- Legislation to enable 145,000 hectares to be added to the Helena and Aurora Ranges National Park has been introduced into State Parliament today
- Cook Government increases WA's protected areas under Plan for Our Parks initiative
- Unlocking land at Catalina Estate in the City of Wanneroo
The Cook Labor Government has today introduced the Reserves Bill 2023 to the WA Parliament to enable 145,000 hectares of land to be added to the Helena and Aurora Ranges National Park.
The protection of the Helena and Aurora Ranges is a strategic priority under the Cook Government's Plan for Our Parks initiative which aims to add five million hectares to the State's conservation estate.
More than 3000 hectares of land within the Lane Poole Reserve, near Dwellingup, will also be upgraded to national park status.
In addition, the Bill will unlock more land for future housing development in the northern corridor, just west of the Mitchell Freeway, to be delivered by the Catalina Regional Council. The Catalina Regional Council (formerly known as Tamala Park Regional Council) has been engaged extensively during the process.
The Catalina Regional Council was established to implement the urban development of land north of Perth. The Council represents the interest of seven local governments:
- Town of Cambridge;
- City of Joondalup;
- City of Perth;
- City of Stirling;
- Town of Victoria Park;
- City of Vincent; and
- City of Wanneroo.
The Bill also includes amendments to five other reserves to correct historical inaccuracies and formalise management responsibility and objectives.
As stated by Lands Minister John Carey:
"The Reserves Bill 2023 seeks to implement amendments to seven reserves and is vital to fulfill our Government's commitment to the creation of Helena and Aurora Ranges National Park.
"The Bill will also unlock land to facilitate the completion of the Catalina Estate development within the City of Wanneroo, and address several historic operational inconsistencies in land use and management."
As stated by Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"The proposal to upgrade the Mount Manning Conservation Park to a Class 'A' national park brings the creation of the Helena and Aurora Ranges National Park another step closer and will help in reaching the target to add five million hectares to the State's conservation estate, under the Plan for Our Parks initiative.
"The Bill will enable the State Government to protect important conservation and recreational areas."
As stated by Catalina Regional Council Chair Cr Bianca Sandri:
"The Catalina Regional Council welcomes the introduction of the Reserves Bill 2023 and thanks the State Government for working proactively with the Council.
"This legislation formalises the intent of a long-standing amendment to the Metropolitan Regional Scheme by unlocking a small area of Neerabup National Park isolated by the Mitchell Freeway for transfer to the Council for future housing development."
