Thursday, 19 February
Greens member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC today called on the WA Environment Minister to protect the Helena Aurora Range.
“The Helena Aurora Range is part of the country of the Kalamaia Kapurn people who call it Bungalbin. It is considered to have the highest conservation value among the Branded Iron Formation ranges in the central Yilgarn,” Mr Chapple explained.
“The WA EPA announced in December 2014 that it has deemed the proposal from Mineral Resources Ltd to mine the Helena and Aurora Range ‘environmentally unacceptable’.
“But the final decision of whether to mine or protect this ‘jewel in the crown’ in the Great Western Woodlands, lies with the Minister.
“If the Environmental Watchdog believes it needs protecting, why is the Minister dragging his feet on this issue, especially as so many of WA’s other outstanding banded ironstone ranges have been destroyed or are in the process of being destroyed?
“It is time for the WA government to act responsibly and protect this incredible feature of our environment. I call upon the Minister to give the Helena Aurora Range Class A, National Park status. ”
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255.
