STATE FOREST 39 — LEASE 2933/97
1011. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to ''Lease No.
2933/97: Water Drawing Sump and Associated Pipeline: Part of State Forest No.
39''.
(1) Is it standard practice to issue
leases for water access via a pipeline and sump from state forests?
(a) If no to (1), why was this lease
agreed to?
(b) If yes to
(1), how many leases of this type exist for areas of the forest in the south
west region?
(2) Is this lease
or any others referred to in part (1)(a) required to undergo an environmental
review of the impact on state forest during the course of the lease? If yes,
did this occur for the lease referred to; and, if yes, please table the review.
(3) What quantity of water is the
lessor permitted to take annually under this lease?
(4) Is the lessor permitted to sell
the water acquired under this lease to other users?
(5) Does the pipeline, including
where it crosses Gloucester Road, require planning approval?
(6) Will the
lessor pay all costs associated with the roadworks, construction of the
pipeline, installation of the pump and ongoing maintenance; and, if not, who
will bear the cost?
(7) How was the amount of $612 per
annum for the leased area of state forest determined?
The PRESIDENT: I will give
the call to the Minister for Environment, but I remind the member of standing
order 105 and the use of the word ''concise'' in relation to
questions.
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable
member for some notice of the question. As you pointed out, Madam President,
this is a seven-part question with two
subparts. It is quite a comprehensive answer, so I seek leave to incorporate it
into Hansard.
Leave granted.
The
following material was incorporated —
(1) Leases may be granted for water access from State
forest consistent with the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984
(CALM Act).
(a) Not
applicable.
(b) There are 84 leases for water and water-related
infrastructure on CALM Act land including for dams, pipelines, water tanks and
other water-related infrastructure, which are mainly in the south-west.
(2) It is a standard requirement of CALM Act leases that
the lessee obtains all relevant approvals, including any environmental
approvals. In considering Lease No. 2933/97 DBCA considered the possible
impacts of the lease on the flora and fauna of the area. The gaining of
environmental approvals and preparation of any environmental reviews is a matter
for the respective lessee.
(3)–(4) Issues relating to the quantity of
water, whether it can be sold and the requirements of the lessee under the Rights
in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 should be directed to the Minister
for Water.
(5) It is a standard requirement of CALM Act leases
that the lessee obtains all relevant approvals, including any planning
approvals.
(6) Under Lease No. 2933/97, the lessee is responsible
for meeting all costs and expenses associated with the lease.
(7) The rent for Lease No. 2933/97 is consistent with
the CALM Act lease rent schedule. The schedule defines an appropriate rent for
lease types based on a range of parameters including lease purpose and whether
it is of a commercial or non-commercial nature.