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MEDIA STATEMENT
Tuesday, 2 January 2007
FATAL FLAWS UNCOVERED IN PLANS TO MINE
SENSITIVE EXMOUTH GULF AREA
No plans for disposal of toxic bitterns;
Essential nutrient flow patterns ignored
Plans to build a massive salt mine along the eastern edge of Exmouth
Gulf are based on fatally flawed assumptions that could destroy
the area’s sensitive ecosystem.
Environmental management plans released by the mine's proponents
have not accounted for the essential nutrient regeneration of the
marine ecosystem that is regularly provided by heavy rainfall events.
And the company, Straits Resources, has also failed to detail
how it will dispose of vast quantities of toxic bitterns that are
the by-product of its proposed solar salt project.
Straits is seeking approval from the Environmental Protection
Authority (EPA) to build one of the World's largest salt mines over
411 square kilometres along the eastern edge of the Gulf behind
the environmentally sensitive mangrove fringe and adjacent salt
flats and marshes.
The area is one of the nation’s most biologically productive
environments and the plans are opposed by a major alliance of environmental
and commercial and recreational fishing groups known as the Halt
The Salt Alliance (www.haltthesalt.org.au).
Alliance spokesman and Conservation Council of WA director Chris
Tallentire today revealed the Alliance had found fundamental flaws
in the Environmental Review Management Plan (ERMP) released by Straits
for public comment under February 26.
"There are fundamental, critical shortcomings with the plan
that should lead the EPA to stop the project due to the massive
risks involved," Mr Tallentire said.
"Firstly, the company has failed to take into account the
reliance of the eastern Gulf's intertidal system and marine population
on hinterland surface water flow as an ongoing source of nutrients."
"We know that the historical pattern of cyclonic activity
and flood-out events that occur every two-and-a-half years help
the mangrove, seaweed and seagrass habitats to function like a battery,
fixing and gradually re-supplying nutrients and energy.
"By building a system of 70 kilometre rock retaining walls,
Straits would radically alter this natural drainage and replenishment
pattern and could starve much of the ecosystem of its vital natural
resources."
The second fatal flaw in Straits' plan is its failure to detail
how it will dispose of the highly toxic bitterns produced through
its salt extraction process."
“If this material entered the Gulf ecosystem through seepage
or wall failure it could kill vast numbers of marine creatures.
"Straits knows it cannot dispose of the bitterns into the
marine environment, so in desperation it wants approval to store
them until new technology may become available to allow discharge
not to occur."
"They have a massive waste disposal problem and their only
plan is to hide it in the hope that an alternative comes along in
the future."
"This is not a responsible, sustainable solution and cannot
be entertained by any government or regulatory body serious about
protecting the environment for future generations."
The MG Kailis Group, one of the largest commercial fishing operations
and employers in the Exmouth region, and Recfishwest, the State’s
peak recreational fishing body, back the concerns.
MG Kailis Group Compliance and Projects Manager Stephen Hood and
Recfishwest Executive Director Frank Prokop said the ERMP had failed
to alleviate their numerous concerns with the proposal.
“This mine poses a massive risk to the existing sustainable
fishing, aquaculture, pearling and tourism industries of the region.
The effects would be irreversible and ecosystem changing and aren’t
worth the risk,” Mr Hood said.
“Fishing and aquaculture are highly dependent on the maintenance
of high water quality and of the natural ecological processes driving
marine productivity. All these activities will be threatened by
the proposed project, yet the ERMP dismisses the risks as ‘relatively
minor’,” Mr Prokop said.
The ERMP has also confirmed the following:
- Both commercial and recreational fisheries will see a reduction
in recruitment as a consequence of changes to habitat structure
and foodwebs resulting from this proposal.
- Dredging and ship-loading activities could seriously degrade
critical habitats for threatened Dugongs and Green Turtles.
- The project will massively modify approximately 411 square
kilometres of land with bunds and hypersaline ponds.
- There are no decommissioning plans or commitments detailed,
leaving the WA taxpayer exposed to the astronomical costs of restoration.
- The excavated inland harbour may expose significant areas of
acid generating sulphides as well as removing mangrove and algal
mat habitat.
- The silty bottom of the eastern Gulf is likely to be mobilised
by repeated dredging operations smothering marine producer habitats.
- The 300 metre-long Panamax bulk carriers, barges and service
vessels are likely to increasingly disturb and disrupt the use
of the area by megafauna such as Humpback Whales, Dugongs and
Sea-Turtles. The international shipping may transport exotic marine
pests from high-risk regions.
The Halt the Salt Alliance will be making a detailed submission
to the EPA along with many other community and industry based organisations
that share its concerns about the potential impact of the mine on
the environment and existing sustainable industries.
“I urge everyone to go to our campaign website at www.haltthesalt.org.au
to find out more about the massive scale and potential impact of
this project,” Mr Tallentire said.
Media note:
Halt the Salt Alliance spokerspersons Chris Tallentire,
Stephen Hood and Frank Prokop will be available today at 10am for
interview at the Conservation Council, Lotteries House, Delhi Street,
West Perth.
Media contacts
Chris Tallentire, Conservation Council of WA 0418 955 191
Stephen Hood, MG Kailis Group 0418 901 048
Frank Prokop, RecfishWest 0419 949 118
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