The Kimberley: Australia's latest environmental battle ground

Did you know...

• The fragile Kimberley coast is home to the world's most significant Humpback Whale nursery.
• Proposals from fossil fuel corporations including Shell and Woodside to develop a  liquified natural gas (LNG) processing plant off the Kimberley coast will add more than 10million tonnes of green house gases to our atmosphere each year - equivalent to the emission produced by over 2 million cars.
• The WA State Premier Colin Bennett is opening the floodgates for massive industrialisation plans in the Kimberley region.

The Kimberley coast is significant humpback whale breeding site. Photo: Josh Coates

The Kimberley region of northern WA is one of the world’s great natural and Indigenous cultural regions. Its vast savannah landscapes, wild rivers, extensive wetlands, spectacular coast and rich marine environments provide homes to an extraordinary diversity of species.

But massive threats are now looming over the region, in the form of plans for large scale industrialisation.

If these threats are not addressed urgently, some of the world's most pristine oceans and unspoiled landscapes will be replaced with regularly dredged shipping channels, massive pipelines, and smokestacks emitting huge volumes of polluting gases.

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By becoming a Wilderness Defender or giving a donation today, you can help protect the Kimberley’s incredible natural values.

• Threats to the Kimberley
• Consequences for Climate Change
  
• Solutions: The alternative for the Kimberley
• What you can do to give the Kimberley a future 
• How does my money help?

Threats to the region

Years of neglect and mismanagement have created major environmental problems for the Kimberley region of northern WA and the Wilderness Society is working hard to ensure these are addressed... but even bigger threats now loom over the region.

60-Minutes recently featured a story on The Battle for the Kimberley. Watch, or read full transcript »

Marine environment and Humpback Whales

The 'marine wonderland' that is the Kimberley marine environment and whales that call the areas home area t risk. The Kimberley coast is the nursery ground for a group of approximately 20,000 Humpback Whales – the most significant Humpback population in the world.

But right now the WA Government is pressing ahead with plans to develop the Browse Basin gas field off the Kimberley coast, potentially interfering with or even halting the whales’ migration all together.

Exploitation of the Browse Basin gas field would result in 10 million tonnes per annum of new greenhouse gas emissions (approximately 14% of WA’s current emissions) at a time when we should be doing all that we can to cut emissions.

Although a proposed site has now been declared – James Price Point, on the Dampier Peninsula – there are still legal processes and environmental impact assessments to be undertaken.

Destructive Bauxite mining on Mitchell Plateau

Strip mining means large scale clearing and major erosion problems, once destroyed it is often impossible to rehabilitate these areas. Embley River catchment, Cape York Peninsula. Photo: Glenn Walker

The beautiful, diverse Mitchell Plateau region includes mound springs, ‘dry’ rainforest patches, vine thickets, mighty rivers, and savannah woodlands. The plateau features the majestic sights and sounds of the world-famous Mitchell Falls – the centrepiece of a rapidly expanding tourism industry.

However, companies such as Norsk Hydro, United Minerals Corporation, Rio Tinto and Alcoa have identified large deposits of bauxite (used to produce aluminium) in the region.

Bauxite mining involves bulldozing thousands of hectares of natural vegetation, burning the vegetation, and then extracting millions of tonnes of rock and soil to be shipped off to greenhouse-intensive aluminium smelters.

The drastic alteration of the drainage patterns in the landscape and the soil structure means that mined areas can never be rehabilitated to be the same as pre-mining ecosystems.

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GM crops on the Ord River

In November 2008, the Barnett Government approved the commercial production of genetically modified cotton in the Ord River irrigation area – the first ever GM crop approved for the state.

This was in spite of environment groups, farmers, and consumers urging the WA Government to extend the state’s GM moratorium for at least another four years.

Colin Barnett

The negotiations with Traditional Owners regarding the propoesed gas hub were overshadowed by the Premier's repeated statements, that he is prepared to seize the land he wants for his development from Traditional Owners by compulsory acquisition if required. This has been described by organisations such as Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation as setting back the reconciliation and Indigenous Rights movement by 30 years.

Consequences for Climate Change

Plans to develop the LNG processing plant will add more than 10million tonnes of green house gases to our atmosphere each year - equivalent to the emission produced by over 2 million cars.

The Wilderness Society's alternative vision for the Kimberley

James Price Point – A special part of the Kimberley coast threatened by fossil fuel (LNG) industry.

There are alternatives. The Great Barrier Reef earns over $5 billion per year in tourism alone. A protected area similar to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a viable option for the Kimberley and would also create jobs for the local community.

The Wilderness Society sees a future for the Kimberley based on WildCountry (whole of landscape) principles -  A vision where improved land management is undertaken by and in cooperation with Traditional Owners, where the land, seas and rivers of the region are protected and inappropriate developments are ruled out and conservation compatable economic opportunites flourish.

What you can do to give the Kimberley a future. Take action today!

1. Become a Wilderness Defender and give regular monthly donations to help protect the stunning Kimberley.

2. Make a single donation today.

3. Join our Hands Up for the Kimberley supporter list and online map.

How does my money help?

• The Wilderness Society is keeping up the pressure on the State and Federal Governments as well as corporations to change their ‘development at all costs’ approach.
• Our WildCountry Science Council is working to reinforce a solid scientific basis for protection.
• We also seek to work closely with Traditional owners to ensure that improved conservation outcomes go hand-in hand with enhanced economic and social outcomes for Indigenous communities.
• We will continue to build the raise community awareness and educate people regarding these outrageous and destructive plans for the Kimberley.