2017-02-02
The Greens have announced on World Wetlands Day today that it will call for an audit into offsets, following the Government’s cloak and dagger approach to securing parcels of offset land in exchange for land cleared for Roe 8.
Speaking at the 13th annual World Wetlands Day Conference at Cockburn Wetlands Centre today, Greens spokesperson for the Environment Lynn MacLaren MLC pledged to call for the audit into offsets as a priority during the next Parliament – with a focus on offsets managed by Main Roads.
Ms MacLaren said she wanted to uncover whether offsets are fulfilling their purpose, following the revelation that the Barnett Government had paid $12.2 million for 522ha of land covered by a petroleum exploration lease to offset land cleared for Roe 8.
She said the land at Lake Clifton south of Mandurah, costing the taxpayer $23,350/ha, contained inadequate cockatoo habitat, contrary to claims made by Main Roads WA in its Land Acquisition Plan.
“The audit needs to uncover whether the offsets still exist, whether they have been repurposed, who is managing them and whether they still meet the criteria to be an offset,” Ms MacLaren said.
Related campaign: Stop Roe 8 - Save Beeliar Wetlands Related portfolios: Biodiversity & Conservation