WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett today released his Government’s vision for long-term conservation of the Kimberley – the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy.
The Premier said the strategy was founded on the major themes raised through an extensive community consultation process led by former Senator the Hon Chris Ellison.
“The strategy will be delivered through partnerships with traditional owners, landholders, industry, government and non-government organisations. I welcome interested groups and individuals to play a part in protecting this magnificent region,” he said.
“A centrepiece of the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy is the Kimberley Wilderness Parks, which I announced last October. The Kimberley Wilderness Parks will include the State’s biggest interconnected system of marine and terrestrial parks.
“Four new Kimberley marine parks are proposed: at Camden Sound; North Kimberley; Roebuck Bay; and Eighty Mile Beach. These parks will protect 48 per cent of Kimberley coastal waters, and almost treble the area of marine parks and reserves in WA, from approximately 1.5 million hectares to 4.1 million hectares. Significant progress has been made in planning for the establishment of these parks, and I look forward to making a further announcement in the next few months.”
The full Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy is available at: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/kimberleystrategy
