KINGS PARK’S long-serving director of science has thrown his weight behind a campaign to stop a surf park in Jandakot. 

Kingsley Dixon, who’s also a professor at Curtin University’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, says Perth’s rapidly dwindling banksia bushland is important habitat for the endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoo and its protection should be a government priority. 

“The economic benefits argument should be consigned to history,” Prof Dixon said, “because that economic rationalism is what has given us the conservation crisis of today.

“Economics in Western Australia always wins over environment.” 

• The protestors march to Dumas House. Photo by Miles Tweedie

As the Herald reported last month, environment minister Reece Whitby acknowledged the bushland’s importance but favoured economic benefits the surf park will generate when giving approval for proponent Aventuur to clear the site (“Wave park clears bush hurdle,” Herald, March 23, 2024).

Prof Dixon, who has been working at Kings Park for 30 years, said the surf park represents a “death by a thousand cuts” for Western Australia’s bushland. 

“The government has a responsibility to govern for future generations and to protect the environment,” he said. 

“Why they’re doing it is unclear, but it is out of step with any clear-thinking government.

“Right now is the only time we can make the right decisions for the environment, not next year, not in 10 years. 

“Carnaby’s cockatoos can’t survive in a surf park.” 

Prof Dixon’s comments come after a conservation group attempting to deliver an open letter to premier Roger Cook were denied entry to Dumas House last week. 

The letter was signed by eight conservation group representatives, including the Urban Bushland Council, the WA Forest Alliance, and the Conservation Council of WA. 

Urban Bushland Council representative Heidi Hardisty slammed the action as “undemocratic”, saying the state government had not done its due process by analysing the long-term environmental impact of bulldozing the endangered bushland. 

“They have not looked at the value of keeping that bushland and they never do,” Ms Hardisty said.  

“They’re not looking at the cumulative impacts properly, so it’s very poor economic evaluation.

“In other words, it’s simply greed.” 

Premier Cooke’s office was contacted for comment but did not reply in time for publication.

by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER