The Western Australian Government has provided the independent Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) its first Statement of Expectation to set out the state’s clean energy and housing priorities.
The document – created as part of legislated changes to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 – was a key recommendation of the independent review of Western Australian environmental approval processes and procedures (Vogel-McFerran Review) and is intended to help the EPA better understand the government’s priorities.
The statement highlights several strategic priorities for the Western Australian Government, which the EPA will consider when managing its priorities, including:
- Transmission infrastructure and other projects that will drive the state’s renewable energy transition and Collie’s Just Transition
- Critical minerals, hydrogen and downstream processing projects that will diversify Western Australia’s economy
- Housing supply and the expansion of the state’s softwood plantation estate for the construction industry
- Job-creating projects that can support Western Australia’s economic development
The statement also includes major State Government projects that aim to set the state up for the future as important matters for the EPA to consider.
As part of the statement, the Western Australian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Reece Whitby, has also stated the expectation that the EPA give regard to:
- Aligning its prioritisation of assessments with key government policies and priorities
- Efficiency and timeliness of environmental assessments
- Reducing duplication
- Engaging with proponents
By the end of the year, the Western Australian Government said it will have enacted 75 per cent of reforms agreed to in its response to the Vogel-McFerran Review.
Western Australian Premier, Roger Cook, said the State Government is laser-focused on building more houses, creating local jobs, delivering a clean energy plan and setting up the state for the future.
“This reform means our independent environmental agency can better understand the government’s focus and factor this into its own priorities,” Mr Cook said.
“We’re delivering sensible reforms to speed up and streamline approvals while ensuring our environmental standards are the strongest in the world.”
Mr Whitby said the state is getting on with the job of ensuring Western Australia’s high environmental protection standards are upheld while supporting efficient processes for business.
“Importantly, this reform will not change how regulators assess environmental impact, nor does it impact upon the EPA’s legislative right to provide independent advice to government.
“This is a sensible change that ensures everyone is on the same page when it comes to our focus on decarbonising Western Australia’s economy, building more houses, and supporting major job-creating projects.”
