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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 773 asked in the Legislative Council on 13 August 2020 by Hon Ken Baston

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

RESERVES — SHARK BAY

773. Hon KEN BASTON to the Minister for Environment:

I refer to the information provided on the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' website ''Plan for our Parks'' and to the Gascoyne–Shark Bay region.

(1) Are boundary plans for proposed reserve additions that will substantially increase the area of conservation estate within the Shark Bay World Heritage Property finalised?

(2) If yes to (1), are these boundary plans publicly available; and, if yes, would the minister please table this information?

(3) Are there plans to increase the level of Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' staffing in the Shark Bay region?

(4) If yes to (3), how many extra staff will be required in this region?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1)–(2) The government has provided in-principle approval for the proposed reserves in the Shark Bay World Heritage Property. The boundaries will not be finalised until they are negotiated with the native title parties—Malgana and Nanda people—as part of the Indigenous land use agreement negotiation process, as required under the Native Title Act 1993. Broadscale maps of the proposed reserves are available on the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' website. I table a more detailed map of the current boundary.

[See paper 4098.]

(3) There are plans to increase the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' staffing levels within the Shark Bay district.

(4) Preliminary planning for staff indicates that several positions will be required, including Aboriginal rangers. It is planned to jointly manage the reserves with the native title parties and therefore the final staff numbers will be subject to agreement with Malgana and Nanda people.