Whicher Range Explained

Whicher Range, also known as Whicher Scarp, is a range in the South West region of Western Australia.

The range has an average elevation of 170m (560feet) above sea level.[1]

Bounded by the Swan Coastal Plain to the west and the south, the Darling Scarp to the north and the Blackwood Plateau to the east, the range is approximately 20km (10miles) south of Busselton. The range has the form of a crescent shaped scarp.

Composed of lateritic Mesozoic sediments, the range marks the southern and western edge of the Yilgarn Block.

Ecological fragility

The range is also the location of endemic rare flora[2] and this had been identified in the 1970s.[3] It has also been surveyed more recently in 2008, showing that further interest in the range's floristic uniqueness deserved more study.[4] The most critically endangered species that inhabits the Whicher range is Petrophile latericola also known as Laterite petrophile, Ironstone Petrophile or the Ironstone Pixie Mop, which has a range of approximately 4.1km2 within the range.[5] Another threatened species that inhabits the range is Grevillea elongata or the Ironstone grevillea which is found mostly in one single community known as Southern Ironstone; this species is under continuous threat from weeds such as Watsonia.[6]

A National Park, Whicher National Park, has been created on the range.[7] [8]

Issues

Despite its unique environmental features of rare flora and residual native vegetation the range is under pressure as a water and gas supply location.[9] [10] The Abba River and the Vasse River both rise in the range and then flow north before finally discharging into the Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary near Busselton. The Margaret River and its tributary Margaret River North also rise from the Whicher Range and then flow west before discharging into the Indian Ocean.

Large gas reserves are known to exist under the range. Discovered over 30 years ago,[11] the field is estimated to be over 4 trillion cubic feet in size.[12] However, working out means of extracting the gas proved difficult for an earlier company Amity Oil in 2004.[13] [14]

In 2011, the player for the gas resource included Westralian Gas and Power, which endorses hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" to release the gas.[15] [16] The Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Norman Moore has also made public comments regarding legislation in relation to fracking.[17] Also at the same time Whicher Range Energy is in the process of drilling on the location.[18]

The range and the rivers that originate in its area were under review for potential dam sites and water allocation.[19]

Notes

-33.8°N 137°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bonzle Digital Atlas – Map of Whicher Range. 2009. 2009-03-09.
  2. Whicher Range near Busselton supports at least 12 plant species found nowhere else Landscope (Como, W.A), Summer 1994/95, p. 35
  3. Western Australia. Environmental Protection Authority. Conservation Through Reserves Committee. (1974) Descriptions of conservation reserves in Western Australia Conservation reserves in Western Australia : report, p1-1 - 1-29
  4. Keighery, B. J., Keighery, G. J., Webb, A., and Longman, V. M.(2008) A floristic survey of the Whicher ScarpPerth : Department of Environment & Conservation, Unpublished report.
  5. Web site: Approved Conservation Advice for Petrophile sp. Whicher Range (G.J. Keighery 11790) WA Herbarium (Laterite Petrophile). 2001. 2009-03-09.
  6. Web site: Threatened cute and furries drowning under a sea of weeds. 2005. 2009-03-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130425115840/http://www.weedscrc.org.au/documents/wdygg_threatened+cute+and+furries+drowning+under+a+sea+of+weeds.pdf . 2013-04-25 .
  7. Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management.(2004)Reserve design and forest structure of the proposed Whicher National [cartographic material] : consultation draft Perth: Department of Conservation and Land Management.
  8. Web site: Whicher | Explore Parks WA | Parks and Wildlife Service.
  9. Whicher Range Gasfields Limited. 2001 Prospectus : for an offer of 50,000,000 shares at an issue price of $0.20 per share with one free 2004 option for every 2 shares issued, to raise $10,000,000. Perth, W.A. : Whicher Range Gasfields.
  10. No commercial fields have been discovered in the onshore southern Perth Basin, even though hydrocarbon shows have been encountered in several wells. Gas has flowed on test from the Permian Sue Coal Measures in wells near the Whicher Range found at http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/1863.aspx.
  11. permit EP408 - 'The Whicher Range field was discovered in 1968 by Union Oil' - http://www.whicherenergy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:projects&catid=35&Itemid=61
  12. Web site: Exploration Permit 408 . 23 July 2011 . 28 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120328031111/http://www.whicherenergy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:ep408&catid=37&Itemid=67 . dead .
  13. Apr 04, 2004 (Oil & Gas Australia - ABIX via COMTEX) The Whicher Range gas field in Western Australia is proving to be a challenge for the members of the Whicher Range joint venture, http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/100899934
  14. Web site: Prospect - WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE - February 2004. 2004. 2009-03-09.
  15. [The West Australian]
  16. Web site: Westralian Gas & Power . 23 July 2011 . 16 February 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110216023549/http://www.westraliangasandpower.com.au/default.asp . dead .
  17. http://www.premier.wa.gov.au/Ministers/Norman-Moore/Pages/Clarifications.aspx - 2011-May-31: Coal Seam Gas in Busselton Busselton Dunsborough Times, and 2011-May-31: Coal Seam Gas - The Sunday Times - see also http://www.whicherenergy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69:wa-government&catid=40&Itemid=77
  18. WRE is the operator of permits EP408 and EP381 encompassing the Whicher Range gas field near Busselton, Western Australia. - source:http://www.globedrill.com.au/terms-of-use/58-formal-contract-signed-with-whicher-range, see also http://www.whicherenergy.com/
  19. http://portal.water.wa.gov.au/portal/page/portal/PlanningWaterFuture/AllocationPlanning/Content/Whicher/080610%20Draft%20Whicher%20area%20surface%20wmp_web.pdf WA Government allocation planning document

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