If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you’re not sure you can do it,
say yes then learn how to do it later.
~ Richard Branson
Located approximately 200kms south of Perth, 40kms east of Bunbury and 10kms west of Collie the Greater Wellington National Park (GWNP) will incorporate the Wellington Discovery Forest, Arcadia, Lowden, Yabberup and Mungalup Forests into the existing Wellington National Park. The park will increase from 17,500 hectares to 30,000 hectares in size creating a sustainable ecological zone (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). This GWNP is a vital asset that would enable the scenic Preston Valley catchment to become a complimentary tourist precinct where visitors can experience locally grown products, fine wines, heritage tours, creative arts, cultural exchanges, eco-stays, innovative rehabilitation projects and more.
Issues
Social
Mungalup, Yabberup and Arcadia forests flow into Wellington National dam. Arcadia, and Yabberup flows into the Preston River.
- Wellington National Park is at capacity. Exponential growth in visitations (280,000 visitations in 2014-2015 up from 191,000 in 2013-2014 | DPAW, August, 2016).
- Camping areas are at capacity...overflowing into areas with no infrastructure.
- Ageing demographic in Preston Valley. Few young families.
- Residents need to commute for work.
- Decline in coal, orchard and timber industries.
- No obvious employment opportunities locally.
- Ferguson Valley has demonstrated how having a national park on your doorstep creates business and employment opportunities.
- Timber industry has transitioned to plantations.
Mungalup, Yabberup and Arcadia forests flow into Wellington National dam. Arcadia, and Yabberup flows into the Preston River.
- Undisturbed temperate eucalyptus forests are the most carbon-dense on earth. (Sweeney, 2016)
- Reduction in habitat for endangered species such as the Carnaby Cockatoo, Forest Redtail Black Cockatoo, Brush-tailed Phascogale, Chuditch and the mainland Quokka.
- Climate change is a significant public health issue for current and future generations and the South West of West Australia is at the forefront of climate change (WA Chief Scientist, 2016)
- Nature Deficit | Lack of contact with nature is having an impact on mental health and wellbeing of children.
Assets
The natural environment is our major asset.
Natural Assets | Mature jarrah and marri eucalyptus forests, spectacular granite outcrops, scenic vistas, endangered flora and fauna and recreational waterways.
Access | Only 2 hours from Perth and close to Bunbury, Dardanup, Collie and Donnybrook.
Activities | Scenic walks including the Bibbulmun track, extended Munda Biddi bike trail network, swimming and other water activities.
Accommodation | Bush and lakeside camping
Natural Assets | Mature jarrah and marri eucalyptus forests, spectacular granite outcrops, scenic vistas, endangered flora and fauna and recreational waterways.
Access | Only 2 hours from Perth and close to Bunbury, Dardanup, Collie and Donnybrook.
Activities | Scenic walks including the Bibbulmun track, extended Munda Biddi bike trail network, swimming and other water activities.
Accommodation | Bush and lakeside camping
Opportunities
A Greater Wellington National Park provides opportunities to:
- create diverse work opportunities for the local community
- increase visitor numbers; helping to boost tourism dollars for the Preston Valley community and local towns.
- ensure an important part of the Jarrah/Marri forest ecosystem is protected in perpetuity.
- foster Aboriginal cultural activities and employment.
- create a sustainable cluster of outdoor adventure activities including eco-tours, residential education and nature play activities for children, and cultural exchanges for people of all ages.
- enable micro businesses to flourish.
- secure important habitat for threatened bird and mammal species, such as Carnaby`s Cockatoo, Forest Red-tail Black Cockatoo, Brush-tailed Phascogale, Chuditch and the rare mainland Quokka.
- lead on innovative forest and river rehabilitation and research initiatives.
- store millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide in the soil and native vegetation.
- help keep salinity levels in the Wellington Weir under control and improve water and soil quality in the Collie and Preston Rivers.
Our vision is evolving as we talk to people from our community, government and industry organisations. For more details about the current evolution of our vision go to our 'PLAN' page.
This is an initiative of Promote Preston which is a subcommittee of the Yabberup Community Association.
Our aim is to create a prosperous economic future for the residents of Preston River Valley.
