Letter to the Editor: Community must hold City of Albany to account on commitment to biodiversity

The City of Albany council has just recently released its Local Biodiversity Strategy 2026-2036.

It promises a commitment “to continuously enhancing the conservation of our local biodiversity through … environmental planning and sustainable land management”.

The city was inundated with submissions from community groups and individuals in the lead up to the published biodiversity strategy.

The document acknowledges that “the Albany community has told council that it values biodiversity and the richness it provides to our lives (and) mental wellbeing”.

On paper, it appears that the council is committed to proactively protecting and managing biodiversity.

However, like many glossy government documents, there is often a gulf between the good intentions listed in this strategy plan and what local government authority does in practice.

The following qualifier in the document is quite telling: “the need to balance biodiversity protection with responsible growth and development”.

What is “responsible” growth and development?

How do you measure balance of environmental and development imperatives?

Since two thirds of Albany’s natural environment has already been cleared, this is a clear sign of imbalance at the expense of the natural world.

The bicentenary has not been kind to Albany’s remnant bushland.

Clearing has continued unabated around Oyster Harbour and Walmsley for low rise development and the construction of more roads.

Most alarmingly, the proposal for a dual carriageway through the centre of the Yakamia Forest persists despite strong resistance from the community.

This forest is one of the few remaining islands of natural vegetation accessible from central Albany.

It is a haven for the critically endangered western ringtail possum and has five times the biodiversity of King’s Park at a fraction of its size.

Any road running through this lot would be devastating and in stark juxtaposition to the Albany Local Planning Strategy which states that “development will generally only be supported in cleared areas”.

What can the community do?

Firstly, read this document in full and take the City of Albany to task whenever their actions are not in keeping with what they’ve promised on paper.

Community pressure must also be applied to the State Government.

Very soon, the draft North Albany district structure plan will become available for public comment.

The State Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage will make their desire for the fate of the Yakamia Forest clear.

Regardless of their decision, the community must organise and support the work of organisations such as Friends of Yakamia Forest and Albany Community Environment Centre, to protect this forest for future generations.

We have lost so much. Let’s not lose even more.

Michael Bayliss

Lower King

Letters to the editor must contain the author’s full name, address and daytime contact number. Letters may be edited for space, clarity or legal reasons. Email news@albanyadvertiser.com or post to PO Box 5168 Albany, WA, 6332.