A national park and nature reserve just south of Mandurah is set for a massive increase in size with the announcement by environment minister Albert Jacob of the purchase of new land to come under its protection.
An extra 980 hectares of high conservation-value land would be added to Yalgorup National Park at a cost of $12 million, Mr Jacob said.
Retiring Dawesville MP Kim Hames applauded the announcement.
“This is a significant environmental investment which has saved land in the park from being cleared for residential development and subsequently a wind farm,” he said.
“The park contains important habitat for a range of wildlife, including western ringtail possum, chuditch, Carnaby’s cockatoo, forest red-tailed black cockatoo and the western brush wallaby which I am pleased are now protected.”
Zak Kirkup, who is replacing Dr Hames on the Liberal party ticket in Dawesville and was campaigning with Mr Jacob, welcomed the announcement.
“Any day we expand the size of WA's national parks is a good day,” he said.
“I'm really pleased that we had the environment minister in town to expand the size of Yalgorup National Park, which can be enjoyed not just by locals but people from across the state and Australia who visit Peel and have their own adventure in our beautiful part of the world."
Dr Hames also thanked local volunteers who had worked hard to protect the environment in the national park.
“I have kept in regular contact with Hilary Wheater, chairperson from Fragyle, which is the community group dedicated to protecting the Yalgorup Lakes environment for more than eight years,” he said.
“Over that time we have continued to work towards how the state government can protect this valuable and irreplaceable asset that we have in the Peel region, so we are both thrilled with this outcome.”
Yalgorup National Park was established in the late 1960s to protect the coastal lakes, swamps and Tuart woodland between Mandurah and Myalup Beach.
It stretches from 25km south of Mandurah to north of Myalup and covers 12,888 hectares, including 10 lakes.
The park protects a wetland system that has achieved international recognition as an important area for migratory waterbirds, and it supports several threatened plant and animal species.
It is also home to the ancient Lake Clifton thrombolites – rock-like structures that are one of the earliest known forms of life on Earth.