MEDIA RELEASE

MEDIA RELEASE 4TH JUNE 2009

The Conservation Council of South Australia (CCSA) is disappointed the environment is again at the bottom of the Rann Government’s priorities in the 2009 State Budget. While initiatives for transport infrastructure and renewable energy funding are welcomed, the vast bulk of this funding is coming from Commonwealth sources. Closer to home, the impact on SA’s natural environment looks bleak as across-the-board cuts will see jobs slashed and programs cut in the Department of Environment and Heritage.

Today the first nationally endangered listing for a habitat in South Australia will be announced. The endangered Fleurieu Peninsula Swamps will be recognised as a nationally Endangered Ecological Community.

CCSA RENEWS CALL FOR STRONGER LAWS TO PROTECT HILLS FACE ZONE

Environment Resources and Development Court (ERD) conditions recently set to the Andrew Garrett vineyard proposal at Brown Hill include major concessions to community concerns, but the Conservation Council of SA (CCSA) believes an appeal to the Supreme Court should still proceed.

The Conservation Council of SA has grave concerns regarding the environmental impacts of a surfing competition and music festival on Kangaroo Island's ecosystems. Scheduled to take place in November, the Kangaroo Island Surf Pro and Surf Music Festival will see potentially 5000 people descend on Vivonne Bay on the south coast of Kangaroo Island over a period of ten days.

The Conservation Council of SA is calling for a comprehensive ecological survey of the area and an environmental impact assessment before this event takes place. The area is part of a wildlife corridor providing an important link for animals to move along the south coast of Kangaroo Island as well as providing breeding habitat for several vulnerable species.

"The number of people attending this event plus all the noise, waste and traffic will have an impact on this pristine coastline," said Chief Executive, Tim Kelly. "We don't even know what is the safe number of people to have camping and moving in the area to accurately say that there will be no lasting environmental damage."

"With over 5000 people expected to attend, the existing tracks are insufficient to allow this many people to move between the campsites and the beach. Vegetation clearance to widen tracks and installing hard steps is not consistent with protecting Kangaroo Island's natural assets"

The Hooded Plover, a shore bird listed as a vulnerable species in South Australia, nests in the dunes around Vivonne Bay, laying its eggs directly on the sand. The surfing festival is scheduled to run during the breeding season of this bird, placing a species already highly prone to breeding failure in the midst of competition and festival attendees.

At risk are six pairs of Hooded Plovers known to nest on the beach and foredunes of Vivonne Bay. The DEH Hooded Plover Recovery Plan (2006) documents that when these birds are disturbed they leave the nest, exposing eggs and chicks to predators such as seagulls. There is a real possibility that this event to be held over ten days may result in 100% mortality for hooded plover eggs and chicks in the area.

If this event does proceed, before any repeat competition, there should be a full post assessment of the impacts on biodiversity and the breeding success of the hooded plovers and nearby osprey so that these species do not become lost from the area at Vivonne bay.

To date the Surfing South Australia FAQs do not caution visitors against bringing their dogs to this event.

"This is not the right sort of tourism for Kangaroo Island. It will harm the natural assets and biodiversity as well as risking Kangaroo Island's reputation as one of the world's great environmental tourist attractions, " Mr Kelly concluded.

 

Release Ends

For further information on the Blueprint for a Sustainable Future go to:http://www.conservationsa.org.au/blueprint.html

For additional media information or to arrange an interview please contact Noriko Wynn, Policy and Communications Officer on 0411 028 930

MEDIA RELEASE

DEVASTATING GUM TREE DISEASE

Is Rome burning whilst governments fiddle?

A packed Public Meeting held last night by the Conservation Council of SA, resulted in calls for immediate government action on the devastating disease Mundulla Yellows which is killing Australia's gum trees. Plants showing symptoms of the disease are found through all states, including in urban settings, but research funding has been delayed.

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday 23 October 2006

Park mining ban welcomed by conservation groups - calls for Commonwealth to follow

The Australian Conservation Foundation, Conservation Council of South Australia, The Wilderness Society and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society today welcomed the announcement by the South Australian Government that mining (including petroleum pipeline access) will be banned in the SA waters of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park (GABMP).

MEDIA RELEASE

The State's peak environmental body the Conservation Council of SA (CCSA) has supported the decision of the Adelaide City Council to maintain the integrity of the Parklands.

"CCSA Congratulates the City Council for its wise decision to refuse the lease for the Grand stand," stated Jasemin Rose, Chair of CCSA's Planning Working Group. "The new City Council obviously understands the importance and value of the Parklands and is displaying the same foresight that Col Light showed years ago."

"The Parklands are not free land waiting to be developed, they are priceless and one of South Australia's greatest assets," said Rose.

Caring for our Country (CfOC) is a Federal Government inititative which funds projects across the country to achieve national targets. Funding supports natural resource management (NRM) groups, local, state and territory governments, Indigenous groups, industry bodies, land managers, farmers, Landcare groups and communites. This Program is currently under review in these key areas: the effectiveness of the program, achievements to date and options for NRM delivery in the future.This is our response to the discussion paper 'The Review of Caring for our Country - Australia's natural resource management investment initiative'. Further information

Conservation groups today welcomed the release of a compelling new study of Australia's ocean resources. The report finds that establishing a network of marine sanctuaries would help to secure and boost the economic, environmental and social benefits that Australians receive.

Released today by the Centre for Policy Development (CDP), the report: "Stocking Up: Securing Our Marine Economy" identified that Australia's marine life, fish stocks and ecosystems are worth $69 billion per year to the national economy.

However, CPD's analysis found that official accounts currently recognise only $44 billion in value and overlook $25 billion per year in critical 'ecosystem services', which include carbon storage, seafood, recreation and tourism.

CPD's study also focused on Australia's South West waters, revealing that the region's ecosystem services currently contribute at least $2.9 billion per year and would increase if measures to safeguard the region improved. Later this year, the federal government is due to make a decision on establishing new marine sanctuaries in the South West.

MEDIA RELEASE

Media Release 7 September 2006

Calls for a stay on 'controlled' burning in parks pending a sound scientific approachThe Conservation Council of SA (CCSA) today raised concerns about a 'controlled' burn that has got out of control in Messent Conservation Park, in the state's South East.