Committee formed to plan tuart tree management

21/6/2000
Housing Minister Dr Kim Hames today announced the members of a committee to work on a management plan for 360ha of proposed regional park in Bunbury and Capel.
Dr Hames said that the 11-member committee, including four nominated from the public, fulfilled his commitment to look at the future management of the area's tuart trees.
The committee's work would be provided with $60,000 funding from the Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Planning and Dalyellup Beach Joint Venture.
"Its job will be to provide a management plan for the tuart forest," Dr Hames said.
"I was delighted with the public response when nominations were called for and the calibre of those who were nominated and I have included four members instead of three as originally suggested."
Former Capel Shire Council president Bill Scott, who was one of the public nominees, will chair the committee.

Other members are:

• Jim Freemantle, Dalyellup Beach;
• Glen Bishop, Capel Shire;
• Michael Whittaker, Chief Executive of the City of Bunbury;
• Bunbury MLA Ian Osborne;
• Richard Kay, Ministry of Planning;
• Pam Collier, Ministry of Housing; and -
• Shayne Calliss from the South West Environment Centre;

Public nominees in addition to Mr Scott include;

• Chris Portlock, environmental planning officer;
• Natalie Harwood, student; and -
• Bernhard Bischoff, retired geologist.

The regional park is made up of 120ha of forest, 40ha of sand-dune country at The Maidens and 200ha from the City of Bunbury.
The Ministry of Housing increased its original 100ha contribution to the regional park by a further 20ha to save more tuart forest, reducing its Shearwater housing development by more than one third.
The committee will hold its inaugural meeting tomorrow.
Media contacts: Caroline Lacy 9424 7450

MOH: Janet Wainwright, 9222 4500