❓ Ms. Davies questions the Minister for Environment's decision regarding a proposed landfill near York. The Minister defends the process, highlighting past government involvement and assuring careful consideration.
AnsweredQoN 701Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY — ALKINA HOLDINGS PROJECT — YORK
701. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the minister's
recent decision to uphold the Environmental Protection Authority's
assessment and conclusion for the proposed tip at the entrance of the historic
York town site.
(1) Will the
minister please explain to this house and the community why he will not simply
put an end to this 10-year saga?
(2) If he is unable to, what is the
final decision-making process for this proposal, and who is responsible?
AGENCY — ALKINA HOLDINGS PROJECT — YORK
701. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the minister's
recent decision to uphold the Environmental Protection Authority's
assessment and conclusion for the proposed tip at the entrance of the historic
York town site.
(1) Will the
minister please explain to this house and the community why he will not simply
put an end to this 10-year saga?
(2) If he is unable to, what is the
final decision-making process for this proposal, and who is responsible?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. Sometimes I wonder whether it is a state
member of Parliament asking the question or a federal candidate, but anyway.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.R. WHITBY : I hope that
the member is completely honest in her forthcoming campaign about the process
here, and also about the background of this particular site. I can advise the
member that I have recently determined an appeal, which is part of the EPA
Appeals Convenor process, in relation to the assessment of the proposed great
southern landfill project at Allawuna Farm in York. In determining the appeal,
I am required to make a decision based on the factors that sit within the
Environmental Protection Authority's remit. This is a determination of
the appeal; it is not the final decision. I am glad we are both on that page.
This is not the final decision as minister.
As the member will be aware, there
is a process whereby the EPA considers the issues that sit in terms of the
environmental impact of this project, but then I am able to make a decision
considering other factors. Those other factors could include the broader
implications of approving the project, such as whether the proposal is
consistent with the needs of the region and the state's overall
aspiration to reduce reliance on the use of landfill, which is something that
this government is dedicated to reducing. I will consider those issues. I will
consult and consider the broader issues and implications of this project. That
is the process. What has happened to date does not constitute approval of the
project and the final decision in any way, so I will be very happy to consider
this. I will not rush it; I will be careful in considering this issue. It has
just come to me, and I will give it due respect in terms of process and
consideration.
But I find it interesting that the
member for Central Wheatbelt and the Nationals WA purport to be against this
project, because it was Hon Albert Jacob, a minister under the former Liberal–National
government, who first allowed this project to go ahead. In fact, the member for
Central Wheatbelt was at the cabinet table. If she had an issue with this project, I wonder whether we will
ever find out on the cabinet record—we will have to wait awhile —whether
she raised an objection. We will wait to hear that.
It was also the McGowan Labor
government in 2018 that actually overturned the Liberal Party's
decision to let this project go through without proper assessment and called
the project in for environmental authority review. The member's government approved it without an EPA process. We
came into government and thought, ''Hang on a minute; let's pull this back and have a proper
look at it.'' That is where we are at. I will make a careful and
considered judgement on this issue and give it the procedural fairness
that I am obligated to as minister.
thank the member for the question. Sometimes I wonder whether it is a state
member of Parliament asking the question or a federal candidate, but anyway.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.R. WHITBY : I hope that
the member is completely honest in her forthcoming campaign about the process
here, and also about the background of this particular site. I can advise the
member that I have recently determined an appeal, which is part of the EPA
Appeals Convenor process, in relation to the assessment of the proposed great
southern landfill project at Allawuna Farm in York. In determining the appeal,
I am required to make a decision based on the factors that sit within the
Environmental Protection Authority's remit. This is a determination of
the appeal; it is not the final decision. I am glad we are both on that page.
This is not the final decision as minister.
As the member will be aware, there
is a process whereby the EPA considers the issues that sit in terms of the
environmental impact of this project, but then I am able to make a decision
considering other factors. Those other factors could include the broader
implications of approving the project, such as whether the proposal is
consistent with the needs of the region and the state's overall
aspiration to reduce reliance on the use of landfill, which is something that
this government is dedicated to reducing. I will consider those issues. I will
consult and consider the broader issues and implications of this project. That
is the process. What has happened to date does not constitute approval of the
project and the final decision in any way, so I will be very happy to consider
this. I will not rush it; I will be careful in considering this issue. It has
just come to me, and I will give it due respect in terms of process and
consideration.
But I find it interesting that the
member for Central Wheatbelt and the Nationals WA purport to be against this
project, because it was Hon Albert Jacob, a minister under the former Liberal–National
government, who first allowed this project to go ahead. In fact, the member for
Central Wheatbelt was at the cabinet table. If she had an issue with this project, I wonder whether we will
ever find out on the cabinet record—we will have to wait awhile —whether
she raised an objection. We will wait to hear that.
It was also the McGowan Labor
government in 2018 that actually overturned the Liberal Party's
decision to let this project go through without proper assessment and called
the project in for environmental authority review. The member's government approved it without an EPA process. We
came into government and thought, ''Hang on a minute; let's pull this back and have a proper
look at it.'' That is where we are at. I will make a careful and
considered judgement on this issue and give it the procedural fairness
that I am obligated to as minister.
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