The final decision of the Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding the Limestone Mine
and Quicklime Plant was to allow the mine to proceed with development
once further studies were undertaken with respect to cave fauna.
All other aspects of the development have been given the OK by
the minister. At the time of writing (30 December 1997) these
studies had not been completed and the status of the mine is unknown.
This issue is likely to be a major one for the ASF in the coming
year as this massive mine has the potential to have a dramatic
impact on the karst of Cape Range.
The Department of Conservation and
Land Management (CALM) still continues to ignore the suggestions
of cavers and continues to develop Calgardup and Giants caves
as self guided tourist caves. NO plans have been developed
for the massive infrastructure that is to be placed into both
caves but rather complete ad-hoc seat of the pants management
continues unabated. The ASF has protested to the minister who
has indicated after a 6 month delay that CALM will "take
the ASF's suggestions into account". This response to development
within a National Park with absolutely no planning and totally
outside of the current management plan can only be classed as
pathetic.
After placing tie-off points at the entrance to Arumvale Pipe causing cave users to use a sandy slope the error of this decision has been noticed. Following slope degradation the cave has been closed while a platform is built, similar to that at Calgardup Pipe, to avoid further degradation. Other possible management strategies such as "resting" the cave or removing it from the self-guided cave list were not considered.
The Interpretive Centre (CaveWorks)
at Lake Cave was officially opened during 1997 and has generated
considerable comment from all visitors that I have spoken with.
This facility will continue to "grow" and become the
major source of caver education in Western Australia.
Passive infrared and vibration detectors
have been trialed in caves in the South-West to determine compliance
with the LNNP permit system. This trial is likely to be extended
in 1998 with the possibility of detectors that inform management
of non-permit cave trips.
The election of the liberal government
placed the proposed listing in limbo. No new developments have
occurred since the WA liberal government was elected. Same status
as 1994.
As at December 1997 none of the proposed
National Parks or reserves in the Nullarbor region have been declared.
The required legislation is STILL LOST (I have stated the same
thing for the last 7 years!) in government mumbo jumbo! This
has now worsened as a result of the Mabo and Wik decisions.
Meanwhile the caves of the Nullarbor
continue to suffer with unrestricted access, no on the ground
management of some of Australia's most fragile cave systems.
Attempted dating of a stegamite from the Nullarbor plain placed
it beyond the limits of U/Th dating i.e. > 350,000bp. This
is almost certainly true of the majority of the black speleothems
from the Nullarbor caves. These speleothems are being degraded
"naturally" as a result of the salt wedging process
that occurs in Nullarbor caves however the added degradation of
cavers misplaced feet should not continue to be added to this
process.
Another form for the management classification
of caves has been developed by Mike Newton for the Nambung National
Park and Mike has undertaken some field tests of the form. No
other progress on the Nambung National Park Management plan are
known to the author.
The proposed land clearance adjacent
to the National Park has been given approval with over 50 conditions
being attached to the clearance approval. The Minister for the
Environment has also requested further work on the flora before
clearance can proceed.
The National Park was recently (December
1997) almost completely burnt bare. The impact on caves is not
know at the time of writing. Trips will be conducted in early
1998 to ascertain the impact of the fire on the caves and karst
features.