Have your say on proposed marine park

A draft management plan for a proposed marine park on the Kimberley coast covering some of the most magnificent cultural and natural tourist attractions in the world has been released for public comment.

People are being encouraged to have a say on the future of Horizontal Falls and surrounding areas.

The proposed Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls and North Lalang-garram marine parks and the proposed Oomeday National Park is a partnership between the State Government and the Dambimangari traditional owners.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the Government had worked with traditional owners to develop a joint management framework for the area.

The area was in the Dambimangari people’s homelands and was considered one of the most pristine coastal areas left on the planet.

“The world-renowned Horizontal Falls has been described as one of the greatest wonders of the natural world and the Liberal National Government is committed to ensuring this precious environment is protected into the future,” Mr Jacob said.

“The area is rich with unique plants, animals and marine species found nowhere else and contains nationally significant natural, Aboriginal and historical values.”

The Minister said the proposed parks were being delivered as a part of the Government’s Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy, which was creating one of the world’s largest networks of connected marine and terrestrial reserves.

“The creation of the new marine parks, together with the Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park and the proposed North Kimberley Marine Park, will establish the Great Kimberley Marine Park that protects about three million hectares and about 8,000 kilometres of coast line from Talbot Bay to the Northern Territory border,” he said.

“The proposed parks contain spectacular gorges and waterfalls, islands with fringing coral reefs and mangrove-lined creeks and bays that are home to an amazing variety of marine species including dugongs, whales, sawfish and turtles. The plan also creates tourism and employment opportunities for traditional owners.”

The plan is available at http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/horizontalfalls and is open for public comment until January 22, 2016.