This is worth having a look at,
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 the 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
Range 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.