Community and industry will have an opportunity to have their say on the values and pressures in the Exmouth Gulf, with a three-week Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) public consultation period opening this week.
The EPA has agreed to a request by the Minister for Environment to provide strategic advice on how activities and developments will impact on the environmental, social and cultural values of Exmouth Gulf under section 16(e) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
EPA Chair Dr Tom Hatton said the public consultation, which opens this Wednesday October 21, would ensure the EPA’s advice to government was well informed.
“Exmouth Gulf is a part of Western Australia shared by many sectors – fisheries, tourism, recreation, environment, Aboriginal communities, pastoral, industry and transport – and is one of the most cherished areas along our coast,” Dr Hatton said.
“The Gulf has a range of distinctive values and faces pressures from a range of users and proposed activities. The EPA wants to hear from everyone who has a stake in this unique part of Western Australia.
“This work will provide the basis of our advice to the Minister on the compatibility of future developments with the values of Exmouth Gulf.”
The EPA will be in Exmouth this week to meet invited stakeholders for initial conversations about the values and pressures facing the Gulf. The EPA expects to travel to Exmouth again early next year to continue consultation and discussions with key stakeholders.
The EPA has also engaged a Perspectives Group, with representatives from key sector groups including CSIRO and Protect Ningaloo, to provide specific advice.
An EPA assessment of a proposal from Subsea 7 Pty Ltd to construct and operate an onshore pipeline facility near Exmouth is on hold until the Exmouth Gulf strategic advice has been completed. The EPA expects to provide its strategic advice to the Minister for Environment by the end of June 2021.
For more information on the EPA’s Exmouth Gulf strategic advice visit the EPA website.
EPA Media Contact: Jayne Rickard on 0400 866 450
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