Creation of Mt Lesueur national park

Environment Minister Bob Pearce today announced the creation of Western Australia's 60th national park at Mt Lesueur, near Jurien Bay.

The 27,500 hectare park was approved during the last session of Parliament and will be gazetted this week.

Mr Pearce visited the park today to unveil the first sign proclaiming Mt Lesueur National Park.

"Mt Lesueur has long been recognised as an area of State, national and international significance for nature conservation," he said.

"However, the creation of a national park was not automatic because of large coal deposits under the eastern section of the area and proposals for an open cut mine.

"After careful consideration, the Government decided Mt Lesueur's environmental significance was so great mining could not be permitted."

The area contains 821 flora species or 10 per cent of the State's known flora. These include seven species of declared rare flora and nine species found nowhere else in the world.

Mt Lesueur also has a diverse fauna with at least 15 mammal, 124 bird, 48 reptile and nine frog species.

"Its rugged terrain makes it an area of high scenic value," Mr Pearce said.

"The area is largely free of dieback disease, which has the potential to devastate much of the flora," Mr Pearce said.

"The creation of the Mt Lesueur National Park will allow the Department of Conservation and Land Management to manage the area to protect susceptible flora.

"These and other issues will be addressed in a draft management plan for the park to be prepared by CALM."