Shell Beach made a conservation park

27/2/93

Shark Bay's unique Shell Beach has become a conservation park. 

Environment Minister Kevin Minson said the conservation park, gazetted earlier this month, was the first of its kind in the Mid-West region.

"Conservation parks are areas with significant regional or local conservation or recreational values and are managed in the same way as national parks," Mr Minson said. 

"Shell Beach, a stretch of coastline about 150 kilometres long, is formed from billions of tiny white shells deposited 25 to 30 feet deep. 

"The Department of Conservation and Land Management plans to develop day use facilities at the site compatible with the protection of this unique feature - such as an information shelter and parking for cars and coaches.

"Virtually everyone who visits Monkey Mia by car calls in to Shell Beach. 

"Despite this, the beach was on vacant Crown land and local agencies had little scope to control visitor activities. 

"Vehicles were often driven on to the beach, breaking and compacting the shells and forming unsightly tracks." 

As a result, CALM would attempt to rehabilitate the beach to its former state. 

Mr Minson said the shell deposits on the beach formed some 4,000 years ago when large bivalve populations flourished in the extremely saline conditions of Lharidon Bight and the nearby Hamelin Pool. 

"Over time, the lower and older deposits became compacted together to form consolidated material," he said. 

"Several buildings in Denham and on surrounding stations are built from blocks of the compacted shells taken from Hamelin Pool." 

This activity is now strictly controlled and blocks can only be cut to repair existing shell block buildings. 

"The beach is a unique part of Western Australia's environment and it is appropriate that it is afforded protection and at the same time properly managed," Mr Minson said. 

"The gazettal of the beach as a conservation park will help ensure that this occurs."

Media contact: Casey Cahill 222 9595