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