❓ Hon Paul Llewellyn questions the Minister for the Environment regarding the conservation status of Location 1997, an area with a high concentration of native orchids. The Minister confirms the area's ecological significance and outlines plans for its protection as a conservation reserve.
AnsweredQoN 5562Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Can the Minister confirm that Location 1997 -
(a) has been recognized by his Department as home to 87 species of native orchids;
(b) the States largest colony of Cossack Orchids numbering approximately 2 500 plants with the next largest known colony only numbering 143 plants; and
(c) has 21 more species of orchid that the whole of the Porongurup Ranges?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the Minister believe that providing habitat for such a range of rare and endangered orchids makes this location of high conservation value?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister confirm that the Shire of Cranbrook has divested itself of the management of the abovementioned location?
(6) If no to (5), what is the situation regarding the Shire of Cranbrook’s legal relationship with the land?
(7) Can the Minister confirm that his Department has expressed unwillingness to Gazette the land as a Reserve because -
(a) the Department rarely declares and manages Reserves close to townships; and
(b) any other reason?
(8) Given point 5b of ‘Priority Areas’ of the ‘State/Local Government Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership Agreement’, states the Department will work with local shires towards ‘appropriately protecting high conservation value areas and native vegetation remnants’, what measures does the Department propose to protect this location from current degradation being experienced though timber cutting, motorbikes, horses etc., besides the signs the Department has promised to erect and the fence the Shire has offered to erect?
(9) Does the Department have any plans to declare location 1997 a Reserve?
(10) If yes to (7), -
(a) what class of Reserve is planned for the Location;
(b) for what purpose will the Reserve be declared; and
(c) when will it be declared?
(11) If no to (7), why not?
(a) has been recognized by his Department as home to 87 species of native orchids;
(b) the States largest colony of Cossack Orchids numbering approximately 2 500 plants with the next largest known colony only numbering 143 plants; and
(c) has 21 more species of orchid that the whole of the Porongurup Ranges?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the Minister believe that providing habitat for such a range of rare and endangered orchids makes this location of high conservation value?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister confirm that the Shire of Cranbrook has divested itself of the management of the abovementioned location?
(6) If no to (5), what is the situation regarding the Shire of Cranbrook’s legal relationship with the land?
(7) Can the Minister confirm that his Department has expressed unwillingness to Gazette the land as a Reserve because -
(a) the Department rarely declares and manages Reserves close to townships; and
(b) any other reason?
(8) Given point 5b of ‘Priority Areas’ of the ‘State/Local Government Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership Agreement’, states the Department will work with local shires towards ‘appropriately protecting high conservation value areas and native vegetation remnants’, what measures does the Department propose to protect this location from current degradation being experienced though timber cutting, motorbikes, horses etc., besides the signs the Department has promised to erect and the fence the Shire has offered to erect?
(9) Does the Department have any plans to declare location 1997 a Reserve?
(10) If yes to (7), -
(a) what class of Reserve is planned for the Location;
(b) for what purpose will the Reserve be declared; and
(c) when will it be declared?
(11) If no to (7), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 November 2007
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
35 days
(1) (a) The Department of Environment and Conservation has been informed by a local orchid enthusiast that the area contains over 80 species.
(b) DEC records indicate that the area contains the largest known population of the Cossack Orchid. DEC records list the next largest known colony as numbering 99 plants. However, it is often difficult to undertake a precise count of orchids due to many variables including rainfall and flowering frequency.
(c) DEC does not maintain a database that allows comparison of the number of species of non-rare orchids for different areas.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Yes.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) - (6) The location is unallocated Crown land, therefore the Shire is not responsible for its management.
(7) DEC is in consultation with the Shire of Cranbrook over the future management of the area. The current proposal is to reserve the land for management by DEC.
(8) DEC is proposing to manage the land as part of the conservation reserve system and would implement actions to control illegal activities including enforcement, community consultation, signage and media coverage.
(9) See the answer to (7).
(10) (a) - (b) The proposed reservation status is not finalised, but it is intended that it would include the purpose of conservation of flora and fauna.
(c) This is dependent on consultation and the subsequent reservation process.
(11)Not applicable.
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(b) DEC records indicate that the area contains the largest known population of the Cossack Orchid. DEC records list the next largest known colony as numbering 99 plants. However, it is often difficult to undertake a precise count of orchids due to many variables including rainfall and flowering frequency.
(c) DEC does not maintain a database that allows comparison of the number of species of non-rare orchids for different areas.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Yes.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) - (6) The location is unallocated Crown land, therefore the Shire is not responsible for its management.
(7) DEC is in consultation with the Shire of Cranbrook over the future management of the area. The current proposal is to reserve the land for management by DEC.
(8) DEC is proposing to manage the land as part of the conservation reserve system and would implement actions to control illegal activities including enforcement, community consultation, signage and media coverage.
(9) See the answer to (7).
(10) (a) - (b) The proposed reservation status is not finalised, but it is intended that it would include the purpose of conservation of flora and fauna.
(c) This is dependent on consultation and the subsequent reservation process.
(11)Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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