New national parks legislation introduced

23/9/04 The State Government's aim to have a world-class parks system was bolstered further with the introduction of legislation into Parliament yesterday to create nine new national parks covering about 140,000ha.

23/9/04
The State Government's aim to have a world-class parks system was bolstered further with the introduction of legislation into Parliament yesterday to create nine new national parks covering about 140,000ha.
Environment Minister Judy Edwards said the new parks were part of the Government's 'Protecting our Old Growth Forests' policy, which would create new national parks throughout the South-West forests.
Legislation to create the first nine parks already has passed through the Legislative Assembly and is now in the Upper House.
Dr Edwards said the latest proposed national parks and locations were:

  • Mundaring: 4,617ha in the forest around Mundaring;
  • Pickering Brook: 6,344ha surrounding the townships of Pickering Brook and Karragullen;
  • Canning: 2,492ha west of Canning Reservoir;
  • Helena: 12,255ha (including 5,798ha of existing conservation reserve) south of Mundaring Weir;
  • Wandoo: 46,493ha (including 29,765ha of existing conservation reserve) south of the Great Southern Highway between The Lakes and York;
  • Butler: 11,645ha - including 7,300ha of old-growth forest - west of Nannup;
  • Hilliger: 16,962ha - including 6,590ha of old-growth forest - south-west of Nannup;
  • Milyeannup: 18,692ha - including 12,350ha of old-growth forest - south-west of Nannup; and
  • Blackwood River: 20,447ha - including 9,080ha of old-growth forest - along both sides of the Blackwood River south-west of Nannup.
The Bill also adds about 1,300ha to the proposed Greater Preston National Park - increasing the park's area to 12,665ha - and creates two conservation parks, Westralia (855ha) near Collie and Rapids (2,383ha) near Margaret River.
"The introduction of this latest legislation means the Government is well on track to deliver on its promise to create new national parks in the South-West forests," the Minister said.
"Determining the boundaries for the new national parks has involved extensive consultation with the community.
"This has included consultation with local government, conservation groups, timber and mining industry groups, native title claimants, Aboriginal representative bodies and Government agencies.
"The boundaries for the parks in the Bill have been modified from those originally proposed following this consultation. In some cases, this has involved increasing the size of the original proposal to include additional areas of old-growth forest.
"For example, 900ha containing old-growth forest has been added to the proposed Milyeannup National Park as a result of submissions from the community."
Dr Edwards said legislation to create the remaining proposed new national parks would be introduced later in the spring session.
Minister's office: 9220 5050