❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Environment regarding the status of endangered thrombolite communities in the Peel–Yalgorup Ramsar Convention area, particularly concerning their potential demise and government protection efforts. The Minister's response indicates that thrombolites are still living in Lake Clifton, and that the government is managing threats to the Lake Richmond community.
AnsweredQoN 636Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PEEL–YALGORUP
RAMSAR CONVENTION AREA — ENDANGERED THROMBOLITE COMMUNITIES
636. Hon GIZ WATSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the critically endangered thrombolite communities
in the lakes in the Peel–Yalgorup Ramsar Convention area.
(1) Can the
minister confirm whether the critically endangered thrombolite communities in
the lakes in the Peel–Yalgorup Ramsar area are now all dead?
(2) If yes to
(1), can the minister confirm that the cause is due to the combined effects of
nutrient pollution and rising salinity?
(3) If no to (2), can the minister explain what the cause is?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the
minister explain why the government has failed in its obligations to protect
this critically endangered community?
(6) Will the government be reporting its failure to the
Ramsar Convention Secretariat?
(7) If yes to (6), when?
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(9) Will the
minister provide details of the strategy to prevent the same thing happening in
the last remaining living thrombolite community at Lake Richmond, which is
currently threatened by a marina–canal development?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
RAMSAR CONVENTION AREA — ENDANGERED THROMBOLITE COMMUNITIES
636. Hon GIZ WATSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the critically endangered thrombolite communities
in the lakes in the Peel–Yalgorup Ramsar Convention area.
(1) Can the
minister confirm whether the critically endangered thrombolite communities in
the lakes in the Peel–Yalgorup Ramsar area are now all dead?
(2) If yes to
(1), can the minister confirm that the cause is due to the combined effects of
nutrient pollution and rising salinity?
(3) If no to (2), can the minister explain what the cause is?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the
minister explain why the government has failed in its obligations to protect
this critically endangered community?
(6) Will the government be reporting its failure to the
Ramsar Convention Secretariat?
(7) If yes to (6), when?
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(9) Will the
minister provide details of the strategy to prevent the same thing happening in
the last remaining living thrombolite community at Lake Richmond, which is
currently threatened by a marina–canal development?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
(1) A survey
conducted on 19 July 2012 by the Department of Environment and Conservation has
confirmed that microbialites are still living in the Lake Clifton thrombolite
community.
(2)–(5) Not applicable.
(6)–(8)
DEC routinely provides reports on the status of Ramsar wetlands to the
commonwealth government for reporting to the Ramsar secretariat. The reduction
in the extent of living thrombolites, other changes in the composition of the
community and known threatening processes were reported to the commonwealth
government in 2010.
(9) Developments
potentially impacting on the thrombolite community at Lake Richmond, including
the proposed marina, are referred to the Environmental Protection Authority for
environmental impact assessment. Threats from existing land uses in the
catchment of Lake Richmond are managed through the control of access to the
lake and other measures such as education. A recovery plan is in place for this
threatened ecological community.
(10) Not applicable.
conducted on 19 July 2012 by the Department of Environment and Conservation has
confirmed that microbialites are still living in the Lake Clifton thrombolite
community.
(2)–(5) Not applicable.
(6)–(8)
DEC routinely provides reports on the status of Ramsar wetlands to the
commonwealth government for reporting to the Ramsar secretariat. The reduction
in the extent of living thrombolites, other changes in the composition of the
community and known threatening processes were reported to the commonwealth
government in 2010.
(9) Developments
potentially impacting on the thrombolite community at Lake Richmond, including
the proposed marina, are referred to the Environmental Protection Authority for
environmental impact assessment. Threats from existing land uses in the
catchment of Lake Richmond are managed through the control of access to the
lake and other measures such as education. A recovery plan is in place for this
threatened ecological community.
(10) Not applicable.
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