Parliamentary Debates (HANSARD)
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Parliamentary Debates (HANSARD) THIRTY-EIGHTH PARLIAMENT FIRST SESSION 2012 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Thursday, 20 September 2012 Legislative Assembly Thursday, 20 September 2012 THE SPEAKER (Mr G.A. Woodhams) took the chair at 9.00 am, and read prayers. THORNLIE RAIL LINE — EXTENSION Petition MR C.J. TALLENTIRE (Gosnells) [9.01 am]: I have a petition concerning traffic congestion that reads — TO THE HONOURABLE THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE PARLIAMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED. We, the undersigned, say • Traffic congestion on our local roads is becoming intolerable; • Good public transport and particularly safe, reliable and inexpensive train services will make the most difference; • The Barnett Government’s Public Transport Plan does not consider extending the Thornlie Line until after the year 2031, which is far too late; Now we ask that the Legislative Assembly call upon the Barnett Government to embrace the extension of the Thornlie Line and fund urgent planning work without delay. The petition has been signed by 36 constituents and has been certified as conforming to the standing orders of the house. [See petition 642.] PAPERS TABLED Papers were tabled and ordered to lie upon the table of the house. METROPOLITAN REGION SCHEME 1221/41 — BANJUP URBAN PRECINCT Statement by Minister for Planning MR J.H.D. DAY (Kalamunda — Minister for Planning) [9.03 am]: I present today for tabling metropolitan region scheme amendment 1221/41, which will facilitate the urban development of approximately 151.75 hectares of land in the Banjup locality. The Banjup urban precinct is strategically located and suited to urban development. The area is in close proximity to the Cockburn Central activity centre, which provides employment opportunities and retail and service facilities. The area also has good accessibility, with access to Cockburn train station, the Kwinana Freeway and the regional road network. The proposed amendment area is recognised for potential urban development in the draft outer metropolitan Perth and Peel subregional strategy under “Urban expansion areas 2011–2015”. As the subject land is located over the Jandakot groundwater protection area, hydrological investigations and modelling have been undertaken by the landowner. The Department of Water has approved a district water management strategy and has confirmed that this provides sufficient water resource management information to demonstrate that the site can support urban land uses. Pre and post-development monitoring of the groundwater resource is to occur. The landowner has commenced conceptual structure planning and proposes primarily residential development, as well as open space areas, a primary school and some service, commercial or industrial development. Detailed structural planning, a local scheme amendment and subdivision approval will be required prior to development occurring on-site. These planning processes will also require public consultation. In accordance with the statutory provisions for region scheme amendments, this amendment was advertised for three months in 2012. Twenty-eight submissions were received, containing 19 general comments, three comments of support and six comments of objection. Copies of the submissions and the Western Australian Planning Commission’s report on submissions are also tabled today. I am pleased to now table the documentation for metropolitan region scheme amendment 1221/41 and I commend it to the house. [See papers 5266 and 5267.] [ASSEMBLY — Thursday, 20 September 2012] 6285 SWAN RIVER TRUST — RIVERBANK PROGRAM Statement by Minister for Environment MR W.R. MARMION (Nedlands — Minister for Environment) [9.05 am]: Through the Swan River Trust’s Riverbank program, the state of Western Australia is making a significant contribution to the protection and enhancement of shorelines within the Swan Canning Riverpark. I recently announced that more than $800 000 will be allocated to shoreline rehabilitation projects through the Riverbank funding schemes. The funding will be shared by 10 local governments and will be used to control invasive weeds, stabilise shorelines, help repair river walls and revegetate foreshore areas at 16 sites within the riverpark. Since coming into office in 2008, the Liberal–National government has invested over $7.5 million in Riverbank funding, distributed among 74 projects, which has resulted in over $15 million of on-ground works. This year’s Riverbank funding recipients include the Town of Bassendean, which has been given $83 914 for foreshore restoration and erosion control at Success Hill reserve; the City of Armadale, which has been given $23 300 to remove invasive weeds and replant native vegetation at Roley Pool reserve, the Kelmscott Fishcare site and the Fancote to Kelmscott reserves; the City of Gosnells, which has been given $20 314 to rehabilitate 6.3 hectares of degraded vegetation along the Canning River in Gosnells and Thornlie, including in John Okey Davis Park, Homestead Park and Corriedale Springs; the City of Canning, which has been given $13 960 to create drain swales to filter and reduce nutrients entering the river from stormwater drains; and the City of Fremantle, which has been given $13 800 to help stabilise and revegetate around 500 metres of Prawn Bay foreshore by planting 3 300 native plants. This project also includes ongoing feral rabbit control to increase the survival rate of the vegetation and reduce the impact of rabbit warrens. I was also pleased to announce the inaugural round of the Riverbank proactive funding scheme, which targets large-scale multiyear complex projects within the Swan Canning Riverpark. This scheme allows improved project planning as the trust commits to supporting projects over several years, seeing an increased commitment from local governments in delivering these complex projects. Project budgets are still being finalised. The projects include two in the City of South Perth. The first will assist with the repair and replacement of gabion baskets between Mends Street jetty and the Narrows Bridge and the second will develop a restoration management plan to maintain and enhance the environmental values of Mount Henry Spit, which is a valuable Bush Forever site. In the City of Belmont, shoreline stabilisation works will continue along the Garvey Park foreshore to protect infrastructure and remnant vegetation while continuing to provide recreational access to the river. In the City of Bayswater, the shoreline adjacent to Claughton Reserve will be stabilised using rock placements and revegetation. In the City of Swan, a restoration plan will be developed to manage the retreat of the river and improve amenity and environmental values of the foreshore at Lilac Hill, Caversham. In the City of Melville, implementation of the Point Walter foreshore restoration project will continue, including revegetation, erosion control and enhanced public access. I look forward to updating the house on the ongoing work of the Riverbank program of the Swan River Trust in delivering this important work to protect and improve the shorelines of the Swan Canning Riverpark. ROYALTIES FOR REGIONS — DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS Statement by Minister for Regional Development MR B.J. GRYLLS (Central Wheatbelt — Minister for Regional Development) [9.08 am]: I am pleased to advise the house of a decision that the Liberal–National government has made to strengthen the delivery of the royalties for regions–funded Pilbara Cities initiative and the Mid West Investment Plan. From 26 October 2012, the Pilbara Cities office will be transferred from the Department of Regional Development and Lands to the Pilbara Development Commission. Similarly, responsibility for the implementation of the Mid West Investment Plan will also transfer from the department to the Mid West Development Commission. Since its establishment in August 2010, the Pilbara Cities initiative has been allocated more than $1 billion in royalties for regions funding to expand and grow Port Hedland, Karratha and other Pilbara towns. This recognises the vital role that this region plays in supporting the development of the state and the nation. The Pilbara Cities initiative is transforming the Pilbara through building modern, vibrant cities and regional centres to support and deliver a skilled workforce for major economic projects. Mr Speaker, for a project that is close to your heart, the government has also committed $220 million in royalties for regions funding towards key infrastructure projects in the midwest that are now being rolled out. By shifting the Pilbara Cities office and its 10 staff to the Pilbara Development Commission, and by giving responsibility for implementing the Mid West Investment Plan to the Mid West Development Commission, the government is reinforcing these regional development commissions as the lead state government agencies for these vital initiatives. The commissions will now be responsible for recommending projects for these royalties for regions initiatives to cabinet through me as Minister for Regional Development, as well as for project development, project monitoring and outcome delivery. The Department of Regional Development and Lands will continue to 6286 [ASSEMBLY — Thursday, 20 September 2012] play an important role in assisting the commissions to discharge their responsibilities, particularly through the allocation of funding to proponents and the management of financial agreements. The department will maintain its responsibility to administer