- Cook Government to deliver significant overhaul
of environmental approvals system
- Legislative changes to slash green tape and
deliver certainty for job-creating projects
- Investment of $18 million to streamline
approvals while ensuring strong environmental protections
- New Coordinator General role to fast-track
priority approvals across Government
The
Cook Government will overhaul Western Australia's environmental approvals
system in a move to unlock billions of dollars of investment into major
job-creating projects, while protecting WA's unique environment.
It
follows a short, sharp review of environmental approvals, commissioned by the
Cook Government in October, which
found approvals processes have become overly complex, time-consuming, and
costly - holding back economic development without any benefit to the
environment.
The review, led by former Environmental
Protection Authority chair Dr Paul Vogel, and planning expert David McFerran,
delivered 39 recommendations to Government - all of which have been accepted or
noted, with work already underway to deliver reform.
The Cook Government will progress a series
of changes to the Environment Protection Act 1986, including:
- Allowing
the Environment Minister to direct the Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
to assess a project of State significance within a specified timeframe;
- Allowing
other Government approvals processes to run in parallel with an EPA approval;
- Expanding
the EPA's board to include more skills-based members; and
- Requiring
the EPA to have a Statement of Intent from the Environment Minister,
recognising the Government's priorities and policies.
Allowing
parallel assessments alone will significantly cut down on approvals timeframes -
for example, under current laws, a mining proponent cannot begin the assessment
process on a wastewater treatment plant on their mine site until the mine
itself has environmental approval, delaying final approvals by months.
The
State Government will further investigate options to streamline appeals
processes, including statutory timeframes, parameters around consultation, and
determining the number of opportunities for appeal and public comment.
Further
work will be undertaken to reduce duplication in assessments by the EPA, with
particular focus on assessments of emissions from projects already covered by
the Commonwealth's Safeguard Mechanism, and on Aboriginal cultural heritage
assessments.
In
response to feedback, the Government will also establish an EPA presence within
the Perth CBD, to ensure better connectivity with proponents and stakeholders.
To
deliver on its agenda to slash green tape, the Cook Government will invest $18
million to reduce bottlenecks and allow for rapid deployment of additional
resources for critical approvals - including using external consultants and
technical experts to clear the backlog of assessments.
The
funding will also support a new Coordinator General role and team within the
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, to better coordinate
efforts and facilitate approval across Government for projects of State
significance.
The
Coordinator General will work to prevent and resolve delays to priority
projects, and will provide regular reports to Cabinet on progress of major
projects and opportunities to further regulatory reforms.
Further
consultation with industry and conservation groups will be undertaken as part
of the reforms.
The
announcement builds on recent Cook Government efforts to cut red tape,
including significant planning reforms and the Green Energy Approvals
Initiative.
The
recommendations from the Vogel-McFerran review, and the Government's response,
are available at wa.gov.au/government/streamline-wa.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"It's
important we have a strong approvals system to protect WA's unique environment,
but right now, our system isn't working.
"Our
economy is growing, and our success in attracting major projects to WA has seen
a significant increase in the number of applications for assessment to the EPA -
putting unprecedented strain on the system.
"Delays
and uncertainty are putting a handbrake on investment and jobs, and slowing
down our important progress to becoming a clean energy powerhouse - without
delivering any benefit to the environment.
"That's
why we will overhaul approvals to slash green tape, remove duplication and
reduce delays - while continuing to deliver robust protections for our
environment.
"These
important changes will provide certainty for major projects - including green
energy projects that will drive our shift to net zero emissions – and ensure
our economy remains strong for generations to come."
Comments attributed to Environment Minister
Reece Whitby:
"The
State Government has a dual responsibility to uphold the highest possible
standards of environmental protection and ensure WA's economy continues to grow
through investment and job creation.
"We
must be conscious of delays caused by excessive approval timeframes which carry
no environmental benefit.
"Increasingly,
the EPA's job has become more complex as applications increase and public
awareness of environmental issues rise.
"I'd
like to thank Dr Paul Vogel and David McFerran for their work on this review.
"Their
work will inform changes to ensure the approvals process runs smoother than
before, while maintaining WA's high environmental protection standards."
Comments attributed to Treasurer Rita
Saffioti:
"Streamlining
approvals processes is crucial to support ongoing economic growth in WA by
providing greater certainty to businesses and potential investors.
"Our
$18 million investment will help remove duplication between processes, and
reduce delays in getting new projects off the ground.
"Ongoing
investment in major projects supports the people of WA, and across the rest of
the country, these commonsense reforms to approvals processes will make sure we
continue to be the engine room of national economy."
