Climate change considerations have been pivotal to a recent State Administrative Tribunal decision in Western Australia: Two Rocks Investments Pty Ltd and Western Australian Planning Commission [2019] WASAT 59. This decision is the first of its kind in Western Australia. Read more
The WA Supreme Court of Appeal this week rejected the appeal by the Conservation Council of WA Inc. against dismissal of its judicial review application on the Part IV Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) approval of the Yeelirrie uranium mine project proposal. Read more
Yesterday, the WA Minister for Aboriginal Affairs publicly announced that a draft bill to reform WA’s Aboriginal heritage legislation will be made available for public comment in early 2020. Read more
Last month DWER released its ‘Guideline: Industry Regulation Guide to Licensing’ which sets out DWER’s approach to the interpretation and administration of Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) and notably establishes a new approach for prescribed premises with certain containment infrastructure. Read more
Last week the WA EPA commenced consultation on the greenhouse gas guidance. Submissions are due by 2 September 2019. Here we provide an overview of the EPA’s policy position and potential implications for industry. Read more
Proponents seeking consent for new projects, or modifications of existing projects, with ‘material’ greenhouse gas emissions across all industries in NSW should carefully assess climate change impacts, particularly if the proposal is not ‘carbon neutral’. On 8 February 2019, the NSW Land and Environment Court refused development consent for a new open cut mine near Gloucester, NSW. Read more
In March 2019, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs released a discussion paper outlining proposals for reforming the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA). Anyone with WA land or project development interests should follow these reforms, which we discuss in this post. Read more
