Save the creatures of the Daly

The Environment Centre NT is calling on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to assess the bulldozing of huge swathes of native savanna woodlands, because it could significantly impact rare and threatened animals that live in the Daly River region.

The broadscale bulldozing of savanna at Claravale could be disastrous for wildlife of the Daly River region. The Federal Environment Minister must immediately call in this project for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to save the creatures of the Daly.

We need you to take urgent action, for the future of the Daly River.

In early 2021, we were alerted to an incident of alleged illegal land clearing at Claravale Farm, on the banks of the Daly River, by the Traditional Owners of that Country. Images of land bulldozed almost to the riverbank shocked people across Australia when they were shown on ABC’s 7.30 and Four Corners.

Since then, we’ve monitored land clearing activities at Claravale Farm and neighbouring Claravale Station (which has the same owners). Unbelievably, the owners of these properties have applied to bulldoze thousands more hectares of savanna woodland. In total, these past and proposed clearing actions add up to nearly 7000ha, which is equal to almost 3500 MCG playing fields.

These unscrutinised acts of habitat destruction could have significant impacts on threatened species, including the ghost bat, pig-nosed turtle, freshwater sawfish and Partridge pigeon, as well as regional biodiversity. The Daly region is already one of the most cleared regions in the Northern Territory.

Despite these potential impacts, the landowners have not referred this project for assessment under federal environment laws. In fact, no NT pastoral land clearing application has ever been referred for assessment under federal law. To protect nature and stop extinctions, we need our nature laws to do their job.

The Minister must act now. As the last line of defence for the iconic creatures of the Daly region, we urge her to call in this bulldozing for assessment under the EPBC Act.

<p>Dear Minister Plibersek,</p>
<p>The threatened species of the Daly River region need your help. There is nearly 7000ha of land slated for clearing at Claravale Station and Farm, situated near the banks of the Daly River. I urge you to call in this land clearing for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.</p>
<p>One of the few rivers in the Northern Territory that flows all year round, the Daly has astounding freshwater biodiversity and tremendous cultural significance. The savanna woodland in this region has been cared for by Traditional Owners for generations and is vital habitat for threatened species.</p>
<p>Such extensive land clearing at Claravale is likely or has the potential to:</p>
<p>1. Have significant impacts on the threatened species of the Daly, including the ghost bat and Partridge pigeon, as well as regional biodiversity. The Daly Basin bioregion is already one of the most cleared regions in the Northern Territory.</p>
<p>2. Cause harm to the Daly River and threatened species like the pig-nosed turtle and freshwater sawfish. I am also concerned that the run-off of chemicals and sediment from agriculture could further damage the river system.</p>
<p>The Northern Territory is in the middle of a land clearing crisis. The rate of land clearing permits granted in the Territory has soared in recent years. In 2016-2017 alone, the NT Government approved about 45,500ha of land clearing – almost a tenfold increase from the average (4,600ha) of the previous 12 years.</p>
<p>Currently, there is around 40,000ha of land clearing under assessment by the Pastoral Land Board – including the latest Claravale Station application – all of which could potentially be approved at any time.</p>
<p>Bulldozing this Country is likely or has the potential to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance – like our beloved and iconic threatened species – and must be subject to the highest level of assessment, including under our federal environmental laws.</p>
<p>We need you to act now. Call in the Claravale land clearing actions for assessment under the EPBC Act and help us save the creatures of the Daly.</p>
<p>Yours Sincerely,</p>