clearing of native vegetation that has already occurred across the south west of Western Australia and the many long term environmental and sustainability problems this has caused, what is the Government’s policy on new agricultural land releases involving clearing of large areas of native vegetation in southern Western Australia, including areas that are recognised internationally as part of a "Global Biodiversity Hotspot" and come under the Government’s Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy Great Western Woodlands ; (f) is the Minister aware that some of the owners of land immediately adjacent to areas proposed for allocation by the Shire of Esperance, have received ex-gratia payments through his department due to that land’s unsuitability for agriculture: (i) can the Minister confirm how much money has been paid out for this reason; (g) does the Minister accept that Government has an obligation to ensure any land allocations for agricultural purposes are viable for that use and, that if they are subsequently shown to be unviable then Government carries an obligation to compensate landholders; (h) has the proposal for new large scale land clearing for agriculture as presented to the Government by the Shire of Esperance been referred to the Environmental Protection Authority and the Department of Parks and Wildlife for advice: (i) if no to (h), when will it be referred; and (i) will the Government be subjecting the proposal to an open, independent and expert cost-benefit study addressing the full range of economic, social and environmental factors prior to any Government endorsement of the proposal: (i) if no to (i), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

17 February 2015

Responded by

Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Regional Development

Response time

91 days

(a) The State Government is aware the proposal is contained in the Shire of Esperance's (Shire) Draft Esperance Region Economic Development Strategy (Strategy), which is yet to go through a public consultation phase before being finalised.
(b) Yes
(c) These areas were presented by the Shire as a hypothetical situation as part of the draft Strategy. Until a proper pre-feasibility study and appropriate due diligence is carried out, no locations have been locked in or supported by the State Government.
(d) Yes
(i) The Department of Regional Development (DRD) met with the Shire in late July 2014.
DRD provided advice to the Shire regarding the importance of thoroughly scoping the proposal through pre-feasibility and due diligence assessment, also understanding matters such as environmental impact, native title and cultural heritage before proceeding further and requesting any assistance or funding through the State Government. DRD also advised that local leadership and support for this proposal from traditional owners and the broader community would be essential if the proposal was to proceed.
(ii) DRD followed up the July 2014 meeting with an email in August 2014 reiterating the above advice. DRD has had no further contact from the Shire on the proposal since that time. Prior to a decision to release Crown land, the feasibility and appropriateness of a proposal and the benefit that may be achieved by release must be first investigated and assessed, including meeting any requirements under relevant legislation, such as planning and environmental laws, that might apply.
(e) The Department of Lands has advised that one lessee received an 'Act of Grace'
payment from the State in 2001 due to issues associated with salinity.
(i) The 'Act of Grace' payment was $500 000.
(f) Yes
(g) No
(i) Please refer to part (i)
(h) Should the Shire Council formally endorse the proposal and include it in its final strategy, the Shire would need to formally submit it for government consideration. If submitted to government the relevant agencies involved would then undertake the normal assessment and due diligence processes required and provide this advice to the relevant Ministers and Cabinet for consideration on whether to endorse and provide support for such a proposal.

View on Parliament of WA