Questions over new Kimberley Marine Parks.

Oct. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- Colin Barnett’s announcement of four new marine parks, a new national park, and additional conservation reserves for the Kimberley region of Australia should be acknowledged as a historic step forward for the conservation of the area’s unique terrestrial and marine environment.  

This has opened the door for Kimberley residents, the Australian people, scientific organizations, and commercial interests to engage in an extensive consultative process that will determine the region’s future.

The announcement allows for considerable investment in research into the Kimberley environment well into the future.  Joint management arrangements between DEC and traditional owners from Eighty Mile Beach in the south to Kalumbaru in the north could generate long term employment and business opportunities for Aboriginal people.

Questions remain, however, over how the Barnett Government will balance the commercial interests of the oil and gas, mining, fishing and pastoral industries, environmental groups and Traditional owners.

That balance will determine whether the proposed marine parks will deliver real protection for the Kimberley coast.  The release of the indicative management plan for the Camden Sound Marine Park raises serious questions about the Barnett Government’s commitment to protect the Kimberley coast.  

Existing legislation that allows for oil and gas exploration and development, mining, trawling and drift net fishing in a marine park needs urgent review.  

The proposed whale conservation zone in Camden Sound will only protect a small area of critical breeding habitat for the Breeding Group D population of humpback whales.  No protection has been proposed for equally important whale breeding and feeding areas from Broome to Camden Sound.

The most alarming feature of the proposal is the exclusion of the Dampier Peninsula and iconic Buccaneer Archipelago, which includes Talbot and Dugong Bays, and the Horizontal Waterfalls.

This sends a clear signal that the gate has been left wide open for the oil and gas, and mining industries in these ares.

Colin Barnett’s credibility is on the  line.  The future of the Kimberley is in his hands.  What will his legacy be?

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Kimberley Whale Watching conducts research and charters between Broome and Camden Sound on Western Australia's Kimberley coast.