❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the Rottnest Island Authority's functions, focusing on environmental conservation, development proposals, coastal erosion at Pinky's Beach, and associated reports. The Minister provided answers to most questions, citing Standing Orders for declining to answer some.
AnsweredQoN 2529Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the functions of the Rottnest Island Authority under the Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987 (the Act), and I ask: (a) which member of the Rottnest Island Authority has the Minister appointed under section 6(2)(a) of the Act; which is "one member is a person who in the opinion of the Minister has practical knowledge of and experience in the conservation of the environment"; (b) what qualifications does that person hold that led to the Minister forming that opinion; (c) has the Rottnest Island Authority and/or the Government considered any development proposal outside section 14(1)(a) of the Act, which requires that the Authority "shall not provide any living accommodation on the island except in the settlement area"; (d) does temporary or visitor accommodation come under the definition of "living accommodation", as defined under section 14(1)(a) of the Act; (e) has the Minister declared any additional areas of Rottnest Island as part of the settlement area, under section 14(4) of the Act; (f) has the Rottnest Island Authority or the Government observed any coastal erosion at Pinky's Beach on Rottnest Island, and if so, what actions have been taken to ameliorate that erosion; (g) if yes to (f), what liability does the Government face if coastal erosion reaches the camping area, and how has the Government managed that liability; (h) what correspondence has the Rottnest Island Authority or the Government received from the Rottnest Island Authority on these issues, and what response was provided; and (i) what environmental and planning reports did the Rottnest Island Authority or the Government receive on the proposal for camping at Pinky's Bay, and will the Minister please table those reports?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
31 October 2019
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development representing the Minister for Tourism
Response time
10 days
(a) Ms Hannah Fitzhardinge.
(b) Ms Fitzhardinge has held positions requiring her to seek conservation outcomes and achieve environmental approvals, which in the opinion of the Minister for Tourism related to Ms Fitzhardinge having practical knowledge of and experience in the conservation of the environment.
(c) No Development Applications have been considered.
(d) The question contravenes Standing Order 105(1)(b) in that it seeks a legal interpretation or opinion.
(e) No.
(f) Yes. Two beach accessways to Pinky Beach sustained minor erosion damage during a storm event in June 2019 with sand washed away from footings. Sand and limestone rubble were brought in to replace the material washed away during the storm.
(g) This question contravenes Standing Order 105(1)(b) in that it seeks a legal interpretation or opinion.
(h) See tabled paper no #
(i) The proponent submitted a Dune Morphology Assessment to the Rottnest Island Authority and an Environmental Significance Report to the Environmental Protection Authority, the outcome of which was that the development did not require assessment under Sections 4 and 5 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 . See tabled paper no #
(b) Ms Fitzhardinge has held positions requiring her to seek conservation outcomes and achieve environmental approvals, which in the opinion of the Minister for Tourism related to Ms Fitzhardinge having practical knowledge of and experience in the conservation of the environment.
(c) No Development Applications have been considered.
(d) The question contravenes Standing Order 105(1)(b) in that it seeks a legal interpretation or opinion.
(e) No.
(f) Yes. Two beach accessways to Pinky Beach sustained minor erosion damage during a storm event in June 2019 with sand washed away from footings. Sand and limestone rubble were brought in to replace the material washed away during the storm.
(g) This question contravenes Standing Order 105(1)(b) in that it seeks a legal interpretation or opinion.
(h) See tabled paper no #
(i) The proponent submitted a Dune Morphology Assessment to the Rottnest Island Authority and an Environmental Significance Report to the Environmental Protection Authority, the outcome of which was that the development did not require assessment under Sections 4 and 5 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 . See tabled paper no #
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.