IBT Pty Ltd has submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to the EPA for a brick and tile plant at Malaga, appropriately 12 km north-north east of Perth. The EPA requested that the proponent prepare a Notice of Intent (NOI) for referral to the EPA for environmental assessment. The EPA examined the NOI and sought additional information on various aspects of the project from the proponent. On the receipt of this additional information the EPA assessed the environmental impacts of the project and gives its advice in this assessment report.

The proposal involves the production of 50 million bricks per year. The proposed site for the plant is in the Malaga industrial area. The site is surrounded to the south and east by industrial, or proposed industrial, land. To the north is the proposed extension to the Ballajura residential estate and to the west a Parks and Recreation Reserve which backs on to the Koondoola residential area. The distance from the plant to the closest residential area would be over 600 m.

In considering the NOI the EPA gave particular consideration to the following environmental issues:

• the effect of air emission of fluoride on the surrounding areas;
• the effect of noise emissions from the plant on the surrounding residential areas; and
• the impact of the transport of raw materials and product to and from the site.

Australian Carbon Ltd is proposing to establish a briquetting plant at Collie, Western Australia, approximately 160 km south of Perth. The EPA requested that the proponent prepare a Notice of Intent (NOI) which referred the proposal to the EPA for environmental assessment. The EPA examined the NOI and sought additional information on various aspects of the project from the proponent. On the receipt of this additional information the EPA assessed the project and gives its advice in this assessment report.

The project is in two stages. Stage 1 is the construction of a plant to produce 30 000 tonnes/year (t/y) of various types of briquettes. The plant will also produce 70 000 t/y of coal char, some for use in briquette manufacture and some for sale. Stage 2 would be the upgrading of the plant to 120 000 t/y briquette production.

The briquettes would be made utilising coal from Collie and cellulosic material. It is planned that they will be sold on the domestic and international markets.

A V Jennings Homes is investigating the possibility of participating in development of the Careniup Swamp environs. The development concept being investigated involves a variety of residential and related uses around a core of open space containing the wetland. As part of its investigations, Jennings has had discussions with the Authority regarding the environmental issues that would need to be resolved if development as envisaged was to proceed. As a result of the discussions, the Authority sought a Notice of Intent (NOI) from Jennings. This document was to examine the environmental issues associated with development of the Careniup Swamp environs and strategies for their resolution.

Jennings has submitted the NOI and it was formally considered by the Authority at its 11 June 1987 meeting.

Pilsley Investments Pty Ltd trading as Prestige Brick has prepared a Public Environmental Report (PER) for a proposed brickworks at the old Midland abattoir site in Midland. The PER was released for a 10 week public review period concluding on 1 July 1987.

The Environmental Protection Authority received 26 submissions. The Environmental Protection Authority assessment and public submissions raised concerns in the following general areas:

• the impact of air emissions on the surrounding area;
• noise effects on the surrounding neighbours; the potential for dust nuisance from traffic and the plant;
• the interactions with planning related matters; and
• the impact on the Helena River floodplain.

While there are potential environmental impacts associated with each of the above, the Environmental Protection Authority considers that the main issue is the potential for damage to vegetation resulting from fluoride emissions from the plant. In its recommendations the Environmental Protection Authority has sought to address this issue in a comprehensive manner.

In response to a referral from the State Planning Commission, the Environmental Protection Authority has recently considered the following reports:

• Thomsons Lake Urban Structure Study; and
• South Jandakot Development Water Resources Management Plan.

The EPA has assessed the propositions contained in these reports pursuant to Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

In 1976 the EPA made a recommendation on a report by Scott and Furphy on the West Coast Highway route, namely

"that attention be given to upgrading to a four-lane highway status the West Coast Highway north of City Beach with a view to it joining Marmion Avenue at Karrinyup Road and doing so with a minimum of inconvenience to the residents and to the school on the eastern side of the regional open space south of Karrinyup Road but also with minimum ecological severance and bisection of that regional open space. In other words the West Coast Highway should join Marmion Avenue at Karrinyup Road as close to the eastern boundary of the regional open space reserve as engineering constraints permit."

This decision to agree in principle with a link between Marmion Avenue and West Coast Highway through the Trigg Dune area set the stage for all future considerations.

In 1984 the EPA considered this route in detail and it was decided that to achieve the objectives of

• minimising inconvenience to residents and the school on the eastern side of the area;
• minimising ecological severance and bisection of the regional open space;

the route shonld be shifted west to its present position. The EPA notes that in the process of including this road within the MRS there was extensive public input and participation including both written and verbal submissions to the MRPA and the amendment being laid before both houses of Parliament.

The EPA is satisfied that the public have had opportunity to comment upon the philosophy and detail of the proposed road link.

The recent discovery of mass spawning of scleractinian corals in the Dampier Archipelago during autumn, in contrast to the spring mass spawnings observed on the Great Barrier Reef since 1981, has led to renewed speculation about the factors determining the timing of this phenomenon.

Sea temperatures, seasonal changes in wind and water current patterns, tidal rhythms and diel light cycles have been suggested as possible environmental cues for spawning synchrony. Variations in the timing of coral mass spawning at different geographical locations may help identify these factors, since any variation in the calendar date of mass spawning can be correlated wtlh exogenous events.

This paper presents and discusses hydrographic data recorded on the Ningaloo Reef tract during 1985. Data on tide, seawater temperature and seabed irradiance were collected on an opportunistic basis, at different locations and times, to facilitate the prediction of the timing of mass spawning of scleractinian corals in the area.

Preface

As part of the process of preparing a definitive State Conservation Strategy for Western Australia, a wide range of aspects concerning our environment, natural resource usage and society's impacts are being considered. Some of these facets have been reviewed adequately in recent years to enable highlights to be summarised. For other aspects, there was little up-to-date information readily available in a form directly pertinent to local problems and needs.

In order to widen the baseline of local data upon which to draw, a number of people were approached and invited to prepare review papers on selected topics. While in the initial contact I discussed with each person the broad scope that might be covered, the content of each paper is the responsibility of the author. Each was encouraged to present his or her own viewpoint; some may have been temperedin varying degrees by their official positions.

I am grateful to each for their willingness to find time to contribute data and concepts upon which we can draw in shaping a State Conservation Strategy.

R.G. Chittleborough, Coordinator

The main purpose of this report is to contribute towards the long term management of the Western Australian coastline as well as fulfil the Shire of Coorow's objectives for a more co-ordinated and comprehensive approach to coastal management along its shoreline. The report describes the physical and human environment of the area which is full of opportunities which lie within a complex and fragile environment.

Certain management issues emerge such as squatter settlements, excessive tracking, damage of dune vegetation by off-road vehicles and inappropriate siting of developments. These management issues as well as others are exacerbating existing coastal management problems such as dune erosion and loss of coastal vegetation.

Recommendations were suggested for each management issue. The majority of the recommendations deal with controlling access and development. The report also suggests methods of avoiding dune instability or restoring the dune system to a stable state. This can be achieved by formalising access, closing of tracks, carrying out dune restoration programmes and preventing development in the coastal buffer zone. All the management issues come to one conclusion which is if one wants to "develop" the coastline to its full potential it will be necessary to conserve and preserve the coastal environment.

Lastly the report deals with the implementation of the management recommendations. Implementation involves accessibility to funds and expertise as well as an appreciation of the responsibilities and functions of each government department.

In 1977 the Department of Conservation and Environment published Guidelines for the Protection and Management of Wetlands which set out general principles for wetland conservation derived from a broad review of the extensive literature on the subject. A revised edition was published in 1980. The objectives of these publications were to inform the public on factors which cause wetland degradation and to provide guidelines for planners, local authorities and land owners about desirable approaches to land use if surviving wetlands were to be conserved. These publications were widely circulated.

The Environmental Protection Authority now sees a need to produce Guidelines which apply specifically to the environment of the Perth region and which will inform government agencies, local authorities, developers, land owners and the community of the EPA's approach to developments and land uses which impinge on wetlands and the water supply of wetlands.

Key objectives of the Guidelines are:

• to assist in identifying the valuable attributes and ecological functions of the wetlands of the Perth metropolitan region; and
• to provide direction as to the management priorities necessary to protect the conservation values and ecological functions of the wetlands, and to enhance the human environment.

Comments on these draft Guidelines are invited from all interested persons and organisations.

In 1976, the Environmental Protection Authority published its 'Red Book', 'Conservation Reserves for Western Australia, Systems 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5', containing recommendations about the future control and management of certain land on the south coast of Western Australia. It recommended that working groups consisting of representatives of local government authorities, State Government departments and the community be convened to assist in this respect. Management was emphasised following the 1981 amendment to the Land Act which implied that a management plan would be requested by the Minister for Lands for areas vested with a local government authority.

Furthermore, the 1977 EPA 'Guidelines for an Environmental Protection Policy on the Coastal Zone of Western Australia' (EPA 1977a) recognised the role of local authorities as front-line managers of the coast.

The Denmark Shire Council believes that it should address these concerns, initially for the coastline within its boundaries. The Department of Conservation and Environment was requested to coordinate preparation of a coastal management plan.

The Denmark Shire Council supports further consideration of its coast within a broader regional context, following acceptance of this plan by the community and State Government.