Media Release, Thursday 30 May 2002

Standing room only as hundreds crowd AQWA to oppose marina plans

Last night (29/5), around 400 people crowded into a public meeting hosted by AQWA, The Aquarium of WA, to hear about the serious threats posed to Ningaloo Reef by a large marina resort proposal.

The standing-room-only meeting started with a spectacular short film, which shows some of the wildlife, much of it endangered, that would be threatened by the marina. Future Ningaloo, a positive, alternative plan for the region, was outlined and generated a great deal of interest.

Paul Gamblin, Save Ningaloo campaign spokesperson, said, “Yet again, the community has demonstrated its growing frustration and concern about plans to build a large marina at Ningaloo.”

“People are astonished that successive governments have considered the proposal to build such an inappropriate development on the Ningaloo Reef, particularly when the majority of the world’s coral reefs are under serious threat.”

“Back-to-front planning and a lack of community involvement explain why, in a few weeks’ time, this Government will decide the fate of one of the most important parts of Ningaloo Reef. The area hosts a long list of endangered species, including turtles, dugong, whale sharks and humpback whales.”

“The Campaign is promoting the development of a long overdue, sustainable plan for the whole region which will accommodate visitor pressures without damaging the very wildlife and wilderness character that people value so much.”

“The technology and expertise is available to provide infrastructure in fragile, remote areas like Ningaloo. It is clearly an idea whose time has come and it’s about time we made the investment in Ningaloo, one of the State’s premier assets.”

Contact: Paul Gamblin, Save Ningaloo campaign spokesperson