Bid for legislation to protect Margaret River

The State Government is considering special laws to protect the Margaret River wine-growing region from inappropriate mining and urban development amid renewed interest in coal and coal seam gas in the area.

Premier Colin Barnett said the Government was considering legislation that could be based on the Swan Valley Planning Act passed by the Court government in 1995 to protect that region from the encroaching urban front.

The State Opposition suggested similar legislation after a proposal for an underground coalmine by LD Operations, meaning any legislation would probably get through Parliament if the Government decided to press ahead.

Shadow planning minister John Hyde said yesterday he had been given approval by his shadow cabinet colleagues to draft legislation modelled on the Swan Valley Planning Act and he hoped it would be ready by the end of the year.

"If we've got (the Government's) support, there's a chance we could get laws passed this year," Mr Hyde said.

Mr Barnett said legislation was being "talked about seriously" within the Government but drafting of legislation had not begun.