Print PageEnvironmental groups have begun a campaign of door-knocking and advertisements in Western Australia as the state prepares for an election in March.
In an effort they say is unprecedented in WA, the Wilderness Society and Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) have joined forces to lobby political parties on environmental policies.
On Saturday they began door-knocking in Premier Colin Barnett's Cottesloe electorate and say ads will soon appear on television and in print.
"This is a very important time during an election period when all Western Australians have a unique opportunity to influence the policies that the next term of government will put in place," CCWA director Piers Verstegen said.
"I think people will resonate with that when we contact them and get involved in the campaign."
Mr Verstegen says the focus is to push for policies to protect the Kimberley, increase recycling and prevent uranium mining.
He warned the political parties that Western Australians had a history of voting for environmental protection.
"Western Australians have an important connection with the natural environment and certainly they think about it when they go and cast their vote," he said.
Peter Robertson from the Wilderness Society said the rapid growth of mines across the state would cause irreversible damage to the environment.
"Our state's iconic areas - the Kimberley, Great Western Woodlands, marine environments and south west forests - may be lost or damaged forever if our next state government does not take strong steps to protect them," he said.
