Cane toads were introduced to Australia as a means of controlling pest beetles in the sugar cane industry in 1935. Since then they have been spreading throughout northern Australia and are moving westward at about 40-60km per year[1]. Cane toads can produce large numbers of offspring and are colonising northern Australia at an increasingly rapid pace.
Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC has today condemned the decision by Minister for Planning Hon John Day MLA not to answer a Parliamentary Question without Notice about a Broome Planning matter even though it was clear that a delay would be against the interests of the Broome public.
Mr Chapple’s question pertains to the Broome Local Planning Strategy and Local Planning Scheme 6, both of which are open for public comment until this Friday 20th September.
“A delay in answering the questions is tantamount to a refusal to answer as, by the time we receive the answers, the deadline for submissions will be well and truly over.
“A more suspicious mind might conclude that this is exactly what the Minister was after.
Mr Chapple’s questions come as a result of requests from constituents critical of the Shire of Broome’s community engagement process.
“There are many Broome residents unhappy about aspects of the draft strategy, which cites the proposed Browse LNG precinct and Browse Worker’s Accommodation Village in the vicinity of James Price Point as one of the main factors driving the plan.
“This is clearly not going to happen, even though the Premier is stubbornly refusing to accept the decision of Woodside and its Joint Venture partners to go with a Floating LNG processing plant.
“At the very least, it is clear that the Shire must re-visit a number of assumptions in the strategy before moving to incorporate them in the Scheme,” Mr Chapple said.
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255
See Attachment: Question Without Notice
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE
(Of which some notice has been given)
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
Hon Robin Chapple to the Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Planning.
With regard to the rules governing the development of Local Planning Strategies and Local Planning Schemes, I ask:
1. Is it permitted for a Local Planning Scheme to be based on a draft Local Planning Strategy that is currently out for public comment?
2. Does the Minister agree that a Local Planning Strategy that is advertised for public comment could be changed as a result of these comments, Shire Councillors' comments and a recommendation of the WA Planning Commission prior to gazettal?
3. If yes to (2), how can a Local Planning Scheme be advertised when its basis is in draft form?
4. If no to (2), why not?
I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this question.
(1) - (4) I thank the Hon. Member for some notice of this Question. It is not possible to provide the information in the time available and I request that the Member place the question on notice.
On Sunday the 25th of August the Australian Greens held their launch at the Mangrove hotel in Broome for their vision for the Kimberley.
The room filled up quickly with 70 people turning up to hear the Western Australian senators Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam and the Greens Durak candidate Ian ‘Jessie’ James present the Greens’ vision.
Ian gave a warming talk about the struggles of being a farmer in the Wheatbelt, and how his research into the political parties polices for farmers had led him to the Greens.
The Kimberley is a very special and unique place, but faces a number of serious and cumulative pressures, including climate change, large wild fires, feral animals and weeds, over-grazing and ad hoc, incompatible development.
The fully costed policy platforms addresses all these issues by making investments in culture, conservation, renewable energy, research and innovation to underpin a jobs-rich and diverse economy. These include $100 million in doubling the number of Indigenous Rangers, and $2 million in facilitating community participation in planning.
There was a lively discussion following the launch, where community members got to meet the Greens Durak candidate and WA senators, and the room was filled with promise at the prospect of a vibrant future for the Kimberley.
This vision delivers a caring, resilient community and a clean, innovative economy for the Kimberley that will support people to live, work and care for their families.
