10-year vision for one of Perth's southern wetlands

17/5/05 Community input has played an integral role in the development of the final management plan for Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve - an important conservation area that contains one of the small number of internationally significant wetlands in the Perth metropolitan area.

17/5/05
Community input has played an integral role in the development of the final management plan for Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve - an important conservation area that contains one of the small number of internationally significant wetlands in the Perth metropolitan area.
Releasing the final management plan for the reserve today, Environment and Science Minister Judy Edwards said public consultation was important in planning for the management of this Class A nature reserve for the next 10 years.
"Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve is an important habitat and refuge for local and migratory waterbirds and was designated to the List of Wetlands of International Importance under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) in 1990," Dr Edwards said.
"It contains two threatened ecological communities, one of which has been identified as endangered and the other as vulnerable, and contains important remnants of ecosystems that were once widespread on the Swan Coastal Plain.
"It is an area of extremely high conservation value that provides the community with unique opportunities for nature appreciation, education and scientific studies.
"The area also has a rich Aboriginal heritage, as the lake and vegetation communities were important camping and food source areas for Nyungar people and it is home to the powerful indigenous water serpent figure, the Waugal.
"There is one site within the reserve that is listed on the Department of Indigenous Affairs' Register of Aboriginal Sites."
The Minister said protecting the important environmental and cultural values of the reserve, while providing for passive visitor uses was the aim of the management plan process.
"Forrestdale Lake is highly valued by the local community as a place for nature appreciation and passive recreation and the Government is committed to protecting its environmental values," she said.
"The final management plan will replace the existing management plan for the reserve (1987 - 1992) and was prepared by the Department of Conservation and Land Management on behalf of the Conservation Commission of Western Australia.
"The plan was prepared in close liaison with the Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve Community Advisory Committee, City of Armadale and the Friends of Forrestdale. Other interested members of the community had input via 'have your say' brochures and a public meeting.
"The draft management plan for Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve was released for public comment last October and 22 submissions were received."
Dr Edwards said key management issues addressed in the management plan included:

  • wetland management, including management of water levels and water quality and of wildlife habitats, particularly for migratory waders and other waterbirds;
  • management of threatened ecological communities;
  • weed invasion, particularly control of Typha orientalis;
  • the occurrence of fire;
  • conservation of indigenous heritage; and
  • management of horseriding.
"The plan also includes management of the adjoining recreation reserve and proposes the vesting of that reserve be transferred from the City of Armadale to the Conservation Commission of WA as nature reserve," the Minister said.

"The plan also proposes the inclusion of some adjoining WA Planning Commission lands into the nature reserve, along the lines of the recommendations in the Bush Forever report."
Minister's office: 9220 5050