Advocacy
Nature Conservation has a strong commitment to providing advocacy and leadership on local environmental issues.
Calling for world-class management of the Margaret River Region
We draw upon our strong science base and local experience and knowledge to call for and advocate for world-class management of our unique local environment. Timely and considered contributions to planning, policy and decision-making processes and discussions are an important and effective component of our work.
It also compliments our other roles and programs on environmental education, community and landholder support, strategic planning and management, and on-ground conservation work. And strong advocacy is absolutely necessary given the many pressures on our region.
Advocacy
Since 2022, we have been working to establish a strong Advocacy Program to provide a voice for our local environment in the face of difficult challenges like biodiversity loss, climate change and land use change. We provide that voice in several ways, including making written submissions on proposed changes to laws, regulations and policies, and on proposals for land development.
Our advocacy program is staffed almost entirely by volunteers and is lead by our Board Advisor Emma Scaife, who has both a legal and environmental background.
Listen to Emma chatting about our advocacy program
What we monitor
We monitor proposals for potential submission across all levels of government (local, state and federal). We regularly monitor planning applications submitted to the local government for comment and any local proposals under review by WA’s Environmental Protection Authority. We also look out for native vegetation clearing proposals and we welcome notifications from the local community of various proposals.
When we make a submission
We choose to make submissions where we think a voice for the environment will make a real and positive difference to the outcome. With this in mind, we make a preliminary assessment of the conservation value of the land and the significance of the potential environmental impacts that we see occurring before deciding to prepare a submission. As we are staffed by volunteers, choosing to make a submission is always a discretionary decision and subject to consideration of available resources.
What we say in our submissions
Our submissions focus on matters directly relating to environmental conservation and we take a pragmatic, science-based approach. We don’t engage in activism or make submissions on matters that relate to non-environmental concerns, such as nuisance to neighbours or damage to property.
In our submissions, where appropriate, we try to assist applicants or government bodies to find a more conservation friendly way of achieving their goals, and we typically offer to meet in person with applicants or government representatives to provide further assistance.
Join our team
We are building a strong and sustainable volunteer team so we can achieve more in this sphere. If you are interested in joining our volunteer advocacy team, we would love to hear from you.
Photos by: Jinni Wilson
Latest news on Advocacy
Impacts of four-wheel-driving on beaches
The region’s peak conservation and tourism groups are sharing the message about the impacts of four-wheel drives on beaches and asking drivers to follow some simple steps to minimise the impact. Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and the Margaret...
Success stories at environmental sundowner
People, conservation groups and agencies are making a big impact in conserving nature and wildlife when they connect, respect and act, a packed audience heard at Nature Conservation’s recent environmental sundowner. Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s latest...
Top speakers for conservation sundowner
Three top speakers are confirmed for Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s next Environmental Sundowner on Tuesday, February 25, showcasing conservation innovation and success stories to give us hope for the future. Not the End of the World: Conservation in...
Citizen scientists boosting nature with Fieldbook app
A new weed mapping citizen science project launched by Nature Conservation Margaret River Region is making a huge difference to our bush and biodiversity – but more people are urged to get involved. Anyone can download the free Fieldbook mobile phone app, which allows...
New funding for fight against arum lilies
The battle against invasive arum lilies in our region received a major shot in the arm thanks to WA Government funding totalling $368,000 over the next three years. The funding – for Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s Arum Lily Blitz – means landholders will...
Top guide says join the Arum Lily Blitz
WA’s guide of the year and local ecotourism guru Sean Blocksidge has a simple message for landholders thinking about joining Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s Arum Lily Blitz. “Sign up and get involved - you’ll have rapid results in the first year and it...
Residents cleaning up broom bush
Local resident and weed warrior Rachel Pearce is on a mission to clean up invasive broom from her property at Kilcarnup to stop it spreading into bushland. And she’s just one example of local landholders who taking the fight to invasive weed trees as part of Nature...
Caring for nature at Cape Naturaliste
Nature across a huge swathe of Cape Naturaliste will be protected and enhanced in an ambitious new project to be delivered by an alliance of community, government and volunteer groups. The Friends of Meelup have won a $300,000 State Natural Resource Management Program...
Water in our drying climate
Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s Environmental Sundowner Series is back with an evening that tackles the issue on everyone’s lips – water in our drying climate. Facing the Big Dry will be held on Tuesday, July 30 from 6pm-8pm at Nala Bardip Mia (Margaret...
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Get In Touch
Address
Community Resource Centre
33 Tunbridge Street
Margaret River WA 6285
Postal Address
PO Box 1749 Margaret River WA. 6285
Contact Us
Phone: (08) 9757 2202
Email: info@natureconservation.org.au
