Important gains likely for the Kimberley, but serious threats intensify

We are anticipating Premier Barnett will make an important announcement on the future of the Kimberley, but not all the news is likely to be good.

The Kimberley coast is significant humpback whale breeding site. Photo: Annabelle Sandes

Following extensive campaigning by the Wilderness Society and other environment groups, the WA government has been under pressure to improve protection of our unique Kimberley and address the many serious threats to the local environment, including the threat of short-sighted industrialisation.

Now it appears some of these concerns are finally being addressed, with the Premier’s announcement possibly including:

• The new ‘Camden Sound Marine Park’ – focused on parts of the Kimberley Humpback whales nursery;
• A new marine protected area over parts of Roebuck Bay near Broome;
• A new conservation reserve over parts of the north Kimberley which incorporates and ‘connects up’ multiple land tenures including new marine parks, Aboriginal reserves, Unallocated Crown Land, existing national parks and some pastoral stations;
• Around $9 million in funding for management;
• Welcome changes to the WA Conservation and Land Management (CALM) Act to allow for greater Indigenous involvement in conservation and management of the Kimberley.
  

While these measures would have merit, in each case and as a total package they fall short of what is needed and what has previously been recommended by scientists and conservation groups.

For example, while the new marine parks are welcome – given that there are currently NO marine parks along the Kimberley coast! – the government’s foremost marine conservation advisory body, the Marine Parks Authority has previously recommended the entire Kimberley coast become a marine park to allow for better management of its globally significant conservation values.

As always, any measures to improve conservation outcomes in the Kimberley need to have the support and involvement of the region’s Traditional Owners – and this can be achieved by, for example, greater use of ‘Indigenous Protected Areas’ and expanded Indigenous Rangers programs.

Just another political 'offset'?

The Premier looks as stubbornly determined as ever to pursue the massive polluting LNG industrial site and port at James Price Point near Broome - using the above environmental announcements as an attempted "offset" for his damaging industrialisation agenda.

And now there are several new destructive proposals for the Kimberley, such as open cut coal mining in the Fitzroy River valley south of Derby and copper mining near the famous Horizontal Falls north of Derby.

The problem we have is that our political and corporate leaders seem not to understand or appreciate just how special and unique the Kimberley is and why keeping it that way is not only important environmentally, but provides the basis for the region’s future economic prosperity.  So, as usual, its up to us to tell them what they just don’t get!

Background

In response to mounting pressure from environmental groups over the past several years to protect the Kimberley, Premier Barnett made an earlier announcement at a ‘Save the Kimberley whales’ event at Parliament House, Perth.
At this event on 27 May 2010, Premier Barnett said,

The Wilderness Society and other conservation groups working on the Kimberley cautiously welcomed this announcement. On the one hand it is an acknowledgement of the need to do a much better job of protecting the globally significant natural and cultural values of the region.  

On the other hand, the Premier is very keen to try to ‘offset’ his continuing pursuit of the polluting and destructive LNG industrial complex at James Price Point near Broome by protecting what he considers to be ‘the really spectacular parts of the Kimberley’, i.e. the parts industry mostly doesn’t need.
This means that we need to carefully consider the anticipated announcement by Premier Barnett and assess what the real outcomes are for protecting the Kimberley.

How positive is this for the Kimberley?

Our criteria for assessing the Premier’s announcement are as follows:

Do the measures -

1. Provide secure protection for the region’s outstanding conservation values, so that, for example, Alcoa and Rio Tinto can’t move in to strip mine the Mitchell Plateau, coal mining is prevented in the Fitzroy River and the oil and gas industry cannot pollute the marine environment – as happened recently with the disastrous Montara/West Atlas oil spill?

2. Do planned new marine parks include large sanctuary zones to fully protect the amazing marine life of the Kimberley’s coast and seas?

3. Does the proposed new Camden Marine Park - which originated from concerns about the Kimberley Humpback whales – actually protect the full extent of their nursery habitat?

4. Provide mechanisms and funding to help Traditional Owners protect Country and culture, e.g. expanded Indigenous Rangers programs; introducing a permit or licensing system for visitors and users?

5. Provide for the return of title to Traditional Owners and the resolution of longstanding Native Title claims?

6. Provide a guaranteed timeframe for changes to the CALM Act to provide a legal framework for Indigenous ownership and joint management of conservation reserves?

7. Will there be adequate funding to ensure that pervasive threats to the nature of the Kimberley, including fire, weeds and feral animals, are better managed?

8. Will there be tighter monitoring and regulation of fishing, cattle grazing, mining and tourism to prevent serious long-term environmental and cultural impacts?

What you can do:

When the Premier makes his announcement there is likely to be a period for public comment.

Be prepared to tell Premier Barnett that ignoring parts of the Kimberley earmarked for dangerous development is not good enough!

The Kimberley needs full protection, not just protection of the areas industry doesn’t want.

• Stay informed - join our Facebook page and visit our website for regular updates on how you can get involved in our Save the Kimberley Campaign;
• Find out more at our Kimberley page