Alarm over WA proposal to clear woodlands for agricultural use

The Shire of Experance and the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission have alarmed conservationists by proposing 500,000 hectares of the Great Western Woodlands should be set aside for agricultural development.

Esperance Shire president Malcolm Heasman.

It's an area of Australia that's three times the size of Tasmania at 16 million hectares and conservationists are worried about it. 

The Great Western Woodlands in Western Australia is an area rich in biodiversity and is regarded as the largest remaining area of intact Mediterranean-climate woodland left on Earth.

The Shire of Experance and the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission have alarmed conservationists by proposing 500,000 hectares should be set aside for agricultural development.

Esperance Shire president Malcolm Heasman has told Greg Dyett the area has never been fully protected. 

He says all they're wanting is a thorough investigation to see if some agricultural development could take place.

(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full interview)