Rubbish removal marks start of rehabilitation of E Rockingham park

28/10/97

The first stage in the rehabilitation of a newly-proposed conservation park within the East Rockingham Industrial Park has begun with the removal of rubbish and abandoned cars.

The 171ha section of land, bordered by the Mundijong-Kwinana railway line and the proposed Fremantle-Rockingham Highway alignment near Leda, was set aside for a conservation park in April after a recommendation by the Kwinana Industries Coordination Committee, chaired by the Department of Resources Development.

The area includes wetlands and fringing banksia-jarrah woodland degraded by clearing and vehicle access. It overlaps the boundaries of both Kwinana and Rockingham.

Addressing the Directions for Industry Conference today, organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Town of Kwinana, Resources Development Minister Colin Barnett said the Department of Conservation and Land Management had begun negotiations to finalise the creation of the conservation park. The park extends the buffer area between the nearest residential development at Leda and the East Rockingham Industrial Park (IP14) to almost two kilometres.

Mr Barnett said the conservation project would take place over three years and included the revegetation of cleared farming land, closing vehicle tracks, rubbish removal, fauna and flora studies, and the building of walkways and information points.

"The creation of a high quality conservation park within the industrial area will be of great benefit to the local community," he said.

"The people of Kwinana and Rockingham, and local and State government agencies, have been working hard over recent years to improve the environment in the area and maximise the industrial estate.

"The creation of the conservation park is in line with recommendations in the Towards Optimising Kwinana report and will improve the quality of life for the people of Kwinana and Rockingham and guarantee the continued viability of the world-class industrial estate."

Mr Barnett said the industrial area produced about $8 billion worth of products each year, or 10 per cent of the State's output. More than 25,000 workers depend on the ongoing success of the Kwinana industrial area.

"Implementing the recommendations in the Towards Optimising Kwinana report will ensure Kwinana remains an important and environmentally-responsible industrial estate," he said.

The conservation park will be managed by the Department of Conservation and Land Management which is seeking to vest the area in the National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority.

Media contact: Justine Whittome (08) 9222 9699