No need for formal assessment of Northbridge tunnel (A/Min)

10/4/96

Acting Environment Minister Kevin Prince said environmental issues relating to the Northbridge tunnel could be properly managed through normal development processes.

Mr Prince said the level of assessment was set at informal because the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) believed the environmental issues associated with the proposal could be dealt with adequately without the need for formal assessment.

"For instance, the contract for building the tunnel will require adherence to noise and air quality standards and maintenance of groundwater flow," the Minister said.

"The claim that the decision relating to the level of assessment was made in haste is also misleading.

"Correspondence about the City Northern Bypass had been received by the Department of Environmental Protection in the months preceding the setting of the level of assessment and senior officers were aware of the proposal through membership on the Metropolitan Planning Council.

"The formal process of triggering an assessment of the revised tunnel option occurred when Main Roads wrote to the EPA on August 30, 1995, officially referring the proposal.

"The referral was anticipated, the issues well-known and the matter handled properly."

The State Government's Environmental Department had also been involved in the Burswood Bridge and Road Study, which started in 1988 and completed its report in September 1993.  The report was formally referred to the DEP for assessment in September 1993.

"To say the EPA made its decision in haste is simply misleading," Mr Prince said.

"The appeals process, which acts as a safety net to ensure that issues which the public may have concerns about are brought to our attention, also operated in this case.

"Several new issues were raised during the appeal process and the Environment Minister Peter Foss determined that the level of assessment - informal review with public advice - was appropriate."

Media contact:  Peter Harris 321 2222