The Liberal National Government's 2013 election commitment to create a landmark Kimberley National Park is on track, with the first section of park soon to be established in partnership with the Wilinggin traditional owners.
The proposed Wilinggin National Park will be part of the Kimberley National Park, which is set to become Australia's biggest national park at around two million hectares.
Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the State had signed a new Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Wilinggin people and would create the Wilinggin National Park in the remote north Kimberley, which would protect the area's exceptional cultural and biodiversity values.
"These remote landscapes contain ancient rock art sites, stone arrangements, burial sites, ceremonial sites and important mythological areas immensely significant to the Wilinggin traditional owners, who have continuing connections to their country," Mr Jacob said.
"The Wilinggin National Park will be jointly vested and managed with Wilinggin traditional owners, and adjoins the soon to be renamed northern portion of the King Leopold Range Conservation Park, which will become known as the Wilinggin Conservation Park.
"Wilinggin people will be employed as park rangers and take an active role in park management through a joint management body."
The new park will have visitor facilities including campground and day-use sites for tourists experiencing the rugged and spectacular Kimberley.
The Wilinggin National Park covers an area of about 740,000ha, and is part of the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy, the State Government's $103.6 million initiative successfully protecting and enhancing the Kimberley region's unique natural assets.
Wilinggin National Park will incorporate parts of the existing Prince Regent and Mitchell River national parks, and connect conservation reserves from the King Leopold Ranges up to the Mitchell River - a distance of more than 200 kilometres.
Fact File
Creation of the new park will lead to employment and business opportunities for the Wilinggin traditional owners
The park's rich cultural heritage and natural beauty offer a variety of unique visitor experiences, such as four-wheel driving, camping or hiking to look at ancient rock art, gorges and waterfalls
Minister's office - 6552 5800
