Financial support for proposed Helena Aurora Range National Park welcomed

• Continued commitment to protecting Helena and Aurora Range in a national park a progressive and welcomed step
• $2 million to ongoing development and creation of park
• Government restates high environmental and social values of the range

State Director for The Wilderness Society in Western Australia, Kit Sainsbury, has welcomed the continued support for the Helena Aurora Range by the McGowan Government today following the release of their budgetary plans for their ‘Plan for Our Parks’.

Dr Sainsbury said: “This pre-budget financial commitment to the Helena Aurora Range is a strong and dedicated commitment to the introduction of a national park centred around this banded ironstone formation. The statement by the McGowan Government today furthers their election commitments and continues development work to support our most precious natural areas.

“We at The Wilderness Society have been supporting the establishment of a national park around the Range for some time now, so welcome this continued investment in the Great Western Woodlands and towards biodiversity protection.

“Development towards establishing a national park for the Helena Aurora Range was committed to in December 2017, and we will continue to work collaboratively with the government to ensure this is proactively accomplished as per their published timeline.

“Extensive consultation with all invested groups—from Traditional Owners to industry—is essential to ensure effective engagement on these developments and we will continue to work as an invested conservation group on this process."

The Helena Aurora Range is a major landscape feature of the Yilgarn region in southern Western Australia, found within the biodiversity hotspot of the Great Western Woodlands. The 40km-long banded ironstone formation range is old, twisty and full of caves and outcrops containing five endemic flora.

“As the highest, steepest and most convoluted banded ironstone formation range in the region, it is a place of exceptional scenic beauty, cultural importance and recreational and tourism value. The range is also a fascinating part of WA’s geo-heritage, having remained intact for millenia. We hope this financial commitment goes someway to ending any mining ambitions of the range and preserving it for future generations to enjoy and celebrate.”

Contact

For further comment, please contact Kit Sainsbury, Wilderness Society Western Australia State Director, on (08) 9420 7255.