Environment—Cambridge Gulf
1296. Hon Sophie McNeill to the Minister for the Environment:
I refer to Boskalis Australia's plans to mine up to 70 million cubic metres of sand from Cambridge Gulf to export for construction.
(1) Can the minister please confirm that Cambridge Gulf is an important habitat for sawfish, turtles, barramundi, crocodile nurseries and the snubfin dolphin?
(2) Is the minister aware of any endangered or critically endangered species that inhabit Cambridge Gulf?
(3) Has there been any consultation on this proposal with community and/or potentially impacted businesses?
(4) Has there been any assessment of the impact this proposal will have on water quality and biodiversity of the Ord River?
Hon Matthew Swinbourn replied:
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) The Environmental Protection Authority's report on this proposal is subject to an appeal. As a decision-maker, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on this matter until the appeal process has been completed.
