Heritage Alert
Ludlow-Wonnerup Tuart Forest
National Trust reminds Western Australian Government regulators to focus on the objectives of their legislation
Media Release
On the 22nd August 2002, the Australian Council of National Trusts released its annual Australian Endangered Places List, which included the Ludlow-Wonnerup Tuart Forest. This area incorporated both the Ludlow State Forest and the Ludlow National Park.
The primary purpose behind the release of the Endangered Places List is to increase the community's level of awareness and understanding of threats to an area of significant heritage value and to foster an atmosphere of co-operation and commitment to overcome these threats.
Further to this release, Cable Sands sought an urgent meeting with the National Trust of Australia (WA) Trust as they felt both their company and the mining sector had been unfairly singled out as the threat to the Tuart forests.
As it is the Trust's policy to take everyone's requests and views into consideration, the Trust facilitated a number of meetings with Cable Sands and other key stakeholders associated with the Ludlow-Wonnerup Tuart Forest.
The National Trust also emphasized to all of these participants as well as the Minister for Environment and Heritage, that the purpose of the placement of the Ludlow-Tuart Forest on the Endangered Places List was to bring to the community's attention on the poor condition of and threats to the Tuart ecosystem. These threats included inappropriate activities as well as serious neglect by existing management authorities. The Trust also expressed concern that Government Regulators may need to take a more proactive approach on such activities.
All parties and individuals strongly supported these concerns and expressed a commitment to address the many issues together.
Throughout this extensive consultation process, the National Trust has developed and put to Cable Sands pertinent questions related to its proposed activities in the Ludlow-Wonnerup area.
The National Trust is now fully aware there are significant differences between the Ludlow-Tuart National Park and the Ludlow State Forest.
The Trust is also now fully aware that Cable Sands proposal for the Ludlow State Forest has a number of economic benefits for the area.
The National Trust is pleased that Cable Sands also shares its concerns on the state of the Ludlow National Park.
The National Trust is fully aware the Cable Sands proposal is currently being examined by a number of Government regulatory agencies including the Water and Rivers Commission, the Department for Environmental Protection, The Department of Conservation and Land Management and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The National Trust wishes to acknowledge the concerted efforts of all parties including Cable Sands in addressing the key heritage issues in both a timely and transparent manner.
The Trust now calls upon the Government Regulatory Agencies to assess all proposals in a similar manner.
The Trust reminds Western Australian Government Regulators to focus on the objectives of their legislation and not on enforcing isolated rules. This very issue was recently highlighted by the Commissioner of Public Sector Standards in a presentation to senior government officers.
It is essential that decisions be taken to ensure that places of such value, like the Ludlow National Park, can survive and continue to enrich the lives of present and future generations.
