Media Release
3 November 2010
The Great Western Woodlands Collaboration (GWWC) welcomes the release of the Barnett government’s Great Western Woodlands Biodiversity and Cultural Conservation Strategy.
The landmark strategy was promised at the last State election and has been developed over the past two years by DEC and a reference group made up of, among others, conservation groups, landholders, scientists, mining industry representatives and Traditional Owners.
Project Manager for the Great Western Woodlands Collaboration Wayne O’Sullivan said,
"We applaud the government for recognising the global significance of this area and developing this first ever conservation plan for the woodlands as a single ecological region”.
“The Strategy provides a good overview of the issues affecting management of the Woodlands, with broad policy statements setting direction in a number of areas. It also commits some funding to begin comprehensive management of the area.
“The consultation process undertaken in the preparation of this Strategy has helped build a joint approach to caring for this special area.
We particularly welcome the commitment in the Strategy to joint management with the Traditional Owners.
“We look forward to working with Government to address the urgent management issues raised in the Strategy”.
“With 60% of the Woodlands currently languishing as ‘Unallocated Crown Land’ and almost the entire area covered with mining tenements and unresolved Native Title claims, a fresh approach is required that creatively resolves land use conflicts, addresses Indigenous rights and opportunities and maximises options for economic diversification alongside biodiversity protection. The Strategy itself, while being an excellent start to improved conservation management across GWW, does not resolve these underlying issues.”
“There are important long-standing recommendations from the Environment Protection Authority and Department of Environment and Conservation relating to conservation tenure and protected areas in the Woodlands. Yet some of these areas are now currently subject to negotiations for large mining proposals. These negotiations need to be conducted in a more transparent fashion. In the past few months, Government has made critical decisions on areas such as the Mt Manning Range area without the benefit of input from the broad spectrum of stakeholders involved in development of the Strategy. ”
“In our discussions with other key stakeholders it is clear that there is a widespread desire to move towards a whole of landscape planning and management model that provides certainty for industry and protection for the unique natural and cultural values of the area. This exciting joint approach is being undertaken through the development of a Land use plan, an initiative of the stakeholders who have continued to work together. We consider the government an essential partner in this ongoing process.”
“In the short term, it is good to see the $3.8 million in management funding committed in 2008 finally start hitting the ground and addressing urgent needs such as fire management and control of feral weeds and animals. However, we all recognise that a much larger and more permanent funding commitment is required for this immensely important large natural area.”
“To build on the initial election commitment and create the setting for a long term investment in the Woodlands, we call on the Government to commit to statutory protection and effective management of the Great Western Woodlands.”
