Question On Notice No. 711 asked in the Legislative Council on 10 May 2022 by Hon Dr Brad Pettitt
Question Directed to the: Minister for Emergency Services representing the Minister for Environment
Parliament: 41 Session: 1
Question
(1) When was the last occasion that a State Government nominated Western Australian wetlands for listing under the Ramsar Convention on
wetlands of international importance?
(2) How many Western Australian wetlands are now listed and when
were they first listed?
(3) How many Australian wetlands are listed under
the Ramsar Convention?
(4) Has the Government sought advice from wetland
scientists about how many Western Australian wetlands might be eligible for Ramsar listing:
(a) if yes to (4), how many wetlands were recommended; and
(b) if no to (4), why not?
(5) Why have the tributaries of the Lower Blackwood
not been nominated for Ramsar listing?
(6) Why has Lake MacLeod not been nominated for
Ramsar listing?
(7) Does the Government still intend to proceed with
the nomination of the Fortescue Marsh:
(a) if yes to (7), what is the time frame; and
(b) if no to (7), why not?
(8) Are any other Western Australian wetlands currently being
considered for Ramsar listing in this term of Government:
(a) if no to (8), why not; and
(b) if yes to (8), which wetlands?
Answered on 14 June 2022
(1) 2001.
(2) 12.
1. AUS # 31. Ord River Flood Plain listed 7th June 1990
2. AUS # 32 Lakes Argyle and Kununurra listed 7th June 1990
3. AUS # 33 Roebuck Bay listed 7th June 1990
4. AUS # 34 Eighty-mile Beach listed 7th June 1990
5. AUS # 35 Forrestdale and Thomsons Lake listed 7th June 1990
6. AUS # 36 Peel-Yalgorup System listed 7th June 1990
7. AUS # 37 Toolibin Lake listed 7th June 1990
8. AUS # 38 Vasse-Wonnerup System listed 7th June 1990
9. AUS # 39 Lake Warden System listed 7th June 1990
10. AUS # 54 Becher Point Wetlands listed 5th January 2001
11. AUS # 55 Lake Gore listed 5th January 2001
12. AUS # 56 Muir-Byenup System listed 5th January 2001
(3) 66.
(4) No. Government has not sought formal advice.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has information from wetlands scientists on the sites that meet the criteria for international importance for conserving biological diversity required for an eligible Ramsar listing.
(5) The tributaries of the Lower Blackwood has been identified as meeting the criteria for international importance of conserving biological diversity for Ramsar listing. Consultation did not indicate sufficient stakeholder support for the proposed nomination.
(6) Lake MacLeod has been identified as meeting the criteria for international importance of conserving biological diversity for Ramsar listing. Consultation did not indicate sufficient stakeholder support for the proposed nomination.
(7) (a)-(b) The State is currently negotiating an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with traditional owners for the creation and joint management of conservation reserves over Fortescue Marsh under the Plan for Our Parks initiative. The decision to proceed with a Ramsar nomination may be revisited once these negotiations are complete.
(8) Yes.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Lake Carnegie.