Planning by Len Buckeridge’s BGC for a new cargo port at Cockburn Sound and a major brickworks at Perth Airport has moved forward on two fronts this month
Planning by Len Buckeridge’s BGC for a new cargo port at Cockburn Sound and a major brickworks at Perth Airport has moved forward on two fronts this month.
Both projects have been mired in regulatory and planning processes and prompted Mr Buckeridge to claim he was being treated unfairly by the Gallop Government.
James Point Pty Ltd, the port development company whose largest shareholder is BGC, scored a legal win this month for protecting land earmarked for the port.
Specifically, James Point secured an undertaking from Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan and LandCorp that “no activity of any kind” would take place on LandCorp land earmarked for the port development.
The government has also agreed to pay James Point’s costs in relation to the court proceedings.
The dispute arose last month after the Water Corporation started using the LandCorp land to assist with preparations for its $387 million desalination plant.
James Point believed it should have been consulted before the work commenced, pursuant to an existing agreement with the government.
The new undertakings strengthen that agreement.
James Point also was concerned the work could compromise its planned port development.
The Water Corporation assuaged those concerns, saying it had altered its plans.
“In fact, the Corporation has deliberately and at substantial added cost designed the inlet and outlet pipelines to avoid LandCorp’s land so as to ensure the pipeline does not compromise James Point’s proposed harbour development,” Water Corporation corporate real estate manager Adam Roebuck said in a letter to LandCorp.
Meanwhile, Westralia Airports Corporation has released a development plan for the brickworks BGC proposes building at the northern end of Perth airport.
The government has questioned the project, claiming it was not being subjected to appropriate scrutiny.
Ms MacTiernan also said there were “question marks” over the legality of the project.
Westralia Airports Corp concluded the project would not have any significant environmental impact, was consistent with planning policies, and atmospheric emissions would be below levels set by the State Government.
