Aussie green groups want Kimberley development halted
22 Jun 2009
Environmental groups in Australia are demanding a moratorium on all major developments in Kimberley, Western Australia, until a conservation strategy is put together. The groups will hand over a joint submission to the government for putting all major resource development on hold in the region.
The submission seeks to initiate a process to develop a Kimberley conservation strategy and calls for urgent changes in environmental planning and approvals for the area.
The department of environment and conservation (DEC) has earmarked about $9 million to develop a strategy for the area.
The manager of the Kimberley conservation strategy at the Pew Environment Group, John Carey, says that groups are demanding a dramatic change to the process of environmental planning.
He said the groups are urging the government to provide a clear way forward with a plan of action that looked at the whole values of the region and identified those areas that needed protection and those that were compatible with development.
Carey said a comprehensive strategy was needed in place of the ad hoc approach to one of the largest intact natural areas in the world that is at severe risk.
Concern about the region has come to the fore recently with Woodside Petroleum negotiating an agreement with indigenous land groups for a liquefied natural gas processing hub at James Price Point, near Broome.
The immediate aim of the groups is to reduce the environmental impact of piecemeal LNG plant developments in the region, however according to analysts, the development of hub would not proceed as other competing projects in the Pilbara region get started.
Among the group's recommendations is a demand for setting up a comprehensive network of protected marine areas to be established in partnership with traditional owners drawing on the best international approaches.
Carey said the Kimberley is as important to Australia and the world as the Great Barrier Reef, but does not enjoy the same level of protection having only 5.5 per cent protected in parks and reserves and no coastal waters protected in any form of marine park.
The Wilderness Society's Josh Coates said the WA government had identified five marine areas on the Kimberley coast for potential protection. He added that this was way below scientifically agreed targets and earlier departmental recommendations.
The groups have 29 recommendations to make regarding science and conservation strategy for the region.
The submission points out that the Kimberley is facing threats due to a combination of factors including climate change, uncontrolled wildfires, unmanaged tourism, illegal fishing and overfishing and pressure for ad-hoc industrialisation and development and the threats put at risk the environment, and the indigenous culture as also the whole social and economic fabric of the Kimberley and its people.
