New tourist developments at Mirima National Park and Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve

17/5/00
Visitor facilities in the Kimberley region have been significantly improved with new tourism developments completed at Mirima National Park and Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve.
Opening the developments in Kimberley today, Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said the State Government was committed to ensuring visitor access and the provision of information to some of Western Australia's most wonderful natural attractions.
Mrs Edwardes said the Department of Conservation and Land Management's (CALM) visitor and recreation program for the Kimberley region was now providing greater benefits for locals and tourists visiting conservation reserves in the area.
"The Kimberley region is home to some of the State's greatest natural treasures and plays an important part in the nature-based tourism industry in the North-West," she said.
"It boasts the spectacular Mirima National Park and Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve - listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
"As a result it is essential that visitor facilities in the region not only meet the needs of parks users, but provide protection for important environmental values of the parks and reserves."
Mrs Edwardes said that to ensure this, CALM recently completed new visitor facilities at both conservation areas.
"Marlgu Lagoon in Parry Lagoons Nature Reserve has long been a popular spot for bird-watching and has over the past five years been experiencing an increasing number of visitors," she said.
"With funding from the Commonwealth Department of Tourism's National Ecotourism Program, CALM has constructed a bird hide and elevated walkway at Marlgu.
"To complement the new facilities, Western Power has sponsored the installation of interpretive signs that were painted by Kununurra artist Kimberley Kohan.
"These beautiful panels provides visitors with information on how to identify bird species and a greater understanding of environmental values of the nature reserve."
Mrs Edwardes said Mirima National Park had also benefited in the visitor facilities area with the opening of the newly improved Derdbegerring Banan Lookout Trail Staircase.
"The lookout trail, which provides spectacular views over the eroded sandstone range of Mirima and the Ord Valley, was hazardous due to loose rocks but an improvement plan has seen a staircase and handrails installed to improve safety and access," she said.
"New trailhead signs have also been installed at the start of all walktrails in the parks and all signs feature appropriate Miriwoong names provided by the members of the Mirima Dawang Woorlab-gerring Language and Cultural Centre.
"Other additional visitor facilities improved included new toilets, shade shelters, access for people with disabilities and car park barriers."
Mrs Edwardes said these new and improved facilities would only strengthen the growth of nature-based tourism in the North-West while at the same time protecting the region's conservation values.
Media contacts:
Ministerial - Steve Manchee on 9421 7777
CALM Allan Grosse on 9192 1036