(Note: this is a new submission to a new government – it is open to all and we encourage you to get your family and friends to also make submissions)

CC: The Hon. Peter Garrett, Federal Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts;
Hon Donna Faragher MLC, WA Minister for Environment; Youth.

 

THE HON COLIN J BARNETT MLA
Premier of Western Australia.
197 St George's Terrace,
PERTH WA 6000

Dear Premier

We urge the State Government to take on the advice of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and reject a proposal by Straits Salt to construct and operate a 4.2 million tonne per annum solar salt farm in the pristine Exmouth Gulf.

The EPA’s unconditional rejection of the proposal reinforces the scientific evidence that the environmental risks are too great for a large-scale mine to proceed in this precious area.

It is also important that the State Government permanently protects the precious Yannarie delta eco-system in the Exmouth Gulf from any resource and industry activity.

With such strong advice from the EPA, if the Barnett Government accepts the salt mine proposal it will be held accountable for any damage caused by the salt mine to this environmentally-sensitive area, now and into the future.

EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said in a media statement dated 23 July 2008 that the EPA had concluded that the salt mine proposal presents unacceptably high risks of environmental harm to wetland values and unacceptable levels of uncertainty in relation to long term management of bitterns.

If the State Government rejects the EPA’s advice it would be putting at risk one of the richest marine environments in Australia.

The large-scale salt mine would destroy the local environment, communities, businesses and industries, changing the face of the pristine Exmouth Gulf forever and damaging WA’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination.

The Exmouth Gulf is a precious natural asset and must be protected for future generations .