Wetlands to Wastelands?

Seminar about the future of bushland at Perth Airport 18 September 2004 9 am - 1 pm

Held at Lotteries House 2 Delhi Street West Perth

PROCEEDINGS

The Urban Bushland Council WA held a well-attended seminar about the future of one of the most important bushland areas on the Swan Coastal Plain. The seminar objectives were ·

• To gather together the key stakeholders involved in decision-making and management of the natural heritage values of the Airport ·
• To raise public awareness and understanding of the outstanding natural heritage of the wetlands and bushland of the Airport ·
• To stimulate debate about new models for protection and management of the Airport as a biodiversity hotspot of national significance ·
• To recognise the tourism potential of the Airport on the State's doorstep

Hon Dr J M Edwards MLA, Minister for the Environment gave the opening address, acknowledging the importance of the Urban Bushland Council's initiative as an important step towards better management of heritage values at Perth Airport.

SPEAKERS

Presentations will be available in due course.

Robert Bropho, Nyoongar Elder and Spokesperson: Indigenous Heritage

Graham Muir, CEO Westralia Airports Corporation: Westralia Airport Corporation's Vision for the Future

Kevin McLean, Friends of Perth Airport Bushland: Why are we here? Past and current concerns of the community

Steve Appleyard, Senior Hydrogeologist, Department of the Environment: Hydrology of wetlands at Perth Airport and a possible management framework

Malcolm Trudgen, Consultant Botanist: Wetlands, flora and vegetation - Context of the Perth Airport Bushland

Andrew Huggett, Fauna Ecologist: Fauna at Perth Airport

Peter Cock, Environmental Strategy Manager, Westralia Airports Corporation: Master Plan 2004 Perth Airport

Gerald Kuchling, Principal Investigator, Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team: Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Plan - Possibilities for reintroduction

Alan Hill, Community Representative, Eastern Hill Catchment Management Project: Environmental Planning Imperatives Underlying Possible Options for a Foothills Regional Park (proposal map)

Leigh Simpkin, Principal Solicitor, Environmental Defenders Office: Legal Aspects of Heritage Issues at Perth Airport

FACILITATED DISCUSSION

By Phylis Robertson, Urban Bushland Council Executive Committee.

Community folk, state government agencies and Westralia Airports Corporation (WAC) representatives discussed a number of issues. As the exact wording of the questions and answers was not recorded, a summary of some key issues is provided below in no particular order:

• There was a call for the Federal Government to excise the conservation areas from the Perth Airport lease
• There is a sense of urgency to implement a Foothills Regional Park
• Perth Airport is a biodiversity hotspot, no other airports in Australia can be compared with Perth. Each square metre cleared at Perth has an incredible impact compared with other Australian Airports
• Two documents (Master Plan 2004 and the Environmental Strategy for Perth Airport) were approved by the Federal Government in August 2004 for the next 5 years after fulfilling the legal requirements
• The current process, under which the documents were assessed, is a grossly inequitable process from the citizen's viewpoint
• WAC pointed out the difficulties they are facing when trying to consult with some local authorities regarding management of Perth Airport wetland catchments
• WAC should make an asset of the biodiversity at the airport. Use it to improve its public image environmentally to compensate for air and noise pollution the airport operation is causing
• Communication with state government agencies needs to improve to avoid the past reluctance to take on board advice from the State
• The Memorandum of Understanding signed by Graham Muir, CEO WAC and Richard Court, Premier of Western Australia in 2000 does not work
• WAC promised to provide hydrological data from their recent monitoring to the Western Swamp Tortoise Recovery Team
• Master Plan for the Perth Airport should have an up-front statement in the objectives recognising the outstanding heritage values of Perth Airport
• The fact that both the Federal Department of Transport and Regional Services and the Department for the Environment and Heritage failed to send a representative to the seminar says something
• What standard of corporate stewardship allows development on heritage listed bushland while portions of already cleared land could have been used
• WAC was asked where biodiversity concerns rated on their list of corporate priorities. The question was not answered.
• WAC's main function is as an airport operator. Biodiversity conservation is not a priority.

Tony Fowler, Nature Reserves Preservation Group: Conclusion

Please note: The following were also invited to give a presentation but declined:

Minister and Department for Transport and Regional Services

Minister and Department for the Environment and Heritage

Western Australian Tourism Commission

 

Information Sheets

Setting Up a Friends Group

Aims and Objects

Incorporation

Effective Meetings

Taking Minutes

Writing an Agenda

Protecting Bushland

Planning Info Sheet

Campaigning

Managing Bushland

Bush Regeneration Principles

Controlling Weeds

Seed Collection and Processing

Managing Fires

Flora Surveys