Following a two-week public comment period in November 2024, the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has now reviewed and approved Westport’s Environmental Scoping Document.
The Environmental Scoping Document defines the form and content of the Environmental Review Document, which will detail Westport’s environmental impacts and proposed management strategies. The Environmental Review Document is anticipated to be released for public comment in 2026.
For more information about the next steps visit our environmental impact assessment page.
For a summary of the State environmental assessment process, watch this 2-minute video.
Public comments received on the Environmental Scoping Document
During the public comment period, 35 public submissions were received. Westport considered each public comment and/or issue raised and made amendments to the Environmental Scoping Document where required. You can review how Westport addressed these submissions in the “Response to Environmental Scoping Document Submissions” available on the EPA’s Consultation Hub.
You can view the final Environmental Scoping Document here, or on the EPA website under section 3: Assessment and 'Scoping’.
How public comments have influenced the Environmental Scoping Document
Cumulative impacts: it was requested that the cumulative impact assessment specify currently known and reasonably foreseeable projects, and the assessment should consider whether existing projects could still comply with existing approval or Ministerial conditions.
Westport updated the Environmental Scoping Document to strengthen the requirements for the cumulative impact assessment. The Document now includes an assessment of the spatial extent that Westport may interact with existing operations, including assessing the risk of their non-compliance with any current environmental approval conditions or operational requirements.
Brine dispersion: it was requested the Environmental Scoping Document include an assessment of how the proposal may alter desalination brine dispersion associated with the desalination plant throughout the year.
While this was already included in the Document, Westport amended the wording of the relevant ESD work item to clarify that potential impacts from Westport’s interactions with brine dispersion will be considered in the impact assessment.
Impacts on businesses and recreational pursuits: multiple submitters raised the need to ensure an assessment of Westport’s impacts on businesses and recreational pursuits in the immediate and adjacent areas to Westport is included in the Environmental Review Document.
This work is covered in the work required for the ‘Social Surroundings’ environmental factor. Westport will assess potential impacts to commercial and recreational activities from changes to the physical or biological environment, including impacts to fish and fisheries.
Emergency management: respondents sought more detail on the monitoring and management of spills, accidents and emergencies during operation.
Westport added a new work item in the Environmental Scoping Document requiring an emergency response plan for construction and operations. This will address elements of the proposal resulting in environmental risks to marine environmental quality (MEQ), including from spills or accidents.
Invasive species: comments called for an assessment of the management of ballast and potential for the introduction of marine pests and invasive species.
Westport amended the relevant sections to expand the assessment to include both marine pests and invasive species. For more information on the work already underway, you can view the WAMSI-Westport Marine Science Program study on invasive marine species.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to make a submission. Please refer to the Environmental Scoping Document Submissions document for more information on how comments were considered. If you have any questions about this process, please email us at enquiries@westport.wa.gov.au
