Palmer urges EPA reform after projects review
7th July 2009, 8:00 WST
Resources billionaire Clive Palmer has taken a swipe at WA’s environmental watchdog after it recommended a public environmental review (PER) level of assessment over proposed expansions to his projects at and around Cape Preston.
Responding to the Environmental Protection Authority decision, announced yesterday, Mr Palmer said the WA Government should review and “reform” the EPA and its enabling legislation.
“It has been going for about 25 years now and I don’t think it’s in the best interests for West Australians,” he said. “They need to review and they need to revitalise it.”
The EPA has recommended a PER over Mineralogy’s expansion proposal for its magnetite resource, citing concerns over the impact of a large-scale iron ore project on flora, fauna and groundwater.
It also raised the potential fall-out effects on marine life from desalination plants. Mr Palmer has lobbied the EPA to have Mineralogy’s multiple environmental applications dealt with as one batch to speed up the process.
“The faster you can get these approvals through, the faster you can create jobs,” he said.
Mineralogy has agreements in place with Citic Pacific and Australasian Resources for the two groups to mine ore at Cape Preston, where a new port is also being built.
KATE EMERY
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=3&ContentID=153292
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