Simon,
The WA and Commonwealth Governments may well be undertaking a strategic
study of where to locate a central LNG hub somewhere along the north-western
coastline of WA. I applaud this approach. However, in his speech to the
recent WWF workshop, Peter Garrett indicated that this study will take 6
months to complete. Like most government strategic studies it may well take
longer.
In the meantime, the EIS for the proposed Inpex LNG processing plant on the
Maret Islands is well underway. In corresponding with the Inpex publicity
officer by email a few days ago, I learnt that the EIS will be ready for
public exhibition by the middle of this year. It would seem, therefore, that
government and community assessment of this particular proposal would occur
before the completion of the LNG hub strategic study. Is this one proposal
that will thus escape the outcome of the government's strategic study? In
this context, I believe Ian May is justified in his concerns about this
development.
The Maret Islands appear to be along the major flyways of migratory land
birds, they are breeding grounds for colonies of Roseate Terns and Bridled
Terns, and also provide habitat for the Kimberley Honeyeater (Meliphaga
fordiana) and the Kimberley subspecies of Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove
(Ptilinopus regina ewingii). The latter two species have a very restricted
distribution in the Kimberleys and any development on the Maret Islands
could significantly impact on their status in the region. Possible impacts
of the LNG plant on the ecology of the Maret Islands that I perceive are:
1. Loss of habitat on South Maret Is for breeding bird populations (seabirds
and bushbirds).
2. Potential introduction of rats, mice and other exotic organisms from
tankers and other cargo ships berthing at Maret Is.
3. Disorientation of nocturnally migrating birds (particularly passerines)
from the bright lights of the LNG plant.
4. Pollution resulting from oil spills etc.
As someone who has visited some of the islands off the WA coastline, from
the Abrolhos Islands northwards, I know first-hand that the chain of islands
along the Murchison, Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley coastlines are in many
ways Australia's equivalent to the Galapagos Islands. Yet we don't seem to
regard them with such importance. I hope that the conservation community,
including the subscribers to Birding-aus will focus its attention more on
the environmental importance of these islands in the future.
Regards,
Stephen
Dr Stephen Ambrose
Director,
AMBROSE ECOLOGICAL SERVICES PTY LTD
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Simon Mustoe
Sent: Wednesday, 13 February 2008 10:29 PM
To: Ian May; Birding-aus; ;
;
Cc: Barry Spencer
Subject: Re: Kimberley Coast destruction planned. Plese
read.
Ian,
You may be confusing the processes a little and assuming a bit too much from
this one report. The process developed by Inpex may indeed be used as
evidence under the normal processes of applying for development approval
under the EPBC Act. However, this is likely to be a two stage process (see
my previous email to this forum regarding the strategic assessment -
http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/birding-aus/2008-02/msg002
96.html). Even then, the terms of reference for any eventual development
have yet to be calculated, so there is plenty of time to influence the
process.
However, everyone I am sure is sympathetic with your general concerns. The
standard of ecological impact assessment, the rigour of baseline surveys and
the interpretation of ecological data is often poor and in my professional
opinion, this reflects a poor level of expectation and understanding of best
practice techniques. I have not read the report concerned but if you can
spot weaknesses, it is likely many others will also. It is a problem if
reports of this nature can reach the printer without proponents realising
how poorly they are likely to be received by an always-well-informed public.
If the points you raise are to make a substantial difference, I would take
some time to understand the process first and perhaps coordinate with a
conservation group and other similarly minded individuals to put together
evidence that could be used.
Regards,
Simon Mustoe.
Director, AES Applied Ecology Solutions PL.
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