Marine Park declared for Horizon Falls in The Kimberley
The Great Kimberley Marine Park will cover some 3 million hectares of unique environmentThe world-renowned Horizontal Falls in the Kimberley region is being protected with the creation of the Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls and North Lalang-garram marine parks.
The Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls Marine Park includes eight sanctuary zones, three special purpose zones and one general use zone. The North Lalang-garram Marine Park is zoned entirely as general use.
The new Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls Marine Park covers about 353,000 hectares and the North Lalang-garram Marine Park covers about 110,000 hectares.
There now five new Kimberley marine parks including: Yawuru Nagulagun/Roebuck Bay, Lalang-garram/Camden Sound, Eighty Mile Beach, Lalang-garram/Horizontal Falls and North Lalang-garram.
With the new Lalang-garram/Camden Sound Marine Park, and the proposed North Kimberley Marine Park, these new parks will form the Great Kimberley Marine Park extending from Talbot Bay to the Northern Territory border and covering about three million hectares.
WA Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the creation and joint management of these two new parks would ensure the long-term future of this unique conservation, cultural and ecotourism destination.
"The creation of these two new marine parks in partnership with the Dambimangari people is important for conservation in Western Australia and a milestone in the Liberal National Government's Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy," Mr Jacob said.
"We have been working with the Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation since 2013 and have signed an Indigenous Land Use Agreement to jointly manage their sea country, while providing employment and economic opportunities for Dambimangari people."
The Minister said the creation of the marine parks would generate new tourism opportunities and ensure that tourism was sustainable and high quality.
"The marine parks will also protect natural assets that people come to see in the Kimberley, such as coral reefs and a variety of marine species including dugongs and turtles," he said.
"The final management plan gives a high level of protection to all areas of the marine parks and an integrated approach for managing the whole of Dambimangari sea country."
The $103.6 million Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy is the biggest conservation project ever undertaken in Western Australia and is designed to provide unprecedented protection for The Kimberley's unique natural assets.
The management plan can be viewed at www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/parks/management-plans/approved-management-plans.
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