ALCA welcomes the opportunity to provide a supplementary submission to the Western Australian Government’s consultation.
In addition to ALCA’s earlier recommendations:
1. That Paragraph 8 of the Policy Framework be rewritten as follows [additions in bold]: Where there are competing applications for a diversification lease over the same area, the process for identifying a preferred proponent will be at the Minister for Lands’ discretion, taking into account a number of factors including:
a. the benefits to the State, the relevant region or locality;
b. the rights and interests of existing land users/interest holders;
c. the value to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders of the proposed activities;
d. the benefits to biodiversity conservation;
d. ensuring a diversity of investment; and
e. any other considerations the Minister may deem relevant.
2. That a new Paragraph 20 under the ‘Permitted Land Use’ section of the Policy Framework be added as follows [additions in bold, with subsequent paragraphs renumbered as relevant]:
20. A diversification lease may be granted for a sole land use (such as, for example, biodiversity conservation).
