Premier unveils Kimberley parks

20/8/00
Western Australia's conservation estate is to be extended by almost 540,000ha, with the creation of two national parks and three conservation parks in the Kimberley.
Premier Richard Court said the new reserves included some of the most spectacular landforms in the region, remnant rainforest and one the most complete and diverse ranges of native animal species found in Australia.
The creation of the parks would enable the areas to be managed to conserve these values, as well as the region's distinctive Aboriginal heritage and culture.
Mr Court said the Government had begun the consultation process with Aboriginal people to develop co-operative management arrangements for the parks and to provide opportunities for Aboriginal enterprise and employment.
Four of the new reserves are in the Mitchell Plateau area while the fifth encompasses almost 400,000ha of the former Mt Hart pastoral lease which includes an extensive tract of the King Leopold Range.
Mr Court said the new reserves were the:

• Mitchell River National Park - 115,300ha;
• Lawley River National Park - 17,570ha;
• Camp Creek Conservation Park - 1270ha;
• Laterite Conservation Park - 12,200ha; and -
• King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park 392,100ha.

"The Mitchell River National Park takes in the stunningly beautiful Mitchell Falls which have become an icon for travellers to the Kimberley," the Premier said.
"The area is habitat for at least 42 native mammals, among the largest number of any comparable area in Australia. Surveys have recorded 19 frog species and 77 different native reptiles.
"It also has abundant birdlife with more than 160 species recorded and is the world's richest area for mangrove birds.
"The plateau is dotted with small patches of rainforest which contain plant species quite different from those found in the surrounding savannah. These areas of rainforest are important food sources for specialist birds such as yellow footed scrub fowl, rainbow pittas and channel-billed cuckoos.
"Although the plateau is mainly dominated by an open eucalypt forest, some areas contain dense stands of cabbage palms, while ancient cycads are common in other areas."
Mr Court said the Mitchell River National Park would abut the northern boundary of the 635,000ha Prince Regent Nature Reserve. This effectively would create a continuous conservation reserve of three quarters of a million hectares.
The King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park would take in areas such as Bell Gorge and the Lennard River Gorge which were breathtakingly beautiful and already attracted many visitors.
"However, as striking as the gorges are, the geological make up of the ranges also provide a history of the region," Mr Court said.
"The layers of rocks that make up the Kimberley basin are more than 5km thick. Their origins date back 1,900 million years to Precambrian times. About 560 million years ago, these layers were pushed up over older volcanic rocks, creating a range more than 300km long.
"Erosion over millions of years has created the rugged terrain with steep valley walls and folded and faulted rock formations.
"The King Leopold Ranges and Mitchell Plateau are some of the most remote and inaccessible country in Australia.
"From a conservation point of view, they contain diverse and complete groupings of native flora and fauna in Australia and are thought to be the only mainland parts of the State from which there have been no species extinctions since the coming of Europeans.
"The reservation of these areas will not only assist in conserving these extremely important natural ecosystems, they also will help develop a sustainable nature-based tourism industry in the north of the State."
Mr Court said the Mitchell Plateau region was highly valued by scientists as a living laboratory and was a mecca for biologists and tourists seeking insights into tropical biodiversity in the Kimberley. Species new to science had been discovered and it was thought that more awaited discovery.
The public could also be involved in helping to discover the natural treasures of the region. CALM's LANDSCOPE Expeditions program would offer places on a research expedition led by tropical experts which would add to the knowledge of the area.
The creation of the Kimberley national and conservation parks are the latest in the Coalition's commitment to 15 new national parks and three conservation reserves throughout the State.
Since June the State Government has already unveiled the Wellington National Park and the Goldfields Woodland National Park.
Media contact: Casey Cahill 9222 9475