Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, in writing, on 19 September 2012:

(1) Is the Minister aware of the health of the endangered thrombolite communities in the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar area.

(2) Are the critically endangered thrombolite communities in the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar area now all dead.

(3) What are the reasons for the decline in health of the thrombolite communities in the Peel-Yalgorup Ramsar area.

(4) What part does nutrient pollution and rising salinity play in the decline.

(5) Can an explanation be provided as to why the Government has failed to uphold its obligations to protect the critically endangered thrombolite communities.

(6) Will this failure be reported to the Ramsar Secretariat; if so, when.

(7) Is the Minister aware that the thrombolite community at Lake Richmond is currently threatened by a marina canal development.

(8) What actions will be taken to protect the thrombolite community at Lake Richmond.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Yes.

(2) There are currently no scientific measures to establish this.

(3) The reasons for any decline may include increasing nutrients, increased salinity, green macroalgae Cladophora and physical disturbance.

(4) See the response to question 3.

(5) The Australian Government has been taking into account the status of thrombolite ecological communities through environmental assessment processes and in the provision of funding to support conservation activities to ensure these ecological communities are not put at further risk. This included allocation of $698,839 to the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council Incorporated under the 2011/12 round of Caring for our Country for the restoration of habitat and management of threats to Lake Clifton's listed thrombolites communities.

(6) As per the response to question 2 above, the status of the Lake Clifton thrombolites has not been established.

(7) The Minister visited the proposed Point Peron Marina development site and Lake Richmond in early September 2012 in order to gain a better understanding of the development and its potential impacts, including potential impacts to the thrombolite community.

(8) The proposal is currently being assessed under the EPBC Act through a Public Environment Review, in accordance with the bilateral agreement between the Western Australian Government and the Commonwealth Government. Actions that have, or are likely to have a significant impact on a matter of environmental significance require approval under national environmental law from the Commonwealth Government. The assessment process is rigorous and includes opportunities for public input and the ability to obtain independent expert advice when required.