State of the Environment Report 2007
I am pleased to present the State of the Environment Report: Western Australia 2007.
In 2003, the Government of Western Australia announced that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) would develop the next State of the Environment (SoE) Report. This represents the third formal SoE Report for Western Australia, with reports being previously undertaken by State governments in 1992 and 1998.
The EPA welcomed the responsibility of coordinating the SoE Report, which closely links to its duties in the Environmental Protection Act 1986. The EPA is an independent statutory authority that provides advice on environmental matters, undertakes impact assessments, and assesses the performance of natural resource management.
This report identifies the most important environmental issues facing Western Australia. It also identifies the current condition of the State's environment and what we are doing, or should be doing, to improve our environment.
A draft version of the SoE Report was released for public comment in 2006, followed by public seminars across the State to present the report's findings. A range of submissions were received, for which the EPA is extremely grateful. In due course, a summary of these submissions will be made publicly available. They have provided the EPA with valuable feedback on all aspects of the report and subsequently a number of changes have been made to the report. An overview section has been added to summarise the major findings, while some chapters have been considerably revised, most noticeably for Fundamental Pressures, Biodiversity, and Heritage.
I am also thankful for the many individuals, and representatives of peak bodies, environmental groups, universities, industries, businesses, and government agencies who contributed to the development of this report. In particular I would like to thank the members of the SoE Steering Group and the 16 working groups, many of whom volunteered their time and made a substantial contribution. I would also like to gratefully acknowledge the members of the SoE Project Team within the Department of Environment and Conservation who helped the EPA compile this report.
While it is crucial that the State Government takes a lead role in providing direction for environmental management and protection, it is equally important for the whole community to recognise that, collectively and individually, we all have a role to play. We must all take responsibility for the environment that we live in and for the environment that future generations will one day inherit.
I encourage government, business and industry, peak bodies, academic and research institutions, community groups and individuals to consider and develop actions addressing the findings and suggested responses in this report. Through collaborative efforts we can generate positive change for a healthier environment and an improved quality of life for all Western Australians.
Dr Wally Cox
Chairman
Environmental Protection Authority
