All eyes on State Budget for Reece Whitby’s response to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park concerns

Environment Minister Reece Whitby is playing his cards close to his chest in a move key figures fear may be a bluff leading with an empty hand.

The 2024-25 WA State Budget, unveiled yesterday after the Times went to press, would determine whether any direct action was coming to address concerns about the region’s Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.

After the 2021 Calgardup bushfire, an alliance of leaders from the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association and others lodged a six-point plan with the minister focused on the LNNP’s recovery and the prime chance to boost conservation efforts.

Signatories argued the national park was being “loved to death” by 4.7 million visitors per year without any increase in park rangers or efforts to combat weeds, feral animals, or protect beaches from four-wheel-drivers.

Despite those pleas, Mr Whitby has not explained the State Government’s stance on it.

The environment minister has, however, flown to Margaret River to announce $39 million in funding for “ecological thinning” of native forests now protected by Labor’s end to old-growth logging.

The minister then last week unveiled an extra $73m and 56 jobs for the WA Government’s existing Plan for Our Parks that includes advancing joint management with traditional owners in the Great Southern, also sought by the alliance in the Capes region.

None of that money was for Leeuwin-Naturaliste.

The State Government has drip-fed announcements from yesterday’s State Budget leading stakeholders to cross their fingers that significant announcements were coming.

The Government has also poured $16.5m into developing the region’s Wadandi Track, which follows earlier, twice-announced money for minor upgrades and signs for the Cape-to-Cape Track — which punters say needs another $12 million.

And money publicised in last week’s $165m Outdoor Adventure Tourism package included upgrades to campgrounds and access to Contos, Moses Rock, Ellensbrook and Mt Duckworth near Yallingup costed at about $1.2 million.