Myalup Primary Industry Reserve Project Update

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) have released updated information on their website for the Myalup Primary Industry Reserve Project (MPIR).

The information has been provided as a result of community and Shire of Harvey feedback about the project to the DPIRD.  

The updates, which include a project timeline and an FAQ addressing key areas of community feedback, clarify that the project is only in the very early stages of a social impact assessment, and will not be approved prior to the completion of formal community consultation and feasibility studies.

Some of the updated information addressed in the FAQ includes:

• DPIRD will begin formal community consultation if the project is found to be feasible and a viable water supply is confirmed. These investigations are expected to take several years, and if feasibility or water supply cannot be confirmed, the project will not proceed.
• The pine trees will be harvested in stages over approximately 30 years by the FPC, but only once they reach maturity, as is standard practice for timber production. An equivalent area of pine trees would be replanted elsewhere.
• There is approximately 180 hectares of remnant native vegetation within the project area that would be fully protected by creating conservation areas in place.
• DPIRD has met with the 10th Light Horse Bunbury Troop and will work closely with the group to ensure that the project preserves community access to the section of the trail within the project site. As planning progresses, any future proposals regarding the trail will be shared with the community before decisions are made.
• No groundwater is available in the local area as it has been fully allocated. DPIRD is investigating several possible source options for the project including unallocated groundwater from elsewhere in the region and potential new water supplies.

For more information, please refer to the full FAQ, Fact sheet and timeline on the DPIRD website here: Myalup Primary Industries Reserve | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development