For more than a year the Western Trade Coast Industries Committee (WTCIC) and Kwinana Industries Council have lobbied the Government to enshrine the buffer in law to prevent land uses like residential from encroaching on major industry.
The buffer surrounds the Western Trade Coast (WTC) that runs from Munster to Rockingham that generates about $14.7 billion each year. Currently, it is only protected by policy.
In it is some of the State’s heaviest industry including the BP Refinery, Alcoa Refinery and BHP Billiton Nickelwest.
WTCIC chairman and South Metropolitan Region MLC Phil Edman said legislating the buffer would guarantee the future of the State’s ‘largest and most important industrial area’ along with the welfare of residents nearby.
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READ NOW‘The Premier’s announcement will encourage businesses in the area to invest in their operations safe in the knowledge there is a clear and agreed industry zone to stop urban encroachment and protect both the welfare of the community and longevity of industry,’ he said.
An enshrined buffer would allow industry to invest knowing their operations are safe from advancing urban areas.
KIC director Chris Oughton previously told the Courier buffer legislation would prevent issues like those experienced between Cockburn Cement and nearby residents over the past few years.