I received the following in an email and with Michelle's permission I am copying it here for you. WA folk in particular, please take note and action. For those of you who have been lucky enough to visit
Ningaloo, I need make no explaination. For those of you yet to visit bear in mind that the camping and fishing opportunities that currently exist in this area (ie on the coastal stations south of Yardie Ck) are absolutely unique:
NINGALOO STATION
To all campers, visitors and interested parties who visit
NINGALOO STATION.
The following is a news/action letter of the utmost importance and I request and urge you to read it and act on therecommendations as it is the ONLY avenue left to save
NINGALOO station and the coastline and retain it in its current condition for you and generations of your family and friends. As you are aware a State election is imminent and the outcome will determine if the station, coast, fishing, management, sanctuaries etc will stay as is or change forever.
The State Labour Party current and proposed policy for
Ningaloo station is as follows;
SANCTUARIES
As you may be aware the sanctuary zones were increased from 10% of the marine park to 35% with no scientific evidence or support of the general public. The Labour Government rejected professional advice from its own Fisheries Department (a world recognized specialist in Fisheries management) and the committee of local people and experts it established to obtain public input, and arbitrarily made over 92% of
Ningaloo Station coastline
a sanctuary. The extent of these sanctuaries is from Winderabandi Point - north to Yardie Creek - (this includes all of the bombing range) and from Point Edgar south to
Ningaloo Stations southern boundary and seaward up to 3 nautical
miles – the extent of the State Waters. There was a map published in the “West Australian” in November.
Most Australians accept the concept of having sanctuaries within a marine park but why not have them within the established Cape RangeNational Park or establish them when scientific evidence is forthcoming but don’t close off 92% of our coastline.
The effect of “closing off “ excessive areas from fishing defeats the main reason for establishing sanctuaries as it concentrates the public fishing pressure to a small area which in no time will be depleted.
CAMPING
Generations of families from Western Australia, other states of Australia (including Tasmania) and overseas visitors have enjoyed the carefree, but responsible, camping on
Ningaloo station for many years. Nearly all visitors comply with station camping guidelines, and have, over the years, been actively involved in coastal restoration work,
general cleanups, tree planting and other environmental undertakings.
No official Government policy on camping has been issued for
Ningaloo station but we believe a NO CAMPING policy is imminent. Warroora station has received correspondence from the Government, which forbids any camping
or caravanning on their station and non-compliance by the station may invoke a fine of $10,000.
Proposed Government policy is for five tourist nodes to be developed on
Ningaloo station, which in effect negates camping as we know and enjoy it.
MANAGEMENT
Coastal management (and in 2015 the complete station) will be undertaken by CALM. Neither the campers nor the station owners will have a say in the management of our coast.
EXCISION
The area of land the Labor government intends to “ confiscate “ off
Ningaloo station for the
Ningaloo Marine Park (if that is what it is going to be know as) ?? is 22,000 (twenty two thousand) hectares? This area equates to half of
Ningaloo station and extends East (inland) up to 22.4 km. Within this area the Labor Governments policy is to provide tourist nodes at Janes Bay,
Ningaloo Homestead (this is a 500 bed, fully serviced node, including shops, fuel outlets, caravan parks etc) South and North Lefroy Bay and Winderabandi Point.
Now you have read and inwardly digested the devastating news proposed by the current Labour Government please
DON’T DESPAIR READ THE GOOD NEWS.
THE LIBERAL / NATIONAL PARTY POLICY.
The Coalition of the Nationals [WA] and the Liberal party have negotiated agreements with Coastal stations, the
Exmouth and
Carnarvon shires,
Coral Bay community, WA Game Fishing Association, and Recfishwest and have signed Memorandums of Understanding with us all. They have PLEDGED and announced publicly the following commitments;
SANCTUARIES
To remove any reference to extended sanctuary zones and extension of the marine park until such time as clear scientific objectives and rationale for the location and extent of any proposed zones is established. In other words the existing sanctuary zones remain unchanged.
MANAGEMENT
Permit the pastoralist on the
Ningaloo coast to continue control of management of the stations, remote camping and limited tourism ventures, Negotiate with the pastoralist to effect a management plan for the environmental stewardship of the station AND the adjacent coastline of the
Ningaloo Marine Park. Both the station and the campers currently “manage” the coastal 40m strip and this commitment will formalize this action. Revoke any legislation where excision would seek to remove management of any part of the pastoral lease from the control of the leasee.
EXCISIONS / PASTORAL LEASES.
Cease all excisions of pastoral leases and reverse any agreements made under duress [that is NO land will be confiscated as is proposed by the Labour Government],
Pastoralist will continue to hold leases beyond 2015 under the normal due process.
WORLD
HERITAGE
There will be no resumption of pastoral leases to effect World
Heritage listing. The
Exmouth Shire support the listing of the
Cape Range National Park and the
Ningaloo reef [itself] as World
Heritage,
DEVELOPMENT.
There will be NO development nodes along the coastline.
All large –scale tourism development on the
Ningaloo coast will be only permitted in the town sites of
Coral Bay,
Exmouth and
Carnarvon.
FISHING.
Wilderness fishing philosophy will be implemented on
Ningaloo, Warroora and Gnaraloo stations. This means People who fish within the Wilderness Fishing Zone will be permitted to possess the current
Ningaloo Marine Park Possession limit of fish for consumption while within that zone. When leaving the Wilderness Fishing Zone the possession limit of fish will be a maximum of one [1] whole fish plus two [2] kg of fish fillets and four [4]
rock lobster. This new level of recreational fishing management aims to promote “Fishing for the Future”, permitting people to catch and consume a feed of fish whilst within the Wilderness Fishing Zone but prohibiting freezer filling.
WE NOW HAVE A CHOICE
If the Labour Party is returned;
[1] Sanctuaries are increased to 92% (on
Ningaloo Stataion Coastline),
[2] Very limited or no fishing,
[3] All of
Ningaloo Station forfeited in 2015,
[4] CALM will “manage” the coast,
[5] Five tourist nodes will be established.
When the Coalition of the Nationals / Liberal party form Government;
[1]
Ningaloo Station remains as a remote
camping area
[2] Sanctuaries remain as is,
[3] No land forfeited from the station for development or for extension of the Marine Park
[4] The Station will manage coastal camping and the land component of the
Ningaloo Marine Park (current),
[5] No tourist nodes to be developed,
[6] Wilderness fishing accepted.
Now please contact the following people via email, fax, written letter or phone [followed by a letter] with some very hard hitting, pertinent questions and expressions of dissatisfaction of the Labor Partys policies; and insist on replies within a timely period and if not forthcoming, contact them again.
Minister for Planning and
Infrastructure, Alannah MacTiernan . Email amactiernan@dpc.wa.gov.au
Phone [08] 92136400, Facsimile [08] 92136401. Address; Dumas House, 2 Havlock street, West
Perth 6005.
Minister for the Environment, Judy Edwards. CALMS boss. Email judyedwards@dpc.wa.gov.au Phone [08] 92205050
Facsimile [08] 92214665. Address; Allendale Square, 77 St Georges Terrace,
Perth. 6000.
Premier. Geoff Gallop. Email wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au Phone [08] 92229888,
Facsimile [08] 93221213, Address, 197 St Georges Terrace,
Perth. 6000.
If you reside in the North West Coast electorate Mr Fred Riebeling. Email friebeling@mp.wa.gov.au
Phone [08] 9144413, Facsimile [08] 91444115. Address, Box 1050
Karratha. 6714.
Please also contact the following people and give them your support;
Liberal/National party spokesman for the Environment Mr Brendon Grylls. Email bgrylls@mp.wa.gov.au
Phone;1800673914 or mobile 0428632334
Mr David
Hay Liberal candidate for the
seat of North West Coast. Email davidh@kisser.net.au Phone [08] 91442022
Facsimlie [08] 91856061. Address PO box 187
Karratha, WA. 6714.
Please pass this vital message on to as many “like minded” people you know and ask them to assist as requested.
It would be appreciated if you would supply me with the names, email address, etc [and ask the people you have Contacted to do likewise] via email lefroyningaloo@bigpond.com.au or phone/ fax [08] 99425936 after 7 pm.
If I can be of any assistance or if you require any information please contact me.
Kind Regards and Seasons greetings,
Phillip.
lefroyningaloo@bigpond.com.au