Turquoise coast draft management plan open for public comment

19/12/01
A draft management plan for 40 island nature reserves along the State's Turquoise Coast between Lancelin and Dongara has been released for public comment.
Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards said the island chain, which extended over 150km from Lancelin Island to the Beagle Islands, had particular significance in the conservation of the State's biodiversity.
Three of the islands are key breeding sites for the Australian sea-lion, listed as 'specially protected' under the Wildlife Conservation Act. The dibbler - a threatened species - naturally occurs on two of the islands and has been translocated to a third island, while the grey-bellied dunnart on Boullanger Island has recently been described as a new subspecies and listed as 'vulnerable'.
Dr Edwards said 16 species of reptiles were found on the islands, including the Lancelin Island skink, of which the only known viable population was on an island off the coast of Lancelin.
"As well as supporting threatened fauna species, the islands have a diverse array of other fauna and flora, as well as significant reef platforms and corals," she said.
"A particular feature of the islands is that they fall within a zone that is an overlap between temperate and tropical marine biogeographic areas."
Dr Edwards said the islands' diversity and conservation value - and closeness to the coast - offered a range of recreational, educational and interpretive opportunities.
"Visitor pressure is expected to increase significantly following the completion of the coastal road linking Perth to the central west coast and as a result of the growth of Jurien Bay as a regional centre," she said.
The draft management plan, which was prepared for the Conservation Commission by the Department of Conservation and Land Management, proposes to protect the conservation values of the islands by controlling access.
Public access will be allowed on 10 of the islands, including all those most commonly visited. The remaining 30 islands are proposed to be reserved to protect breeding Australian sea-lions and seabirds.
Dr Edwards said the draft plan also was an integral part of the overall management proposals for the proposed Jurien Bay Marine Park.
"The draft plan has been released for a two-month public comment period and people with an interest in the area are urged to study the plan and make a submission," she said.
Copies of the plan are available from the Department of Conservation and Land Management offices in Jurien Bay, Cervantes and Kensington or from the department's website, http://www.naturebase.net
Submissions should be sent to the Planning Co-ordinator, Turquoise Coast Island Nature Reserves Management Plan, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre 6983. Electronic submissions may also be made on the department's website.
Minister's office: 9220 5050