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Amazing what you can cram into a week. Last week I feel like I’ve been to another planet and back. But a glorious, pristine, when the earth was born, beautiful world – the Kimberley. If you go to Western Australia, the Kimberely is its jewel. I was asked to talk to people there who are all deeply concerned that this proposed World Heritage, magnificent area could be totally despoiled for future generations. A number of multi-national companies have proposed large-scale industrial development (gas, oil, minerals, bauxite) in this pristine wilderness. Places like the Maret Islands, the Mitchell Plateau (where my book The Songmaster is set) as well as the fragile and beautiful coastline with sensitive fringing reefs, isolated islands, abundant wildlife and whale calving grounds could go. I spoke with some traditional owners and as always there is some indecision. Some community groups are being wooed with promises of fistfuls of dollars, cars, job opportunities and improved living conditions. Others consider this a short term economic prosperity, for in a century when the resources run out the Kimberley in all its beauty will be gone. The Kimberley (about the size of the state of Victoria) with its waterfalls, lush rivers, great escarpments, rock art galleries, amazing flora and fauna cannot be sold out so cheaply.
There is a plan to negotiate a “Kimberley Accord” to compromise on development being based in a single hub not all over the coast and country. If the natural gas is brought ashore to a proposed deep water port on the Marat Islands, the coast will be ruined. One gas or oil spill would be a major environmental disaster. I flew to Talbot Bay, I landed in King Sound, I visited the amazing horizontal waterfall and spoke (on his houseboat in the wilderness surrounded by crocodiles but great fishing!) to Richard Costin, a guide and environmentalist who’s been monitoring the humpbacks up there. There are many passionate people involved and if you’ve visited you know how precious and priceless this last wilderness is. The Kimberley belongs to the world. Minister Peter Garrett has announced a strategic assessment of the area. We should all be involved in finding a way to protect it at all costs.
Cheers.
PS Happy Birthday Boris darling Boris!!
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