WA EPA prioritises critical minerals

The WA Government has provided the independent Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) with its first ever Statement of Expectation to help drive new housing and clean energy projects across the State.

The document — created as part of recently legislated changes to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 — was a key recommendation of the Vogel-McFerran Review and is intended to help the WA EPA better understand the WA Government’s priorities.

The statement highlights several strategic priorities, which the WA EPA will consider when managing its priorities, including critical minerals, hydrogen and downstream processing projects that will diversify the State’s economy and transmission infrastructure and other projects that will drive WA’s renewable energy transition and Collie’s Just Transition.

WA Premier Roger Cook says the WA 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 [WA] Government’s focus and factor this into its own priorities,” he said.

“We’re delivering sensible reforms to speed up and streamline approvals while ensuring our environmental standards are the strongest in the world.”

WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby has also stated his expectation that the WA EPA give regard to aligning its prioritisation of assessments with key government policies and priorities, including efficiency and timeliness of environmental assessments, reducing duplication and engaging with proponents.

“We’re getting on with the job of ensuring WA’s high environmental protection standards are upheld while supporting efficient processes for business,” Minister Whitby said.

“Importantly, this reform will not change how regulators assess environmental impact, nor does it impact upon the [WA] 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 WA’s economy, building more houses, and supporting major job-creating projects.”

By the end of the year, the Federal Government will have enacted 75% of reforms agreed to in its response to the Vogel-McFerran Review.