BRIEF MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Minister for Environment

Mr President, on 8 May 2009 the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park was created and vested in the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority through a notice in the Government Gazette.

This is the first marine park created in Western Australia since December 2004 and the first on the south coast.

The Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park is a spectacularly scenic area where tall forest meets the sea and is largely surrounded by the Walpole-Nornalup National Park.

The park encompasses the 100-hectare Walpole Inlet, the 1300-hectare Nornalup Inlet and the tidal parts of the Frankland, Deep and Walpole rivers.

The estuaries are joined by a natural one kilometre long channel, bordered by steep granite hills of dense karri forest.

The inlets are a permanently open estuarine system - one of very few in the south-west - that experiences marine-like conditions for most of the year.

The open inlet mouth, the mixing of fresh and salt waters, river deltas and the two large inlets result in diverse marine habitats and at least 40 fish species, including larger fish such as sharks that are uncommon in other estuaries.

The marine park provides habitat for a range of waterbirds including pelicans, gulls, terns, shearwaters, gannets and albatrosses as well as migratory shorebirds.

The Department of Environment and Conservation and Department of Fisheries will work collaboratively to implement the management strategies in the park's management plan once approved and gazetted. A marine monitoring program will be established to ensure the park's values are protected.

Under the management plan, all of the inlets are zoned for recreation, and recreational fishing is allowed in all areas.

The untouched nature, tranquil waters, meandering rivers and wild coastal scenery of the inlets provide a wealth of opportunities for nature appreciation, tourism and water sports. 

The State Government is committed to increasing the number of marine parks in WA.

Mr President, I seek leave to table the reservation order for the Walpole and Nornalup Inlets Marine Park.