(Western Australia) Animals and pristine Ningaloo reef threatened by human development project

[Guest guest]

NB Ningaloo Reef is a pristine world heritage class site in Western

Australia

and the animals and marine life in this area must be protected from human

exploitation and pollution. Again, money and development threaten the

animals,

even in the remote areas of Western Australia.

 

 

Ningaloo group is ready for worst

October 28th 2002

The West Australian newspaper

 

 

AT 9am today the public will learn the result of two years work by the

Environmental Protection Authority on the controversial $200 million Mauds

Landing marina development.

 

An EPA report on the project, 3km north of Coral Bay, went to Environment

Minister Judy Edwards last week.

 

Dr Edwards refused to comment last night but environment groups, who have

fought a bitter war against Coral Coast Marina Development's proposal, were

steeling themselves for EPA support for it going ahead.

 

EPA chairman Bernard Bowen and Dr Edwards refused to reveal details of the

EPA's recommendations before their official release this morning.

 

Conservation campaigners Save Ningaloo spokesman Paul Gamblin said the EPA

rarely recommended against development proposals.

 

" It's difficult to believe the EPA would contemplate giving support for this

massive, destructive marina resort, but unfortunately that's what we're

anticipating, " he said.

 

The EPA's recommendations will be subject to a two-week public consultation

and appeal period in which any objections can be lodged.

 

The appeals will go to the State's independent appeals convener, who will

produce a report for Dr Edwards on the objections.

 

She is not bound by that report.

 

The Government is likely to make its decision based both on the EPA

recommendations and the convener's report.

 

Coral Coast Marina Development executive director Alan Smith said he would

welcome the EPA's recommendations if it approved the development.

 

" If the reports are correct, we welcome the second EPA approval for our

project, " he said. " Why doesn't the Save Ningaloo campaign accept the

umpire's decision and stop exaggerating the impact of this resort? "

 

Coral Coast's development would include a marina, 200 residential lots, 700

short-stay units, 170 staff dwellings, a caravan park and backpacker

accommodation.

 

In 1995, the EPA approved a bigger development plan which included an

18-hole golf course and more accommodation but the State Government called

for a smaller version.

 

Premier Geoff Gallop has said the Government is committed to gaining World

Heritage status for Ningaloo Reef but would follow the proper process for

the development proposal.

 

* The EPA will today deliver its long-awaited recommendations on a proposed

marina development at Mauds Landing. ANDREW GREGORY reports.

************************************************************

 

Qualified nod for Coral Bay resort

29th Ovtober 2002

By Andrew Gregory

 

 

THE State's environmental umpire has recommended conditional approval of a

controversial resort proposed for Ningaloo Reef at Mauds Landing, near Coral

Bay.

 

The Environmental Protection Authority said yesterday the proposed Coral

Coast resort could be built if the State Government showed it was able to

manage the increased human impact on the surrounding environment.

 

The area could host up to 6000 people eventually if the resort and the Coral

Bay townsite were developed.

 

EPA chairman Bernard Bowen said the Government should not approve the resort

unless it could commit the resources needed to protect the Ningaloo Marine

Park and its adjacent coastline.

 

" The proposal itself is an indicator of a wider, developing environmental

problem associated with the impacts of increasing human pressure on the

area, " Mr Bowen said.

 

According to the report, apart from capital works, environmental management

of the area will cost about $1.1 million a year if the proposed resort is

built.

 

The EPA advised Environment Minister Judy Edwards that the on-site

environmental impacts of the resort and its infrastructure could be managed

as long as strict conditions were imposed.

 

These include adhering to management plans for coral and seagrass beds,

turtle breeding, shoreline stability, local plants and animals and

wastewater.

 

Mr Bowen said that despite commitments to sustainable environmental

management by proponent Coral Coast Marina Development, it was beyond the

developer's power to protect Ningaloo and its surrounds.

 

There was no single Government entity with the ability to control access to

coastal areas of the marine park, he said.

 

A regional strategy being developed by the Department for Planning and

Infrastructure might provide the framework for setting environmental

objectives for the area.

 

" These objectives should be considered at the earliest possible stage in the

planning of proposals that have the potential to directly or indirectly

impact on environmental quality, " Mr Bowen said.

 

" In this way, decision making is more straightforward, environmental

safeguards are put in place up-front and monitoring and management feedbacks

are linked to agreed environmental objectives. "

 

He cited the Rottnest Island Authority and the Great Barrier Reef Marine

Park Authority as examples of management entities for specific areas.

 

The EPA identified four main environmental issues with the proposal:

 

 

Impacts associated with the resort's " footprint " .

 

* The potential off-site marine impacts of boating and other human

activities.

 

* The potential impact on land north of Mauds Landing, which loggerhead

turtles use for breeding.

 

* The long-term need for high-level management to sustain the local

environment.