TO:

THE HON DR GEOFF I GALLOP BEc MA MPhil DPhil MLA
Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; Federal Affairs; Science; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests

THE HON A MacTIERNAN BA LLB BJuris JP MLA
Minister for Planning and Infrastructure

THE HON Dr J M EDWARDS MB BS MLA
Minister for the Environment and Heritage

THE HON C M BROWN MLA
Minister for State Development; Tourism; Small Business

THE HON T G STEPHENS BA MLC
Minister for Housing and Works; Local Government and Regional Development; the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne

THE HON KIM M CHANCE MLC
Minister for Agriculture; Forestry and Fisheries; The Midwest, Wheatbelt and Great Southern

Invitation to comment
Draft Public Environment Report
Coral Coast Marina Development Pty Ltd (CCMD)
C/- Save Ningaloo

CC TO:

THE HON C J BARNETT MEC MLA
Leader of the Opposition

The HON Dr DAVID KEMP MP
Federal Minister for the Environment and Heritage

THE HON KELVIN THOMSON MP
Federal shadow Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Dear Premier, Ministers and CCMD,

Protecting Ningaloo Reef

I write to express my concern over the marina resort development proposed for Mauds Landing on the boundary of Ningaloo Marine Park.

Ningaloo Reef is the longest and most spectacular fringing coral reef in the world and an area of unparalleled biodiversity. If allowed to proceed, the proposed development will severely impact upon the astonishing and unique environmental values of Bateman Bay and surrounding areas.

The marina is designed to attract private boats. Increased boating traffic in this area will deter, injure and kill dugongs, manta rays, whale sharks, whales and turtles. Already depleted fish stocks in this section of the Ningaloo Marine Park will be further reduced.

It is unthinkable to build a resort across a nesting ground of the endangered loggerhead turtle.

I do not accept that the baseline studies of the southern Bateman Bay lagoon are comprehensive or adequate. Nor do I accept that the proposed plans for managing the development's (self-confessed) impacts demonstrate a realistic capacity for mitigating against them.

This is simply an inappropriate type of development for the heart of the Ningaloo Reef.

Ningaloo Reef is part of our irreplaceable Western Australian heritage. I strongly urge that this area by protected by rejecting the proposed development.

I encourage the Western Australian Government to work with the community to develop a plan for genuine sustainability for the entire Ningaloo region. I further encourage this Government to proceed rapidly with its election promise to nominate Ningaloo and the Cape Range area for World Heritage listing and to develop a planning framework that protects these World Heritage values.

Please keep me informed of your decisions.

Yours sincerely,