New interpretation centre for Perth hills parks

1/05/06
Visitors to the Perth hills will soon be able to visit a new interpretation centre near Mundaring Weir, offering guided walks, information and activities.
Announcing the new Perth Hills National Parks Centre in Mundaring today, Environment Minister Mark McGowan said an estimated 200,000 people a year visited the Mundaring National Park and surrounding areas at weekends, especially on Sundays.
Mr McGowan said the new centre, which would be located at the Hills Forest Discovery Centre in Allen Road, would boost conservation and tourism in the Perth hills area.
"Our national parks are one of our greatest assets in terms of community lifestyle and tourism," he said.
"Increasingly, people are wanting to learn more about the environment when visiting national parks and other natural attractions.
"This new centre will be a great step forward in helping people enjoy these areas and understand their distinctive natural features, especially the jarrah and wandoo forests.
"One of the main features of the new centre will be a major interpretation display based on the jarrah forest.
"This will help give people an understanding of the issues we are facing with diseases such as dieback and ways in which they can help conserve and protect."
The Minister said the new centre would offer guided walks and other interpretive activities at weekends as an attraction for casual visitors.
"The centre will be open seven days per week and visitors will be able to buy a range of information such as guides to bushwalking, cycling and other outdoor recreational activities," he said.
"The centre also will feature the history, natural and cultural attractions of the area."
Mr McGowan said the Perth Hills National Parks Centre comprised three key components. These were:

• the Nearer to Nature program, which offers environmental and cultural education, recreation and interpretation activities to the public;
  
• EcoEDUCATION, which provides curriculum-linked environmental and cultural education programs to schools; and
  
• a centre to provide information and advice about the opportunities, sites and services available in the area.

The Minister said five new national parks were created in the Perth Hills as a result of the Labor Government's Protecting our old-growth forests policy.
"It is expected that the number of visitors to the parks will continue to increase as the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) undertakes a significant capital works program to provide access and visitor facilities," he said.
The Perth hills national parks, which extend over 64,000ha, are Mundaring, Pickering Brook, Helena, Canning and Wandoo.
Minister's office: 9222 9111