Protecting and Caring for Caves

Conservation practices used in protecting and caring for caves and karst must take into account the living ecosystems found within this evolving landform. Karst geo-ecosystems are fragile and once destroyed are gone forever.

1500km Proposed Pipeline, Beetaloo Fracking Development. Northern Territory

The Northern Territory government has recently called for public submissions on the proposed pipeline from the Beetaloo Fracking development. The referral documents can be found on the NT EPA’s website here: North to East Australia Pipeline Stage 1 | NTEPA

What is being decided? The NT EPA must decide if this pipeline project requires environmental approval to proceed, and if it does, it needs to determine what level of assessment is required for the Minister to make an informed decision to approve or refuse the project.

The proposed pipeline travels through significant karst in the northern section of the project area. See photos at right. Any leakage of waste water into the surrounding environment in this area will cause permanent damage to the karst, any underlaying aquifer and subterreanian fauna.

Overall the project will impact significant habitats, waterways, soils via both its construction, and continued need to discharge hydrotest water. That is water containing chemicals that prevent corrosion and microbial growth in the pipeline, which, when discharged, could contaminate soil and groundwater.

Map 2 and Photo: APA NEA Pipeline Project NT EPA Referral Report Part B. pp: 91-93

Map of Barkly Karst Area, Northern Territory, Australia

Map 1. Australian Caves and Karst Systems. Webb. J. White. S. & Smith. G.K. 2023. p 124.

PROTECTING KARST

Explore

Caves have been explored by humans for millennia. Caves have provided shelter, and places to etch images and symbols by peoples over the generations. Most recently exploration of the worlds caves is undertaken by speleologists, cavers and scientists. It is this exploration that has shown us that caves tell stories about time, climate change, fossils, ancient water flows, indeed about life on earth.

Understand

Karst landforms come in many forms, from the arid karst regions of Iraq or Australia, to the alpine karst of the European alps, to the tower karst of China, Thailand, to the cenotes of the Yucatan Peninsular, Mexico or Mt Gambier, Australia.

Protect

Karst and the caves found within provide important ecosystem and habitats which are found only in this type of landform. Most of us think of caves and bats, but not about the troglobitic life that calls these places home. Beetles, spiders, blind fish, cave crickets, have adjusted to living in the dark. Certain types of bacteria, (cyanobacteria) both form and live on the surfaces of speleothems. The Craybacks found in the Victoria Arch, Wombeyan Caves are an example.

Crayback, Victoria Arch, Wombeyan Caves.

Photo source: Caves Australia. No. 208. 2019. Photo: © Garry K Smith.

Photo:© D. Trewartha

Fracking in the Kimberley Region of WA.

The Valhalla Fracking Proposal

The Texas-based fracking company, Black Mountain Energy has plans to frack in the West Kimberley region of WA. The WA Environmental Protection Agency has granted permission for the company to undertake the drilling of 20 wells in the area between Camballin, Mt Hardman and Fitzroy Crossing. This decision was made even though the development impacts the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.

There has been considerable public push back against the WA EPA's decision which has resulted in the issue currently being reviewed by the WA Office of Appeals Convenor.

Why is it important to stop this development? The developers want to drill and frack 20 wells in the flood plain of the National Heritage listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River. The aim is to obtain gas for export. The burning of this gas will contribute to CO2 production adding to Australia's negative impact on climate change.

The project will have impacts on several Matters of National Environmental Significance, (MNES), including:

the national heritage values of national heritage listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River.
listed threatened species, in particular the Sawtooth fish whose nursery is in the Martuwarra River.
listed migratory species, and
water resources, in particular the extraction of groundwater in the dry season for use in the fracking wells.

Please note that Black Mountain Energy is managing the public submission process as is required under the EPBC Act. You can find documentation on the proposal here.

Photo: © C. Buswell

Clean up the Dark is international programme aimed at cleaning up our caves and underground streams from pollution caused by humans.

It is part of the Clean up the World International Day which takes place on 20th September each year.

Our members remove rubbish from caves to help protect the fragile ecosystems found within. Why?

Using cave entrances as rubbish dumps causes:

leaching of pollutants into soils and waterways,
distrupts airflows
restricts and or prevents the movement of cave dwelling animals, such as bats into and out of caves
provides homes to feral species such as cats, rabbits and invasive weeds which further impact karst ecosystems

Clean up the Dark

What about water found in caves?

The aquifers found in karst landscapes supply drinking water to nearly 10% of the global population some 800 million people'. (Stevanovic 2018).

In Australia, karst aquifers include those of the Ottaway basin, in Victoria, the Daly Rivers Basin, Northern Territory, the Kimberly area of Western Australia and the unconfined aquifer under the Nullarbor.

Our karst aquifers are under a high degree of threat from overuse by mining and agricultural practices.(Barnett, Harrington Cook, etal 2010)

Management of these aquifers is complex, multi-jurisdictional and a site of conflict between users and management authorities.

You Can be involved signup here:

Caves Australia 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.