New parks, new benefits for Western Australia

18/12/04

It is official - Western Australians will have another 36 national parks and nature reserves and 10 new conservation parks to visit this summer.
Premier Geoff Gallop and Environment Minister Judy Edwards today said the Gallop Government had created the largest number of national parks ever seen in one term of office in Western Australia.
Dr Gallop said the 29 new national parks, seven new nature reserves and 10 new conservation parks included 180,000ha of old-growth forest and added half a million hectares to the conservation estate.
"A world-class parks system has enormous economic and social benefits for the State," he said.
"Last year 10.9 million people visited national parks and lands managed by the Department of Conservation and Land Management, the equivalent of 10 AFL seasons at Subiaco Oval plus three home finals.
"Recent research by the Co-operative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism showed that national and marine park creation boosts local tourism and regional economies and conserves our unique environment for future generations to enjoy."
Dr Edwards said the new parks were backed up by another new initiative in WA, Healthy Parks Healthy People.
"Creating parks gives people a sense of ownership of our great natural resources," she said.
"It increases public access to recreation, with additional benefits for health and fitness. These are messages supported by key peak health bodies around the State."
Dr Gallop said four balanced Budgets in a row and sound economic management had produced record levels of funding for visitor services in parks and improved fire management practices.
The Gallop Government's decision to create 36 new national parks and nature reserves was supported by record levels of funding for visitor services and fire management practices.
"CALM will have an additional $24.3million over the next four years for fire management operations," he said.
"Additional funding for 2004-05 is $3.6million, with extra funding of $5.6million in 2005-06 and $7.6million a year in the following years.
"We also gave CALM the single biggest increase for new and improved visitor services to parks, of $35.7million over four years. Since 2001, the State Government has provided an additional $50million for park facilities.
"This funding will go towards facilities such as new picnic sites, campgrounds, boardwalks, improved access for people with disabilities and interpretive information."
Dr Edwards said the new parks stretched from the forests on Perth's doorstep to the lower south coast region and included old-growth karri, jarrah, marri and tingle, wandoo woodlands, granite outcrops, tea tree heaths and swampy banksia woodlands.
"They are within one of the world's 25 internationally-recognised biodiversity hotspots which need greater protection because of threats from dieback and salinity," she said.
Dr Gallop said the 36 new parks and nature reserves were a significant achievement for the Gallop Government and the realisation of a core policy commitment arising from the forest protests in the lead-up to the 2001 election.
"Our Protecting Our Old Growth policy has led to the creation of public and environmental assets that are invaluable and irreplaceable," he said.
"This is something the community can enjoy and from which the economy will benefit."
Premier's office: 9222 9475
Minister for the Environment's office: 9220 5050

Reserves	Area (ha)	Location
National Parks
Forest Grove	1,379	20km south of Margaret River
Yelverton	729	20km north of Margaret River
Greater Beedelup	19,270	20km north-west of Pemberton
Jane	6,863	8km east of Northcliffe
Greater Dordagup	6,408	20km east of Pemberton
Wellington (addition)	13,746	12km west of Collie
Boyndaminup	5,439	50km south-east of Manjimup
Greater Preston	12,665	25km east of Donnybrook
Greater Kingston	21,092	20km south-east of Bridgetown
Boorara Gardner	11,008	10km south of Northcliffe
Butler	11,645	20km west of Nannup
Hilliger	16,962	25km south of Nannup
Milyeannup	18,692	20km south of Nannup
Blackwood River	20,477	28km north-east of Augusta
Helena	12,255	15km south-east of Mundaring
Wandoo	46,493	30km west of Beverley
Canning	2,492	8km east of Armadale
Mundaring	4,617	south of Mundaring townsite
Pickering Brook	6,344	south and south-east of Kalamunda
Mount Lindesay	39,541	10km north of Denmark
Mount Frankland South	42,283	5km west of Walpole
Dalgarup	2377	12km west of Bridgetown
Mount Frankland North	22,053	30km north of Walpole
Whicher	6,343	18km south-east of Busselton
Lake Muir	9625	20km west of Rocky Gully
Greater Hawke	14,004	15km south of Pemberton
Mount Roe	127,726	25km north-west of Denmark
Easter	2,985	16km south of Nannup
Bramley	3,892	near Margaret River townsite
Conservation Parks
Westralia	855	5km west of Collie
Rapids	2,379	20km east of Margaret River
Hester	2,302	6km north-east of Bridgetown
Kerr	307	8km north-east of Balingup
Blackbutt	37	22km north-west of Manjimup
Muja	6,323	30km south-east of Collie
Bennelaking	5,520	30km east of Collie
Wandering	4,315	15km north-east of Boddington
Dardanup	643	5km south-east of Dardanup
Russell	3,358	45km west of Beverley

Nature Reserves
Tone-Perup	55,935	35km east of Manjimup
Chester	372	22km north-east of Augusta
Pagett	1,400	20km north-east of Augusta
Kordabup	302	18km west of Denmark
Nollajup	663	6km south-west of Boyup Brook
Greenbushes	399	6km south of Balingup
North Dandalup	44	1km north-east of Harvey
Other reserves and extensions
Serpentine NP Mt Frankland NP	260 6,529	south of Jarrahdale 18km north of Walpole
Falls Brook NR	204	9km east of Harvey
Lane Poole (addition and redescription)	567	6km south of Dwellingup
Reserve for scientific research and education	684	12km west of Collie
Reserve for conservation, recreation, future reservoir and water infrastructure	876	Denmark River, 15km north-west of Denmark