PERTH AND PEEL STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT —
DEFERRAL
427. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the strategic assessment
of the Perth and Peel regions that commenced in 2011, with work continuing via
an independent panel in 2018, being subsequently deferred indefinitely on 26
March 2020.
(1) Is the
deliberative process on the supplementary report still deferred; and
(a) if no to (1), when is this process
expected to be completed and the report tabled; and
(b) if yes to (1), when will the
process continue?
(2) As this assessment was indefinitely deferred, what
evidence is the state using to assess the remaining important vegetation within the Perth and Peel regions and
determine which areas are suitable for development or not?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Yes. Our
immediate priority is ensuring that Western Australia can recover from the pandemic.
Further updates will be provided in due course.
(2) Existing
state and commonwealth approval processes continue to apply and are well
understood by industry and—this says ''conversation''
groups, but I will say it means conservation groups—the Environmental
Protection Authority and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
assess development proposals under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986 using the most up-to-date environmental
information. Where the available information is not sufficient for the purposes
of assessing a proposal, further information may be requested from proponents
including, but not limited to, the results of flora and fauna surveys.