❓ Hon Dee Margetts questions the Minister for the Environment and Heritage regarding pine plantation clearing near Yanchep Caves to address declining groundwater levels, following up on a previous answer concerning the impact of clearing on water levels and the Gnangara Mound. The answer reveals a conflict between environmental goals and timber supply commitments.
AnsweredQoN 734Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
In the Minister’s answer to a previous question on Wednesday, December 18 2002 it was stated that the Government’s analysis ‘ …shows that about 100 hectares of pines east of the Caves might be expected to raise water levels in monitoring bores close to the caves within approximately four years. By comparison, thinning of the pines in this area would show no positive gains in water levels near the caves in this timeframe.’ Given that, as the Minister also stated in that answer that ‘Groundwater levels on the Gnangara Mound are declining, putting significant pressure on groundwater dependent ecosystems.’ -
(1) Since the analysis of the impact of 1000 ha of pine plantation clearing referred to above was undertaken, has any of pine plantations east of the Yanchep Caves on the Gnangara Mound, been cleared yet?
(2) If the answer to question (1) is yes, what total area of pine plantation has been cleared so far, since that analysis was undertaken?
(3) Has an agreement between the relevant Government agencies been reached to clear 1000 ha of pine plantation east of the Yanchep Caves on the Gnangara mound, since the above mentioned analysis was undertaken?
(4) If the answer to question (3) is yes, when is this clearing scheduled to occur?
(5) If the answer to question (3) is no, why not and has an agreement between the relevant Government agencies been reached to clear any area of pine plantations east of the Yanchep Caves?
(6) If the answer to question (5) is yes, what total area of pine plantation clearing east of the Yanchep Caves has been agreed to, and when has it been scheduled to be cleared?
(1) Since the analysis of the impact of 1000 ha of pine plantation clearing referred to above was undertaken, has any of pine plantations east of the Yanchep Caves on the Gnangara Mound, been cleared yet?
(2) If the answer to question (1) is yes, what total area of pine plantation has been cleared so far, since that analysis was undertaken?
(3) Has an agreement between the relevant Government agencies been reached to clear 1000 ha of pine plantation east of the Yanchep Caves on the Gnangara mound, since the above mentioned analysis was undertaken?
(4) If the answer to question (3) is yes, when is this clearing scheduled to occur?
(5) If the answer to question (3) is no, why not and has an agreement between the relevant Government agencies been reached to clear any area of pine plantations east of the Yanchep Caves?
(6) If the answer to question (5) is yes, what total area of pine plantation clearing east of the Yanchep Caves has been agreed to, and when has it been scheduled to be cleared?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 June 2003
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
34 days
(1) Yes (2) Two hundred hectares of pines east of the Yanchep caves were cleared by the Forest Products Commission (FPC) in July/August 2002. (3) No (4) Not applicable (5) The FPC had concerns that any further clear-felling of pines would reduce timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound to the point where it would jeopardise FPC’s ability to meet the State Agreement Act commitments to supply timber to Wesbeam over the next 25 years. The FPC carried out an inventory in late 2002 to check existing timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound and is currently conducting modelling to analyse whether the volumes will be sufficient to meet the State Agreement Act commitments. Preliminary results of the modelling indicate that any additional premature clear-felling of pines in the Yanchep caves area will render the FPC unable to meet its commitments to Wesbeam. The FPC is currently estimating the potential economic cost of not meeting its the State Agreement Act commitments, if it is required to prematurely clear-fell around the Yanchep Caves. The relevant agencies are waiting on the outcome of the FPC’s analyses before negotiations on further clearing can proceed. Given the four year period before any response to clearing could be expected, the State agencies are trialing artificial maintenance of groundwater levels near the caves. (6) Not applicable
(2) Two hundred hectares of pines east of the Yanchep caves were cleared by the Forest Products Commission (FPC) in July/August 2002. (3) No (4) Not applicable (5) The FPC had concerns that any further clear-felling of pines would reduce timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound to the point where it would jeopardise FPC’s ability to meet the State Agreement Act commitments to supply timber to Wesbeam over the next 25 years. The FPC carried out an inventory in late 2002 to check existing timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound and is currently conducting modelling to analyse whether the volumes will be sufficient to meet the State Agreement Act commitments. Preliminary results of the modelling indicate that any additional premature clear-felling of pines in the Yanchep caves area will render the FPC unable to meet its commitments to Wesbeam. The FPC is currently estimating the potential economic cost of not meeting its the State Agreement Act commitments, if it is required to prematurely clear-fell around the Yanchep Caves. The relevant agencies are waiting on the outcome of the FPC’s analyses before negotiations on further clearing can proceed. Given the four year period before any response to clearing could be expected, the State agencies are trialing artificial maintenance of groundwater levels near the caves. (6) Not applicable
(3) No (4) Not applicable (5) The FPC had concerns that any further clear-felling of pines would reduce timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound to the point where it would jeopardise FPC’s ability to meet the State Agreement Act commitments to supply timber to Wesbeam over the next 25 years. The FPC carried out an inventory in late 2002 to check existing timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound and is currently conducting modelling to analyse whether the volumes will be sufficient to meet the State Agreement Act commitments. Preliminary results of the modelling indicate that any additional premature clear-felling of pines in the Yanchep caves area will render the FPC unable to meet its commitments to Wesbeam. The FPC is currently estimating the potential economic cost of not meeting its the State Agreement Act commitments, if it is required to prematurely clear-fell around the Yanchep Caves. The relevant agencies are waiting on the outcome of the FPC’s analyses before negotiations on further clearing can proceed. Given the four year period before any response to clearing could be expected, the State agencies are trialing artificial maintenance of groundwater levels near the caves. (6) Not applicable
(4) Not applicable (5) The FPC had concerns that any further clear-felling of pines would reduce timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound to the point where it would jeopardise FPC’s ability to meet the State Agreement Act commitments to supply timber to Wesbeam over the next 25 years. The FPC carried out an inventory in late 2002 to check existing timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound and is currently conducting modelling to analyse whether the volumes will be sufficient to meet the State Agreement Act commitments. Preliminary results of the modelling indicate that any additional premature clear-felling of pines in the Yanchep caves area will render the FPC unable to meet its commitments to Wesbeam. The FPC is currently estimating the potential economic cost of not meeting its the State Agreement Act commitments, if it is required to prematurely clear-fell around the Yanchep Caves. The relevant agencies are waiting on the outcome of the FPC’s analyses before negotiations on further clearing can proceed. Given the four year period before any response to clearing could be expected, the State agencies are trialing artificial maintenance of groundwater levels near the caves. (6) Not applicable
(5) The FPC had concerns that any further clear-felling of pines would reduce timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound to the point where it would jeopardise FPC’s ability to meet the State Agreement Act commitments to supply timber to Wesbeam over the next 25 years. The FPC carried out an inventory in late 2002 to check existing timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound and is currently conducting modelling to analyse whether the volumes will be sufficient to meet the State Agreement Act commitments. Preliminary results of the modelling indicate that any additional premature clear-felling of pines in the Yanchep caves area will render the FPC unable to meet its commitments to Wesbeam. The FPC is currently estimating the potential economic cost of not meeting its the State Agreement Act commitments, if it is required to prematurely clear-fell around the Yanchep Caves. The relevant agencies are waiting on the outcome of the FPC’s analyses before negotiations on further clearing can proceed. Given the four year period before any response to clearing could be expected, the State agencies are trialing artificial maintenance of groundwater levels near the caves. (6) Not applicable
(6) Not applicable
(2) Two hundred hectares of pines east of the Yanchep caves were cleared by the Forest Products Commission (FPC) in July/August 2002. (3) No (4) Not applicable (5) The FPC had concerns that any further clear-felling of pines would reduce timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound to the point where it would jeopardise FPC’s ability to meet the State Agreement Act commitments to supply timber to Wesbeam over the next 25 years. The FPC carried out an inventory in late 2002 to check existing timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound and is currently conducting modelling to analyse whether the volumes will be sufficient to meet the State Agreement Act commitments. Preliminary results of the modelling indicate that any additional premature clear-felling of pines in the Yanchep caves area will render the FPC unable to meet its commitments to Wesbeam. The FPC is currently estimating the potential economic cost of not meeting its the State Agreement Act commitments, if it is required to prematurely clear-fell around the Yanchep Caves. The relevant agencies are waiting on the outcome of the FPC’s analyses before negotiations on further clearing can proceed. Given the four year period before any response to clearing could be expected, the State agencies are trialing artificial maintenance of groundwater levels near the caves. (6) Not applicable
(3) No (4) Not applicable (5) The FPC had concerns that any further clear-felling of pines would reduce timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound to the point where it would jeopardise FPC’s ability to meet the State Agreement Act commitments to supply timber to Wesbeam over the next 25 years. The FPC carried out an inventory in late 2002 to check existing timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound and is currently conducting modelling to analyse whether the volumes will be sufficient to meet the State Agreement Act commitments. Preliminary results of the modelling indicate that any additional premature clear-felling of pines in the Yanchep caves area will render the FPC unable to meet its commitments to Wesbeam. The FPC is currently estimating the potential economic cost of not meeting its the State Agreement Act commitments, if it is required to prematurely clear-fell around the Yanchep Caves. The relevant agencies are waiting on the outcome of the FPC’s analyses before negotiations on further clearing can proceed. Given the four year period before any response to clearing could be expected, the State agencies are trialing artificial maintenance of groundwater levels near the caves. (6) Not applicable
(4) Not applicable (5) The FPC had concerns that any further clear-felling of pines would reduce timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound to the point where it would jeopardise FPC’s ability to meet the State Agreement Act commitments to supply timber to Wesbeam over the next 25 years. The FPC carried out an inventory in late 2002 to check existing timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound and is currently conducting modelling to analyse whether the volumes will be sufficient to meet the State Agreement Act commitments. Preliminary results of the modelling indicate that any additional premature clear-felling of pines in the Yanchep caves area will render the FPC unable to meet its commitments to Wesbeam. The FPC is currently estimating the potential economic cost of not meeting its the State Agreement Act commitments, if it is required to prematurely clear-fell around the Yanchep Caves. The relevant agencies are waiting on the outcome of the FPC’s analyses before negotiations on further clearing can proceed. Given the four year period before any response to clearing could be expected, the State agencies are trialing artificial maintenance of groundwater levels near the caves. (6) Not applicable
(5) The FPC had concerns that any further clear-felling of pines would reduce timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound to the point where it would jeopardise FPC’s ability to meet the State Agreement Act commitments to supply timber to Wesbeam over the next 25 years. The FPC carried out an inventory in late 2002 to check existing timber volumes on the Gnangara Mound and is currently conducting modelling to analyse whether the volumes will be sufficient to meet the State Agreement Act commitments. Preliminary results of the modelling indicate that any additional premature clear-felling of pines in the Yanchep caves area will render the FPC unable to meet its commitments to Wesbeam. The FPC is currently estimating the potential economic cost of not meeting its the State Agreement Act commitments, if it is required to prematurely clear-fell around the Yanchep Caves. The relevant agencies are waiting on the outcome of the FPC’s analyses before negotiations on further clearing can proceed. Given the four year period before any response to clearing could be expected, the State agencies are trialing artificial maintenance of groundwater levels near the caves. (6) Not applicable
(6) Not applicable
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