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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 2459 asked in the Legislative Council on 5 September 2019 by Hon Robin Chapple

Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

In relation to Yakka Munga Station, 037-19 Appeals Convenor Report and 037-19 Ministers Appeal Determination, I ask:
(a) what is the Minister's understanding of the method of provision of stock watering, such as bores, channels or canals;
(b) of the 120 hectares that have been cleared, how much of this was for water retention and how much was for roadways;
(c) does the Minister know of the extent of the proposed works that were curtailed by the vegetation conservation notice and, if so, what were they;
(d) prior to 7 June 2019, had Zenith Australia Investment Holding Pty Ltd or its agents or contractors had any discussions or made application with the Minister's department or the Pastoral Lands Board in respect of its land clearing proposals;
(e) if yes to (d), what were they, when did they occur and what response was given; and
(f) will Zenith Australia Investment Holding Pty Ltd or its agents or contractors now be required to rehabilitate the cleared land?

Answered on 17 October 2019

(a)-(b) The details about what Zenith Australia Investment Holding Pty Ltd (Zenith) proposed in respect to these matters is extracted from page 7 of the Appeals Convenor’s Report to me. This includes: ‘a nominal 2.5 m-deep water drainage and stock watering channel following the topography on the area boundary (i.e. 16 km in length); and two 4 km-long x 1.9 m high above-ground-level fenced roads to provide access to the paddocks and livestock’.

(c) The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation has advised that all works involving the clearing of native vegetation were stopped following the issuing of the Vegetation Conservation Notice.

(d) I am advised that the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the Pastoral Lands Board were not contacted by Zenith in relation to clearing of native vegetation for this project.

(e) Not applicable

(f) On 12 September, the Pastoral Lands Board issued a Default Notice to Zenith requiring remediation of the site, and the Deputy Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation, through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, has advised Zenith of the remedial works required to mitigate the risk of soil erosion and allow regeneration of native vegetation.

In addition, the Pastoral Lands Board requires that Zenith submit a Development Plan for its approval by 9 January 2020. The Development Plan will outline its objectives for the pastoral lease over the next 3-5 years.