New management plan for Araluen Park

The State Government today announced new management arrangements for the scenic Araluen Botanic Park, near Roleystone.

The cornerstone of the new arrangements would see the management of the 60ha park transferred to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), from the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC).

Planning Minister John Day said the transfer would guarantee the preservation of the park, which was well known for its spectacular gardens and tulip displays.

He said DEC had the practical expertise to care for Araluen, given that it already managed nearby nature reserves and forest areas.

The park, which has been managed by the Araluen Botanic Park Foundation under a lease agreement with WAPC since 1995, has 14ha of developed garden beds. It also included a number of heritage buildings and is on the State Register of Heritage Places.

"I acknowledge the foundation's contribution to the many significant improvements at the park in recent years, including the restoration of heritage structures, gardens, paths, steps and terraces," Mr Day said.

"We are grateful to all the foundation's volunteers and hope they will continue to actively support the park in the future."

Environment Minister Donna Faragher said the new management arrangement would apply from July 1, 2010 and allow DEC to manage Araluen as a multi-use park.

She said the foundation would be contracted to manage the 14ha developed area of the park while DEC would manage the rest, in a manner that complemented the adjacent Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve.

Araluen Park was created in 1929 by J.J. Simons, who named it after an Aboriginal word meaning 'singing waters'.  It was sold to the private sector in the 1980s and subsequently purchased by the WAPC in 1990.

Office of the Minister for Planning - 9213 6600

Office of the Minister for Environment - 9213 7250