DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION —COST RECOVERY DISCUSSION PAPER
922. Hon KEN BASTON to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the discussion paper on
cost recovery for the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. Will
the minister commit to not introducing or to significantly increasing charges
for native vegetation land clearing and water licences and permits before the
next election?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
The government is currently
undertaking a 12-week consultation with key stakeholders and the community on
the implementation of a proposed cost recovery approach. Views on the proposed
fee structures, the level of cost recovery, and the potential impacts to
community, businesses, individuals and industry are being sought. Once the
consultation process has concluded and the views of stakeholders and the
community are known, the government will consider this matter further. Fees for
clearing permit applications have not increased since the clearing provisions
commenced in 2004, with applicants currently paying a $50, $100 or $200
application fee. Questions related to water licences and permits should be
referred to the Minister for Water.