Conroy, Sen Stephen

Senator Conroy: The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question: (1) Given the broad scope of the first question placed on notice, I consider that the preparation of answers to the first question placed on notice would involve a significant diversion of resources and, in the circumstances, I do not consider the additional work that would be required can be justified. Information regarding the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (the department) offset policy can be found on the department's website. The department has recently developed an offsets mapping tool which will allow future offsets to be entered into a spatial database to improve data available for decision-making, monitoring and compliance. Since 2000 there have been approximately 3661 decisions made on proposed actions referred under the EPBC Act. The following proposed actions have been deemed either clearly unacceptable or not approved: Decision on referral / Clearly unacceptable EPBC Reference Number Title of Referral Date of Notice 2011/6219 Department of Sustainability and Environment/Natural resources management/Victoria's High Country/VIC/Investigation of fuel and bushfire risk management using strategic cattle grazing 31 Jan 2012 2009/5095 GKI Resort Pty Ltd/Tourism and recreation/Great Keppel Island/QLD/Great Keppel Island Resort Revitalisation Plan 28 Oct 2009 2008/4627 South Burnett Regional Council/Transport - land/Kingaroy/QLD/Connection and Upgrade of Tessmans Road North 02 Jan 2009 2008/4535 Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water/Water management and use/Central Highlands/TAS/Release of Water from Lake Crescent into the Clyde River 18 Nov 2008 2008/4473 Shoalhaven City Council/Transport - land/Ilaroo Rd, North Nowra, west of Princes Highway at Bomaderry/NSW/Construct and operate north Nowra link road 12 Nov 2008 2008/4366 Waratah Coal/Mining/Mine in Galilee Basin; Port south of Port Clinton; pipeline to Lake Dalrymple/QLD/Galilee Coal Project including development of coal mine, 495km railway, port and 285km pipeline 05 Sep 2008 2008/4257 Wilmatt Holdings Pty Ltd/Residential development/Lot 66 on SP164474, Rockingham Close, Wongaling Beach (Mission Beach)/QLD/Subdivide 1 Lot into 40 lots 21 Jul 2008 2007/3916 Singleton Council/Natural resources management/George St, Singleton/NSW/Cull Grey Headed Flying Fox at Burdekin Park 17 Jan 2008 Decision on approval of action: Not approved EPBC Reference Number Title of Referral Date of Notice 2006/3193 Walker Corporation/Residential development/Ralphs Bay/TAS/Lauderdale Quay Waterfront Housing and Marina Development 29 Oct 2010 2001/487 Phosphate Resources Ltd/Mining/Christmas Island/Christmas Island/East Christmas Island Phosphate Mines (9 sites) 16 Jul 2010 2009/5194 Jason Dixon/Residential development/Oak Valley, Townsville /QLD/Two Residential Premises on Lot 7, Chisholm Trail, Oak Valley 21 Apr 2010 2006/3150 Queensland Water Infrastructure Pty Ltd/Water management and use/Mary River/QLD/Traveston Crossing Dam 02 Dec 2009 2007/3448 Shoalhaven City Council/Residential development/Worrowing Heights (Heritage Estates)/NSW/Rezoning of land and associated public works to facilitate residential development 13 Mar 2009 2006/3179 Nobby's Lighthouse Pty Ltd/Tourism and recreation/Newcastle/NSW/Nobby's Lighthouse redevelopment 19 May 2008 2007/3865 The Hon David Llewellyn/Water management and use/Lake Crescent in the Central Highlands/TAS/Proposed release of 3300ML of water from Lake Crescent into the River Clyde for irrigation purposes 09 May 2008 2001/487 Phosphate Resources Ltd/Mining/Christmas Island/Christmas Island/East Christmas Island Phosphate Mines (9 sites) 27 Apr 2007 2004/1631 Mr Gabriel Bittar/Urban and commercial new development/American River/SA/Subdivision and development on Kangaroo Island 31 Dec 2005 2002/911 G and H Pedel/Urban and commercial new development/Kingston, Norfolk Island/Norfolk Island/Residential Building 10 Mar 2004 2002/571 Rohan Bosworth/Agriculture and forestry/Kennedy, Far North Queensland/QLD/Electrocution of Spectacled flying-foxes to protect a lychee orchard 21 Mar 2003