❓ Mr Zempilas's Question on Notice seeks detailed information regarding the WA Government's guidelines for acreage release and prime areas, specifically focusing on the distribution, changes, and criteria for petroleum, geothermal, and greenhouse gas storage exploration, as well as the impact of industry nominations and environmental/heritage constraints.
⏳ Awaiting AnswerQoN 2540Legislative Assembly
Asked
9 June 2026
Member
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum; Finance; Electoral Affairs; Goldfields-Esperance
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Government's recent Guidelines for acreage release and prime areas and I ask:
(a) Given that the guidelines cover exploration of petroleum, geothermal energy, and greenhouse gas storage, what is the current percentage distribution of designated prime areas across these three resource types;
(b) In relation to the blocks currently designated as prime areas, how many were added, removed, or extended during the most recent annual review;
(c) What specific data metrics are used to define "under-explored or emerging areas" and what proportion of the total acreage released in the last cycle was dedicated to these strategic priorities;
(d) What percentage of the discrete release areas in the 2026 program originated from industry nominations compared to those selected through departmental prospectivity assessments;
(e) How many prime areas identified as having "high level of resource prospectivity" were successfully transitioned into acreage releases in the past year
; and
(f) When determining areas for release, how many hectares of nominated land were excluded in the most recent cycle due to environmental or heritage constraints?
Answered on
(a) Given that the guidelines cover exploration of petroleum, geothermal energy, and greenhouse gas storage, what is the current percentage distribution of designated prime areas across these three resource types;
(b) In relation to the blocks currently designated as prime areas, how many were added, removed, or extended during the most recent annual review;
(c) What specific data metrics are used to define "under-explored or emerging areas" and what proportion of the total acreage released in the last cycle was dedicated to these strategic priorities;
(d) What percentage of the discrete release areas in the 2026 program originated from industry nominations compared to those selected through departmental prospectivity assessments;
(e) How many prime areas identified as having "high level of resource prospectivity" were successfully transitioned into acreage releases in the past year
; and
(f) When determining areas for release, how many hectares of nominated land were excluded in the most recent cycle due to environmental or heritage constraints?
Answered on
AnswerView source ↗
⏳
This question is awaiting a response from the Minister.
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