ASIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY
HUB
365. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the recent decision by
the Australian federal government's Department of Agriculture, Water
and the Environment deeming the revised Asian renewable energy hub to be ''clearly
unacceptable'' due to its impact on the nearby Eighty Mile Beach and
migratory bird species.
(1) Considering this result, will
the state public environmental review for this project be going ahead; and
(a) if not, why not; and
(b) if yes, does the minister have an estimated time
of arrival for the environmental review document?
(2) Will
negotiations with the federal government be ongoing; and, if not, will the
minister encourage the proponent to resubmit?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Environment.
(1)–(2) The state environmental impact assessment is being
undertaken by the independent Environmental Protection Authority. I am advised that since the decision of
the commonwealth Minister for the Environment, the EPA has been in contact with
the proponent. I understand the proponent intends to meet with the commonwealth
Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment to discuss the implications of
the decision and options for progressing the proposal. Following this meeting,
the EPA will be in a position to consider the scope and timing of the state
assessment.