WA's first wilderness area out for public comment

26/8/06
A massive 363,000 hectares in and around Walpole will form the State's first wilderness area, Environment Minister Mark McGowan announced today.
Mr McGowan said the Walpole Wilderness Area draft management plan had been released for a three-month public comment period and included national parks, forest conservation areas and nature reserves.
The creation of the Walpole Wilderness Area will be complemented by a new marine park at the Walpole Nornalup Inlet - one of the most beautiful estuarine systems along the south coast of Australia.
The Minister said the Walpole Wilderness Area and the proposed marine park were areas of stunning natural beauty that attracted about 200,000 visitors each year.
"Taking an integrated approach to conserving the WWA and the Walpole and Nornalup inlets is part of the Carpenter Government's vision to create a world-class protected area system," he said.
"There are few areas across the south coast that still have relatively unspoilt estuarine ecosystems surrounded by towering forests and coastal woodlands.
"The spectacular and diverse environments of the two areas will provide visitors with a strong sense of wilderness.
"Integrating the management of these two environments will provide the best approach to conserve them and create an area that will be treasured by generations to come."
Mr McGowan said the creation of the WWA - which contained about half of all old-growth forest in the South-West - met an election commitment by the State Labor Government and formed part of the 'Protecting our old-growth forests' policy.
"The plan proposes two core wilderness areas of more than 20,000ha within the greater 363,000ha," he said.
"Both areas have been assessed against national criteria for wilderness and will be given special protection and managed to retain their remoteness and natural beauty."
The plan also identifies a third potential area of about 12,000ha that should be assessed further for its wilderness values.
"The region contains an incredible array of native animals, including at least 27 species of native mammals and 1,996 native flowering plant species," the Minister said.
"This compares with about 1,400 species in the whole of Great Britain.
"It also contains about half of all old-growth forest in the South-West."
Mr McGowan said the proposed marine park - which covers an area of about 1,450ha - included two connected inlets and the tidal reaches of the Frankland, Deep and Walpole rivers.
"These inlets are permanently open to the ocean and are habitat for more than 40 species of fish and a variety of birds," he said.
The indicative management plan for the marine park proposes the entire park be zoned for recreation that would enable recreation activities such as boating and fishing as well as tourism. It also would provide opportunities for scientific research and education.
The plans were prepared by the Department of Environment and Conservation on behalf of the Conservation Commission of WA and the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority.
Both plans have been released for a three-month public comment period.
Copies of the plans are available from DEC offices in Walpole, Manjimup, Kensington and Fremantle and on the department's parks and conservation website at http://www.naturebase.net/haveyoursay
Minister's office: 9222 9111