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OEPARlMENT OF @ Conservation AND LA.NO MANAGEMENT Con1ir,.,1n9 th• noture of WA . . .. ' ..

Talking tourism with the Department of Conservation and Land Management

'Healthy Parks, Healthy People'

John Forrest National Park, one of the many places in and around 's metropolitan area for people to enioy the outdoors.

A new community initiative

Many of us have long believed in physical and mental well being of visitation of parks by providing a the benefits of being outside in the individuals and the community. high quality visitor experience natural environment. Now scientific while simultaneously demonstrating In .- ~ ,...,.... ,... .., i+ir, n ,..,J +h o. i m,.....,....,.+,....,....+ evidence, which demonstrates a "' ·~~~::,'""~" ~· '"~ '" ' r-'~' .~ ... the iink between heaithy parks and role that natural areas play in the strong correlation between a healthy people. More details about health of the community, the healthy park system accessible to the initiative will be available in the Department of Conservation and everyone and a healthy community, coming months, but in the Land Management (CALM) will be is giving people even more reason meantime use the messages of the implementing a community-wide to visit parks in Perth 's metropolitan 'Healthy Parks, Healthy People ' initiative during the coming area . initiative to attract people outdoors months called ' Healthy Parks, into nature! Parks provide a refuge to escape Healthy People'. This initiative is from urban stress, a place for part of CALM's commitment to family and friends to picnic and an protect, conserve and enhance open space for many recreational Perth 's natural areas while pursuits. Parks also keep the providing people with well­ environment healthy by improving managed sites for various air quality, reducing erosion, recreational activities. delivering clean drinking water and contributing to clean waterways. The overall aim of the initiative is to So, healthy parks are vital for the increase awareness, support and

I Around the regions

Yonderup Cave (45 minutes) is $6.50 per person and Adventure caving ( 1.5hrs) is $15 per person . National park entry fees also apply.

Serpentine National Park Visitor facilities at have been improved with a recently completed, universal access boardwalk and viewing platform leading to the park's feature falls .

These works will increase visitor access and safety to the year-round falls and enable visitors to absorb Premier Dr Geoff Gallop and Minister for the Environment Dr Judy Edwards with the sights and sounds of the area students from Dwellingup Primary School. with minimal impact to the environment. South West Region Planning for Stage 3, Northcliffe to Steps have also been constructed Albany, is expected to begin later into the fresh water pool below the Munda Biddi Trail extends to Collie this year. falls to ensure safe access for those The section of the Munda Biddi who wish to immerse themselves in Trail from Dwellingup to Collie was Swan Region their cool natural surrounds. officially opened in July at a The boardwalk compliments the celebration in Dwellingup. Premier Crystal Cave car park upgrade, parks' walk trails and excellent Dr Geoff Gallop, Minister for the picnic areas, with gas barbecues, Environment Dr Judy Edwards and The road to Crystal Cave and its picnic tables and toilets provided Collie MLA Mick Murray opened car park have recently been as part of the $9 per car entry fee . the trail and experienced it first upgraded with improvements to the hand with a short ride into town radius of the turn-around on the For further information regarding with students from Dwellingup scenic route; improving vehicular Serpentine National Park please Primary School. circulation through the car park. direct enquiries to Senior Ranger Philip Bastian, on (08) 9525 2128. The section from Mundaring to Before the upgrade, the lack of Dwellingup was opened in formal car parking caused erosion December 2002 and has proven and degradation of surrounding very popular with local, interstate vegetation. The upgrade provides and overseas cyclists. Dr Gallop specified parking areas for said : "the Munda Biddi Trail will coaches and visitors as well as capture one of the fastest growing disabled car parking access. niche markets in the world-cycle tourism ." It is expected that the These improvements are part of the trail will provide a boost for the first stage of a larger scale project. local economies of the South West Visitors can expect to see more Region . improvements at Yanchep National Park, including upgrades to the The trail has been made possible entry of Crystal Cave. This by funding from CALM's capital enhancement will improve visitor works program as well as generous comfort and orientation. contributions from ALCOA World Alumina , Lotterywest and To make bookings for Crystal, the Department of Justice through Yonderup and Adventure caving the Karnet Prison Farm. tours, please contact Yanchep National Park on (08) 9561 1004 Planning for Stage 2 of the trail, or by email Collie to Northcliffe, is now (yanchep@calm .wa.gov.au). complete and construction is Senior Ranger Philip Bastian with works expected to start early next year. Entry to the Crystal Cave and at Serpentine National Park. FORcSl SCiENCE L!Bf'.'./ARY DEPA.FT rv1 (: NT ()F C()l) SER \i/\ TIC)N /\ND LANO ~,it•\".J t .GEMl::NT 1 Around th'eEtegrotts FV\LIA

Proposed national parks of the Perth Hills District ildflower xplosion Those who have an eye for natural beauty and enough Work is under way to improve visitor facilities and time to make a quick stop while travelling, will not be recreational opportunities in the five proposed national disappointed with the recent explosion of colourful parks within the Perth Hills District. Recently completed wildflowers throughout WA. During spring, visitors are projects include: encouraged to stop, take a short walk along the road • Canning National Park and enjoy the variety of colours, in particular in Shark The Lesley picnic area on Brookton Highway has Bay, Geraldton and Albany districts. Visitors are been redeveloped with a new car park, toilets and reminded to keep to existing roads if driving and tracks picnic furniture. The 3.5-km nature trail at Lesley has when on foot, as some of the flora is particularly also been upgraded, improving visitor access. This fragile. loop walk follows a creek line through jarrah and marri forest. Shark Bay • A variety of wildflowers are abundant throughout the A new picnic area and visitor facilities have been Shark Bay area, in particular, between the Billabong constructed at Mount Observation, including a new Roadhouse and the Overlander Roadhouse, the first 50 toilet, picnic furniture, internal walk trails and an kilometres along Hamelin Denham Road heading into animal viewing hide located just south of the picnic Shark Bay and, for those with 4WD access, the area-a joint project between CALM and the northern end of Peron Peninsula . Darling Range Branch of the WA Naturalists' Club. CALM funded the prefabrication of the animal Geraldton viewing hide and members of the WA Naturalists' Club provided their expertise and labour for the on­ Spectacular wildflower displays can be found in the site installation. Moresby Ranges . Verticordias (gold and pink), dampiera (purple) and many varieties of spider orchids • Mundaring National Park are coming into flower with small patches of pink CALM, the National Trust and the Shire of everlastings scattered throughout. Howatharra Road Mundaring have completed the design phase of a and Olsen Road also provide some exquisite views but joint signage project at Sculpture Park in Mundaring. are less accessible. The !railhead project promotes the proposed Mundaring National Park and directly links with a number of tracks and trails through the park. Albany Installation of the signs should be completed during Fitzgerald River National Park is home to a brilliant November. display of wildflowers, especially along the east side of Visitor facilities and access to Grevillea Mycumbene Hamersley Drive where there is an expanse of Acacias and Pimelia Mycumbene, two popular spots along flowering with an abundance of Quaalup bell. The west Mundaring Weir Road on the Munda Biddi Trail, side of Pabelup Drive and Point Ann Road also have been redeveloped . Work completed includes promises to be a dazzling wildflower display of scarlet picnic furniture and improved vehicle access at both banksia, pink meiaieuca and cream blooms of hakeas. sites and wood barbecues have been constructed at Grevilia Mycumbene. Pimelia Mycumbene is the eastern terminus for Lower Helena Bridal Trail and has plenty of parking for vehicles with floats .

• Helena National Park Day use facilities below the summit of Mount Dale have been constructed and includes redeveloped vehicle access and parking and new picnic tables, pathways and toilets. Work continues on the construction of a new viewing platform near the summit that will provide a 180-degree panorama of the park.

More information on these sites can be gained The Cowslip orchid /caladenia flava subsp. flavaJ is WA's most from Michael Phillips, National Park Ranger, on common and best known spider orchid. (08) 9295 1955. Tour operator information

CALM has two interpretative ecotourism guides deliver books available specifically for quality interpretative activities. Tour Operators: It sets a standard for interpretative activity design • Developing Ecotours and Other by presenting a Interpretative Activity Programs. comprehensive framework and A guidebook for planning, providing a full script for 24 designing, promoting and activities. conducting ecotourism activity programs; and The books are available from CALM for $27.50 each (including • Best Recipes for Interpreting GST), plus postage. ., Our Heritage: Activities for To order your copies, call ...... @ Ecotour Guides and Others. (08) 9334 0564 or fax your =-~~~ A tool designed to help order to (08) 9334 0583.

Tourism Industry Reference Group

CALM's Tourism Industry Reference Jeremy Perks David O'Malley Group meets quarterly to generate Represents safari style/small tour Represents Regional Tourism two way communication between operators Organisations in marketing matters CALM and the tourism industry. The Tel - 04 1 8 91 3 071 Tel - (08) 9380 9793 meetings are designed for sectors of Email - [email protected] Email - [email protected] the nature-based tourism industry to Eddie Watling Karen Jacobs shore information with CALM, Represents Tourism Council WA Represents Indigenous Tourism providing the industry with a regular Tel - (08) 9405 4530 Operators mechanism to air issues and have Email - [email protected] Tel - (08) 9262 17 46 (WAITOC them addressed in a constructive Executive Officer) manner. Jim Sargent Email - [email protected] Represents Tourism Members of the tourism industry Tel - 9220 1700 Richard Reid are encouraged to contact Email­ Represents WA Charter Boat representatives on the Tourism jim [email protected]!ia.com Operators Industry Reference Group to raise Tel - 041 8 616 622 issues for consideration at the Peter White Email - [email protected] .au meetings. Represents Outdoors Western Australia members Tel - (08) 9409 5632 Email - outdoorswa@wn .com.au

Touring WA is a newsletter produced by CALM to keep the tourism industry informed of recent news and developments. If you have a query regarding any of the Department's tourism policies, activities or developments, we ore happy to answer these in future editions of the newsletter. Enquiries can be sent to .. Touring WA by faxing (08) 9334 022 l , phoning (08) 9334 0240 or email sarahm@calm .wa.gov.au .

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