Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 8 April 2011:

(1) When will the next stage of clearing occur at Jandakot Airport.

(2) How much Banksia woodland and other remnant bushland will be cleared.

(3) Did the proponent undertake an orchid survey, in particular, for the Grand Spider Orchid, in 2010 in accordance with the conditions of approval for the clearing; (a) if so: (i) was a report prepared; (ii) is the report publicly available; and (iii) if the report is not publicly available, why not; and (b) if no survey was undertaken: (i) why not; and (ii) will the proponent be prosecuted.

(4) Will the proponent undertake any animal trapping and relocation in advance of the next stage of clearing in 2011; if so, when and where will the animals be translocated; if not, why not.

(5) Will the proponent undertake any Grand Spider Orchid relocation in advance of the next stage of clearing in 2011; if so, when and how many will be translocated; if not, why not.

(6) Will the proponent undertake any plant rescue and relocation in advance of the next stage of clearing in 2011; if so, when and where will the plants be translocated; if not, why not.

(7) Will the proponent allow any community groups, who request it, to participate in, or undertake any plant rescue and relocation in advance of the next stage of clearing in 2011; (a) if so: (i) when; (ii) with whom; and (iii) where, will this occur; and (b) if not, why not.

(8) Will the proponent provide mulch from the next stage of clearing in 2011 to any community group which requests it; (a) if so: (i) when, (ii) to whom, and (iii) how, will this occur; and (b) if not, why not.

(9) Is the proponent undertaking clearing and use of biological resources in accordance with best practice environmental management, considering the national significance of the area being cleared; if not, why not, and what measures are being taken to ensure the proponent improves its management practices.

(10) Has the proponent purchased or provided funds for the purchase of any or all of the required 1 600 hectares of offsets in accordance with the conditions of approval for the clearing; if so: (a) what, where, and what size, are these properties; (b) who is managing the properties; (c) who is providing the funding for the management; and (d) for what length of time is this funding being provided.

(11) If the proponent has not purchased or provided funds for purchase of all of the required 1 600 hectares of offsets in accordance with the conditions of approval for the clearing: (a) what measures are being taken to identify and acquire the remaining areas required; and (b) when will this be concluded.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The timing of development on the Jandakot airport site will be determined by the leaseholder, Jandakot Airport Holdings.

(2) The conditions of approval allow a maximum of 167 hectares of native vegetation to be removed for the entire development. The clearing must be undertaken in accordance with the conditions of approval and in accordance with approved plans available on the Jandakot Airport Holdings website at: http://www.jandakotairport.com.au.

(3) (a) (i) Jandakot Airport Holdings is required to report on the implementation of actions outlined in approved plans. That includes reporting on the results of actions undertaken for the Grand Spider Orchid on 30 June each year. The department expects the survey results for the first year of the approval to be contained within the report due on 30 June 2011.

(ii) The approval conditions do not require the proponent to make the report publicly available. Jandakot Airport Holdings are responsible for deciding whether to make the report publicly available once completed. However, our preferred position is that information on the exact locations of threatened plants not be released to the public. (b)(i) and (ii) Refer to the response to (a)(i). The monitoring, compliance and enforcement policies of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities are outlined at:

http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/compliance/index.html

(4) Clearing must be undertaken in accordance with approved plans available on the Jandakot Airport Holdings website at: http://www.jandakotairport.com.au. Matters such as animal trapping, which are not addressed in the conditions of approval, should be directed to the company.

(5) Clearing must be undertaken in accordance with approved plans available on the Jandakot Airport Holdings website at: http://www.jandakotairport.com.au.

(6) See the response to question (4). Matters such as plant rescue and relocation, which are not addressed in the conditions of approval should be directed to the company.

(7) Questions of access to the Jandakot airport site should be directed to Jandakot Airport Holdings.

(8) Questions of access to mulch from the Jandakot airport site should be directed to Jandakot Airport Holdings.

(9) Clearing and other activities must be undertaken in accordance with approved plans available on Jandakot Airport Holdings website at: http://www.jandakotairport.com.au. The proponent is required to review and update management plans periodically.

(10) (a) The land offsets that have been secured to date comprise two parcels, 359 hectares and 725 hectares, and the land is located north of Perth.

(b), (c) and (d) The above properties are now owned and managed by the Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation, which will manage them in perpetuity for conservation.

(11) (a) It is the responsibility of Jandakot Airport Holdings to identify and acquire the remaining land. (b) The acquisition of land must be concluded within five years of the date of approval.