Six-step plan for forest fire recovery

With access to Calgardup fire-affected areas expected to be restored in the coming days, community leaders are foreshadowing a deep sense of public concern will arise from the extent of damage to local native forests. Boranup Forest and the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park are each known for their high cultural, historical and ecological values, and are recognised as important environmental and tourism assets. Both have sustained significant fire damage including loss of wildlife, habitat, age-old forestry growth, as well as impact to the underlying caves network. Augusta Margaret River Shire President Paula Cristoffanini said she wanted people to know that key agencies were moving swiftly to coordinate rehabilitation and ongoing protection of the area. “The Shire has been meeting with representatives from the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, Undalup Aboriginal Association, and Nature Conservation Margaret River Region to create a six-point recovery plan for the fires,” she said. “We have collectively sought support from the State Government to assist with funding and we can report that our draft concept plans have been well-received. “We are immensely grateful to the incumbent Ministers for their show of support to date and thank them for recognising the value this area holds to so many people.” The six-point plan includes the following key outcomes area:   A Recovery Plan for Boranup Forest & the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park

Joint Aboriginal management of the National Park in perpetuity to ensure the Park benefits from ongoing full involvement of traditional Wadandi skills and knowledge, and builds employment Resources to restore and sustain the Park to ensure that the entire Park has sufficient resources to be fully restored to good health and then maintained in that condition, free of weeds and feral animals Reinstatement of the Nindup Plain, including privately held Blue Gum plantations to recognise the pivotal ecological role of the Nindup Plain, the need to sustain subterranean water flows, the fact that the part of the Nindup Plain within the Park boundary has been destroyed to protect flora and fauna (including Stygofauna, Western Swamp Tortoise and Geocrinia), and to embrace the imperative for an east-west corridor now that native logging is to cease Visitor facilities, education & management to re-imagine tourism and visitation in the Park to provide for curated, informed, primarily non-motorised future enjoyment and appreciation of the Park, its significant natural values and beauty as well as its significant Aboriginal and European heritage values, and to adequately manage the significant pressures of being the State’s most-visited Park Future fire management to augment where appropriate regional fire-fighting equipment, protection and support, and to introduce and trial traditional Wadandi burning to the Forest now that the fuel load has been eliminated Financial sustenance for businesses whose income will be significantly affected by the fire including Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association to provide support to tourism-related businesses/individuals who are reliant on the Forest for income.

Signatories include: - Paula Cristoffanini, Shire President, Shire of Augusta Margaret River - Stuart Hicks, Chairman, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association - Dr Wayne Webb, Wadandi Elder, Undalup Aboriginal Association - Dr Ann Ward, Chair, Nature Conservation Margaret River Region   “Our whole community has experienced a significant loss of a much-loved and highly valuable forestry,” Cr Cristoffanini said. “Many of us will feel heartache and sense of grief over the devastation. “Let us harness that feeling and create opportunity to rebuild, restore, rehabilitate and create even better management of the localities into the future. “It is so important for us, and for future generations to come.” A decision to fund the six-point plan remains pending. The community leader signatories will continue to share information, including impact statements, to the State Government to inform their position on the matter.