Management plan released for Wellington and Westralia

The popular forests, rivers and valleys of Wellington National Park, Westralia Conservation Park and Wellington Discovery Forest are to be managed under a comprehensive management plan prepared by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) on behalf of the Conservation Commission of Western Australia.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher, who released the plan today, said the picturesque area provided for a diverse array of nature-based recreation opportunities, including picnicking, camping, cycling, bushwalking, canoeing, abseiling and fishing.

"The plan will set the direction for management of these reserves, providing for public enjoyment, while protecting biodiversity, and raising awareness of conservation values," Mrs Faragher said.

"The Collie River is particularly significant for Nyoongar people for its connection to Ngarngungudditj, the water snake, and the plan provides for participation of Aboriginal people in the promotion of cultural heritage and management of the area.

"Involvement of the community in management and stewardship of this beautiful area is incredibly important and I would like to thank community members for the time and effort they put into helping develop this management plan.

"There are many ways the community can remain involved in the management of the area; by volunteering for walk trail development, rehabilitation work, campground hosting, and clean up days.

"The long-distance Bibbulmun Track traverses Westralia Conservation Park and there are a variety of bush walking and mountain bike trails in the area. Trails provide fantastic opportunities for the community to explore the area and become involved with volunteer groups, such as the Friends of the Bibbulmun Track."

The area featured a network of granite outcrops, steeply sloping valleys, mature forest and rivers, and contained a rich mosaic of vegetation communities as well as extensive areas of intact fauna habitat and populations of specially protected fauna.

The Minister said that recreation activities would receive improved management. 

"The management plan allows for recreation at Wellington Reservoir while making provision for changes should the reservoir be required for drinking water purposes in the future," she said.

The reserves, which cover a total area of 20,089 hectares, lie on the edge of the Darling Scarp about 195km south of Perth and 7km west of Collie. 

Copies of the plan can be obtained from DEC's Kensington, Perth, Bunbury and Collie offices or downloaded from http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/landmanagementplanning