A significant reserve in the Darling Ranges, Serpentine, Western Australia - with an area of over 1.2 million square meters, providing habitat to three species of threatened Black Cockatoos as well as Quenda, and containing over 100 different species of native flora, some of which are declared rare or priority listed - is under threat. This pristine environment will be destroyed under a plan by the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale to mine gravel on this land which is earmarked to be incorporated into the adjoining Serpentine National Park because of its significant environmental values. The proposal, buried in the Shire’s “Scrivener Road Gravel Reserves Draft Management Plan”, calls for 100,000 tonnes of gravel to be mined every year from the site by a commercial operator. This will involve clearing 200 year old plus trees and native vegetation and ripping and crushing the bedrock. The plan can be found on the Council’s website:
http://www.sjshire.wa.gov.au/management-plans/
The Reserve is home to the largest known breeding colony of Forest Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos, and is one of the few habitats where all three protected Black Cockatoos breed. Western Australia is the only place in the world where these Cockatoos live, and over the past 100 years their habitat has been eroded. Black Cockatoos use the hollows of Marri and Jarrah trees for nesting. Suitable trees are on average, 220 years old. Such suitable habitats have, over the years, been lost to development, fire and Jarrah dieback disease. This Reserve is an ideal site for the Black Cockatoos with over 1,000 estimated trees suitable for nesting, and mostly free of Jarrah dieback disease. Ultimately if commercial gravel mining commences at this Reserve we will see this beautiful habitat destroyed and a sanctuary for many species ruined. It will also adversely impact the surrounding Serpentine National Park which attracts thousands of visitors every year. If this proposal concerns you, we urge you to make a submission to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). The public comments period for for this proposal is between 10-16 May 2016. The EPA will be considering the level of the assessment. You should urge the EPA to consider a Public Environmental Review. Please see this link to make a submission: (http://tinyurl.com/EPA-scrivener-road). For more information on the proposal and the campaign, please email: [email protected]
To sign the petition please visit this link: (http://tinyurl.com/petition-scrivener-road)
