Boundaries released for proposed national parks

16/4/04
Boundaries for more new national parks proposed under the State Government's Protecting our Old-Growth Forests policy have been released for public comment.
Environment Minister Judy Edwards today said the proposed parks were Dalgarup, Easter, Greater Hawke, Hawke, Lake Muir, Tone-Perup and Whicher.
"While Dalgarup was not listed as one of the Government's new national parks, it was identified for its high conservation values through a review as part of the commitment under the Old-Growth Forests policy," Dr Edwards said.
"Indicative boundaries have now been released for all of the proposed national parks and when the public consultation process is complete, a Bill will be introduced into Parliament to create the parks.
"We are delivering on our commitment that is strongly supported by the majority of Western Australians."
Details of the latest proposed new national parks are:
Easter - 3,040ha south of Nannup comprising parts of Easter, Barlee, Iffley and Telerah forest blocks.
Hawke - south-west of Pemberton covering an area of 3,360ha, comprising parts of the Hawke and Warren forest blocks.
Greater Hawke - south-west of Pemberton covering an area of 10,760ha comprising Charley forest block and parts of Hawke, Flybrook, Crowea and Dombakup.
Dr Edwards said that in the interests of more efficient park management, the proposed Hawke and Greater Hawke national parks would be amalgamated to create a single national park extending over more than 14,000ha.

Lake Muir - south-east of Manjimup covering 9,650ha comprising Pooringup forest block and parts of Spring, Challar, Chitelup and Mattaband forest blocks.
Dr Edwards said the existing Lake Muir Nature Reserve would not be included in the national park, but remain as a nature reserve. The nature reserve and national park would be managed as an integrated unit.
Lake Muir and the wetlands to the east are listed under the Ramsar Convention as wetlands of international importance. Retaining these wetlands as a nature reserve is the most appropriate strategy to protect the flora and fauna values of the reserve.
Tone-Perup - east of Manjimup comprising 56,370ha including the Mordalup Nature Reserve, the proposed Perup Nature Reserve - including areas in Keninup and Talling forest blocks revoked by the RFA and now reinstated, parts of Weinup, Meribup and State forest blocks and several other surrounding Crown reserves.
Dr Edwards said public comment was also sought on whether this reserve should be established as a national park or a nature reserve.
Whicher - south-east of Busselton comprising 6,500ha including parts of Whicher, McGregor and Bovell forest blocks.
Dalgarup - west of Bridgetown comprising 2,560ha including most of Dalgarup forest block. While not listed as a new national park in the Government's forest policy, Dalgarup was identified through the assessment of other areas of high conservation value that was also a policy commitment.
Dr Edwards said many of these parks would join on to existing or other proposed parks and reserves. The new Forest Management Plan contained maps of the existing and proposed conservation reserve system across the South-West forests.
The Minister said while the public consultation period would focus on the boundaries, comments on suggested names for the new national parks also were welcome.
Public submissions close on June 18. Information and park maps will be available shortly and sent to a range of interest groups and will be on the Department of Conservation and Land Management's website at http://www.calm.wa.gov.au
Maps and information can also be ordered from the department's offices at Crawley, Bunbury and Manjimup.
Minister's office: 9220 5050