Question On Notice No. 3331 asked in the Legislative Council on 18 August 2015 by Hon Lynn Maclaren
Question Directed to the: Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Parliament: 39 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority's guidelines titled Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills, which are frequently cited in public documents by the Department of Environmental Regulation, as well as by proponents of landfills in their applications for environmental approval, and ask:
(a) are proposed landfill developments in Western Australia expected to meet these guidelines;
(b) in what circumstances does the Department of Environmental Regulation not apply these guidelines;
(c) does the Minister agree with guidelines' advice that landfill developments may have impacts on native fauna through the creation of new habitats for predatory species, and that therefore when a landfill development is proposed near a sensitive area, a risk assessment should be conducted, including consultation with an expert on the potential impacts of predatory species;
(d) did consultation with an expert on potential impact of predatory species occur in relation to the proposed regional municipal landfill development on Nebrikinning Road in the Shire of Cuballing; and
(e) if no to (e), when does the Minister expect this consultation to occur?
Answered on 22 September 2015
The Minister for Environment has provided the following response.
(a)-(e) The Department of Environment Regulation has referred to the Victorian guidelines for landfill developments in Western Australia. Applicants have been advised to refer to relevant sections of the Victorian guidelines in preparing works approval and licence applications for landfills. However, not all aspects of the Victorian guidelines can be applied in Western Australia.
In Western Australia, the Department's regulatory function in assessing works approvals and licences under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) relates primarily to the risk to public health and the environment arising from emissions and discharges from premises prescribed in Schedule 1 to the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987.
Where a landfill proposal in Western Australia is likely to significantly affect native fauna or a sensitive environmental area, then it is appropriate that the proposal be referred for environmental assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) under Part IV of the EP Act.
The EPA consulted with the Department of Parks and Wildlife, as part of its evaluation of the referral of the proposed landfill development in the Shire of Cuballing. On 13 August 2015 the Minister for Environment remitted the proposed landfill development to the EPA for assessment.