New walk trails created at Walyunga national park

Community sponsorship and efforts by volunteers have led to the creation of three new walk trails at the Walyunga national park, north of Midland.

Environment Minister Bob Pearce declared the trails open at the park today.

Completed with $5,000 community sponsorship, the trails are the result of two years' work by volunteers and the Department of Conservation and Land Management.

"The national parks on the city's doorstep are increasingly popular and this in turn means a growing demand for park facilities," Mr Pearce said.

"These new walk trails show the valuable role the community plays in many aspects of CALM's work.

"More than 900 people are working with CALM in formal volunteer programs ranging from wildlife research to coastal rehabilitation.

"Many other individuals and groups have donated their services, from the Navy returning storm-swept loggerhead turtles to warmer waters north of Shark Bay, to the work done by Rotarians in Walyunga."

Members of Mt Lawley Rotoract and the Rotary clubs of Mt Lawley and Beaufort street raised $2,000 towards the cost of sign posts.  They also found donors who provided $3,000 worth of materials for the project, including the timber for the posts from Whittakers Timbers.

"Club members and their families then rolled up their sleeves and worked alongside CALM rangers to dig the 110 holes needed for all the trail markers and sign posts," Mr Pearce said.

"This was heavy work at any time, but they really proved their commitment by turning up in this month's cold, wet weather."

The new walk trails follow existing management tracks, with interpretive signs about the park's wildlife and Aboriginal history.