ABOUT NEWS CONSERVATION HERITAGE MANAGEMENT SAVE HUTS CONTACT HOME
SAVE HUTS
State Government says demolish the huts in either 2008 or 2014 - we must act NOW

Question in State Parliament, and the Answer that means we must act NOW

SHANNON AND D’ENTRECASTEAUX NATIONAL PARKS

2634. Mr P.D. Omodei to the Minister for the Environment

I refer to the Shannon and D'Entrecasteaux National Parks Draft Management Plan of 2005 that states that existing occupants of the huts will be allowed to stay for up to 6 years from the Gazettal of the Management Plan, if they take up a Conservation and Land Management Act lease, and ask:

(a) given the public opposition to this recommendation in the Draft Management Plan, is it still intended that existing occupants of the huts only be allowed to stay for up to 6 years from the Gazettal of the Management Plan; and

(b) when is Gazettal of the Management Plan expected?

Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN replied:

(a) The proposed final management plan will remain consistent with the 1999 State Government policy on coastal squatters' huts. That is, the existing occupants will have to enter into a lease arrangement with the Department of Environment and Conservation, which will expire six years from the gazettal of the plan. At the end of the six years they will be required to relinquish occupancy of the huts, and where necessary bear the cost of removal and rehabilitation.

The submissions to the draft management plan did not give sufficient reason to depart from Government policy or amend the actions, in this instance, in the proposed final management plan. 

(b) The gazettal will occur after a final management plan has been approved by me. The Conservation Commission of WA expects to submit the proposed final management plan to me early in 2008.

 HANSARD - Wednesday 20.09.07

What does this mean?

The Shannon and D'Entrecasteaux National Parks Draft Management Plan offers two options to hut owners:

  1. accept a lease for 6 years from gazettal of the plan in 2008 with a condition the cost of removal of the hut and rehabilitation of the site in 2014 will be borne by the hut owner, OR
  2. demolition of the hut in 2008 if there is a refusal to accept the terms of the lease, with demolition and removal of materials at the expense of the hut owner.

What has the Association done in response?

In October 2007 the committee of the Association wrote to the Minister for the Environment, David Templeman requesting the opportunity to meet with him on site at the Huts to:

  • demonstrate the positive contribution of the families occupying the Huts to management of the environment at the Donnelly River mouth;

  • demonstrate and discuss the heritage significance of the Huts;

  • discuss the importance of the Huts to the families and wider community that use the Huts; and

  • discuss what further efforts we can make to overcome any reasons the Conservation Commission may have to evict our families from the Huts. In our view, there were insufficient reasons on environmental grounds in the Draft Management Plan to justify our eviction from the Huts. If additional reasons have arisen since 2005, we would appreciate the opportunity to discuss them with you, and address them with remedial actions where appropriate. 

In December 2007, the Minister replied his schedule did not permit him to visit the huts at this time and that hut owners would be required to relinquish their huts six years after gazettal of the plan (in 2008).

Hut owners and visitors must write to the Minister NOW

The Minister for the Environment must visit the Donnelly River mouth, meet the hut owners and see for himself how unreasonable demolition of the huts is. Please download a template letter and write to the Minister now.

Copyright Lower Donnelly River Conservation Association Inc