Environmentalists are hoping the West Australian government's new safeguards for the Exmouth Gulf will signal an end to "industrial threats", but developers say they will be not deterred.
Premier Mark McGowan and Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson visited the popular tourist destination of Exmouth on Friday to announce a new marine park as well as new Class A reserves.
The announcements come in response to an Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) report which found protection of the Exmouth Gulf needed to be "enhanced".
The Exmouth Gulf neighbours the world-famous Ningaloo Reef, 1,250km north of Perth, and is recognised as a significant location for both locals and visitors.
The Premier said the marine park, which will be on the eastern and southern side of the Exmouth Gulf, will ensure long-term protection of the tourism sector and protect prawns, dugongs, whales, and turtles.
"We need to make sure that the marine park protects the area from any adverse consequences of human activity," he said.
Class A reserves have also been declared for Qualing Pool, Camerons Cave and the Gulf's islands.
Ms Sanderson said it was a historic day for environmental conservation.
"The government is supporting the recommendations of the EPA report to put in place higher protection for the marine area."
Government decision signals 'end to industrial threats'
Environmental groups refer to the Exmouth Gulf as the "nursery of Ningaloo" and believe the extra environmental protection announced by the WA government will make it almost impossible for industrial development.
"The government has made it very clear this is the end of industrial threats to Exmouth Gulf and the government should be commended for taking that strong and appropriate position," the director of Protect Ningaloo, Paul Gamblin, said.
"The government has protected specific areas where the Gascoyne Gateway port would be built and where a massive salt production facility, run by German company K+S, would be built as well.
The state government said the marine park will make provisions for recreational fishing opportunities and for the continuation of low-impact commercial fishing operations.
Developers still determined
The chief executive of Gascoyne Gateway, Michael Edwards, says he is confident his company's proposal for a single jetty deep-water port and renewables hub, near Qualing Pool, can still go ahead.
"We have long understood that Qualing Pool has strong cultural and environmental values, to both the area's traditional owners and the broader community," he said.
"We are committed to a regenerative approach to everything we do, which includes leaving the environment better than we find it."
The proponent behind another major development in the region, K + S Salt Australia, said its plans were unaffected by the state government's announcement.
"From the outset of our project in 2016, we recognised the importance of the Exmouth Gulf and its south-eastern coastal areas," managing director Gerrit Gödecke said.
"For this reason, we have engaged with traditional owners, environmental authorities, scientists, industry and local stakeholders to study impacts on the local marine environment and adjusted the Ashburton Salt project to minimise them."
He said his team would continue to work with the relevant authorities as details are finalised for the marine park.
Chair of the Environment Protection Authority Matthew Tonts said companies wanting to develop in the Exmouth Gulf would need to look carefully at what they're proposing in light of the government's announcement.
Traditional owners involved in management
The state government said the plan is for the marine park to be jointly managed with traditional owners as partners.
Traditional owner Hazel Walgar says areas like Qualing Pool are highly significant for her people.
"When lots of things are happening, we come here for that peace and quiet. Just sit here, listen to the birds. You can hear all the different birds singing."
"We come out here and we find evidence of this place being occupied — we find grinding stones, we find bowls, we find cutting tools," she says.
