4th June 2025
Disappointed if not surprised to hear Sealark gained EPBC approval for West Culburra late last month.
We have articulated our case against this development over and over and will not do so again here.
What we will say is that this approval to clear 46 hectares of threatened species habitat is more proof of the inadequacy of the EPBC Act. Self assessment and reliance on out of date reports is a farce. Australia's extinction rate is amongst the highest in the world, due at least in part to habitat loss.
Shame job.
Is the returning Labor government serious about protecting the intrinsic and unique cultural and ecological values of Country? How are we going to be judged by future generations as "Owners" and custodians of Country?
We need to save what's left.
This is the first we've experienced of the new Minister "for" the Environment and it doesn't feel very "nature positive".
More has been written on this situation, including a good summary of our concerns in Spark Shoalhaven.
