On 18 August 2011, the Western Australian Ministers for Planning and Environment and the Commonwealth Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities announced that the State and Commonwealth governments have agreed to undertake a Strategic Assessment of the Perth and Peel regions of Western Australia.

Under the EPBC Act any activity that is likely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance requires approval from the Commonwealth Environment Minister.

The strategic assessment of a policy, plan or program allows the Commonwealth Environment Minister to approve actions or classes of actions without undertaking individual assessments of those actions, provided these are taken in accordance with the endorsed policy, plan or program.

A strategic assessment and subsequent endorsement is a collaborative assessment process, conducted by the Western Australian and Australian governments, that can address a number of individual actions or a class of actions (by several proponents) that would otherwise be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This process can determine how environmental, cultural and heritage values that are matters of national environmental significance can be best protected across a region while allowing sustainable development.

Specific advantages of undertaking a strategic assessment include:

early consideration of matters of national environmental significance in planning processes;
greater certainty to the community and developers over future development and regional conservation outcomes;
reduced administrative burden for proponents taking actions consistent with a policy, plan or program approved under a strategic assessment;
capacity to achieve significant environmental outcomes including addressing cumulative impacts at the landscape level; and
flexible timeframes commencing early in the planning process.


Public Consultation

The Strategic Assessment involves extensive consultation enabling peak bodies, local governments, and the wider community to review and comment on draft papers.

The draft terms of reference to guide the Strategic Assessment of the plan for the protection of matters of national environmental significance was released for public comment between 26 August 2011 and 7 October 2011. The terms of reference will now be finalised with the Commonwealth Minister for Environment following review of the comments received.

Once the terms of reference are finalised, the State Government will commence the preparation of the draft impact assessment report and the plan for the protection of matters of national environmental significance (MNES Plan).

The draft impact assessment report and draft MNES Plan will be released for public comment in 2012.