Management plan for Nambung National Park released

26/6/99
A management plan for one of the State's most popular tourist destination was launched by Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today.
The plan is for the Nambung National Park and its associated nature reserves between Lancelin and Cervantes along the coast north of Perth.
Mrs Edwardes said the management plan represented a balance to overcome potential conflicts that could lead to a breakdown in the partnerships between the community and land managers that was necessary to maintain the environmental integrity of a particular area.
"The release of the management plan for Nambung and the reserves in someways formalises a contract that has been prepared through extensive consultation with interest groups and the broader community," she said.
Nambung National Park contains one of the icons of the State's tourism industry - the Pinnacles - which attract 150,000 visits a year. This number is increasing at five to 10 per cent annually and will rise dramatically when a new coast road is open in three years time.
The park also has attractions such as the annual displays of wildflowers and the spectacular coastal scenery. Nambung also provides opportunities for sightseeing, bushwalking, beach activities, coastal camping and four-wheel driving all within a couple of hours drive from Perth.
Mrs Edwardes said increasing visitor and tourist use of the Pinnacles was placing more and more pressure on the site.
A new elevated boardwalk and lookout platform had eased the pressure of constant visitor use and erosion. The $120,000 facility, completed earlier this year, was funded by the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and the Commonwealth Government. It was built by CALM staff and a crew from Waramia prison.
Mrs Edwardes said the new coast road between Cervantes and Lancelin, to be called Indian Ocean Drive, would at least double the number of visits to the area from 150,000 visits a year to around 300,000.
The extra impacts associated with such an increase in visitor numbers and traffic needed to be given serious consideration in planning for the National Park and nature reserves.

"As part of the strategy to deal with the impacts of the new coast road, a visitor interpretation centre will be built to service the Pinnacles," Mrs Edwardes said.
"The visitor centre will provide facilities and information as well as opportunities for new tourism initiatives to complement existing commercial operations."
Mrs Edwardes said designated two-wheel drive access to the major attractions along the coast would be provided as the coast road was developed in order to rationalise the existing uncontrolled network of tracks.
It was also proposed to increase the size of the national park by including the land currently occupied by squatters' shacks at Grey and Wedge which will be removed.
The development of the sites would be subject to a separate Wedge and Grey master plan that would soon be available for public comment for at least two months.
Mrs Edwardes said the needs of professional fishermen using the areas had also been taken into account and 4WD access between Wedge and Grey would be maintained.
Facilities such as car parking, barbeques and day-use sites would continue to be provided at popular tourist spots such as Pinnacles, Hangover Bay and Kangaroo Point with others planned for Grey and Wedge.
The plan was prepared by CALM on behalf of the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority.
Mrs Edwardes acknowledged the contribution of members of the local community advisory committee, interest groups and individuals who made submissions on the draft plan.
Media contacts:
Ministerial Nicole Trigwell 9421 7777
CALM David Rose 9651 1424