Great Southern Lime is applying to remove all restrictions on truck movements and the tonnage of lime that passes by Eungedup Wetlands, home to the endangered Australasian Bitterns and our peaceful Lowlands community. The application seeks to remove all seasonal closures designed to protect the bitterns during the breeding season. With only 1,400 bitterns remaining on Earth, we must protect remaining strongholds. It is now our time to BOOM for the bitterns.


Have your say before 9 December 2024.
Background:

In 2017, the City of Albany did the right thing and opposed the development of a lime mine in the Conservation Zone on the Nullaki Peninsula on environmental and community grounds. However, the proponent (who was responsible for putting the Conservation Zone in place) took the decision to the WA State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), which overturned the City’s decision.  

The SAT decision allowed extraction and trucking of 50,000 tonnes of lime in a 12-month period, ONLY between 1 December and 31 March, with a maximum of 14 daily truck movements (e.g. B Double Road Trains).

Great Southern Lime  operated briefly in 2023, but was shut down by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) due to safety concerns, including the road being unsuitable for road trains.

To overcome this, Great Southern Lime applied to the City of Albany to clear more bush at the bottom of their haul road and to stockpile lime. To the City’s credit, they did not allow excavations, processing, and screening during the bittern breeding season (September to December inclusive). The City of Albany's conditions were:

-Excavation, processing, and screening must take place between 2 January and 31 August.
-Transportation of lime offsite (e.g., road trains driving through Youngs Siding) could only take place between 2 January and 30 April.
-Laden truck movements were increased to 20 per day (maximum of 84 over a 7-day period).

What is Great Southern Lime now applying for?

-Removal of all maximum truck movement requirements, AND
-Removal of the bittern season breeding closure.

Why is WICC opposed to this application?

WICC crowdfunded the purchase of Eungedup Wetlands in 2022 primarily to protect this bittern stronghold and the other 110 species of birds that call Eungedup home. Over 500 community members have donated over $600,000 to save Eungedup. Bitterns utilise the whole network of wetlands in this area, not just Eungedup (see map below).

Paul Sullivan, CEO of BirdLife Australia said,

“Eungedup is an exceptional part of an incredibly significant wetland complex, not just for threatened species like the Australasian Bittern but for waterbird populations on a much larger scale. Conserving the site will significantly improve waterbird resilience to increasing external pressures in the southwest.”

Unlimited use of mining equipment and trucking within mere meters of noise-sensitive bittern habitat will undoubtedly drive these cryptic, shy birds one step closer to extinction.

WICC has architectural drawings for a wetland center at Eungedup to engage our youth in wetland conservation. We have a choice: Have a world-class educational facility aimed at protecting wildlife and educate our future generation to do likewise; Or expand mining operations that does the opposite.

​Question: Don't our farmers need ag lime?

Answer: Applying acid-based NPK fertilizers accelerates the acidification of our soils. This is true, and WICC supports farmers who want to apply lime. Opposing this expansion of operations will not stop the proponent from selling up to 50,000 tonnes of lime per annum, as they are currently allowed to do. The latest justification from the proponent for expanding their operation is that they now want to sell this lime for road base.  There are already 4 operating lime mine sites around Albany and Denmark. 

Question: Didn't the proponent carry out surveys to demonstrate that their operation would not impact bitterns?

Answer: BirdLife Australia's Australasian Bittern expert and WICC do not agree with the conclusions of this report. A read of the report by Aurora Environmental states that they recorded the sound from a single Moxy (unladen) on the far edge of the wetland. Firstly, a full operation would include multiple trucks, fully laden with excavators and road trains. This presents a totally unacceptable risk. Secondly, bitterns use the entire network of wetlands in this area. A look at the map below shows how close road trains will pass the bittern habitats.
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Make a stand for what is right. Have your say by making a submission by 9 December 2024. 
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Lets BOOM for the bitterns.
"This is one of the best wetlands I have ever seen. It is critical that we conserve it for our future."​ - Michael Morcombe AM, Author Field Guide to Australian Birds