The clearing permit authorises the clearing of native vegetation for a range of defined activities across Western Australia necessary for the upgrade and maintenance of the State’s main road network.
The permit has since been amended 14 times with the latest amendment (CPS 818/15) made on 25 June 2020.
The department has conducted a review of the operation of CPS 818 to ensure that it meets community expectations with respect to transparency and protection of the environment, while also providing an efficient approvals pathway for important road safety initiatives. Matters raised by previous public submissions on CPS 818 have been considered as part of the review.
As a result of the review, CPS 818/15 was granted with amendments to conditions, including:
- a requirement for Main Roads to publish on its website details of proposed clearing projects that are at variance or may be at variance to the clearing principles, from 1 January 2021, seeking public submissions for 21 days
- a requirement for Main Roads to publish on its website all submissions received and a statement addressing each of those submissions
- Main Roads to publish on its website the lead environmental auditor’s summary of findings of external audits for CPS 818
- increased requirements for Main Roads to demonstrate that alternatives to clearing have been considered before clearing under the permit.
In addition to the above amendments, the expiry date of CPS 818/15 was extended to 30 June 2023. A copy of the amended permit and decision report can be found in this link 818/15.
The amendments to CPS 818/15 are subject to appeal. For further details of the appeal period, please refer to Clearing permits available for public appeal.
For further information on appeals or to lodge an appeal, please contact the Office of the Appeals Convenor on 08 6467 5190 or at admin@appealsconvenor.wa.gov.au.
For all other enquiries, please contact the department on 08 6364 7000 or at info@dwer.wa.gov.au.
Updated July 2020