Busselton wetlands
A draft conservation strategy for the Busselton wetlands has been released for public comment until June 6.
The strategy is available from www.planning.wa.gov.au, the Western Australian Planning Commission in Bunbury, the Department of Conservation and Land Management in Busselton, and the GeoCatch Network Centre in Busselton.
Comment can be sent to corporate@planning.wa.gov.au, or to The Secretary, Western Australian Planning Commission, 469 Wellington Street, Perth WA 6000, attention: Shane Kirk.
Car rental review
The WA Government is inviting comment on the car rental industry, as part of a national regulatory review.
A public discussion paper is available from: www.docep.wa.gov.au and 1300 30 40 54.
Submissions are due May 6.
Commercial Retail Tenancy
The WA Government is inviting public comment on a report into the Commercial Retail Tenancy (Retail Shops) Agreements Act.
The report – a follow-up to an October 2002 issues paper - includes 61 recommendations on issues such as the applicability and operation of the Act, disclosure, dispute resolution and fair dealing between landlords and tenants.
The report is available from (08) 9220 0222 and www.sbdc.com.au/ct.
Submissions – due by April 18 - can be addressed to the Office of the Minister for State Development; Tourism and Small Business, Level 19, 197 St George's Terrace, Perth, WA 6000.
Fitness code of practice
The State Government and industry body Fitness WA plan to establish an industry code of practice.
Submissions in response to a discussion paper towards this end are invited until April 30.
The paper is available from www.docep.wa.gov.au or 1300 30 40 54.
Greater Bunbury Land Release Plan 2002
This overview, prepared by the WA Planning Commission, forecasts significant growth to continue for the next ten years.
Copies of the plan are available from www.planning.wa.gov.au, from Planning Commission offices in Perth and Bunbury, and from (08) 9264 7777.
Mandatory Renewable Energy Target
Submissions are invited for the Federal Government-initiated independent review of the operation of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000, more commonly referred to as the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target.
Further information, including terms of reference, is available from the MRET review secretariat – Tel (02) 6274 1298, Fax (02) 6274 1067, Email mret.review@greenhouse.gov.au, and GPO Box 621 Canberra ACT 2601.
Submissions are due May 5.
Metropolitan Development Program
The WA Government Metropolitan Development Program: Urban Land Release Plan 2002-03 to 2006-07 Summary is now available from the WA Planning Commission, 469 Wellington Street, Perth, and from www.planning.wa.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?page=/publications/mdp/mdp2002/mdpSum02.html.
Mineral Exploration Action Agenda
Public comment is invited on draft recommendations from the MEAA, established by the Federal Government last year.
The MEAA report and further information is available from www.industry.gov.au/minexpagenda.
The submissions period closes April 28.
Retail trading hours
Ahead of a mid-year deadline to justify WA retail trading hours arrangements to the National Competition Council, the WA Government has released a discussion paper on retail trading hours.
This paper considers a number of options, including having no trading hour restrictions and abolishing Thursday night or Sunday trading.
Further information is available from (08) 9222 9622 or www.docep.wa.gov.au/reviews/retailtradinghours.
Submissions on the paper can be made to the Retail Hours Review Committee, 15th Floor, 197 St George's Terrace, Perth WA 6000.
The submissions period closes April 10.
South West rail services
The WA Government has released a discussion paper on costs and benefits associated with various options for improving passenger rail services between Perth and Bunbury and of extending these further south and west.
Public comment on the paper is invited until May 30.
Submission can be forwarded to the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, 441 Murray Street, Perth WA 6000 or through www.dpi.wa.gov.au/regional/.
The paper is available from DPI offices in Bunbury, www.dpi.wa.gov.au/regional, or (08) 9216 8721.
State Sustainability Strategy
The public comment period for the 236-page draft strategy has now closed.
The matter is being handled by The Sustainability Policy Unit, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, at 197 St George's Terrace, Perth WA 6000, which can be contacted at www.greenhouse.wa.gov.au, or emailed to sustainability@dpc.wa.gov.au.
The draft strategy is available from (08) 9222 9833 or www.sustainability.dpc.wa.gov.au.
Warren-Blackwood Rural Strategy
A draft Warren-Blackwood Rural planning strategy has been released for public comment until June 27.
The strategy covers 1.4 million hectares in the shires of Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Manjimup and Nannup.
Copies of the strategy are available from www.planning.wa.gov.au and regional council offices.
The WA Government has released for public comment the first of two reviews into the State's aquaculture industry.
This review was undertaken by solicitor Anna Ciffolilli, to identify opportunities to improve legislation relating to aquaculture development.
Ms Ciffolilli has concluded that while there was no quick legislative remedy to increase the development of a sustainable aquaculture industry, some immediate, short and long-term legislative solutions including the introduction of an Aquaculture Act, were feasible.
Further information and review copies are available from Frances Casella, on 9368 3600, or aquadevreview@agric.wa.gov.au, and from www.ministers.wa.gov.au.
A draft Aquaculture Development Plan is expected to be released soon for public comment.