Media Statements - Lake McLarty draft management plan open for public comment

10/1/06

A draft management plan for one of the most ecologically important freshwater, seasonal lakes on the Swan Coastal Plain has been released for public comment by acting Environment Minister John Bowler.

Lake McLarty Nature Reserve, 90km south-east of Perth, encompasses two reserves of approximately 220ha.

It is an integral part of the Peel-Yalgorup system and is a feature of the largest Ramsar convention on wetlands sites in the South-West.

Mr Bowler said developing a plan for the future management of the lake and surrounding area was important if the key values of the area were to be protected.

“It has been estimated that about 80 per cent of the original wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain have been lost or seriously degraded by filling, clearing and other land use impacts since European settlement,” he said.

“The area consistently supports a large number of waterbirds, as well as migratory birds during the Australian winter and the closed heath vegetation around the lake is representative of what was once a much more extensive habitat on the coastal plain.

“This is a rare example of a natural wetland and the reserve as a whole is important in the protection of threatened and priority flora and fauna species and the public comment period will enable people to participate in the future management of the area.”

Some of the threats to the lake from the surrounding catchment that will require future management include continued residential development, groundwater extraction and nutrient build-up in the lake from surface run-off.

Completion of the Peel deviation of the Kwinana Freeway to the east of the lake will also increase access to land within the catchment and future development.

Public comment on the Lake McLarty Nature Reserve draft management plan closes on March 10.

Copies of the plan are available from the Department of Conservation and Land Management State headquarters at 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Technology Park, Western Precinct, Kensington WA 6151 or the Mandurah office at Lot 1 Pinjarra Road, Mandurah.

The plan can be downloaded from the CALM NatureBase website at http://www.naturebase.net/haveyoursay/index.html

Public submissions can be made on-line at the NatureBase website, by a reply paid Public Submission form obtained from Burke Stephens on (08) 9334 0151 or by email to planning@calm.wa.gov.au.

Written submissions should be addressed to the Planning Co-ordinator, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983.

Minister's office: 9220 5050