Endangered Species Protection Act 1992

Peat Mining at Wingecarribee was identified by the Endangered Species Scientific Subcommittee (ESSS) as a threatening process under the Act. (see document)

The Act enables a threatening process to be identified if

1. it:
   1. adversely affects 2 or more listed species or 2 or more listed ecological communities; or
   2. could cause native species or ecological communities that are not endangered to become endangered; and

2. the preparation and implementation of a nationally co-ordinated threat abatement plan is a feasible, effective and efficient way to abate the process.

The committee identified two listed plant species which were being adversely affected by mining of peat: Gentiana wingecarribiensis and Prasophyllum uroglossum. It argued that continued peat mining could cause these species to become extinct.

Reference:

Endangered Species Advisory Committee, Australian National Strategy for the Conservation of Australian Species and Communities Threatened with Extinction, National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1992.