Work begins to establish new national parks in hills area

26/3/02
Work has begun to create five new National Parks extending over almost 64,000ha in State forest in the Perth Hills area.
Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards today said the creation of the parks was in line with the State Government's Protecting our old growth forests policy that would see 30 new national parks created throughout the South-West native forests.
The new parks included those promised under the Regional Forest Agreement.
Dr Edwards said the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Perth Hills District had begun erecting signs designating the proposed parks and was managing the areas in line with accepted national park management guidelines.
The proposed Mundaring National Park, to the west of Mundaring Weir Road, covers an area of just over 3,000ha and will include the popular picnic sites of North and South Ledge.
The proposed Pickering Brook National Park surrounds the towns of Pickering Brook and Karragullen and covers almost 6,000ha.
The proposed Canning National Park, to the west of the Canning Reservoir, will extend over 2,500ha, while the proposed Helena National Park, to the south of Mundaring Weir, will be just over 8,000ha.
On the eastern edge of the forest, the proposed Wandoo National Park, off Great Southern Highway, will be the biggest of the new national parks, with an area of almost 44,000ha.
Dr Edwards said the department had identified several management priorities which would be carried out over the next few months.
The works included erecting further signage, removing rubbish and managing weeds, rehabilitating disused gravel pits, re-designing and upgrading recreation sites, compiling a register of heritage areas, and beginning a public consultation and information process.
"The creation of the five new Perth Hills national parks will assist in further maintaining the biodiversity of the region and creating a network of conservation areas, which will provide a range of recreation opportunities on the outskirts of the Perth metropolitan area," the Minister said.
Minister's office: 9220 5050