Environment Minister opens new heart of Yanchep National Park

20/9/00
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today officially opened the new heart of Yanchep National Park - an Aboriginal talking place.
The Wangi Mia 'talking place' will be the axis of the park's up-graded facilities including refurbishment of the inn and new tearooms to be completed by the end of the year.
The new facility is part of more than $3 million of work to beautify and improve Yanchep National Park.
Completed work comprises foreshore improvements, new car parks, new walk trails, up-graded caves access, reticulation of the waterfront to provide lawns for picnickers, new barbeques, renovated toilets and administration buildings, improvements to the golf course and a more easily accessible Lakeview picnic area.
Mrs Edwardes said the Wangi Mia shelter was part of the Department of Conservation and Land Management's (CALM's) commitment to creating a cultural focus for the park using its Aboriginal Heritage Unit.
"Up to 200,000 visitors a year will be able to experience and learn about Aboriginal culture in this stunning building and take part in tours," she said.
Aboriginal people comprise 20 per cent of Yanchep National Park's visitor services staff. All contributed to the creation of the Wangi Mia.
Mrs Edwardes said CALM's Aboriginal heritage school tours attracted 15,000 primary, secondary and tertiary students a year. Students learnt about the way Aboriginal people lived in the bush, tool making, bush foods, mias (bush camps) and cross cultural understanding.
Each year another 40,000 people visited the park on coach tours to see the koalas, caves or take part in Aboriginal heritage tours.
The Wangi Mia has a shop for visitors to buy wildlife and Aboriginal memorabilia. There is also a replica bush camp within the shelter.
"It's an opportunity to capture and educate visitors about the significance of the park from CALM and Aboriginal perspectives," Mrs Edwardes said.
"CALM's partnership with Balga TAFE's pre-apprentice stonemasons and carpenters, Mission Australia's Work for the DOLE group and Main Roads redeployees had resulted in more than 3000 hours' voluntary work.
"This building is a meeting point for social groups, families, tours and school parties. It is also something of which every volunteer can be proud."
Media contacts:
Steve Manchee (Minister's Office) 9421 7777
CALM: Alan Sands - 9405 0702 or Phil Smeeton - 9561 1004