Environment Minister Stephen Dawson sends Point Grey development back to EPA drawing board

This would mean the Environmental Protection Authroity (EPA) would have to conduct a new assessment of the Point Grey development instead of granting an extension to the initial five year time limit which expired on Tuesday.

Mr Dawson said the EPA had handed down its report on extending the time for the developers to commence the project and had considered “changes in the environment, and scientific or technological knowledge arising since the initial assessment”.

“Since the release of that report in April, new information has been released that warrants a reassessment by the EPA,” he said.

“The information relates to a potential for future canal and dredging projects to effect change in the environment of the Peel Harvey Estuary.

“Due to this new information, I have requested the EPA undertake a new assessment under s46 to consider whether an extension to the time limit for substantial commencement will be granted for the Point Grey Marina Proposal.”

Environmental groups had called on Mr Dawson to prevent an extension of the development proposal, which was first approved in 2011, saying it would cause unrecoverable damage to the Peel-Harvey Estuary.

The developers, Point Grey Development Company Pty Ltd and Tian An Australia, had applied for a further five-year extension with the plan to build a residential area with more than 3000 homes.

However Point Grey continued to be a contentious point for environmental groups.

Peel-Harvey Catchment Council chief Jane O’Malley said the organisation’s position on the development had not changed since it was first approved in 2012.

“The PHCC has had concerns with the Point Grey Marina since the proposal was first submitted for approval, and have provided several pieces of correspondence objecting to the proposal on a number of grounds,” she said.

“In essence the PHCC is of the opinion, based on review of the proposal and management strategies proposed by the proponent, that the development of the Marina and the associated boating channel will jeopardise the long-term health and Ramsar values of the Estuary.

“Given the sensitive nature and importance of this environment and location of the Marina, it is unlikely that there will be management that would sufficiently mitigate these impacts.”

Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup said he would not form an opinion on the development until a further EPA assessment was undertaken, and had called for the existing environmental approvals to lapse.

“Five years ago, when the last environmental approval was given, there was an exhaustive process undertaken by the EPA,” he said.

“It’s a significant process.

“I’d like to see a new one happen, because in that time there's been significant evidence that the estuary has changed.

“More recently we've had fish kills; 30,000 fish died because of a mixture of issues.

“I’m calling for the approvals to lapse because it’s about time we took a fresh look at the environmental conditions on the estuary before a decision can be made about whether Point Grey goes ahead.”

Mandurah MP David Templeman said he had always opposed the development.

“I maintain my opposition to any proposal that includes extensive dredging of the Mandurah Estuary and high density development on the eastern side of the Estuary which will be very difficult to service,” he said.

“The McGowan Government has committed six million dollars to be spent understanding and improving the condition of the Peel-Harvey estuary and the Serpentine, Murray and Harvey catchments as part of the Regional Estuaries Initiative.”

The original assessors of the site, RPS Group, said the environmental assessment was undertaken with the full assistance of stakeholders and regulatory authorities, including the EPA.

“A key challenge for the project is its location adjacent to internationally significant Ramsar wetlands (the Harvey Estuary and Peel Inlet), and careful consideration was given to siting of the marina infrastructure, its orientation and sizing,” an RPS spokesperson said.