Conservation Council of WA

Conservation groups  congratulated the Barnett Government for its Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy initiatives announced this morning, welcoming significant commitments to new funding for science and management.

Conservation Council of WA Director Piers Verstegen said, "The Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy recognises the world-class environmental values of the Kimberley region with a number of significant new initiatives to improve protection and reduce environmental threats in the region.

"Importantly, the Strategy provides significant resources to address critical shortfalls in science for the unique Kimberley marine environment and to address threats to Kimberley biodiversity such as large fires and feral animals.

"Also, the Strategy outlines a 'landscape scale' approach to conservation in the Kimberley, which is consistent with the approach taken by the Australian Heritage Council in nominating much of the Kimberley for National Heritage listing.

"The Strategy was an important election commitment of the Barnett Government, and shows that the Premier is responding to a strong and growing desire in the WA community for the Kimberley region to be protected for future generations."

Peter Robertson from The Wilderness Society WA said it was crucial that funding for Indigenous management and Rangers be made available under the Strategy given the central role Traditional Owners had to play in the future conservation and sustainable development of the region. This would also allow for culturally appropriate management of the burgeoning tourism industry.

"Indigenous tourism businesses based on the unique natural and cultural values of the Kimberley are already a major employer in the region and they deserve far more support than has been the case previously.

"This industry provides jobs and income for Indigenous communities which is not based on the loss and destruction of their country and culture."

Environs Kimberley Director Martin Pritchard said the government's commitment to improved protection and management was important but it had failed to address the threat of large scale industrialisation of much of the Kimberley, which would destroy the very values the Strategy seeks to protect.

"We have mining proposed for key biodiversity and tourism assets such as Irvine Island, Horizontal Falls and the Fitzroy River. We have the proposed gas hub at James Price Point and a major industrial port planned for Point Torment near Derby.

"Each of the projects individually will have serious impacts, but collectively they would undermine much of the good work outlined in the Strategy. The government must resolve the conflict it has created between planned industrialisation and protection."