Red tape hold-ups

Written on the 17 July 2017

Red tape is stifling millions of dollars of potential investment and jobs in the Kimberley on farms and stations.

The accusations were levelled by two of the region's premier business organisations in submissions to a Federal inquiry into environmental red tape.

Examples of land tenure issues in the East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry's submission highlight the WA Government dragging its feet on approvals.

The first was Ceres Farms which was named the preferred developer of a 360ha agricultural land parcel on Packsaddle Plain in 2014.

After a lack of communication in how to go about approvals, Ceres was able to apply for a clearing permit in August, 2016, after receiving a draft lease.

As of June this year though the farmers are still waiting on a finalised lease and clearing permit with the process having taken nearly three years.

The chamber's second example was the much larger 7400ha Ord Stage 2 development.

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Source: Kimberley Echo