The Shire of Broome is currently seeking input from residents through its "State of Environment Survey." This is an excellent opportunity to provide feedback on the conservation of our Shire’s globally significant environment, which is home to whales, dugongs, and turtles, as well as endangered animals like the Bilby, corals, crabs, and fish. Our region also features the rare monsoon vine thicket and the unique Cable Beach Ghost Gum, along with its associated plant communities.

Unfortunately, land clearing continues across the Shire, with ancient woodlands, such as those at Clemetson Street, being destroyed unnecessarily. Significant trees are regularly chainsawed down, both on private property and Shire-controlled lands.

You can take the survey here

A recent Shire workshop on the State of the Environment revealed a troubling gap: despite hiring consultants to draft a new report, no assessment was conducted on the 2016 State of the Environment report. We are left unsure whether all the actions agreed to in 2016 were ever carried out.

Additionally, when the Shire committed to the actions outlined in the 2016 report, it also dismantled the Environment Officer role and eliminated the ‘Significant Tree Register.’ These are crucial initiatives, and if you believe they should be reinstated, please include this in your survey response.

We know that climate change is going to make it harder to live in the Kimberley with higher temperatures and more extreme weather events. We need to both phase out oil and gas which is causing climate change as well as make sure people are safe from its effects. The Shire's current policy is to promote the oil and gas industry, and "...advocate for Broome to be a logistics supply hub for mining, oil, gas." We need a different approach if we want a safe climate.

So far, $100 million has been allocated for three major projects in Broome – Town Beach, Chinatown, and Cable Beach. Surely, funding can be found to ensure better care for our natural environment.

It’s crucial that as many residents as possible complete the survey before it closes on Monday, 31st March. Please take a moment to fill it out, and share the link with others.

Go to the survey here