Time limits on environmental approval still not set in stone

The Member for the South West Dr Steve Thomas says the Government’s claim today that its’ new legislation will “speed up approvals” with a new “streamlined environmental approvals system” in place from the 28th of November should be taken with a grain of environmental salt.

“The time taken for approvals is regularly identified as one of the greatest imposts on projects and proposals in Western Australia” Dr Thomas said.

“It would probably come as a surprise to most people that the Minister for the Environment has for years had the power to put time limits on the assessments provided by the Environmental Protection Authority.

“It would sadly come as no surprise to most people to learn that the Minister has never used this power to set time limits.

“Surely this means that the Minister accepts and endorses the long delays experienced by so many proponents.

“These delays cost time and money, and sometimes cost the project themselves and the jobs they would have delivered.”

Section 44(2)(c) of the Environmental Protection Act allows the Minister to direct the EPA to prepare an assessment report and give it to the Minister “within a specific period” as determined by the Minister himself. This power has never been used.

Section 46 of the Act also allows the Minister to set a timeframe for the EPA to enquire into any changes they might like to make to to the existing implementation conditions he previously set, and this power has only been used twice.  

“It no wonder that industry is so frustrated with the approvals process” Dr Thomas said.

“The Government has obviously abandoned any attempt to deliver actual time frames for environmental decision making.”