The Western Australian Government has released a new policy framework aimed at guiding the creation and application of environmental offsets. The policy will aim to deliver greater certainty, transparency to Government, businesses and developers.

 

Released by State Environment Minister Bill Marmion, the  Environmental Offsets Policy will promote consistent decision making and conserve important environmental and biodiversity values.


“The WA Environmental Offsets Policy is a cross-government initiative and its release supports the Government’s continuing commitment to environmental approvals reform,” Mr Marmion said.


Offsets may include acquisition of land for conservation; revegetation of natural areas outside the project area; or improving scientific or community understanding and awareness of environmental values affected by a development. According to the policy document, environmental offsets will not replace on-site environmental practices, such as avoidance and mitigation, but will be used to compensate for residual environmental impacts and be designed to achieve long-term outcomes, building upon existing conservation programs and initiatives.

 

The policy states that environmental offsets will take account of, and contribute towards, broader State Government conservation objectives through existing programs, policies, initiatives and strategic funds. This includes the establishment and ongoing management of national parks, reserves and other conservation estate.

 

It notes that the WA environmental offset system will be run alongside the Australian Government's environment offsets under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

 

"The Western Australian Government will endeavour to work cooperatively with the Australian Government to avoid duplication of offsets, however, this may not be possible where a proposal or action is not jointly assessed under a bilateral agreement or a strategic assessment. It is intended that as far as possible there will be minimal duplication between State and Commonwealth requirements for environmental offsets."


The policy was developed by the WA Ministerial Taskforce on Approvals, Development and Sustainability. 

 

More information about the Environmental Offsets Policy is available from the Department of Environment and Conservation website.