The main conservation issues that currently exist within Western
Australia revolve around the karst area to the north of Perth. This area has many issues: water
abstraction, land clearing, catchment vegetation and impacts by
development. Other issues in W.A. are
ongoing and involve land managers and the appropriateness of management
measures such as gates and management plans and impacts on karst and associated
fauna. There is a huge task of acting
to protect the karst areas in W.A. with the majority of agencies involved in
“land management” or “environmental protection” appearing to have little
knowledge or understanding of karst issues – as reflected in the decisions they
make. The Government is yet to make a
decision regarding the legal action of the A.S.F. and the proposed mining
leases at Cape Range continues (as supported by the E.D.O.). The Speleological Conservation sub-committee
has been successful. It is a small
group of 6-8 cavers who meet monthly to discuss conservation issues, karst
management issues and projects. This
group actively works towards the conservation of caves and karst and aims to
present regular educational presentations for cavers and cave leaders in
W.A.. During 2002 the following events
have occurred:
·
May 2002 – “Cavers
caring for Caves” – An evening for cavers and outdoor leaders on cave
conservation & minimal impact.
·
Two Joint
Speleological Groups “Community Education” Displays held at Yanchep National
Park’s “Spring Fest” on 6/10/02 and at Neerabup Festival on 17/11/02.
· “Speleology is a Science – what do cavers really do?” – W.A. Speleology display for Science week 8/2002.
·
Provision of training to CALM staff at
Yanchep: 05/2002 -Speleological Group
members trained 10 C.A.L.M. staff in issues regarding cave geology and cave
conservation issues.
· Regular contribution (regarding karst issues in W.A.) to W.A. environmental newsletter the “Greener Times” - Monthly Newsletter of the Conservation Council. Articles published in 3/2001, 1/2002, 5/2002, 7/2002 & 10/2002.
·
Ongoing karst related article in the
“WANGI” - Monthly Newsletter of the Yanchep National Park.
The Cave Manager for the
Department of Conservation and Land Management (C.A.L.M.) has been doing an
excellent job of managing the caves within the National Park. Additionally, the Cave Management Advisory
Committee (C.M.A.C.) meets bi-monthly to advise The Department on cave
management issues. This process is
working really well and various Projects have been carried out during the past
year. For the first time in 4 years –
the cave operations are in the “positive” – we are hoping this will allow more
work to be undertaken rather than the ‘necessary’ tasks only. The “Caves Monitoring” system is progressing
to assess the permit system compliance, visitor impacts; and environmental
monitoring. Regular management
inspections of caves occur to check the visitor impacts on the cave and other
factors such as track marking. Grants
have been obtained to assist with the monitoring of aquatic root mat
communities. Decreasing water levels may be a threat to these communities.
Water levels are measured monthly, and photographic monitoring and water
analysis takes place every three months.
One concern is that a large
amount of surveying occurs in restricted access caves. This can cause unnecessary damage and
“trogging” and more caver education needs to occur around this issue. It is aimed that cave managers, cave
visitors and trip leaders can reconsider their attitudes towards their impact on
caves. The W.A.S.G. has purchased an electronic
measuring device called a “Disto” that will be used in surveying and that can
reduce impacts during cave surveys. We
also suggest that more caves are trackmarked and that trip leaders carry track
markers and fishing line. It is also
extremely important that all individuals are aware of their impact on caves and
that they are familiar with and abide by minimal impact caving techniques.
Both the
Speleological Groups have worked with CAVEWORKS to finalise the long overdue
survey of Easter Cave. There are
currently discussions occurring regarding the management of the cave and future
access issues. The report on the recent
research undertaken by CAVEWORKS is also to be released very soon.
In May 2002 a submission was made to the
Shire of Augusta Margaret River regarding the draft cave management plan for
Wallcliffe cave. There were a variety
of concerns regarding both the lack of management of the cave and the sole
commercial operator’s activities in the cave.
After no response was received, followup letters were sent in
October. A reply has indicated that the
Shire wishes the land to be vested to C.A.L.M and managed similar to other
caves in the National Park. However, it
appears that the existing agreement between the sole commercial operator and
the Shire takes priority over any recommendations or guidelines - the Shire indicating that the size of tour groups cannot be
restricted as the current License agreement clearly allows for groups of up to
25 persons at a time to enter the cave!!
More information needs to be obtained and actions taken to ensure
the protection of this important karst area.
There has
been no progress on this situation and the management plan for the area will
need revising. This task is ongoing.
There
appears to have been no progress on this issue. There will need to be some effort made in recommending the World Heritage
Listing for the Nullarbor and contact between both the W.A. state government
and the S.A. state government regarding this issue. This task is ongoing.
Speleological Groups are aware that commercial
activity on the Nullarbor has been increasing and public visitation to this
area is a future issue that will need to addressed.
The Yanchep National Park
Caves Advisory Committee meets regularly, however it appears that C.A.L.M do
not utilise many recommendations from the committee, regarding concerns and
actions required. The Park Management
Plan is expired and needs considerable revising. Significant amounts of the plan have not been implemented and
other parts are inaccurate.
The Permit system is working
well and there is now a written record of cave visitation for the area. The main issues involve cave gating: –
design, materials and impacts on fauna(including potential impacts). Despite a process involving members of
speleological groups assessing each cave and recommending appropriate gate
types, several caves have been gated without prior consultation. This issue is of concern in that impacts on
the local bat population have not been considered, nor have entry of organic
matter into the caves. It is
anticipated that speleological group members will need to continue to work very
closely with C.A.L.M. staff in providing education about karst and speleological
issues and opportunities for research in the area.
The situation regarding the
cave fauna in the stream caves is critical.
The government has been monitoring the habitats and numbers of amphipods
in caves and Waters and Rivers Commission has been artificially maintaining
water to certain areas in attempts to maintain the stygofauna habitats. The cave streams and root matt communities
have been affected by the lowered water table in the area – a result of
climate, pine trees on the eastern catchment and water abstraction in the area. A current proposal by the Government
agencies involves an creating an artificial water mound in the National Park to
attempt to get some water flow back into the caves. The plans to selectively reduce the Pine Tree Plantations in the
area and to replace them with native vegetation will occur over 20-30
years. Further action regarding this
issue is a priority as the catchment to the east is important in the karst
hydrology.
It is excellent to see that several
speleological group members have been very active in the Yanchep area – either
in research or in rehabilitation/conservation.
There have been a small group of individuals who regularly meet at
Yanchep and who carry out work in various caves. This may be assisting C.A.L.M. in monitoring of the significant
fauna sites or in removing graffiti from caves, or other conservation
projects. It will be our goal to
encourage other cavers to get involved and to assist in projects in the karst
area north of Perth.
·
Emerald
Valley & Alkimos Road
The proposed
development of a privately owned block at Carabooda, called “Emerald Valley”
was reported last year. There were 8 of
the 23 caves and karst features in this area that were directly impacted on by
the development. The ongoing issue is a
proposed road through the Emerald Valley area called Alkimos Drive. This road passes next to a recreation
reserve and adjacent to Reserve No. 24637 (an old limestone quarry site). The area is currently native Tuart bushland
and contains a large number of caves.
It is of great concern that the road is planned to go straight over a
number of significant caves. This area
also contains a cave called Koala Cave, which contains palaeontological
remains. Several letters have been sent
to various Government Departments attempting to resolve this issue and the task
is ongoing. Other tasks include the
ongoing work of karst assessment – surveying the caves and an inventory of
karst features.
·
Lot
51 Walding Road
Another area that contains karst and was to
be impacted by further development is directly to the east of the Yanchep
National Park. Members made several
trips to the area to locate and determine the area’s karst features. A number of caves and karst features were
found - one significant cave contained water and had phreatic development. After some discussion, the landowner stated
that they planned to incorporate the caves in an area of bushland reserve. The water cave was assessed for fauna and is
now receiving the attention of C.A.L.M.
It appears that the C.A.L.M. will purchase a significant portion of the
subdivision to add to the National Park.
Letters will continue to be sent to City of
Wanneroo and the State Government indicating the impact of development on caves
and calling for the environmental assessment processes and land subdivision
process to be changed. Additionally, we
will continue to request that the specific proposal of Alkimos Drive road be
relocated to protect the caves in the region.
Local caver and geologist, Lex Bastian continues to draw the authorities
notice to this matter and raising the awareness of locals to the impact of
development in our “backyard”.
The 2001
report stated that the City of Wanneroo corresponded with the caving clubs
during 2000, regarding a request for cave location details and a proposed
Memorandum of Understanding between the S.E.S., Police, City of Wanneroo and
Caving Clubs. This issue was resolved
at the time with the Speleological Groups providing a representative to the
local emergency management committee (L.E.M.C.), providing a list of “speleo”
rescue contacts and agreeing to work with the City of Wanneroo to provide a
karst map giving general locations of karst areas that contain significant
karst needing further assessment if that area is to be impacted by
development. The original request for
cave location information has been made again recently, by the L.E.M.C. Advice has been sought from the E.D.O.
(Environmental Defender’s Office) on this issue and further actions will need
to be taken.
It is clear
that there needs to be a co-ordinated approach-involving liaison between the
City of Wanneroo and Caving Clubs regarding areas under development in karst
regions. Greater liaison with the
Environmental Protection Authority is needed, by caving clubs, to ensure
further caves and karst areas are not impacted. There is a huge task of acting to protect the karst areas as the
current development and impact of Perth’s expanding population pressures on the
karst.
Development
subdivisions continue to occur. The
plan is to have speleological individuals who are able to visit a property and
make an assessment of the karst features present. The report can then be given both to the landowner and the local
Government to assist in the best response required in the situation. It is our goal for 2003 to have several
landowner education sessions and workshops – discussing the area’s geological
development, and what it means to “Live on karst”. Ultimately it is planned to publish a landowners brochure/booklet
outlining these issues in a manner that is educational and non
confrontational. To assist in this
education, and to provide a visual aspect to learning it is envisaged that a 3D
karst model be developed – showing the physical interaction between the surface
and the subsurface in karst – specifically in this area.
Several
members of Speleological Groups regularly attend local community consultation
groups to ensure that karst issues are considered and raised in ongoing
decision making regarding the northern groundwater mound that is a karst
catchment area. The Gnangara/East
Gnangara (Water Resources) Community Consultative Committee meets approximately
bi-monthly to discuss progress on the state of the Gnangara Mound and the
‘Section 46 – Review of Environmental Conditions on management of the Gnangara
and Jandakot Mounds’. This includes
information on the artificial supplementation of wetlands in the karst area and
the emergency response strategy regarding the cave streams and stygofauna in
the Yanchep caves. It was also
excellent to see significant speleological presence at the government’s
Gnangara Mound Water Forum – held in September 2002.
·
Old River
Cave – At this stage, the
land clearance adjacent to the National Park (occurred during 2000) does not
appear to have significantly impacted on the underground stream.
·
Future
impacts in the area. It is believed that the Government is
planning on developing a borefield in the west of this area. It is unclear how this proposal would impact
on the caves hydrology or the karst aquifer – more information needs to be
obtained.
·
Drover’s
Cave – The proposal and
the C.A.L.M. response regarding the removal of large quantities of concrete
blocking solution pipe cave entrances and the construction of a new gate for
Drovers Cave is ongoing. A recent
conservation field trip to the cave occurred and participants raised concerns
regarding the need for a full fauna assessment and further information
regarding the cave to occur prior to major changes to the caves airflow. It will also be recommended that the whole
main entrance be restored to it’s original condition – rather than just
altering the gate – ie to remove the rock wall in the overhang entrance and to
have a larger area of “gate” that is bat friendly. Further discussions will be undertaken regarding actions that
will need to occur to implement the proposals.
·
Housing
& Roads development
The northward
growth of Perth continues to impact on the coast and associated karst
features. The planned coast road
between Two Rocks/Lancelin and Cervantes and the “Turquoise Coast” will open
this area up for future land development.
The land to the east of Jurien has already been subdivided with one
known cave being involved. The proposal
for the “Turquoise Coast Development, Jurien Bay” does not appear to have
considered the existence of caves or karst features in this area of land. Further work needs to be done in this area. At this stage, a large amount of the area of
bushland has not been assessed for karst features.
·
Lancelin
Defence Training Area – (L.D.T.A.) proposed Extensions
During June 2002, the E.P.A. released a P.E.R. (public
environmental review) regarding the area to the north of the existing Defence
Training Area. The Defence Department
proposed to extend their training area.
This is a karst area close to the pinnacles and threatened SH-21
(Tombstones cave), which was significantly extended in cave diving trips during
2001 and is now a significant cave for the area. Concerns were expressed by Speleological Groups and local
community groups regarding the lack of consultation and the need for a thorough
karst assessment to occur.
As no response was received,
during October, followup letters were sent to the E.P.A., The Minister for the
Environment and The Minister for Defence.
We are advised that the Defence will not proceed with the proposal to
extend the existing L.D.T.A. and will investigate alternative sites. The decision was made after careful
examination of the proposed area and in consideration of the concerns raised by
neighbouring property and community groups.
The W.A.S.G. have been notified that they will be invited to be on a
management committee for the L.D.T.A.
(refer to previous reports for the
background and ongoing specific details).
Although the legal action of the A.S.F. (that was supported by the
E.D.O) regarding the proposed mining leases on the Cape Range, was concluded in
the Wardens Court in Perth in November 2000, the process continues. The E.P.A. process of assessment was to be
an Environmental Review and Management Program (E.R.M.P). The public comment for this closed on the
7/10/2002. There were submissions from
both the A.S.F. and the state Speleological Groups. Additionally, the Conservation Council and the Wilderness Society
met with speleological representatives to gain an understanding of the karst
issues involved. Access was provided to
the information utilised in the A.S.F. court process. Some weeks after submissions had closed – the E.P.A. made contact
requesting permission to forward the speleological submission in totality to
the proponent – rather than just including the concerns in a summary report
that includes other groups concerns.
At some stage, the Government (Minister for
Mines) will make the final decision regarding the granting of the mining
leases. It is our recommendation that
the A.S.F. continue to oppose limestone mining on the Cape Range peninsula, call
for the Government to remove the strategic limestone mining purpose from the
proposed 5(h) reserve, enlarge the Cape Range National Park and advocate for
World Heritage Listing.
There were two submissions made on this
issue – one in February 2002, when a submission was made on the “Project
Development Approvals System – Interim Report”. Then, in May 2002, a submission on the “Project Development
Approvals System – Final Report” was made.
This report related to the Government’s proposed changes to The Mining
Act regarding the Mining Warden’s ability to hear objections in the Mining
Warden’s Court on environmental grounds.
This was the case utilised in 1999 by the E.D.O, and that allowed the
ASF to take the proponent to court regarding the proposed limestone quarry at
Cape Range. The advantages of the
Warden's Court process include an extremely high quality of material presented
as opposed to an environmental assessment/review submission and the ability to
call witnesses and cross-examine. This
Court process is open and clear process where varying forms of evidence can be
presented.
W.A.
has many caving areas and a huge variety of landowners and cave managers. It
is our belief that Government agencies, Cave Managers and Speleological
Advisors on cave management committee’s need knowledge, education and
experience in karst and cave management.
The specific focus is necessary for the conservation and care of
caves. This would allow informative and
advised decisions regarding the karst management of an area. Thus, the aim of the W.A. Conservation
Commission is for promoting the future form of cave management to involve a
State Karst Officer (S.K.O.) who had a background in caves and karst and could
make appropriate decisions regarding each karst area in our state. A suitable proposal needs to be developed
and discussed with Government and other agencies. Some Local Councils have indicated they would support such a
proposal. The W.A. Karst areas need to
be acknowledged as important, precious & non-renewable so that they can be
preserved for future generations to enjoy.