Submitted: Friday, Jun 20, 2008 at 13:29

The Department of Environment and Conservation is preparing a draft management plan for the Northern Yilgarn Conservation Reserves and is inviting the public to comment on the issues paper prepared for the area.

Located 70 to 200km north east of Southern Cross, the Northern Yilgarn Conservation Reserves include the Mt Manning Range Nature Reserve, Helena and Aurora Range Conservation Park, Jaurdi and Mt Elvire, former pastoral stations (proposed conservation parks), banded ironstone formations and other proposed reserves.

The management plan will define objectives and strategies that will guide the day-to-day management of the Northern Yilgarn planning area, which includes existing and proposed reserves, over the next 10 years.

The issues paper highlights the key values, issues and threats to the area, which will need to be considered in the management plan.

With its impressive ranges and distinctive eucalypt woodlands, the Northern Yilgarn is known for its outstanding beauty and is popular for camping, day visits and 4WD trips. It has significant natural values including high biological diversity, rare flora and fauna and many sites of cultural interest.

It is also valued for mineral resources, including banded ironstone formations which were the subject of the State Government’s ‘Strategic Review of the Conservation and Resource Values of the Banded Iron Formation of the Yilgarn Craton’ last year.

That review provided guidance for a balanced approach to mineral resources development and conservation in the banded ironstone formations of the region.

The Northern Yilgarn Issues Paper, updates on the planning process, and information on how to comment are available on Have Your Say or contact Kym Pearce at DEC Goldfields Region in Kalgoorlie on 9080 5555.

Tags: 4WD, Thoughts
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