Controversy has erupted over the Dampier to Bunbury gas pipeline, with Murray Wellington MP Murray Cowper speaking out about risks to land development in Murray from a “safety buffer” planned along its route.
Mr Cowper said he has written to planning minister Donna Faragher to warn her of a threat to private landowners.
“DBP, the private company granted state legislative power to override the interests of private landowners to facilitate the new gas pipeline, now wishes to blight up to 660 metres of private land instead of the previously agreed 100 metre safety buffer zone along one section of the route,” he said.
“If DBP is permitted by the minister to proceed with this increase, it will cause pandemonium along the existing route to Bunbury then ultimately, all the way down to Albany.”
Mr Cowper said a private rural subdivision in North Dandalup had been delayed as a consequence.
“They settled the purchase, subject to approvals granted in 2015 for 100 rural blocks,” he said.
“Stakeholders, including DBP raised no formal objections during the process of public consultation conducted to consider and subsequently approve the development.
“If the buffer area claimed goes from 100 to 660 metres, the proposed subdivision will be slashed from just over 100 new titles for sale to just four, probably forcing the developer into insolvency.”
But a spokesperson for the pipeline’s operator said it had discussed the safety buffer proposal with the development’s proponents.
“DBP is following the process set by the Department of Planning to ensure development can occur within the vicinity of the DBNGP [Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline] in a way that ensures no foreseeable risk to the safety and wellbeing of future residents and DBP’s workforce,” he said.
“The process will also ensure gas supplies to the state remain uninterrupted.”
The spokesman for DBP also said it was a condition of the subdivision approval given by the West Australian Planning Commission that a risk management plan be developed to DBP’s satisfaction, which was only provided to DBP two weeks ago.
Planning minister Donna Faragher said she had received the letter from Mr Cowper in relation to the proposal.
“I understand that the Department of Planning is currently working with all stakeholders including the pipeline owner-operator, other relevant Government agencies and land developers on the issue,” Mrs Faragher said.
“I will be seeking further advice from the Department of Planning on the matter.”
However, Mr Cowper said the case was just another in a property rights saga the state government had refused to address.
He said private land holdings in rural areas were in many cases the superannuation assets of country people.
“State government agencies and private companies favoured with their legislative powers must be required to purchase land on just terms,” Mr Cowper said.
“The acquisition of land for the Dampier to Bunbury gas pipeline has already caused major disruption for many rural families and adversely affected some of our most productive rural land.
“The facility may provide economic benefits for WA, but land requirements must be subject to purchase on just terms.”