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Media Release: Government Must Listen to Environmental EPA Advice ... more ...

HtS Alliance presents Government with petitions ... more ...

Summary of expert warnings on Yannarie salt mine in Exmouth Gulf ... more ...

Government Departments say NO ... more ...

EPA publishes opinion on large-scale salt mine in the pristine Exmouth Gulf. EPA media summary. Full Report (1.8Mb pdf)

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Newsletter #14 -5 August 2008 ... more ...
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Urgent Message 5 December 2008

Halt the Salt is becoming increasingly alarmed that the high risks to the North West that would result from Straits Resources proposed salt mine in the Exmouth Gulf are being misrepresented by some pro-development interests.

There is a critical need to ensure the new State Government is not swayed by heavy pro development lobbying and is fully aware of the depth of local opposition to the damaging proposal.

With the new Barnett Government soon to make a decision on the proposal, this is our last chance to ensure it is fully aware of the implications of the salt mine proceeding. Therefore it is crucial that Premier Barnett receives as many submissions opposing the salt mine as possible.

We MUST NOT miss this chance. It is critical that the salt mine does not proceed. Not only will it have a devastating impact on the local environment, it will put at risk those whose livelihoods depend on the area’s pristine nature, including hundreds of people working in the local sustainable fishing, pearling and tourism industries.

Background
Just prior to State election, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) published a report that completely rejected Strait’s proposal – extensive research by the EPA revealed the project was so high risk it could not come up with any conditions that would make it safe enough to proceed.

Due to the timing of the election, the previous Environment Minister did not respond to the EPA’s report, which is currently being reviewed by the Appeals Convenor. The Appeals Convenor will soon present a report to the new Environment Minister, who will then make a final decision.

Government departments say no!
Don’t just take our word for it – many government departments also recommend the project does not proceed. To view their submissions, click here.

To make your submission, please click here.

Exmouth Gulf - one of Western Australia's most environmentally important areas - is under potential threat from a plan to build one of the world's biggest salt mines.

Exmouth Gulf is one of the richest marine environments in Australia. It is a nursery for humpback whales, dugong and turtles. The mangrove systems on the eastern margins are areas of high primary productivity feeding and restocking both the Gulf and the famed nearby Ningaloo Reef.

Its World Heritage values have already been identified. It must be protected.

The proposed salt mine as per Straits original proposal would cover 411 square kilometres - more than 70 kilometres long, equivalent to the area from Rockingham to Quinns Rock, and inland ten kilometres from the coast. Straits has since amended its proposal to an initial first stage.

On its website, the company describes a "modified proposal", but in fact it is simply a re-statement of the first stage of its project.

From the outset, in its Environmental Review Management Plan (ERMP), Straits stated that it was "planning to develop a 10 million tonne per annum (Mtpa)" operation "with start-up capacity of 2.5 to 3 Mtpa".

The ERMP remains the base documentation that the EPA is evaluating. Straits' intention to ramp up the project to 10Mtpa was also re-stated by the company at a stakeholder reference group meeting held in June 2007.

The Halt The Salt campaign believes the risks associated with this massive project are too great and the project must be abandoned.

Widespread and deep concern among many organisations has led the State's peak conservation groups to join forces for the first time with peak commercial and recreational fishing interests in the Gulf to stop the project.

Straits Resources has had to acknowledge in its own documentation the environmental concerns associated with its proposed salt mine:

  • Potential loss of mangroves and associated biota such as algal mats in an area of recognised significance for these systems.
  • Potential shipping and salt production impact on marine fauna such as whales and dugongs and their supporting habitats.
  • Potential impact on marine and terrestrial nutrient inputs introduced by the presence of the salt field and the significance of this to the Gulf’s wider ecosystem.
  • Development in an area recommended to be set aside as a marine conservation reserve.

To be kept up-to-date on this vital issue, and informed when there are opportunities for you to make a difference: please, provide your email contact details here. Sign me up

 

© Photographs courtesy Wags and Kelly
 


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