The Ningaloo Coast will be jointly managed between traditional owners and the State Government, following the historic signing of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA).
WA Environment Minister Stephen Dawson joined the traditional owners from Nganhurra Thanardi Garrbu Aboriginal Corporation (NTGAC) and native title representative body Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) on the Ningaloo Coast to celebrate the signing.
The agreement provides for the joint management and joint vesting of the existing Ningaloo Marine Park (260,000 hectares) and Cape Range National Park (50,000 hectares), as well as the creation of about 78,000 hectares of new conservation areas extending over approximately 215 kilometres of the Ningaloo Coast.
The new reserves will be jointly managed by NTGAC and the Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
The Ningaloo ILUA is the first ILUA delivered under the WA Government’s Plan for Our Parks initiative, which aims to increase the conservation estate in Western Australia by five million hectares over five years through new jointly managed parks and reserves.
The formal creation of the Nyinggulu Coastal Reserves and release of the joint management plan is expected in coming weeks.
Source: WA Government