The State Government said yesterday it aims to merge the Department of Environment and the Department of Conservation and Land Management.

“APPEA has long called for reduced duplication and delays in the environmental approvals process, so we clearly welcome [the] announcement,” APPEA chief executive Belinda Robinson said.

“The petroleum industry’s environmental record has been excellent throughout its 50-year history in Australia and the industry supports the ongoing protection of the environment in which it operates.

“However, duplication in government agencies causes delays to development without improved environmental benefit.”

APPEA hoped the merger would deliver a whole-of-government approach to a more streamlined environmental approvals process.

“Such structural changes often result in substantial improvements and APPEA believes the creation of a single-focused agency has the potential to deliver in a much more efficient manner on matters that impact on Western Australia’s upstream oil and gas sector,” Robinson said.

APPEA looked forward to working with the director of the new agency, Keiran McNamara, and building on the industry’s strong relationships established over many years with the two merging government departments, she said.