Protection for Sir Frederick Samson Park under Government plan

27/12/00
The Sir Frederick Samson Park will be permanently protected under a $100 million, 10-year initiative announced by Planning Minister Graham Kierath.
Launching Bush Forever, Mr Kierath said the Government would protect the regionally significant 14ha reserve as part of its plan to protect about 18 per cent of the remnant vegetation in the Perth metropolitan area.
"Bush Forever aims to achieve a sustainable balance between conservation and development in Perth," Mr Kierath said.
"The Sir Frederick Samson Park is an open forest and woodland area close to the City of Fremantle and has several significant species of birds and vegetation recognised as being in need of protection.
"This makes the area a key piece of Perth's natural heritage that should be preserved for future generations.
"Bush Forever is all about keeping the bush in the city, with nearly 300 important sites identified stretching north to Two Rocks, east to Darlington and south to Serpentine."
Mr Kierath said up to 33,000ha of land identified under Bush Forever already had some protection.
"Bush Forever will enhance the protection of this land, as well as extending protection to nearly 18,000ha of regionally significant bushland for the first time," he said.
The Government has already moved to protect up to 60 per cent of the sites identified in Bush Forever.
"This has seen us protect some really significant areas of bushland that otherwise may have been lost to development," the Minister said.
"A range of other innovative solutions is being developed with landowners to facilitate and encourage conservation of private land.
"Perth's biodiversity is already one of the highest recorded in any major city in the world and Bush Forever will ensure it would be retained for future generations."
Bush Forever delivers on the Government's commitment to prepare a strategic plan for conservation, identified in the 1995 Urban Bushland Strategy.
Extensive public consultation was undertaken for the initiative in 1998 and 1999.
It is one of the most significant conservation initiatives ever undertaken in Western Australia and places Perth at the forefront of world cities conserving their biodiversity.
Mr Kierath said Bush Forever followed World Conservation Union guidelines and would be implemented by an advisory body with representatives from scientific, conservation and development interests.
"The Government is also committed to supporting the development of local bushland strategies and will be providing a series of implementation measures to assist local government in managing local bushland," he said.
Media contact: Zac Donovan (08) 9213 6400