The State Government has announced a $3.9 million funding program designed to speed up new industrial and resources projects in Western Australia.
The decision stems from recommendations made in the 2002 Keating Review into the Project Development Approvals System.
In a statement last week the Government said the funding would be used to strengthen the internal resourcing of key approval agencies and establish an interagency group to implement policies to improve the approvals systems.
State Development Minister Clive Brown said much of the new funding would be used to boost the Environmental Protection Agency, which would not only ensure the timely processing of approvals, but that WA’s unique environment continued to be protected.
The announcement comes as the Government looks to tie up some major proposed resource projects into one strategic development.
The Government, subject to approval, hopes the first stage of the proposed $11 billion Gorgon gas development, and Alcoa’s proposed $1.5 billion Wagerup alumina expansion, can be worked-in together.
This would facilitate the development of a second gas pipeline from Gorgon to the mainland, and ultimately the Wagerup expansion.
Mr Brown said the changes to the approvals process would benefit the Gorgon development and the Wagerup alumina expansion.
There have already been reported links of construction giant Multiplex and gas retailer Alinta to a proposed second pipeline.
The Government also has hinted at a long-held vision for a WA-based aluminium smelter to tie in with the four alumina refineries in the State’s South West.
The smelter is considered the most ambitious and would involve an estimated capital investment of about $4 billlion.
While the Greens have criticised the Government’s approach, mining groups welcomed the long-awaited changes.
Greens MLC Christine Sharp labelled the $3.9 million a “spendfest” and said the State Development minister was “out of control in his rush for development at any cost”.
Dr Sharp said the announcement was also a smack in the face for Department of Environment, which prior to the announcement had released a statement saying the Wagerup expansion would be considered in due process.
“The contempt the State Government has for environmental concerns is there for all to see,” Dr Sharp said.
But for the mining groups it was an especially welcome announcement, considering the Government’s recent dumping of proposed changes to the mining act.
Both the Chamber of Minerals and Energy and the Association of Mining and Exploration companies welcomed the proposal.
But an AMEC spokesperson said it was important that the smaller projects did not get overlooked in face of the bigger more glamorous projects.
The spokesman said AMEC had consulted the Government about its concerns.