If you’re an Exmouth local or a winter visitor and you see heavy machinery and lots of high viz on the tracks around Heron Point and the Bay of Rest in the next few weeks, don’t panic. Subsea 7’s pipe assembly proposal has NOT been given the green light. This is just part of the EPA’s environmental assessment which extends until 21 December, 2018.

Subsea 7 have been given a permit to clear 8 hectares of native vegetation at Heron Point and the Bay of Rest as a part of its subterranean fauna sampling, geotechnical investigations and associated works. Protect Ningaloo’s appeal against unnecessary clearing was partially successful. Although we weren’t able to limit the overall area of vegetation being bulldozed, we have managed to ensure stricter conditions on the permit initially granted in May.

Yes, it’ll be sad to see the machines go in, but imagine what it’ll be like if this 500 hectare proposal gets the go ahead. Let’s make sure it doesn’t!