WA overhauls environmental approvals process to unlock billions in project investment for mining and petroleum industry

Western Australia’s mining and petroleum industries have welcomed a new move by the State’s government to cut “green tape” that is tying up billions of dollars worth of new project developments.

In a major overhaul of WA’s environmental approvals system, which the current Premier admits is “not good enough”, the government is investing $18 million and introducing legislative changes to slash bureaucracy and deliver certainty for job-creating projects.

While one of the world’s leading mineral and petroleum producers, WA has a growing reputation for hindering project development due to an archaic approvals system.

This is despite numerous claims by various government leaders over the years that they were implementing changes that would speed up the process.

The new moves follow a new review of environmental approvals, commissioned by the WA government in October, which found approvals processes have become overly complex, time-consuming and costly – holding back economic development without any benefit to the environment.

The review was led by former Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) chair Dr Paul Vogel and planning expert David McFerran.

WA Premier Roger Cook revealed that the review had made 39 recommendations which have all been accepted or noted, with work already underway to deliver reform.

Changes needed

Premier Cook agreed that the current WA system isn’t working.

“Our economy is growing and our success in attracting major projects to WA has seen a significant increase in the number of applications for assessment to the EPA – putting unprecedented strain on the system.”

“Delays and uncertainty are putting a handbrake on investment and jobs and slowing down our important progress to becoming a clean energy powerhouse – without delivering any benefit to the environment.”

Reform overdue

The WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) says the proposed changes have been a long time coming.

CME chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson said the chamber had repeatedly called for more efficient regulatory measures and urgent action to remove a process that has been stifling the progress of resources approvals, production and new project investment.

“CME has been a vocal contributor to the WA Government’s Streamline WA initiative, the Vogel Review into the approvals system and the red tape reduction review,” Ms Tomkinson said.

“The Environment minister’s expanded directions mean the EPA’s backlog for projects of State significance can be triaged and urgent projects can be prioritised which, along with a more efficient approvals process overall, is a positive step.”

“The creation of the co-ordinator general position with a direct reporting line to cabinet answers CME’s calls for a greater level of transparency and accountability.”

Ms Tomkinson said industry is waiting to see how the co-ordinator general role will ensure progress is made towards materially reducing approvals timeframes, including through the identification and removal of bottlenecks across agencies in the end-to-end approvals process.

“We expect this role, alongside the additional $18 million investment to streamline approvals, will go a long way to improving the effectiveness of the Streamline WA initiative,” she said.