Save Ningaloo Reef
Fellow
surfers,
We
are dedicating this News to this very important issue. Ningaloo is
a unique place on our Globe and is important to everybody, regardless
of where you live. Please visit their web site and give your support,
even if it is only an electronic letter. Please tell your friends.
Pass the word and web address around.
We
cannot let this development happen! (Richard Kirby, editor)
The 2003 Crescent Head Malibu Classic results
Save the Ningaloo Reef
What and where is it?
| The Ningaloo Reef is a 280 km long 'fringing' coral reef skirting the Cape Range peninsula, mid way up the West Australian coastline, 1200km north of Perth. It is the longest fringing reef and one of the last 'relatively pristine' major coral reef systems in the world. Ningaloo is so unique in its profound bio diversity that it easily qualifies for World Heritage Listing (although this has not yet happened). In near pristine condition, Ningaloo supports a staggering abundance of fish (500 species), corals (200 species), molluscs (600 species) and many other marine invertebrates. Ningaloo is a special bio geographic zone where the distributions of tropical and temperate marine and terrestrial organisms overlap, and where life unique to the area has evolved. Whale sharks, the world's largest fish, gather in the reef waters each year and depend on the reef for part of their life cycle. Eco-tour operators take thousands of people swimming with these gentle giants every year. Humpback whales migrate twice annually through the reef waters with their calves. Endangered and vulnerable marine creatures including loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles depend on the reef and coastal ecosystems for food, breeding and nesting. Dugongs, in decline throughout the Indian Ocean, rely on northern WA waters, including Ningaloo, for refuge and protection. Seabirds and migratory waders, including species listed under international conservation conventions, use the coast, wetlands and reef waters as resting, feeding and breeding sites. Manta rays and populations of large game fish including sailfish and marlin abound in the reef's waters. The reef is a source of larvae of corals, fish and other marine animals, which are dispersed as far south as the Abrolhos Islands and Rottnest Island on the Leeuwin current. With 80% of the world's coral reefs in serious decline due to human influence, the isolated Ningaloo Reef is of particular international importance. The relative health of the area is primarily due to its isolation, but this isolation may be shattered if plans to build a major resort there get the go ahead. There is still time to stop this plan, and create a sanctuary for 'wilderness' that the world can enjoy, appreciate and learn from, forever. Maud's Landing in the south of Bateman Bay is the site of the proposed Coral Coast Resort. |
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What is proposed?
Soon the Western Australian government will decide the future of one of the world's most spectacular and pristine coral reefs - Ningaloo. It will either approve a large marina development on the edge of the Reef with potentially disastrous consequences, or take the opportunity to protect the area's most valuable asset which, with proper planning, can become the basis for sustainable, healthy regional communities. Proposed is a large inland marina resort development at Maud's Landing on the boundary of the Ningaloo Marine Park just north of Coral Bay. If allowed, it will severely impact upon the astonishing and unique environmental values of the area. This huge resort is totally inappropriate to the region. Inland marinas are now banned in NSW. The proposed resort sits right on the boundary of Ningaloo Marine Park, beside a Sanctuary Zone.The developers admit that water quality will be negatively impacted by the construction over an area of 9 square kilometres for a period of up to five years. The Coral Coast Resort Development group proposes an inland marina with six embankments with beaches and an artificial reef within the marina. They plan a dredged entrance channel, 100 metres wide, jutting from the coast with associated breakwaters. This requires dredging of an area of Bateman Bay and building two groynes (~200m long) extending out from a previously straight coastline. These groynes are to prevent the dredged channel from blocking up, as wave and tidal action carry sand deposits. The presence of groynes will cause disruptions in the tidal and current movements, causing sand buildup in new areas. North of the entrance channel along the coast of Bateman Bay, they plan a stretch of barbecue and recreation areas, car parking facilities and a restaurant, this is a known turtle nesting area. The sea walls cutting through the beach to create the mouth of the marina will interrupt natural coastal processes. This often has disastrous and unpredictable consequences. On this cyclone and storm prone coast, long term dredging is likely to be required. Dredging creates noise pollution and sediment plumes which can carry for kilometres. This will further deter marine animals from remaining in southern Bateman Bay. Breeding populations of the endangered loggerhead turtle will be impacted. This species, whose numbers have declined 50-80% in the last decade, use the beach (across which the marina would be built) as a breeding site, alongside Green and Hawksbill turtles. Light pollution (which disorientates hatchlings), 4WD traffic on the beach, boating traffic, increases in feral animals and the risk of beach erosion all spell disaster for turtles. |
Southern Bateman Bay showing the road into the existing settlement at Coral Bay |
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What
can we do? 
What
can we do?
Save Ningaloo is a campaign to protect this wilderness for all time.
The first task is to stop the inappropriate Coral Coast Resort from being built. Please take the time to read our suggestions of how you can take action for Ningaloo. Every thing you do to help will count at this crucial time.
Send
an automated letter
You will be updated on future actions you can take.
Contact
the Premier of the West Australian Government, Mr. Geoff Gallop
Right now the single most effective thing we can do to save Ningaloo
is to let politicians know what we think! If the Gallop Government
sees that there is overwhelming community support for the protection
of Ningaloo, there is every chance we can stop the resort and build
a sustainable future for the Ningaloo region.
Contacting the Premier can be as easy as writing a quick letter or sending a fax or email. The Premier can be written to c/- Parliament House, Perth, 6000, Western Australia or faxed on (61) 8 9322 1213. If you have already done this consider writing to or meeting with your local Member of Parliament. If you don't know who that is, call the people at Save Ningaloo.
Keep informed and inform others
News in the Save Ningaloo campaign is breaking all the time. Keep an
eye on www.SaveNingalooReef.org and
send an email to ningaloo@wilderness.org.au asking
to be kept up to date by email. Pass this information on to friends
and family, asking
them to take action as well.
Contact the media
Voicing your opinion in the media is an easy and highly effective way
of letting politicians know of your concerns and other people know about
the threat to Ningaloo. Participate in talk back radio in the morning
or afternoon programs on ABC 6WF (telephone: 08 9484 1720) and 6PR (telephone:
08 9221 1233). Alternatively send a letter to the editor of The West Australian
newspaper (letters@wanews.com.au
or fax 08 9482 3830).
Volunteer your time
No matter how little or how much time you have, your skills (writing,
artistic, research, organisational, marketing, fundraising, general
enthusiasm!) can be used in the Save Ningaloo campaign. Come to one
of our meetings at City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi Street, West
Perth (opposite the City West Railway Station) at 5.30pm every Tuesday.
Help fund the campaign
The Save Ningaloo campaign relies on the generosity of supporters to
continue its vital work. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation
to help fund the campaign.
1. Donate online : You will get a secure connection.
2.
Donate by Fax or Snail Mail: Make cheques or money orders (clearly
marked 'Save Ningaloo') payable to -
The Conservation Council of WA
City West Lotteries House
2 Delhi St,
West Perth,
Western Australia, 6005
Fax: (08) 9420 7273 (international +61 8 9420 7273)
Download a
convenient form to print out (.rtf format - read in any word processor)
3.
Donate by phone - For supporters in Australia call the Conservation
Council of Western Australia
on (08) 9420 7266 or International +61 8 9420 7266
4. Donate by email - include your name, phone number and address details in your email and we will phone you back to get your credit card details (please don't email your credit card details to us as email is not secure).
Donations to the Conservation Council are tax deductible.
The Save Ningaloo Campaign
Phone: 61 8 9420 7255
Fax: 61 8 9420 7256
Email: ningaloo@wilderness.org.au
www.SaveNingalooReef.org
Crescent Head Malibu Classic 2003
The Annual Crescent Head Malibu Classic was held recently and the results have been forwarded to us by Phil Diver. Click here to view.
2003 Mal de Mer Mal Muster
The Annual Mal Muster is on again. Details on our Club News page.
More Links
If you would like a link to your site on our web site then send us an image (your logo), some text and your URL.
The NEW Blue Fin Box Lock
After months of research in to material compounds and ways to improve our original design we are proud to announce the release of our new BLUE 'plastic' Fin Box Lock. It is smaller and neater than the original and will not corrode.
Special Offer to existing Fin Box Lock owners
If you have an early Fin Box Lock (aluminium) that has anodised (corroded) and is difficult to use then we will replace it with a new Blue Fin Box Lock. To take up this offer all you have to do is send us your existing aluminium Fin Box Lock and include a stamped return envelope with your return address. Make sure there is enough postage to get it back to you. We will ship back to you the next day.