Media Statements: Statements http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/Date Descending.aspx RSS feed for the Statements list. Department of the Premier and Cabinet Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:25:52 GMT Windows SharePoint Services V3 RSS Generator 60 list Media Statements: Statements /_layouts/images/homepage.gif http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/Date Descending.aspx Boorabbin bushfire tragedy http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132809 Content:

Environment Minister Donna Faragher today described as deeply disturbing the Coroner’s findings into the Boorabbin bushfire tragedy released today.

 

Mrs Faragher said she had called for a full response from the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) to the Coroner’s findings and general observations surrounding the tragedy.

 

“This inquiry was unfortunately borne out of the loss of human life when mistakes were made and I would like, on behalf of the State Government, to express my deepest condolences to the families of Trevor Murley, Robert Taylor and Lewis Bedford,” she said.

 

“I have put a request through to the Director General and asked that the department provide a comprehensive response to the Coroner’s recommendations and observations surrounding the events of the day and its subsequent actions.”

 

The Minister said it was important now to ensure the tragic loss of life was not in vain by properly and thoroughly addressing the findings raised by the Coroner.

 

“I am sure that I speak on behalf of the community, and all those affected by this awful event, that we never want to see a tragedy of this kind repeated,” she said.

 

“This tragedy has had an enormous and devastating impact on all those involved.”

 

Mrs Faragher said that with another hot, dry summer looming, the public needed to feel confident that the State’s bushfire response systems could be relied upon

 

“I am working closely with DEC to implement management practices and operational guidelines that are more effective than the system which was in place in 2007,” she said.

 

“This includes greater levels of training for fire fighters; stronger management guidelines; reliable and clear communication protocols; and better co-ordination between agencies.”

 

The Minister said the State Government had done extensive work in making sure Western Australia was ready to deal with the upcoming fire season, which included a comprehensive Bushfire Preparedness Report and the passage of the Bushfire Amendment Bill.

 

“DEC is continuing with its prescribed burning program to reduce the amount of fuel that could feed a fire,” she said.

 

“The department is ahead of last year’s burning schedule and, subject to favourable weather conditions, is on target to have 120,000ha burnt by Christmas.

 

“I have also relaxed the management guidelines which have the potential to impact the levels of smoke haze over Perth and I did this because we need to do everything we can do to avoid future fire threats.”

 

Minister's office - 9213 7250
Date: 20/11/2009
Minister: Faragher
Portfolio: Environment
Region: Goldfields/Esperance
]]> Stratford, Pamela Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:13:20 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132809 Leadership helps Hedland pick up State Tidy Town title http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132810 Content:

The Pilbara town of Hedland (Port and South Hedland) has claimed the State title in the 2009 Tidy Towns - Sustainable Communities awards at a ceremony held in Perth today.

 

Environment Minister Donna Faragher said Hedland was committed to not only improving the town’s infrastructure and environment but also to developing its people and relationships.

 

“The community engagement and youth development efforts are exemplary and the successful ‘Cash for Trash’ initiative and associated activities showed real leadership,” Mrs Faragher said. 

 

“Other initiatives that contributed to Hedland’s success included the significant community effort in monitoring and protecting the flatback turtle, a native plant nursery and the ‘Hedlights’ project which brings art into the industrial area.”

 

The 2009 State category award winners were:

 

·        Community Action: Hedland (Port and South Hedland)

·        General Appearance: Westonia

·        Recycling and Waste Management: Hedland (Port and South Hedland)

·        Natural Heritage Conservation: Greenbushes

·        Enhancing Cultural Identity: Hedland (Port and South Hedland)

·        Water Conservation: Walpole

 

The Minister said the State awards were a chance to recognise and reward communities for the contributions they had made to improve the appearance and environment of their towns, and to ensure their communities could look forward to a sustainable future.

 

“These communities have put in a significant amount of work on projects that support and encourage sustainable living and aim to protect our environment for the benefit of current and future generations,” she said.

 

“They’ve demonstrated how we can all make a difference through our individual efforts and more importantly, come together as a community to make positive changes.”

 

Hedland is now in the running for the national Tidy Towns - Sustainable Communities awards to be announced next year.

 

A total of 41 towns entered this year’s Tidy Towns - Sustainable Communities awards program. Hedland takes over the State title from the previous winner, Kambalda, which went on to win the Environmental Innovation award at the national ceremony held in Canberra last May.

 

Keep Australia Beautiful in Western Australia is supported by the Department of Environment and Conservation. Tidy Towns - Sustainable Communities is sponsored by the Packaging Stewardship Forum and Grundfos. Golden West Network (GWN) is a media partner.

 

Minister's office - 9213 7250

Date: 20/11/2009
Minister: Faragher
Portfolio: Environment
Region: Pilbara;South West;Goldfields/Esperance
]]> Stratford, Pamela Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:52:56 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132810 Researchers looking into dolphin deaths in Bunbury inner waters http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132803 Content:

Environment Minister Donna Faragher and Water Minister Graham Jacobs today met Murdoch University researchers and departmental officials regarding the release of an initial research report into the deaths of eight dolphins in the Bunbury inner waters during the past two years.

 

Murdoch researchers Dr Lars Bejder and Dr Hugh Finn have begun re-investigating the deaths of the dolphins, either found or presumed dead. The Ministers were advised the report found no trend in the timing or cause of the deaths and gathered tissue samples had been sent for further analysis.

 

Mrs Faragher said this information was important given advice she had received of some similarities with the six dolphin deaths in the Swan River this year.  

 

“Being presented with information directly from the researchers responsible for the study programs has been invaluable in looking at the overall health of dolphins that live in inlets and in waterways that abut metropolitan areas,” Mrs Faragher said.

 

“While the exact cause of the deaths in the Swan Canning Riverpark and the Bunbury inner waters are still not clear, we know through this research that a number of factors need to be investigated and we need to analyse the data from similar research programs conducted throughout Australia and internationally.”

 

Dr Jacobs said the research had the capacity to identify a potential problem affecting the State’s dolphin population.

 

“The research clearly states that we need to better understand the health of our estuarine and coastal marine animals,” Dr Jacobs said.

 

“This understanding has not previously been available and I look forward to working with the Environment Minister and researchers to ensure we have it in future.”   

 

The report can be obtained through Murdoch University’s website at http://www.murdoch.edu.au or by contacting Tanyia Maxted on 9360 2491.   

 

Environment Minister's office - 9213 7250 

Water Minister's office - 9213 6900
Date: 19/11/2009
Minister: Faragher;Jacobs
Portfolio: Environment;Water
Region: South West
]]> Arbouin, Shane Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:31:29 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132803 $2.5million land management agreement benefits industry and environment http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132797 Content:

Environment Minister Donna Faragher today launched a groundbreaking three-year joint land management agreement between the mining sector and the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC). 

 

The agreement between DEC and Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore for the greater Mount Manning Range area in the Goldfields will see Cliffs contribute $2.485million, plus in-kind operational assistance, on projects in four areas:

·        indigenous training and employment to increase land management capacity and achieve on-ground works

·        fire management including wildfire threat analysis and on-ground protection work

·        flora management including rare flora and priority flora surveys and research

·        fauna management including malleefowl research, feral animal control and regional surveys for below-ground invertebrates.

 

The project’s steering committee also includes a representative from the Wilderness Society.

 

Mrs Faragher said the initiative was an excellent example of DEC and the mining industry working collaboratively to achieve land management outcomes that could have enormous value for the entire Great Western Woodlands region.

 

“I congratulate Cliffs and DEC on reaching this agreement which represents a significant step for environmental management in the region,” she said.

 

The Minister said the partnership was complementary to ongoing work to develop a comprehensive strategy for the Great Western Woodlands in line with the State Government’s $3.8million election commitment.

 

“The greater Mount Manning Range is located in a multiple use area within the Great Western Woodlands with mining, pastoral, conservation and Aboriginal heritage values,” she said.

 

“The issues addressed by this partnership - indigenous training and employment; fire management and flora and fauna management - are critical issues across the broader Great Western Woodlands area and will inform land management practices across the region.”

 

Minister's office - 9213 7250
 
 
Photo caption: L to R: Cliffs CEO Duncan Price; Minister for the Environment Hon Donna Faragher JP MLC; Kieran McNamara Director General Department of Environment and Conservation.
Date: 18/11/2009
Minister: Faragher
Portfolio: Environment
Region: Goldfields/Esperance
]]> Arbouin, Shane Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:30:15 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132797 State Government continues to monitor health of Swan River dolphins http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132778 Content:

Environment Minister Donna Faragher has reassured the public about health concerns relating to the Swan and Canning rivers following a recent spate of dolphin deaths.

 

The State Government has been advised by fisheries and health agencies that there is no direct risk to the public by swimming in, or by consuming any fish caught in the Swan and Canning rivers.

 

Mrs Faragher said the Swan River Trust and Department of Environment and Conservation, in collaboration with two universities, would continue to monitor the dolphins living in the Swan Canning Riverpark to ensure their long-term health.

 

Following a meeting of researchers and government agencies on Thursday, which discussed the findings of six dolphins reported dead between June and October, the Minister reiterated the importance of programs launched by the State Government designed at continually improving the eco-system of the rivers.

 

“I am concerned by the number of dolphin deaths and determined to find out exactly why they are dying, which is why the Swan River Trust is co-ordinating further investigations in conjunction with Murdoch and Curtin universities, and government agencies including the departments of Environment and Conservation, Water and Fisheries,” she said.

 

Mrs Faragher said evidence indicated factors such as seasonal changes in water quality and the long-term exposure to contaminants, including high levels of dieldrin, as possible attributes in the deaths.

 

“Through the Liberal-National Government’s Natural Resource Management program, a number of projects which tackle water quality improvement and waterways restoration have been funded including $3.19million for the Swan and Canning rivers,” she said.

 

“These projects, which are designed to address pollution issues and our water quality, will have a positive outcome for the entire Swan Canning river system.”

 

The recent dolphin deaths share many of the same features observed in dolphins studied elsewhere in the world, including evidence of suppressed immune systems and bacterial, fungal and virus infection. 

 

International research has shown that dolphin deaths of this nature are not unique to the Swan Canning Estuary and have been observed in other locations in Australia and around the world.

 

The trust has been working with other government departments on a non-nutrients contamination program since 2006 and has released reports that show high levels of dieldrin and DDE in sediment in parts of the river. 

 

However, the study showed that on the whole the level of contaminants were typical of a modern city and that many of the contaminants were the result of historic use of now banned chemicals.

 

Discarded fishing line is also a contributing factor, with two dolphins dying as a result of an infection arising from entanglement.

 

The Minister encouraged members of the community interested in monitoring dolphins to join the trust’s River Guardians program and sign up to become a Dolphin Watch member.

 

“Efforts to protect the Swan River dolphins for the long-term will require a collaborative approach working across government agencies and research institutions and with significant community involvement,” she said.

 

Recreational fishers also have an important role to play, as they can reduce the risk of entanglement for dolphins by properly disposing of fishing line and using biodegradable fishing line.

 

Minister's office - 9213 7250
Date: 14/11/2009
Minister: Faragher
Portfolio: Environment
Region: South Eastern Suburbs;South Western Suburbs
]]> Stratford, Pamela Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:52:39 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132778 Conservation initiatives receive $2.9million boost http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132746 Content:

Environment Minister Donna Faragher today announced a major funding boost of $2.9million to protect threatened plant species in Western Australia, including funding to eradicate a dieback outbreak in one of the State’s major national parks.

 

The Natural Resource Management (NRM) funding included $424,000 to translocate and maintain critically endangered plant species; $870,000 to undertake emergency recovery actions for highest priority threatened flora; and $1.61million for dieback eradication in Fitzgerald River National Park.

 

“The projects are part of the latest round of the State Government’s $30million NRM funding aimed at protecting and improving WA’s natural resources and promoting biodiversity conservation,” Mrs Faragher said.

 

The dieback project is being implemented in partnership with South Coast NRM and the Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management at Murdoch University.

 

“This will focus on the containment and possible eradication of a Phytophthora dieback outbreak at Pabelup Road in Fitzgerald River National Park, which would be the first time dieback has been eradicated from a major conservation reserve and world biodiversity hotspot,” the Minister said.

 

“Alongside saving thousands of hectares from the destructive spread of dieback, the funding will go towards new management arrangements and standards to reduce the risk of further spread, and a targeted public education campaign.”

 

Mrs Faragher said another project would see the re-establishment of secure wild populations of 15 plant species, requiring urgent protection and recovery.

 

“Of the 15 species to receive special protection, two critically endangered wattle (acacia) species will be established in new locations near Mount Singleton in the Mid-West and three wattle and daviesia populations will be created near the Stirling Ranges on the south coast,” she said.

 

“The remaining 10 species, including honeysuckles, wattles, grevilleas, persoonias and eremophilas, have already been translocated but require further maintenance to ensure their survival.”

 

The ground work will be undertaken by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) with the assistance of volunteers and community groups.

 

The $870,000 flora project is being implemented by DEC in association with local volunteers, including the Albany Wildflower Group. 

 

“This project will target key threatening processes impacting on threatened flora; facilitate seed banking and field investigations to gather genetic material; and determine the conservation status of selected species,” the Minister said.

 

“In total, this work will benefit 95 critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable flora species, and I am expecting the project to result in major gains in the conservation security of these species.”

 

Minister's office - 9213 7250
Date: 6/11/2009
Minister: Faragher
Portfolio: Environment
Region: Great Southern;Mid West;South West
]]> Antartis, Jill Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:39:30 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132746 Funding for glass recycling project http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132736 Content:

The State Government’s drive towards reducing waste and increasing recycling has been boosted with a $1.95million commitment towards building a glass recycling facility in Perth.

 

Environment Minister Donna Faragher today announced the new facility would be co-funded by the State Government through the WA Waste Authority and by industry through the National Packaging Covenant.

 

Colmax Glass, the company approved to construct and operate the plant would contribute the balance to the $5.4million project.

 

Mrs Faragher said the WA Waste Authority and the National Packaging Covenant had formed a joint partnership to improve glass recycling. They had chosen Colmax Glass, a NSW-based company, from competing applicants.

 

“The company expects to process about 20,000 tonnes of waste glass per year building up to 40,000 tonnes as demand increases. The waste glass would be collected from recycling facilities throughout the metropolitan area,” she said.

 

“This will be the first plant of its kind in Western Australia that can crush and clean waste glass before distributing it for a range of practical uses including bottle manufacture, insulation batts, surface coatings for road markings and swimming pools, blasting abrasives, filtration and cement additives.

 

“There are export markets available both interstate and overseas for the sand-like material produced through the recycling process.”

 

The company proposes to begin construction of the facility towards the end of this year with the first recycled production beginning in the first half of 2010.

 

“This is a positive step to managing waste and increasing recycling rates,” the Minister said.

 

“Approximately 80,000 tonnes of glass packaging is distributed throughout WA each year as packaging for food and beverage products.

 

“About 15,000 tonnes per year of used glass collected in WA is recycled, with the majority of it being sent to South Australia for the production of bottles, but due to the contamination of waste this can be a costly process for local government and private companies in charge of collecting waste glass.

 

Mrs Faragher said some sorting facilities in WA had stopped recycling glass due to the problems with rejected shipments of waste glass, which was increasing the amount of the material going into landfill.

 

“As the new plant can accept contaminated glass, the sorting facilities will be able to send their used glass there instead of into landfill,” she said.

 

Minister's office - 9213 7250
Date: 4/11/2009
Minister: Faragher
Portfolio: Environment
Region: South Eastern Suburbs
]]> Arbouin, Shane Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:53:52 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132736 Protection secured for world heritage area’s main island http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132688 Content:

Environment Minister Donna Faragher today announced that a new national park would be created on Western Australia’s largest island, Dirk Hartog Island, part of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.

 

Mrs Faragher said the State Government would establish the new national park, covering almost the entire area of the 63,000 hectare island, protecting its unique environmental, cultural and historical assets, and creating a draw card for nature-based tourism.

 

“Dirk Hartog Island forms the westernmost point of Australia and is an incredibly biodiverse area with outstanding natural values including more than 250 native plant species, three endemic threatened bird species and a number of threatened reptiles,” she said.

 

“The park is nationally significant as Dutch sea captain Dirk Hartog’s landing on the island on October 25, 1616 is the first evidence of European arrival in Australia.

 

“The State Government’s vision is to turn Dirk Hartog Island National Park into one of the world’s premier national parks showcasing its significant history and scientific value.

 

“The park’s declaration will help to create national and international awareness of this amazing location within a World Heritage Area, enabling the tourism industry to market the island as an important attraction alongside the world-famous dolphins of Monkey Mia.

 

“Creating the national park will open it up to tourists under carefully managed sustainable tourism arrangements.

 

“It will also provide a pathway for the traditional owners of Dirk Hartog Island, the Malgana people, to engage in the ongoing management and conservation of the region.”

 

The Minister said management of the national park would also include sheep and feral goat removal from the island followed by a major project to restore its natural values.

 

“Native animals on Dirk Hartog Island have suffered from feral goats and cats, with 12 of the 15 original native mammal species now believed to be locally extinct on the island,” she said.

 

A small piece of freehold land will be retained for nature-based tourism facilities by the Wardle family, who have been operating the pastoral lease on the island since 1968.

 

A reserve will also be created at Tumbledown Point for the use and benefit of the Malgana Aboriginal people.

 

The Minister's announcement at Shark Bay was also attended by the Netherlands Consulate General of WA, Mr Arnold Stroobach, and representatives of the Malgana people.

 

Minister's office - 9213 7250
Date: 27/10/2009
Minister: Faragher
Portfolio: Environment
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:01:26 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132688 $1.27million allocated to fauna reconstruction in world heritage region http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132689 Content:

Environment Minister Donna Faragher today announced that $1.27million would be allocated over the next 18 months for a fauna reconstruction project at Lagoon Point in Shark Bay’s Francois Peron National Park.

 

Mrs Faragher said the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) would pave the way for increasing the populations of threatened species by creating a feral-animal-free area of approximately 1,600 hectares within the park.

 

“DEC will construct a 3.9 km exclusion fence and remove all feral animals from the fenced peninsula area so specific species can be introduced in an environment free from feral predators,” she said.

 

“Captive-bred mala and banded-hare wallabies will then be released into this area so that these threatened species can survive and reproduce in a protected area.

 

“The new funding will also be used to initiate an intensive captive breeding program for these two species to continue to improve the genetic diversity of their populations.

 

“The long term aim of the project will be to provide a secure mainland site for possible transfer of animals to Dirk Hartog Island as part of the ecological reconstruction of the island.”

 

The funding allocation will be distributed to three integral projects and provide for:

 

1.     the establishment of a predator-free island within the Francois Peron National Park, to be created by fencing off a peninsula into Shark Bay

 

2.     a new and expanded program involving re-establishment of populations of threatened species at former sites across Western Australia, which is a key step to eventually being able to delist the species as threatened

 

3.     emergency feral cat control and intensive survey and management of remaining habitat areas to prevent the western ground parrot from facing extinction.

 

The Minister said the project would dovetail into the work of ‘Project Eden’ which aimed to control introduced predators to protect native wildlife and has been run by DEC with the help of volunteers on Peron Peninsula for more than a decade.

 

“This program tackled one of the five key priority areas the State Government had outlined for managing our natural resources - biosecurity, water quality, biodiversity, climate change adaptation and integration of natural resource management (NRM) and planning,” Mrs Faragher said.

 

“It also fits in with the strategic approach of NRM and it links in with a number of other projects that aim to restore our threatened species.”

 

The funding is part of the State Government’s $30million NRM program which brings together a number of government agencies and policies.

 

Earlier today, the Minister announced the creation of a national park on Dirk Hartog Island, which would become the home of many of the animals bred in the Lagoon Point project.

 

Minister's office  - 9213 7250
Date: 27/10/2009
Minister: Faragher
Portfolio: Environment
Region: All
]]> Antartis, Jill Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:05:16 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132689 Funding provided for natural resource management http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132629 Content:

Environment Minister Donna Faragher today announced more funding for natural resource management (NRM) in Western Australia.

 

Speaking at the Quairading Salinity Seminar this morning, Mrs Faragher said the Natural Diversity Recovery Catchments program would receive $480,000 in NRM funding for actions to combat salinity.

 

“Salinity is a major issue for WA and it is particularly prominent in the Wheatbelt, our State’s most important agricultural region,” she said.

 

“The NRM funding will allow the program to extend on ground works and apply engineering techniques to control surface water at Toolibin Lake and Lake Bryde, both in the Wheatbelt.

 

“In addition to reducing salinity, the work will also improve productivity and conserve biodiversity within the Toolibin Lake and Lake Bryde catchments.”

 

The Minister said this program, which was aligned with the strategic approach of NRM, had been run by the Department of Environment and Conservation with strong community support for several years.

 

“The invaluable input from a range of community members and the Lake Toolibin Catchment Group has contributed to the success of this program so far and I congratulate all of the people involved,” Mrs Faragher said.

 

“This new funding will allow the continuation and strengthening of this important collaborative effort.”

 

The funding is part of the State Government’s initial $5.4million package of NRM projects as part of its $30million NRM strategy.

 

“The Liberal-National Government is proud to support activities that ensure ongoing and sustainable management of our natural resources,” the Minister said.

 

For information go online to http://www.dec.wa.gov.au or phone 6467 5000.

 

Minister's office  - 9213 7250
Date: 16/10/2009
Minister: Faragher
Portfolio: Environment
Region: Wheatbelt
]]> Antartis, Jill Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:32:53 GMT http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=132629