2 September 2010

Golden Gecko Awards a public relations exercise for environmental disasters

Western Australia’s peak environment group today questioned the credibility of the Golden Gecko awards for environmental management in the mining and petroleum industry. The awards were announced last night by the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon. Norman Moore.

Conservation Council Director Piers Verstegen said “Three of the projects that have received Golden Gecko awards are operating in areas that should be off-limits to the mining industry and instead protected.  (Barrow Island nature reserve, Irvine Island in the Kimberley, and Jack Hills mine in the ecologically unique Banded Ironstone Ranges).  Read more>>

 31 August 2010

New report warns iconic Kimberley tourism brand at risk from industrialisation

A new study by the Curtin University Sustainable Tourism Centre identifies plans for a massive polluting LNG industrial site near Broome as a serious threat to the Kimberley’s unique and globally-recognised tourism ‘brand’.

The report entitled “Kimberley Whale Coast Tourism: A review of opportunities and threats” by Dr Michael Hughes and colleagues from Curtin University was commissioned by environment groups and launched today. Read more>>

 26 August 2010

State and EPA must follow Council lead in opposing Margaret River coal mine

West Australia’s peak environment group has congratulated the Margaret River Council on taking a strong stand to protect local community, industry, environment and the Margaret River Brand from proposed coal mine.

At the local council meeting last night the Margaret River council came out in unison to say it has arrived at the position of joining the fight against the coal mining proposal.   Read more>>

 26 August 2010

Wellington Dam desal problems cast doubt on water-wasting coal expansion
 
Western Australia’s peak environment group said that today’s  revelations on the difficulty of fixing the salinity problems of the Wellington Dam have cast serious doubt on the sustainability of water use in the region, and highlight the urgent need to rethink a massive water-wasting coal expansion in the area.

Conservation Council of WA Director Piers Verstegen said, ‘Findings released today casting serious doubt on desalination for Wellington Dam highlight the need for the State Government must urgently shift its focus to improving water efficiency in the Collie-Wellington region. Read more>>

 26 August 2010

Glass recycling plant will help tackle waste crisis; refund scheme now urgently needed

Western Australia’s Peak Environment group today welcomed the opening of a glass recycling plant for WA by Donna Faragher MLC Minister for the Environment, and renewed its call for the introduction of a recycling refund scheme to boost recycling in WA.

Conservation Council Director Piers Verstegen said “This new facility is a step forward in addressing the ongoing waste and recycling crisis in Western Australia.”  Read more>>

 20 August 2010

Liberal and Labor forest policies an environmental disaster

Western Australia’s peak environment group has labelled the both Liberal and Labor Parties’ policies on forests a disaster the environment in WA if they were implemented.

Conservation Council Director Piers Verstegen said, “Almost 80% of Australians support a stop to native forest logging with a transfer of the industry to plantations , however the Liberal policy would do the opposite, by making it easy to log our native forests and burn the wood as furnace fodder. Read more>>