Brochure outlining policy on metro parks/reserves

The State Government has put its money where its mouth is in committing itself to protecting environmentally significant parks and reserves in metropolitan Perth.

Planning Minister David Smith today launched a brochure outlining the Planning and Urban Development Department's policy on parks and reserves in the metropolitan area.

"Since DPUD's establishment in 1989, more than $27 million has been spent on buying land for parks and recreation," he said.

"This figure includes the purchase of Araluen in 1990 and Paganoni and Anstey Swamp in 1991."

Mr Smith said $20 million had been allocated to the acquisition and interim management of land in the metropolitan area, including land for parks and recreation.

"This is part of the metropolitan improvement scheme," he said.

"Since 1961, more than $100 million has been spent on buying 15,500 hectares of land for parks and recreation areas.

"The combined reserving and buying of land will soon mean a continuous stretch of 32 km of parkland in the north-west corridor alone."

Mr Smith said the most recent addition to the State's conservation estate was over 850 hectares of land south-west of Perth at Paganoni and Anstey Swamps.

"This will be added to by the excision of environmentally valuable areas in Amarillo," he said.

"The area boasts one of the largest and best natural forest and woodland areas between Perth and Mandurah.

"It is also one of the most important tuart/banksia and wetland areas in the metropolitan region."

Mr Smith said Perth had an extensive system of open space which rivalled that of any city in the world.

"The Government is continuing the tradition of protecting the interests of future generations by planning for the future," he said.

Copies of the new brochure, called 'The Facts About Parks in Dollars and Sense', are available from DPUD, (09) 264-7777.