The Environmental Protection Authority has released advice and recommendations to the Minister for Environment on the proposal to subdivide lots 1000, 2240, 2275, 2657 and 3045 Preston Beach Road, Lake Clifton by Cape Bouvard Investments Pty Ltd.
The proposal site is an enclave within the adjacent Yalgorup National Park, as it is bound by the ocean to the west, a rural property along a portion of its southern boundaries and Yalgorup NP along all the remaining boundaries. The proposal would result in the clearing of 114.5 hectares of native vegetation.
EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said the EPA considers that the proposal, as described, cannot meet the EPA’s environmental objectives in relation to biodiversity.
‘This area should be incorporated into Yalgorup National Park as a priority as it is one of the only remaining vegetated enclaves west of Lake Clifton, is the last remaining area along the western boundary of Lake Clifton that remains in private ownership and is of regional significance,’ he said.
The proposal site meets all EPA criteria for regional significance in EPA Guidance Statement 10: representation of ecological communities; diversity; rarity; maintaining ecological processes and natural systems; scientific or evolutionary importance; and protection of wetland, streamline and estuarine fringing vegetation and coastal vegetation.
The EPA’s report is consistent with that provided in Report 1359, Strategic Environmental Advice on the Dawesville to Binningup Area. Report 1359 sets out the EPA’s general position to development in the Dawesville to Binningup area, including for the area in which the proposal is located.
‘In other advice the EPA has reiterated its concerns from Report 1359 that the Lake Clifton thrombolite community is in serious decline, caused by existing land use and increasing development,’ Dr Vogel said.
‘This community is listed as critically endangered by both State and Federal Governments.
‘Thrombolites are rock like structures that are the result of microbialite growth, one of the oldest life forms on Earth. Microbialites are to thrombolites as polyps are to coral reefs.
‘Current land management practices which are causing reductions in either groundwater quantity or quality should be rectified now to prevent further decline.
‘Furthermore the Department of Water should establish a comprehensive and targeted monitoring program for key indicators of ground and surface water quality and quantity around the Yalgorup Lakes system, to detect trends and impacts from land use activities in the catchment.’
EPA 1401 is available at www.epa.wa.gov.au. There is a two week public appeal period on the report’s contents closing 13 June, 2011.
EPA Media contact: Charlie Maling, 6467 5415, 0400 866 450
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