The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) has completed a review of Western Australia’s environmental offsets framework.
Following the Review of the Western Australian environmental offsets framework: Final report, DWER has made 25 recommendations to improve the framework.
Executive Director of Strategic Policy at DWER, Sarah McEvoy said environmental offsets were actions that provided environmental benefits, counterbalancing the environmental impacts or risks of a project or activity.
“The Review determined that offsets have been used appropriately,” Ms McEvoy said.
“The progressive introduction of the offsets framework improved the transparency of offset arrangements and provided clear policy to guide Agencies and proponents,” she said.
Ms McEvoy said the approach to offsets in Western Australia was informed by good science, and the Review’s recommendations would ensure the continued effectiveness of and improvements to WA’s environmental offsets framework.
“The Review also found opportunities to improve the framework and, following consultation with stakeholders, we have developed a plan to implement the Review recommendations,” she said.
“The implementation will begin as a priority.”
The Executive Director said DWER would soon publish an environmental offsets metric (calculator and guideline) for use in the State.
“The metric was developed in consultation with stakeholders and the Department will be undertaking further consultation on the inputs,” she said.
“This work, along with progressing bilateral agreements with the Commonwealth Government, will improve the alignment between State and Commonwealth environmental assessment processes,” Ms McEvoy said.
The 61-page Review can be accessed at this PS News link.
