Press Release

The handling of conservation issues affecting private landowners would remain a major test for the State Government’s proposed new EPA and Department of Environment and Conservation agencies, the Pastoralists and Graziers’ Association said today.

PGA Private Property Rights Policy Director Milan Zaklan welcomed Minister Donna Faragher’s promise that the new EPA charter would result in increased transparency, independence and community confidence.

“Hopefully that will also mean that the EPA will protect the interests of hundreds of private landowners in WA who continue to be unfairly treated by the Department of Environment and Conservation.”

“We have had members prosecuted by DEC on rulings that have been supported by the courts.  Yet these landowners remain paralysed because of the DEC’s inability to process their appeals.”

“DEC is using its highly prescriptive powers against landowners and its unique ‘police force’ to impose unfair conditions on a wide range of landowners.”

“This has resulted in needless bans on development and the costly ‘blighting’ of private property.”

“PGA has been told that the Government is working to improve private property rights in the rural sector.”

“Our previous adverse experiences with the Gallop government and the EPA over the Swan Coastal Wetlands Strategy will serve as a barometer of how this “new” EPA will deal with conservation decisions on private land,” Milan Zaklan said.