Environs Kimberley and ACF have welcomed news that the State Government has no immediate plans to re-sign a Memorandum of Understanding with GM Cotton proponent Western Agricultural Industries, which expired yesterday.
State Development Minister Clive Brown told ABC regional radio this morning that the government had "no time-line" for plans to sign another MOU and was concerned that the area's Traditional Owners were not in favour of the cotton proposal.
Mr Brown also expressed reservations about the project's water use and its use of GM crops.
Spokesperson for Environs Kimberley Pat Lowe said her group congratulated the Minister and the Government for listening to the people of the Kimberley who had fought the project for more than six years.
"Although the project is still on the agenda, we take heart in the fact that the State Government is expressing reservations about the whole thing," Ms Lowe said.
"The people of the Kimberley clearly do not want this project. The area's Traditional Owners have said 'No' so many times they are sick of saying it.
"This is a project that would double the State's annual water use, clear 200,000 hectares of valuable Pindan woodland and introduce a genetically modified crop into a near pristine environment.
"In opting not to re-sign the MOU the State Government is at last hearing the will of the local people and thinking again about a seriously flawed project.
"We hope that the State Government will continue to listen and will put an end to this proposal for good."
ACF Executive Director Don Henry applauded the Minister's comments saying the State Government was signalling that it was hearing the concerns of the Traditional Owners and the wider Kimberley community.
"The project if given the go-ahead would change the environment of the west Kimberley and the Fitzroy River forever," Mr Henry said.
"With the proposal now on the backburner the State Government has a golden opportunity to develop a sustainable, environmentally and culturally sensitive alternative vision for the Kimberley based on full and open public consultation."