Water
2013 WA State Election – where the Parties sit on the environment in the Kimberley
Here’s the Environs Kimberley WA State Election Scorecard
Announcements made since EK published the scorecard.
Liberal Party policies: Kimberley
- Continue to push for a giant gas hub at James Price Point.
- Create one of Australia’s biggest national parks - Wanjina National Park. (NOTE – Liberal Party policy does not prevent mining in National Parks)
- $15million to create a Great Kimberley Marine Park stretching from Talbot Bay to the Northern Territory border.
- The park will cover more than 30,000 square kilometres of the Kimberley’s State waters. It will be second only to the Great Barrier Reef as Australia’s biggest marine park.
- The Liberal-led Government committed $63million for the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy, which will create the State’s largest, interconnected system of marine and terrestrial parks.
- Liberals are negotiating with a range of Traditional Owner groups on joint management of these parks.
ALP policies: Kimberley
- Establish the Great North Kimberley Marine Park, extending from King Sound in the west to Cambridge Gulf in the east, to protect about 9000 kms of coastline.
- Establish a 160 square kilometre national park to protect Horizontal Falls.
- Establish the Fitzroy River National Park from the Geikie Gorge National Park along the Fitzroy River to the north and along the Margaret River to the east. (NOTE – Labor Party policy is for no mining in National Parks however in the past land has been excised from National Parks for mining)
- Commence negotiations with the Mitchell Plateau bauxite tenement holders to relinquish their interest and then legislate to ensure the Mitchell Plateau is protected from mining in perpetuity.
- WA Labor will also allocate $4million over four years to employ 10 indigenous rangers to help manage the new Fitzroy River National Park.
- Not support uranium mining in the Kimberley
- Will not support Coal Seam Gas fracking (NOTE – most onshore gas in the Kimberley is shale gas)
Greens policies: Kimberley
- No gas hub at James Price Point.
- Create Great Kimberley Marine Park.
- Prevent fracking and coal mining in the Canning Basin/Fitzroy River catchment.
- Not support uranium mining in the Kimberley.
- Not allow new dams in the Kimberley.
- Develop sustainable economic futures for the region and redirect ‘Royalties for Regions’ funds away from mining subsidies to communities.
Nationals policies: Kimberley
- No environmental policy announcements made.
To hear from the candidates go to ABC Kimberley’s podcast of the candidate forum http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/03/07/3710547.htm?site=kimberley
$700K to target tidal movements research
ABC
A new study of tidal movements along the north-west Western Australian coast is underway to help protect reef systems in the area.
The Australian Research Council has allocated $700,000 to the project, which will focus on the interaction of tides and reef systems between Ningaloo Reef and Camden Sound.
A marine scientist at the University of Western Australia, Ryan Lowe, will head the five-year study.
Study probes gas hub site aquifers
ABC
A study of groundwater aquifers has wrapped up at the site chosen for the proposed Kimberley gas hub.
Woodside has commissioned the study to determine the geological structures and groundwater supplies around James Price Point, where it plans to process Browse Basin gas.
‘Excitement’ over Kimberley dam potential
ABC
The head of a taskforce investigating the possibility of building dams in northern Australia says the Kimberley has huge potential.
Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott formed the group in January – it will look at ways of boosting agricultural production and utilising empty land in the north.
This week, the group, chaired by the Coalition’s finance spokesman, Andrew Robb, visited Derby, Kununurra, Fitzroy Crossing and several pastoral stations.
Opposition plan for potential dams in the north
ABC
The federal Opposition says it is preparing a list of potential new dam sites to take to the next federal election with major opportunities in the country’s north.
The chair of its dams and water management taskforce, Andrew Robb, is in the Kimberley this week looking at proposals such as a dam on the Margaret River near Fitzroy Crossing.
Mr Robb says it has “magnificent potential”.
He says previous water taskforces have failed to realise the true opportunities in northern Australia.
Minister dismisses Kimberley water plan
DANIEL MERCER
The West Australian
State Water Minister Bill Marmion has dismissed plans to bring water from the Kimberley to Perth, saying there is a “misconception” the northern region holds “oodles” of water.
Rice a shining light in a disastrous year for Ord Valley growers
ABC News
Statistics released by the WA Department of Agriculture and Food shows irrigated agriculture in the Kimberley’s Ord Valley had one of its worst years on record in 2010.
The value of agricultural production slumped to $31 million, its lowest in over a decade, and half of what the Ord achieved in 2006.
Barnett’s pipe dream for taking water from the Kimberley:huge burden on taxpayers, devastation for the Fitzroy River
ENVIRONS KIMBERLEY
Media Release
The news that WA Premier Barnett has put a Kimberley pipeline back on the political agenda shows that he has failed to deliver his promise for a long term plan on water for the State, Environs Kimberley Director Martin Pritchard said in Broome today.
“This idea has had more starts than Pharlap, but fans of a pipeline, led by the Premier have yet to demonstrate the viability of this proposal. That the north is wet and the south dry is no reason to build an inefficient canal or pipe the length of the state,” Environs Kimberley Director Martin Pritchard said today. For full release click here»
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Water – other options? Listen to this podcast to hear from the water expert commissioned by the State government to consider options to bring water south from the Kimberley.
Bridge renews pipeline call