KIMBERLEY ASPARAGUS — DEVELOPMENT PLAN
PERMITS
703. Hon KEN BASTON to the minister representing the
Minister for Lands:
I refer to an article in The West Australian on 1 June
2017 regarding 683 hectares of land released by the Department of Lands at
Skuthorpe, 23 kilometres east of Broome, in 2016. Can the minister please
provide an update on the development status of this land release?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
On 9 March 2018, the Department of Planning, Lands and
Heritage extended the deed of option to lease by six months. Kimberley
Asparagus Pty Ltd requested this extension to complete the development plan,
obtain all necessary statutory approvals and consult with the native title
party on the location of access easements, the identification of shelterbelts
and trees to be protected. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
granted a clearing permit to Kimberley Asparagus on 17 November 2017, allowing
it to clear up to 165 hectares of native vegetation for horticultural purposes
on lots 505 to 509 fronting Broome Road; that is stage 1. Kimberley Asparagus
is in the process of seeking a licence from the Department of Water and
Environmental Regulation for one gigalitre of groundwater to support stage 1.