❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the granting of a clearing permit to the Kimberley Port Authority (KPA) while investigations into alleged unauthorised clearing are ongoing, raising concerns about environmental impacts and regulatory enforcement. The Minister defends the decision based on DER's assessment and lack of evidence implicating KPA.
AnsweredQoN 2742Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the alleged unauthorised clearing of native vegetation in relation to CPS 3104-5 by the Kimberley Port Authority (KPA) in Broome, I ask: (a) why was a permit to clear native vegetation (CPS 6098/1) granted to the KPA while investigations into unauthorised clearing of native vegetation in relation to CPS 3104-5 are ongoing; (b) does the Minister agree that it would be better practice for the Department of Environment (DOE) to suspend all applications and permits to clear native vegetation pertaining to the KPA while investigations into alleged unauthorised clearing are proceeding; (c) if no to (b), what assurance will the Minister give to the public regarding the rigorous implementation of the DOE regulations and enforcement capacity in regard to CPS 3104-5 and CPS 6098/1; and (d) will the Minister rescind permit CPS 6098/1 in light of evidence that clearing in this sensitive area will have detrimental impacts on a nearby declared World Heritage property, an area included in the Register of the National Estate and a threatened ecological community and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 April 2015
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
42 days
(a) The Department of Environment Regulation (DER) granted clearing permit CPS 6098/1 on 22 January 2015 authorising the clearing of 1.84 hectares of native vegetation at Lot 621 on Deposited Plan 70861. In light of the proponent's management commitments, DER's assessment against the clearing principles in Schedule 5 of the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
determined that the environmental impacts associated with this clearing were acceptable.
(b) No. At the time of the application, and to date, no evidence had been obtained identifying Kimberley Port Authority as the culpable party.
(c) Compliance with the permits will be monitored as part of DER's 2015-16 Native Vegetation Compliance Program.
(d) No, see (a).
Environmental Protection Act 1986
determined that the environmental impacts associated with this clearing were acceptable.
(b) No. At the time of the application, and to date, no evidence had been obtained identifying Kimberley Port Authority as the culpable party.
(c) Compliance with the permits will be monitored as part of DER's 2015-16 Native Vegetation Compliance Program.
(d) No, see (a).
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.