Way cleared for land swap in Yalgorup National Park (south of Mandurah)

8/12/94

Environment Minister Kevin Minson has given environmental approval for a land swap in the Yalgorup National Park near Tim's Thicket, south of Mandurah.

Mr Minson said today that CALM would exchange 130 hectares of degraded land in the north of the park for 242 hectares of environmentally valuable land near the coast.

"This amounts to almost a two-hectare-for-one swap and places environmentally significant land under the protection of the national park," Mr Minson said.

Following advice from the Environment Protection Authority, the Minister recently set the environmental conditions which allow a change to the national park boundary, extension to a waste water treatment plant site and the development of a septage disposal facility and limestone quarry.

Mr Minson said the proponents - the Department of Conservation and Land Management, Water Authority of Western Australia and City of Mandurah - had agreed to the conditions.

"These conditions ensure that the value of the national park and nearby residents' quality of life are not compromised," he said.

"CALM will implement a dune restoration and road rationalisation strategy following the addition of the new coastal area into the national park.

"Part of the degraded land excised from the park will be used for the septage disposal site, quarry and extension of the treatment plant, while the rest will be managed by the City of Mandurah as public open space.

"The Water Authority will screen the treatment plant with trees and make sure it is surrounded by a secure buffer.  The nearest residence will be no closer than 500 metres.

"The septage disposal facility will eventually be connected to the treatment plant once it is operational.

"Before building the quarry, the City of Mandurah will have to provide the Department of Environmental Protection with additional details about the quarry management and rehabilitation plans."

Mr Minson said only inert waste would be able to be used to backfill the quarry.

He said the City of Mandurah would have to develop a management plan for the area excised from the national park which would address issues such as public access to the beach and foreshore area.  The plan would have to be completed within two years of the boundary change.

"The City of Mandurah will also have to make sure that odour, noise and dust is monitored and controlled so it does not impact on nearby residents," Mr Minson said.

Media contact:  Caroline Lacy (09) 222 9595 or (09) 321 2222