The State Government has announced key environmental commitments in the 2017-18 Budget including the establishment of a $20 million Aboriginal Ranger program focused on training, jobs and community development initiatives that deliver environmental outcomes.

Aboriginal rangers will be trained and employed to undertake land and sea management, including tourism operations and protection of cultural and biodiversity values across a range of tenures in remote and regional Western Australia.

To be delivered over five years, funding of $4 million is available in 2017-18. More information is available at www.dbca.wa.gov.au/aboriginalrangerprogram

Other environmental initiatives include:

• Aboriginal interpretive centre for the Pilbara
• Tourism investment in the South West
• Job-creating investments to attract more visitors to water-based tourism precincts
• $900,000 for community groups to carry out restoration works along the Swan and Canning Rivers
• $8 million in 2017-18 to develop infrastructure, including a Living Knowledge Centre at Murujuga National Park on the Burrup Peninsula. A further $1 million per year will be spent on the ongoing joint management of the area with the traditional owners
• $1 million towards the establishment of a park and reserve network encompassing the fringing coral reefs of the Buccaneer Archipelago, to protect the region’s outstanding natural and cultural values
• $3 million for the develop the Lake Kepwari reservoir, near Collie, as a tourism precinct with a focus on water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing and jet skiing. The Project will include construction of boating infrastructure, public facilities and road access to encourage future private tourism investment.
• A further $200,000 is being invested in a Wellington Dam walk trail loop, which will link up with the Bibbulmun Track.

For more 2017-18 State Budget information, visit www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au.

With spring school holidays fast approaching, why not book your children in for some unique, fun, hands-on activities held in marvellous natural areas in and around Perth.

There are activities for kids of all ages providing them with up close and personal experiences with our wonderful plants and animals in some very special places.

Some of the activities on offer during September school holidays include adventure caving, frog foraging, rambling with a ranger and squelching through swampland. Bookings are essential and fill up fast, so enrol your kids now.

Visit our Community page to download the program, find out more and book.

Parks and Wildlife Service is part of the new Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. The new department brings together the functions and staff of the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Rottnest Island Authority, Zoological Parks Authority and the former Department of Parks and Wildlife.

It has a strong emphasis on improving Western Australia’s natural attractions as key tourism assets, and creating opportunities for private sector investment and partnerships while conserving environmental values. It consolidates conservation science to build and share knowledge of the State’s biodiversity.

Visit the Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth Zoo, and Rottnest Island websites.