Conti ‘wetland’ doubt

LANDHOLDERS who have created wetlands on their properties risk being caught in the State Government’s controversial Swan Coastal Plain Wetlands Policy.

Paul Conti Wines owner Paul Conti received a letter from the Environ-mental Protection Authority last year informing him that his property held “a valuable wetland” and asking him to comment on the policy.

The only problem was, Mr Conti had created the “wetland” himself with the help of an excavator.

The roughly five by 20-metre cut he created on his Woodvale property has become a haven for aquatic bird life.

It appears the “wetland” was identified from aerial photography of the region.

Mr Conti once had a genuine wetland on his property but the Government bought the land for conservation.

Mr Conti said he was concerned that the Government’s interest in his man-made wetland could be the precursor to some future land grab.

“I’m a conservationist at heart and support the protection of our natural heritage, but I would object to any attempt to take my land,” he said.

EPA chairman Wally Cox said there could be cases where artificial wetlands had been identified in the aerial photo-graphy program.

“If people feel their wetland is not a conservation category wetland they can put a statement to the EPA and on that basis the EPA will send a consultant out to check their claims,” Dr Cox said.

“On that basis the EPA will delete the wetland from the register if it has been put on or ensure it is not included if it has not already been put on.”

The Government’s wetland’s policy has proved controversial with land-owners, particularly in the South West, who have expressed concerns that it is a grab for their land.

Environment Minister Judy Edwards has appointed a three-person panel to review the social and economic impacts of the policy.