why the kimberley needs protection
Western Australia’s magnificent Kimberley is an ancient world of indigenous culture, unique flora and fauna and spectacular landscapes virtually unchanged since prehistoric times, yet this region is currently under threat. Intrepid’s Eliza Anderson explains why we need to act now…
“It’s said of the Kimberley, that once the red dirt has coloured the soles of your feet you are forever connected to this precious part of Australia. Having just spent four days exploring the Kimberley with Don Henry, Australian Conservation Foundation’s CEO, and traditional owners, Dillon Andrews and Anne Poelina, I can appreciate the truth in this saying.
Intrepid sponsored a national media trip to highlight the cultural and environmental importance of the region and to support ACF’s efforts to secure National Heritage listing.
Australian Federal Minister for the Environment, Tony Burke, will decide within weeks whether the Kimberley deserves National Heritage listing. With significant resource exploration underway and widespread plans for mining and drilling across the Kimberley, tourism and environmental bodies are concerned that development could devastate the world-class region.
The stakes are high when you consider what will be at risk in the Kimberley:
- Some of the oldest rock formations on earth, dating back over 2000 million years.
- The Kimberley is home to over 300 species of birds.
- The largest and most significant stretches of dinosaur footprints in the world.
- Camden Sound is a mecca for dugongs, sea turtles, pilot whales and dolphins, and is also a critical calving and nursery site for the world’s largest population of humpback whales.
- The two-way Horizontal Waterfall is described by David Attenborough as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.”
If you also feel strongly about protecting the Kimberley, let’s show our support and build numbers by ‘Liking’ them on Facebook. ‘Like’ them today at www.facebook.com/protectingthekimberley and you’ll be helping preserve this very special part of Australia!”
“I’ve travelled the world and the 7 seas’ – well maybe 6, and I have to say that my experiences in the Kimberley 26 years ago, still rate in the top 2 or 3 highlights of my life – the superbly beautiful landscape, combined with the rich interpretation given by my indigenous guides -gave me an incredibly soul-stirring experience that will remain seared in my heart and memories forever. The region must be National Heritage protected.
Having worked in the North West WA in the resource sector, one can see the destruction wrought on a beautiful land. The Kimberly needs protection. There are enough minerals and gas elsewhere. The boom is driven by greed and leaves behind devistation.
I travelled through the Kimbereley for the third time last June and continue to be awestruck by its beauty and the incredible sense of ancient cultural significance. Now is our opportunity to protect heritage values of global significance. The Dampier Peninsular in particular is about to be destroyed by the gas plant construction. Let the Minister for the Environment Tony Burke know that he should say yes to national heritage listing and NO to the gas plant.
If this wilderness area is not protected by a National Heritage listing then we will, yet again, be sold down the river for a few pieces of silver. This utter greed needs to be stopped for the good of us all. Sure, the mining companies will trot out the usual line about how concerned they are about the environment and the windfall benefits to the economy. We’ve heard it all before too many times. All that the mining companies think about is their bottom line. Save The Kimberley Forever.