Land Access Working Group established

Thursday, 15 September 2016

• ​Members include industry representatives, farmer's representatives, Conservation Council of WA, State Government agencies and local government
• Working group to report to State Parliament before June 30, 2018

A new Land Access Working Group established to review the statutory framework for land access by the resources industry was announced today at the 2016 Petroleum Open Day.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Sean L'Estrange said the move was a direct response to recommendations from the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs report on 'Implications for Western Australia of Hydraulic Fracturing for Unconventional Gas'.

"The Land Access Working Group will review existing provisions under the State's mining and petroleum legislation, with a primary focus on onshore petroleum," Mr L'Estrange said.

The Land Access Working Group will comprise representatives from industry and farmer organisations, local government (Western Australian Local Government Association), the Conservation Council of Western Australia and various State Government agencies and will be chaired by the Director General of the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP).

"The working group will compare land access arrangements in other jurisdictions and make recommendations to Government, including possible changes to the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association's 'Farming Land Access Agreement' template," the Minister said.

"The Land Access Working Group will consult with a wide range of stakeholders in order to report and make recommendations to the Government by June 30, 2018."

Mr L'Estrange said the group would also consider and advise in relation to recommendations for a statutory body to act as an independent arbiter for land owners and resource companies in land access negotiations.

"WA has a long history of mineral exploration and agriculture working together co-operatively and successfully," he said.

Fact File

• The working group will meet at least once each quarter, unless agreed otherwise, and executive and administrative support will be provided by DMP
• As an advisory body, the working group's advice and recommendations will be made by consensus, but where consensus cannot be reached the dissenting views will be recorded and later presented to the Minister by the chairman
• A whole of Government response to the recommendations was tabled in the Legislative Council on March 16, 2016