Response ID ANON-P8JT-DE92-T

Submitted to EPA Strategic Advice for the Exmouth Gulf - Consultation Submitted on 2020-11-10 10:26:35

Introduction

1 What is your name?

Surname:

Given name:

2 What is your email address?

Email:

3 Do your views officially represent those of an organisation?

No, these are my personal views

If yes, please specify the name of your organisation.:

4 Which of the following best describes the group or person you represent?

Private Citizen

If other, please specify.:

Comments

1 What are the values (environmental, social and cultural) you associate or identify with in and around Exmouth Gulf?

Please provide your comments on what information should be required here.: so the Gulf plays a very intimate role in my life and the life of my family. It is as much a part of our home as our front door is! The connection we feel to Exmouth Gulf is spiritual, especially for my children who have grown up in this unique place.

The peace and calm of sitting and watching whales breach, birds of prey swooping or pelicans landing, or simply watching the reflection of soft sunset colours on the still gulf waters is a spiritual experience that quietens any internal dialogue. Both myself and my eldest child suffer from anxiety. Living with such an intimate connection with the beauty and natural rhythms of nature and the space and quiet offered by Exmouth Gulf has been a very real healer in our lives.

As parents, we are able to help our children push their own boundaries and move outside their comfort zones to try new activities while developing a love and respect for the natural world and her rhythms. First hand encounters with whales, manta rays, dugongs, dolphins, sea snakes, birds of prey, flying fish, turtles ... are absolutely priceless especially for children growing up in such a fast-paced and electronic world. The fact my kids can learn about these creatures in their natural environment and not just from a book or a David Attenborough TV special is worth more to me than any financial gain.

We have social gatherings on and at the Gulf where often people from Perth or interstate marvel at how unique, beautiful and special Exmouth Gulf is.

2 What activities do you engage with in and around Exmouth Gulf?

Please provide your comments on how emissions should be considered here.: * Meditation - I regularly meditate at the Gulf, sometimes on the rocks at the shore line, other times over looking the beauty of the Gulf from the dunes. * Wa k our dog twice a day as well as through the bushland near Qualing Pool. * Fishing off the rocks * Exploring the ancient fossils in the rock shelf along the foreshore * Swimming * Kayaking and stand-up-paddle boarding - made extra special when we come across a dugong, a large ray or a turtle * Whale watching - our favourite time of year. The ability to watch whales breach while sitting But to sit in our tinny on the Gulf and be able to see whales breach and swim with their calves witnessing how the mother and calf interact while the calf is being taught to be a whale is such an extraordinary & privileged experience it is impossible to adequately articulate. * Bird-watching - we see pelicans, birds of prey including Ospreys, Wedge-tailed Eagles & Whistling Kites, migratory shore birds and lots of others I don't know the name of! I'd l ke to note that before living in Exmouth I had only seen a Wedge-tailed Eagle in captivity and didn't even know what an osprey or whistling kite was! * Fishing for squid off the boat - the stretch of water along the northern end of Pebble Beach is particularly well known for squid... we can often catch squid visually which is so much fun and so rare in places like Perth * Fishing from our boat - fishing is an activity that brings our family together. We all love fishing and the time we spend as a family and the memories we make are becoming more and more special as our children get older. * Spear-fishing - it has been wonderful to learn more about spear-fishing and teach our children about being selective about the fish they shoot so as to help maintain good stock levels and instil a 'take what you need' philosophy. * Crabbing * Prawning - using a throw-net to catch our own prawns is a real thrill as it is not a regular activity due to the natural rhythms of the prawns. * Star-gazing - with no industry or bright lights in the area the night sky is perfect for serious star-gazing. A real treat when we have visitors! Dark skies are so unique these days we are blessed in Exmouth to experience it every night.

3 What environmental pressures do you observe in and around Exmouth Gulf?

Please provide your comments here.: As it is right now the environmental pressures I am aware of are minimal...compared to what they would be should industry be allowed into the gulf. I get concerned about the sediment plumes caused by the prawn trawlers and the impact that has. I can only assume that the large ships that take refuge in the gulf or anchor up for lengths of time, would also cause sediment plumes and impact the delicate balance of the gulf system. I worry about the impact of humans in general. I regularly pick up litter from the beach along the gulf on my walks...usual suspects like fishing line, plastic bottles & cans and plastic bags. Due to the lack of free camping facilities along the gulf, I worry about illegal campers who are not self-contained, and what is done with their waste.

4 What environmental pressures in and around Exmouth Gulf affect you/your sector or business?

Label: I feel that so much focus has been placed on protecting Ningaloo Reef that Exmouth Gulf has been forgotten. Yet the link between Exmouth Gulf and Ningaloo Reef is absolutely vital for the health of the Ningaloo Reef, the Gulf really should be protected and acknowledged so much more than it is. It is known to be the nursery for the Reef. It is known to be a refuge and 'kindergarten' for mother whales and their calves. It is known as a Dugong habitat. Yet there is still not enough known about the Gulf to grant it protection. I'm no scientist, but I know we still need to learn more about the connection with the local karst system, more detail about the diversity of sea-life & bird-life species that live within it's boundary and how it changes with seasons, we need to learn more from the coral that lives in it's warmer waters ... and I know there is so much more we can learn from protecting, managing and studying Exmouth Gulf. David Attenborough talks about the urgent need to protect wild places. I truly feel strongly that Exmouth Gulf is one of these wild places we need to protect and enjoy ... not abuse and neglect. It's time we as Australians take a stand and turn the tide away from 'industry is king' and be a voice for the planet. In my opinion any risk to the health of Exmouth Gulf is far too great.

5 Are there other activities that are proposed (or likely to be proposed) that you are aware of, which will impact the Exmouth Gulf?

Label: Gascoyne Gateway Deep Water Port I am very concerned about the proposed Gascoyne Gateway Deep Water Port development. I think the impact of this development will be absolutely massive. * It will impact the Gulf waters in an irreparable way, regular dredging, marine engine noise, certain importation of foreign species, likely importation of disease, huge increase of sediment plumes, propeller injury to marine life, changes to current flows and sediment movement, poss ble oil spill & l kely oil slicks. * It will potential destroy the prawn stocks of the Gulf. MG Kailis has been managing the prawn stocks of the Gulf for over 50 years, should a disease or feral pest be transported to the Gulf by a visiting ship the result will be devasting. * It will impact a massive amount of land adjacent to the Gulf, incorporating Qualing Pool. Qualing Pool is the only fresh water deposit found on the Cape all year round, the Indigenous Significance of this place must be outstanding. The wildlife living in and around this Pool will be decimated. I regularly see huge numbers of Whistling Kites in Qualing Pool gorge, I regularly see a wedgetailed eagle and Osprey, I've seen a black swan and even dingo pups. * It will greatly impact the crown land between Mowbowra Industrial Estate and Cape Wilderness Estate. This land is low lying and regularly floods after high volumes of rain and cyclones. Gascoyne Gateway propose to use this land as an industrial precinct for the port. It will need to be filled considerably which will impact the flow of water considerably. As the area sits on a substantial Subterranean Waterway the impact of interference with this landscape is potential catastrophic for the town of Exmouth. * The proposal includes land on both sides of the road into Exmouth. This will be an incred bly ugly introduction to Exmouth, supposedly the 'Northern Gateway to the Ningaloo World Heritage Area'. How ludicrous is that?

Subsea 7 I am also very concerned about the Subsea 7 proposal, for similar reasons to my opposition to the deep water port. It does not need to be in Exmouth. Onslow has positioned itself to support the oil and gas industries and is a very similar distance from those sites as the proposed Heron Point site. Why not support towns like Onslow who need industry to survive as a town.

6 Is there any other information you would like to provide?

Please provide your comments here.: I believe there is no place for industry in Exmouth Gulf. Exmouth has successfully positioned itself to be a premium eco-tourism destination. Industry in the Gulf does not support the ethos for eco-tourism or the values clearly expressed by town residents. It is absolutely essential that the human race around the world urgently start protecting wild places. Australia needs to play its part in doing this to fix a worldwide issue. Exmouth Gulf is one of the wild places we need to protect from industrialisation. The Pilbara has been raped and pillaged for decades. A line needs to be drawn now to stop this 'profit at all cost' mentality at the northern boundary of Exmouth Gulf. We have the benefit of history, let's not repeat the mistakes made by our predecessors instead let Exmouth be a beacon for Australia. Let's take a different approach and be a voice for mother nature and our planet. In my opinion any risk to the health of Exmouth Gulf and it's surrounds is far too great and should be prevented completely.

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Incredible Birdlife

Huge numbers of Whistling Kites at Qualing Pool, south of Mowbowra Industrial Estate this year.

Wedgetailed Eagle regularly seen near Qualing Pool

Lots of active Bower Birds this season.

This Bower Bird nest was found just south of Qualing Pool.

Gorgeous Bower found just south of the Mowbowra Industrial Estate, along with another two further south near the This bower bird nest was found just Wilderness Estate. north of the Wilderness Estate.