Minister wants more assessment on Kwinana port proposal

28/11/03
Environment Minister Judy Edwards has required further assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority on a proposal for a private port at Kwinana.
After considering 33 appeals against the EPA's assessment of the proposed Stage One port project at James Point, Dr Edwards upheld some appeals and will not make a final decision on the conditions to be applied to the proposal until further advice from the EPA is provided.
"We need to ensure that the environmental outcomes are acceptable, and I am not satisfied that the current conditions recommended by the EPA guarantee that," the Minister said.
"The marine area adjacent to the port contains important sea grasses and habitat for dolphins. The port will mean the loss of a beach area used especially for horse exercising, and issues relating to potential noise and odours from the port need to be better addressed.
"There needs to be more community input into the management and implementation of the port proposal and I have sought further advice from the EPA in a number of areas to ensure a better environmental outcome for the local community and the State."
Specifically, the EPA has been asked to further assess or provide advice on:

• the processes and procedures for key community stakeholder input, including from the Town of Kwinana and the Cockburn Sound Management Council into the development of the various management plans and programs required;

• the specifics and enforceability of the conditions and commitments generally, especially those that involve preparing and implementing management plans;

• the minimum standards, procedures and conditions required for dredging (including the minimisation of impact on Cockburn Sound dolphins), design of a proposed breakwater, management of odour associated with future livestock import or export, noise management and compensating for the loss of public beach access; and

• the specific outcomes for restoring marine habitats.

"While I acknowledge that the Stage One proposal contains no provision for livestock holding yards, the issue of potential odour from live sheep export through the port was a concern in many of the submissions," the Minister said.
"The loss of public access to the Barter Road Beach is also a major concern. The beach is used for recreational use, especially for horse exercising. I want the EPA to report further on ways the port developers should help compensate for the loss of coastal access in the area, with a particular focus on horse exercise activities.
"This is already a busy port region and the environmental impacts of this proposal need to be considered from a cumulative point of view, not just an isolated perspective.
"While I think the proposal can ultimately be managed in an environmentally acceptable manner, achieving that acceptability will rely on more robust, prescriptive and enforceable conditions which also provide for improved public input into the environmental management framework.
"The dredging required needs to be managed with conditions that are defined and enforceable as well as minimising impacts on the Cockburn Sound dolphins. There needs to be further modelling of the design for the proposed breakwater; it should be reviewed by relevant expert stakeholders and made available to the public.
"Management plans for odours, even within the context of best practice, are not clear or fully developed."
The EPA has also been asked to provide strategic advice on the impacts of likely future maritime proposals within Cockburn Sound.
Minister's office 9220 5050