ver the years,land for regional parks has been identified, progressivelypurchased and managed by the Western Australian Plannin$ Commission.ln 1997,responsibility for managingand protecting eight regional parks beganto be transferredgradually to the Depatment of Consenrationand LandManagement (CALM). The parks- Yellagonga,, Rockingham Lakes,, CanningRiver, Beeliar, Jandakot (Botanic) Park and DarlingRange-include river foreshores, ocean beaches,wetlands, banksia woodlandsand the DarlingScarp. They contain a number of featuresand land uses,including reseryes for recreation puposes, managed by relevant local governments. Each park has its own and visitors. With local involvement, Giventhe complexissues and the unique history. the Unit aims to develop facilities to need to closely monitor parks on a cooperatively BUSHIN THE CITY createa placefor peopleto use.enjoy regular basis,working and developa feeling of ownership. with local community groupsand local Formed two years ago, CALM'S The eight regional parks span the governments is very important. The RegionalParks Unit worksclosely with map from in 's parksbenefit from council rangers,local local councils and community groups northern suburbsto Port Kennedyjust citizens and CALM officers working to managethese diverse,multipurpose south of Rockinghamand inland to the togetheron managementissues. parksfor the enjoymentoflocal residents Darling Range.These urban parksare Each regionalpark may havespecial usedon a daily basisby the community, physical features, plants and animals, I Preoiouspage partof people'slives through environmental education facilities or I Marn:Boardwalks in Pcrths regional becoming I parkstake visitors close to wildlife. organisedsport, the dailywalk or run, projects of interest. Each has a ftsels. Redand greenkangaroo paw (lop) leisure activities, as a social gathering colourful history often influencedby its andbfue leschenaultia \bottom), bolh place,for schoolnature study trips, and early European settlement, Aboriginal foundat JandakotRegional Park. 'back for some,simply as their yard'. heritageor Asianculture. parks are part of the urban lAbouerighl: Neil Hawkins Park within Regional LAKE I YellagongaRegional Park. landscape,keeping the bush in the HERDSMAN city. Their attractions also draw a Herdsman Lake is a beautiful Beloar:Early morning view from I including wetlandjust six kilometresfrom the KalamundaNational Park, wilhin the large number of tourists, I provides wildlife I Darlingltange Regional Park. internationalvisitors. Perth CBD. It a

30 toros"oou sanctuary where many species of waterbird feed or breed. Breeding speciesinclude the little bittern,marsh harrier, black swan,dusky moorhen, purpleswamphen and several species of ducks.At the lake'ssouthem end, the viewingplatform at the WildlifeCentre is a wonderfulplace to seewaterbirds. Birdwatchingtrips are organisedby BirdsAustralia and the GouldLeague. The Gould Leagueruns the Wildlife Centreand arrangesvisits for 7,000to 8,000schoolchildren each year. Beforeresponsibility for Herdsman Lake was transferredto CALM in 1997-98,it hada diveysehistory. In the 1920s,the lakewas drained so it could be farmedfor marketgardens, but the soilwasn't suitable and was invaded by bulrushes.In the 1960s,the wholelake was taken up as a mining leasefor wildlife and providea summerrefuge lTop left: Aboardwalkat Herdsman for migratorybirds. One hundred and I LakeRegional Park allowspeople to diatomacious earth, mainly for I view the prolific bird life. commercialproducts such as kitty litter, twenty-two bird specieshave been recordedin park,18 andat onetime it wasearmarked for a the ofwhichbreed | ?bp.'Black swans with their youngat secondairport. Today, in additionto the in the area.Six froEspecies, mammals I HerdsmanLake. wildlife viewing centre, playground such as the quenda,echidna, rakali l.A6ouerHorseriding is permittedin one paths (water rat) and westernbrush wallaby, facilities,kilometres of dual-use I smallarea of HerdsmanLake Regional (for the shared use of cyclists and and at least 122 speciesof macro- I Park. pedestrians)and a recentlyrefurbished invertebratesalso inhabit the park. settler'scottage attract manyvisitors to Dual-use paths, walkways and HerdsmanLake. viewingplatforms thread through the ROCKINGHAMLAKES 1,500-hectarepark, which is a popular From the coastal limestone YELLAGONGA picnicand playground spot. These access outcropsat PointPeron to the unigue The ancient lakes,wetlands and some important remnants of early floraof the Cooloongupand Walyungup natural bushland of Yellagonga Europeansettlement, such as Perry's lakes further inland this area 'stone! RegionalPark are a throw'from Paddock.The park managementplan has significant conservation and the ,which is the includesa wildlifemonitoring program, recreationalvalues. regionalfocus of Perth'snorth-western educationto discoungehand feeding ThePoYt Kennedy Scientific Park, a corridorLakes Joondalup and Goolellal of birds and the potentialto develop nature reserve to protect wildlife and the Walluburnup and Beenyup commercialrecreation enterprises such associatedwith Holocenedunes, lies Swampssupport a wide variety of asLuisini's Winery. within the regionalpark. The scientific

uxoscore3l park contains parallel sand ridges, coastline CALM has erected signs With its proximity to the beach and which were depositedalong former explainingthe fragility ofthe geological jetty, it lures visitors from all over the shorelinesover the past 7,000years. structuresand their potential danger. metropolitanarea. Unlike most other coastalareas near Walktrailstraverse another section Since CALM assumedmanagement Peth, it is undeveloped,and has an of the park definedby lakes,swamps of the area ftom the Ministry of Sport interestingcommunity of plants and and standsof tuart and jarrah trees. and Recreation,a range of improvements animalsthat is now uncommonin rne Lakes Cooloongupand Walyungup, havebeen proposed to meet anticipated metropolitanarea. Some of the valleys PaganoniSwamp and the wetlandsat pressureon Woodman Point from the betweenthe dunescontain a threatened Port Kennedyform an importantchain burgeoningsurrounding suburbs during ecologicalcommunity, and CALMhas of wetlands.A threatenedthrombolite the next 10 years.An implementation initiateda recoveryplan to return it to community extends over about plan is being preparedto guide further a healthystate. The scientificpark is three hectaresat Lake Richmond. development in the park, including managedto minimisehuman activity, Thrombolitesare rocklike structures but visitorsare welcome to walkaround built by micro-organismstoo smallfor the reserve. the humaneye to see. lAboue left: Point Peronwas once an offshore 'captured'by The swimmingand recreationarea I islandthat was I the advancingoutgrowth of sand. of PointPeron has a vulnerablestretch WOODMANPOINT of coastlinethat expressespast sea WoodmanPoint Regional Park, on a l,46orer Thejetty in WoodmanPoint levelsand points of geologicalinterest, gentlecurve of coastlinejust southof I RegionalPark is a favouritefishing spot. making it a focal point for geology , popular is for diving, | 8elorarWalkways at Point Peron,within excursions.To protectvisitors and the fishing,sailing, cycling and picnicking. I the RockinghamLakes Regional Payk.

32 uro"*"" developing facilities north of rne There are five important wetlands of its size,pristine state and significant recreationarea, planting more shade within lhe park- Wilsons, Adenia surroundingbushland. Migratory birds trees. managingweeds and restorjng Reserve, Nicholson Road, Mason's from Japan,Russia and China protected the naturalbushland. Landing Lagoonsand CreenfieldStreet. by the Japan-Australiaand China- The Children's PJaygroundhas Unfortunately,weeds are a serious AustraliaMigratory Bird Agreements already beentransformed into a fantastic problemand communityinvolvement visit the wetlands. They include fun experience for kids.Since opening in preventing their spread and greenshanks,red-necked stints and in April, playground the has become replantingnative species will bethe key sharp-tailed sandpipers. Other increasinglypopular with familiesand to restoringthe natural vegetation. uncommonanimals and plants in the picnic groups. 1\,o caravan parks at The CanningRiver wetlands were park include western brush wallaby, WoodmanPoint, together with cottages rmportant to Aboriginalpeople as a quendaand Hackett'shop bush. and dormitories available for hrre, sourceof food and materialsfor shelter attract many visitors to the white and artefacts. There is also an beachesand clearwaters on weekendsor interestingAsian connectionwittr a summer holidays.There are also boat Sikh Cemeteryyou canvisit alongone launching and storagefacilities. An oro of the walks in AdeniaReserve. quarantinestation andArmy munitions BEELIAR faciiities provide historic interest. Seabird nesting areas and the only The 3,400hectare protects remaining extensive natural stand of banksiawoodlands, 26 lakes RottnestIsland pine on the mainland and manyassociated wetlands in are also found at WoodmanPoint. hvo main chainsofswamps and lakes.[t is alsoa popularrecreation and picnic CANNINGRIVER location linked by dual-usepaths. This beautifulriverine system nestles ThomsonsLake is recognisedas an internationally betweenthe Shelleyand NicholsonRoad important wetland under bridges,south-east ofPerth. It is poputar the RamsarConvention because all year round for cycling, walking, su,imming, canoeing, boating and l,460r?.Kent Street Weir. in the fishing, with the additional attractions I CanningRiver Regional Park. of CastledareMiniature Railwayand the I l?&iL'Canoeingnear Riverton Bridg(, historicWoodloes Homestead. I in theCanning River.

,rn scorz 33 I

DARLINGRANGE The DarlingRange forms the sPine of Perth'sbiggest regional park, which spans85 kilometresand features hills, bush, streams,waterfalls, valleys and gorges.It link AvonValley, Walyunga, John Forrest, Lesmurdie Falls, Serpentine,Gooseberry Hill, Kalamunda, Serpentinenational parks, and also link the inland rural region to the picturesqueSwan Valley and the city. Besidesbeing one of the prettiestparks' it containsimportant forest, mineral and water resources,making it one of the mostcomplex regional park to manage. Managementof the area involves upgradingfirebreaks and managing fires, removing weeds and illegally The Spectacles(named because of with a largepopulation of blackswans dumpedrubbish and Protectingthe the shapeof its two wetlandswhen andwilderness environment. area from further erosion.Thgasaste, viewedfrom the air) is beingdeveloped Piney LakesReserve will havean a shrub-likewoody weed. is one major by CALM,in partnershipwith alumina EnvironmentalEducation Centre by problemspecies. Fortunately, the nearby companyAlcoa of , which owns the endof 2000,an iniiiativeof the City minimumsecurity Woorooloo Prison part of the land, and KwinanaTown of Melville and the Rotary Club of Farm has provided Prisoner work Council. Walktrails,boardwalks and Melville. It will provide accessto partiesto controlsome populations of bird hideshave been built so people schools,higher educationbodies, tagasasteand to cleanuP rubbish. can view the wetlands,wildlife and cornmunity interest grouPs and DarlingRange Regional Park is used purposes. wildflowers. membersof the publicwishing to study forawide range of recreational great Workingwith sponsors,the CitYof the natural environment,and create Localresidents have taken interest groups Cockburnhas developed the Cockburn greaterawareness and understanding of in its rehabilitationand local planting WetlandsEducation Centre at Bibra renewableenergY technologies. have been involvedin tree plan Lake, where full-time staff run Henderson foreshore, adjoining projects.The draft management is programsfol schoolsand community JervoiseBay, features a cliff of Tamala still in its infancyand the processof groups.Around Bibra Lake there are Limestonewith picturesqueviews to communityconsultation will help to alsofascinating bushwalks and a mini Gardenlsland. An offshoresubtidal reef definethe visionfor the Park. golf course. The heritage area at nearthe cliffsis popularfor fishingand JANDAKOT(BOTANIC) ManningLake is a touristattraction. snorkelling. REGIONALPARK Jandakotis an Aboriginalword meaning'place of the eagle',or more accuratelythe placeof the whistling kite,a largegrey bird, often seen in the area,that makesa whistlingsound as it flapsits bigwings. Like a bird perchedreadY for flight, Jandakotis a regionalpark waiting to takeofl With six landestates forming a jigsaw puzzle of more than 3,800 hectares,recreational use of the parkis not yet a major activity, exceptfor bushwalkingand horseriding. However,

I Aboveleft: A popularPicnic area at Bibra Lake,in the BeeliarRegional I

l ref.'Abseiling at StYathamsQuarry, I in DarlingRange Regional Park.

34 t oscoru as its tag botanical indicates,the recognised.There is also potentialfor l.46oue:A darterdries its plumage in banksia woodland area has an educationand researchactivities as the I theCanning River llegiontrl Park. abundance of glorious wildflowers. parkcontains threatened plant species. These attract many sightseersand the WHYREGIONAL PARKS? regionalimportance oi lhy brnksia consultation.Through these committees Regionalparks places vegetation and wetlands is werr are u,here),ou and by direct contact,as many local can see a bit of nature in the groups as possible have had the metropolitanarea. Each park has a opportunityto havean input into the | 8e1oa:\[etlinds Conseruation Society localCommunity Advisory Committee, managementplans that will guideeach I mcmbersremoving pink gladiolus from appointed by the Minister for the park'sfuture. I Bihral,rke- Environment,u,hich has input into The end result should be that identifying lBelow risht: Pink fairyorchid l aladenia local issuesand concerns Perth'sregional parks will be parksfor I latifolitl at JandakotR€gional Pirk. and playsa key role in the ongoing people-placestvhere people can come face-to-facewith nature, places for l:iti Ftrr- simpJepleasures and placesof special significance.

ChristineSilbert is a fteelancewriter on contnct to the RegionalParks Unit. Tim Bowrais CALM'sRegional Park Coordinator.He canbe contactedon (08)9431 6501 or by email ([email protected]). MichaelJames is a freelancephotographer commissionedby the RegionalParl$ Unit to capturethe essenceof Perth'sregional park.

Detailedarticl€s on a number of regional parl{sare plannedfor future issuesof UNASCOPE.

t,t"orc,ttr35 !'" , i Winnerof the1998 Alex Harris lvledal for excellenae inscience and environment reoodino. LANDSCOPE VOTUMESIXTEEN, NUMBER 2,5UIVMER 2OOO_2001

BRIMMINGWITH BIRDS ALLAN8UR8|DGE...... 10 CAVESOF THE CAPE ANNE NURSINGTHEFUTURE STEPHENWHTTE AND MANDy C1EWt...... 23 How can we preseruethe lAeuwin- Naturoliste caueswhile catering for PARKSFOR PEOPLE increasing uisitation? Seepage 16. cHRtSTtNESTLBERT ANDTlt\4 8oWM...... 28 Botanists rediscouero presumedextinct WHEATBELTWONDERS UNDER THREAT grass perched on the mountain tops of GREGKE|GHERY...... 37 the Stirling RongeNational Park. Seepage 43. DRUMMOND'SGRASS ANNEC9CHRANE AND SARAH 8ARRETT...... 43

SalinitU StrategAsuruegs are reuealing that salinitA threatensmore than 850 Wheatbeltplant species,How can managersinteruene? See poge 36.

BUSHTELEGRAPH ENDANGERED GREATDESERT SK|NK...... 36

URBANANTICS WHAT.,.NOBIRDS?

DiscouerPerthb eight regional parks Leam about the spinelesswonders of and their special features and the marine world and their cleaer attractions on page 28- page disguiseson 42. ExecutiveEditor: RonKawalilak Editors:David Gough and carclyn lhomson-Dans BushTelegraph Editor: Verna Conello Advertising.opy and editorial assistance:Cais Bailey Sd€ntif idtechnical advice:Andf ew Budidgq PaulJonesand staff of CALNlScienceDivision More than 160 different bird species Designand produdion: TlffanyAberin,Maria Duthie use CaDeArid Nationql Park. which Gooitsenvan der Meer Iies on the South Coastabout lllustration: Cooilzenvan der Meer 120 kilometres east of Esperance. Marketing: estellede SanMiguel' (08)93140296 Fax (08)9334 0498 The red-earedfiretail is one of them. Subsc.iptionenquiriesr t (08)93340481or (08)9314 0417 This exotic-looking finch k confined ColourSeparation by Colourbox Diqital t o south-uestem Australia. Pintedin by LambPdnt @I55N 081 5-4465. All malqialcopy ghr Nopan of $e contenrsol rhepublicaton It is found in areas of denseheath maybe rcprcduced wirhout rhe consenr of rhepoblisheG and undergrowth in thick forest, Pleasedo notsend unsolicited material to IAIVDSCOPf.but feelfree neuer too far inlqnd. CapeArid National Park to telephonethe Editor. is the eastem limit of its distribution. VisitlAlVDSCOPf online on ourawad-winning Intenetsite NaturcBaseat httpJ/www,naturebase.net Publishedby Couerillustration bg Philippa NikulinskU Departmentof Cons€rvationand Land lvlanagement, DickPery Avenue, Kensjngton, Western Australia

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