The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) has slammed the state government’s approval of a five-star luxury resort in Gnarabup today as a total failure of process and a disappointing outcome – particularly for communities in the south west.
CCWA State Director Matt Roberts said the decision would see the removal of critical habitat and threaten the endangered western ringtail possum and Carnaby's black cockatoo.
He questioned Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn’s review of the $138 million resort at Gnarabup, saying it highlighted a dire lack of State Government resources to adequately protect nature.
“This is disappointing given a report to the Environment Minister by the Office of the Appeals Convenor last year highlighted a number of flaws in the assessment process,” Mr Roberts said.
“Minister Swinbourn said he acknowledged our position on the risks to flora and fauna that were ‘inadequately assessed’ in his response to the appeal, but he has now given his approval.
“The Minister agreed that because of this inadequate assessment, the Appeals Convenor recommended that a condition be added for the protection of the western ringtail possum as highlighted in our appeal – but other significant concerns remain unaddressed.
“The inadequacy of the surveying by the property developer should have been picked up far earlier and points to a broader need for stronger environmental impact assessments and better resourcing of regulatory bodies.
“To halt the decline of WA’s nature, governments must stop approving developments that clear the habitat of threatened species.
“Time and again we see the decline of critical habitat over ‘just one more project’ and it’s not good enough.
“We need to ensure that recovery plans are actually implemented and fully funded. Our black cockatoos are headed towards extinction, and habitat loss is one of the main causes. Ultimately, this development poses unacceptable impacts and risks to the environment and local wildlife.”
ENDS
Media contact: John Cooke – 0433 679 780 – [email protected]