Community urged to play a role in Bunbury's 'Kings Park'

21/2/00
Housing Minister Dr Kim Hames today urged the Bunbury community to nominate for committee membership to work on a management proposal for a major park.
Dr Hames said local community members had four days, until February 25, when nominations would close at noon.
"It is an opportunity for the community to have input into a once-in-a-lifetime project - the future management of a vast parkland, some of which is presently severely degraded," Dr Hames said.
"It is an opportunity to be part of the solution rather than the problem."
The forest parkland will be made up of:

• 100 hectares of public open space between the proposed Shearwater development and Dalyellup - where housing lots have already been snapped up;
• 40ha in the Maidens area; and -
• a further 20ha out of the proposed Shearwater development.

"The Ministry of Housing gave up the extra 20ha of tuart forest, reducing its Shearwater development by one third, following lobbying from local conservationists," Dr Hames said.
"The proposed major road, while still technically existing in planning documents, will now not go through Shearwater so that again reduces the land which would have been cleared.
"The Government through the Ministry of Housing has bent over backwards to accommodate the South West Envrionment Centre's and the community's wishes in this matter and I believe a balance has been reached.
"It is now time to take the next step and put forward a plan to manage something which stands to become as much an icon to the South-West as Kings Park is to Perth."
The park will link the Maidens Reserve near the coast to Manea Park and the Preston River.
"Conservation is for people to share so there is no point locking up these areas and it is certainly totally pointless to allow them to become degraded," the Minister said.
It is expected that non-intrusive walk trails and interpretive centres will in the future allow this parkland to be shared by residents and visitors alike.
Dr Hames said the Bunbury region was also under serious pressure for both private and public housing and we must strike a balance.
"There are some 300 families and individuals on the waiting list in this area alone who are wanting public housing," Dr Hames said.
"I hope then to announce the committee members and chair at the earliest opportunity so that work can begin.''
The Ministry of Housing, WA Planning Commission and the Dalyellup Beach Joint Venturers have each provided one third of a $60,000 fund towards the working party.

Media Contact: Caroline Lacy on 9424 7450 / MOH: Janet Wainwright on 9222 4500