ABC article "Kimberley threatened by mining boom"

Kimberley threatened by mining boom

By Hamish Fitzsimmons

Posted Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:49pm AEDT

The pristine Kimberley region in Western Australia is one of the nation's natural wonders but that could change if a multi-million dollar gas project gets the green light.

Click to expand...

Some related video also...

"Hypothetically they do allow the development up there. There is going to be a campaign, not in Australia, there's going to be a worldwide campaign," he said.

"It's going to be bigger than the Franklin River and if they think we're going to take this lying down, there's no way that we will."

Click to expand...

Some very difficult decisions to be made, with alot of consideration to both past experiences and long term future possibilities for wilderness areas...
Quite a thought provoking article as far as I'm concerned...
Anyone care to comment?
Regards,
Scuba

I've spent quite a bit of time in the Kimberly region.
If you go no where else on this planet--go here!

I'm sure there is SOMEWHERE on this planet where mining and environment co exist.
But given the choice my votes with the firmly Kimberly.

tech/a said:

I've spent quite a bit of time in the Kimberly region.
If you go no where else on this planet--go here!

I'm sure there is SOMEWHERE on this planet where mining and environment co exist.
But given the choice my votes with the firmly Kimberly.

Click to expand...

Hi tech/a, after seeing the video my interest was piqued. Quite a few friends over the years have suggested the same, using almost the same wording... Time to chase up some documentaries on the Kimberly region.
I was recently in Dampier (with very little time for anything other than work sadly), but knowing how much our country can change in an hour or two's drive, the only thing that would compare would be the heat...

The Save the Kimberley group has also enlisted high profile recruits like film-maker Malcolm Douglas, who also runs a popular crocodile farm near Broome.

"There are very few wilderness areas left in the world," Mr Douglas said.

"Wilderness areas in 100 or 200 years are going to be more economically important to the good and wellbeing of the people of Australia and the rest of the world, than sticking some LNG plant up on the island there for 40 years."

Click to expand...

I found the last part of this quote of particular interest and wondered if anyone has considered the values in "eco tourism", ie; dollars generated by it, learning opportunites etc.

The proposed site (as I understand) for the LNG plant is right on top of a breeding ground for turles and a bit of an area for the Dugong...

If the climate change based on fossil fuel usage is correct, then would this plant be built in 20 years time? Or is it another example of cashing in while the prices are high without much DD being given to future prices and other considerations?