Media statements archive

News and media statements

All Parks and Wildlife Service news items and media statements produced after mid-August 2019 are available on the new departmental website .

(This website contains news items and media statements produced prior to August 2019 only.)

$3 million funding to protect Swan and Canning Rivers

Details: Published: Wednesday, 07 August 2019 13:36

The Swan Canning Riverpark will continue to receive a healthy boost with the State Government investing $3 million towards projects that aim to protect and enhance the Swan and Canning Rivers. The funding will be distributed amongst four programs: Healthy Catchments, Rivers and Estuaries Science, Riverbank and Community Engagement. The overall aim is to enhance environmental, recreational and cultural values in the Swan Canning Riverpark. The Healthy Catchments Program has been allocated $710,000 to reduce nutrient inputs into the river through community-led restoration projects such as the highly successful Swan Alcoa Landcare Program. To date the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program has led to about 2.6 million seedlings being planted to revegetate nearly 2,000 hectares of degraded land in the Swan and Canning Rivers' catchments. The…

Land added to Murujuga National Park as plan to recognise ancient culture progresses

Details: Published: Thursday, 25 July 2019 14:17

Murujuga National Park, home to the world's highest concentration of rock art engravings, will be expanded to include a parcel of land previously zoned for industrial use. The additional section of land known as 'Site L' will be transferred to the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) to be leased back to the State and managed as part of Murujuga National Park. The transfer of Site L demonstrates the McGowan Government's commitment to protecting the area and its rock art. Murujuga National Park is home to the world's highest concentration of rock art engravings, or petroglyphs.

Historic day for WA as Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park officially created

Details: Published: Thursday, 25 July 2019 11:02

Premier Mark McGowan today announced the official creation of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park, located about 80km west of Geraldton. The creation of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park coincides with the 400-year anniversary of the European sighting of the islands by Dutch explorer Frederik de Houtman. The Abrolhos is the site of the notorious Batavia mutiny and a popular destination for fishing and nature appreciation. The national park will be vested with the Conservation and Parks Commission and managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. The national park will extend to the high-water mark with curtilages around the jetties at East Wallabi and Beacon islands. Airstrips on North, East Wallabi and Rat islands are included in the national park. It covers…

Bibbulmun Track camp site rebuilt after bushfires

Details: Published: Monday, 01 July 2019 14:46

New Helena camp site built in the Perth Hills Previous timber structure destroyed by bushfire A newly constructed shelter and restored camp site on the Bibbulmun Track is now open to the public after a bushfire destroyed the previous site in January 2018. Helena camp site, which until now has been closed to the public, is one of the most popular overnight stopovers for people walking the iconic Bibbulmun Track, with the shelter accommodating about 12 people plus an additional 10 tent sites. The $270,000 structure was designed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in consultation with the Bibbulmun Track Foundation and has been constructed using fire resistant products such as rammed earth and steel.

Action taken to protect native animals from feral cats

Details: Published: Thursday, 13 June 2019 14:04

- Feral cats now declared as pests to support conservation efforts in Western Australia- Recognised Biosecurity Groups can receive State Government funding to match the Declared Pest Rate for implementation of feral cat management programs- Feral cats have played a major role in the extinction of at least 27 native mammal species The State Government has strengthened measures to protect vulnerable and threatened native wildlife by declaring feral cats a pest animal in Western Australia. The declaration will enable natural resource management and recognised biosecurity groups to control feral cats and complement cat control efforts by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions within State reserves and areas of high conservation value. Feral cat management programs implemented by Recognised Biosecurity Groups can be funded by…