The global energy giant, InterContinental Energy (ICE), announced a major development for the West Australian side of the Nullarbor in 2021. The development, known as the Western Green Energy Hub, (WGEH), aims to produce a huge 50 gigawatts of green energy, a capacity about 12 times the size of the current West Australian power grid.
The problem is that this development will IRREVERSIBLY DESTROY the ecosystems, the heritage values and the caves found on the biggest piece of arid karst on earth.
This development is not for the production of electricity to help supply the WA power grid, but to produce hydrogen and ammonia, all for export.
About the threats
What is the Nullarbor Karst?
The Nullarbor Karst is an ancient limestone sea bed geologically lifted to the surface 20 million years ago. Water that falls on the land, filters through the limestone creating systems of underground rivers and caves that reach all the way to the cliffs of the Great Australian Bight.
Preventing the destruction of the largest karst & cave systems on earth: The Nullarbor Karst
The Nullarbor's fragile topsoil is held together with a biofilm stabilised by delicate biological crusts formed from lichens and bacteria which, if disturbed, creates a dust bowl.
BULLDUST
Karst systems work as integrated landscapes, where disturbance of the surface affects many aspects of the whole system. The building of roads and burial of cables are a case in point, where the impacts affect surface drainage, soil movements and sediment flows that can then block underground cavities. This impacts on the caves air flows, humidity and the habitats of cave biota.
What will happen if these developments go ahead?
Why is the Nullarbor so valuable?
The Nullarbor contains the largest single exposure of arid limestone bedrock in the world occupying an area of around 250,000 square kilometres.
It is underpinned with spectacular caves with saline lakes and halite formations metres in length. The surface records: ancient sand dunes, pocket valleys, ancient river beds (paleochannels) and ancient reefs.
The values that the Nullarbor holds, cultural, and natural meet seven World Heritage Criteria, yet the Nullarbor has little legislative protection on the WA side, with a range of protections, a National Park, A Wilderness Protection Area and Regional Reserve on the SA side.
Its Caves and surface also record significant cultural heritage dating back 30,000 years
Let's put the Nullarbor Caves & Karst on the
National and World Heritage Lists
This process will take time and money. The Australian Speleological Federation has committed $10,000 towards the cost of preparing the nomination. Another $20,000 is required and we need your help.
Tax-deductible donations can be made to the ASF’s Nullarbor Campaign via the Karst Conservation Fund.
Write to your local member and WA state and Australian federal ministers
Post on social media about the problem
Email this flyer or pin it to the notice board
Donate time and/or money to the campaign
Join your local action group
The Conversation The Nullarbor’s rich cultural history, vast cave systems and unique animals all deserve better protection (Newspaper Article)
Background Briefing Paper Valuing the Nullarbor Clare Buswell 2024 (Download PDF)
The ASF acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners and custodians of the land, rivers, and sea on which we live, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge and respect the deep spiritual connection that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to Country, especially to caves.
email: asf.caves.conservation@gmail.com
