“Surely there is a place in our hearts and minds and in our world for a few wild and free coastal places”

The Fitzgerald River National Park is in part wilderness and biosphere which I walked with a group from the Perth Bushwalkers Club in April 2006. In a knee jerk reaction to the knee jerk reaction to the unfortunate situation in Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun due to the BHPBilliton mine closure in early 2009 and really shows little thought on the part of the Western Australian Government. It seems from this press release dated December 17, 2009 that Colin Barnett who it seems incapable of recognising good past decisions (e.g., footy stadium report) and his own government’s bad “announcements” is now pressing ahead with the planned road through the park, possibly in a face saving move, i.e., we made a stupid announcement now we must stick with it. Funny how they can change their mind when it suits.

Premier Colin Barnett has welcomed $20million in matched funding from the Federal Government to complete a tourist road through the Fitzgerald River National Park.

The announcement follows the State Government’s concept in January and a commitment of $20million in November for the full length of the road from Hopetoun to Hamersley Inlet and associated car-parks; day visit facility upgrades (lookouts, barbecues, shelters and walkways); and camping facilities at the inlet.

Part of the project will include a tourist walk trail.

“I am pleased the Federal Government has joined the State to help deliver this significant project,” Mr Barnett said.

“It will allow the building of a similar stretch of road from Bremer Bay on the western side. It is intended the project will have a 40km hiking trail connecting the two, which will be great for ecotourism.

“Equipment will arrive soon and work will begin by the end of January next year – just under six weeks away.

“With the closure of BHP Billiton’s nickel operations and the loss of 1,500 jobs, Ravensthorpe has had a year that that community will never forget. This Government has stood by the community and looked at ways to improve its fortunes.

“We maintained services, and Government employment in the local school and in health care. We allocated $5million to the Shire of Ravensthorpe so they could maintain some of their programs and some of the investments and infrastructure they had responsibility for.

“The ministers for Regional Development and Energy announced a $3million project to build a new independent power supply for Ravensthorpe and that is already having an effect on the expansion plans of businesses which can now undertake work with a reliable power supply.”

Construction along the route from Hopetoun to Hamersley Inlet and other facilities is expected to be completed by mid-2011.

Having walked for eight days from one side of the Fitzgerald River National Park to the other I can understand the Friends of Fitzgerald River National Park objections to the proposal and support them. There is appropriate vehicle access to the outskirts of the park at various points including access to semi-wilderness areas, whale watching and climbing of some peaks.  This approach allows the biosphere to be protected from vehicles and “mass” access, leaving in the inner areas to be access by more experienced walkers and of course respecting the wilderness values by having no infrastructure.

The Friends of Fitzgerald River National Park are

vigorously opposed to the proposed road from Bremer Bay to Hopetoun through the national park wilderness area and are developing strategies to counter the threat. ‘Friends’ president Andy Chapman said, “Although apparently supported by the highest levels of government the proposal is a knee jerk reaction to the unfortunate situation developing in Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun due to the BHPBilliton mine closure and has not been thought through. There are very serious environmental threats attached to the proposal to construct a highway quality road including: the likelihood of dieback introduction; impacts on pristine catchments, of which there are hardly any left in south-western WA; impacts on rainfall run-off and infiltration; and impacts on rare flora certainly and rare fauna probably. In addition the impacts of increased vehicle use and people on fragile coastal environments has to be considered”.

‘There are also serious engineering constraints including the requirement to build four major bridges and an unknown number of minor ones as well as the requirement to acquire an enormous volume of die back free road making material from distant sources”.

“Surely there is a place in our hearts and minds and in our world for a few wild and free coastal places”.

Please seriously consider supporting the Friends and other groups in their opposition to the road and please let the Premier know your views via the media release comments feature.

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Tags: Fitzgerald River National Park
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BOOKS and WEBSITES

Bibbulmun Track

Bibbulmun Track – Aushiker pages on same.

Bibbulmun Track Foundation (Formerly Friends of the Bibbulmun Track) – A good website focused on the track. Provides excellent advice on walking the track (FAQ); accommodation guides amongst other material.

Brampton, J. & Maher, M. (1998). A guide to the Bibbulmun Track northern half: Kalamunda to Donnelly River Village. Como, WA: Department of Conservation and Land Management. (ISBN 0 7309 6874 X).

Day Tripping the Bibbulmun Track – A personal website focused on day tripping on the Bibbulmun Track. Includes day walk track reports and photos.< Introduction to the Bibbulmun Track – Author’s brief diary of this end to end.

John Chapman – Bibbulmun Track – John Chapman is a noted Australian bush walker and author of numerous bush walking books. In these pages, John shares his experience of walking the track and provides advice for other’s planning to walk the track.

Brampton, J., Maher, M., & Keating, A. (2002). A guide to the Bibbulmun Track southern half: Donnelly River Village to Albany (2nd Ed). Kensington, WA: Department of Conservation and Land Management.

Cape to Cape Track

Cape to Cape Track – Aushiker’s pages on same.

Friends of the Cape to Cape Track. A very good website focused on the track.

John Chapman – Cape to Cape Track – John Chapman is a noted Australian bush walker and author of numerous bush walking books. In these pages, John shares advice on walking the track.

Scott, J. & Forma, R. (2008). The Cape to Cape Track guidebook: Incorporating the Meelup Trail. (4th ed). North Fremantle, WA: Cape to Cape Publishing. (ISBN 978-0-9803337-1-8),

Scott, J. (1999). Walking the capes: Twenty-one walks in and around the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Fremantle, WA: Cape to Cape Publishing. (ISBN 0 646 68414 7).

Other Pack Carry Walks and Trails

Chapman, J. & Chapman, M. (1988). Bushwalking in Australia. South Yarra, VIC: Lonely Planet Publications (ISBN 0 86442 007 2).

• Describes two Western Australian walks – The Stirling Circuit in the Stirling Ranges and Nuyts Wilderness Area in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park.

Coastal Plains Walk Trail – The Coastal Plains Walk Trail is a 55 km trail located in the northern outer region of the greater Perth metropolis. It starts within the Yanchep National Park and ends in the Melaleuca Park, west of Bullsbrook (northeast of Wanneroo). The trail is fairly well established, with four campsites (Shapcotts, Ridges, Moitch, and Prickly Bark).

Fitzgerald River National Park – Probably considered the hardest walk in the South-West of Western Australia, the walk described here is a variation of the walk published in Forests on Foot. As described here, it is a seven day walk from Four Miles Beach at the eastern end of the Park to Quaalup Homestead at the western end of the park. The walk follows the coastline (beaches), overgrown 4WD tracks and compass bearings. There is no defined track despite suggestions to the contrary

Klinge, S. (2000). Classic walks of Australia. Sydney, NSW: New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd. (ISBN 1 86436 5498).

Meney, K. & Brown, P. (1985). Forests on foot; 40 walks in WA. Perth, WA: Campaign to Save Native Forests. (ISBN 0 9589269 0 5).

• No longer in print but may be accessed at the State Library of Western Australia

Morphet, A. T. (1996). Mountain walks in the Stirling Range – Part 1. Capel, WA: Torridon Publications.

Morphet, A. T. (1996). Mountain walks in the Stirling Range – Part 2. Capel, WA: Torridon Publications.

• Part 2 describes the Stirling Ridge Walk.

Local and Short Walk Trails

Department for Planning and Infrastructure – Details of the department’s walking program.

Gough, D (Ed.). (1992). Perth outdoors: A guide to natural recreation areas in and around Perth. Como, WA: Department of Conservation and Land Management.

Swan Valley and Perth Hills Trails: This website site features over 40 nature walks, bike and bridle trails in the Swan Valley and Perth hills. An excellent resource.

Swan Valley and Perth Hills Trails Discovery Guide (2005). Belmont, WA: Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council.

• This is the book which goes with/compliments the Swan Valley and Perth Hills Trails website.

WalkGPS: Bushwalks in the Perth Region, Western Australiaprovides descriptions for more than 50 one day walks, most of which are less than 100km from the city of Perth in Western Australia. Route maps, waypoints, links to satellite imagery, and over 700 photos are included within 120-plus web pages.

Related Resources

Action Outdoors Association is a non commercial, volunteer run, multi-activity club for adults which offers fun, fitness and friendship.

Aushiker Yahoo! Group: Excellent Western Australian resource on bushwalking here in Western Australia. Discuss bushwalking with other locals.

Bunbury Bushwalking Club – No further information available.

Bushwalkers of Western Australia (Inc).

Department of Enviornment and Conservation Parks and Recreation. CALM also maintains a live bulletin of up-to-date news on Bibbulmun Track conditions, maintenance etc., which can be printed or emailed to yourself or a friend. Just follow the link above and then click on “Track conditions and Other News.”

Great Walk Networking meets twice most years during the April and October school holidays and hosts a ten day long fully supported bushwalk and travelling community event.

Holland, J. (1999). A guide to priceless campsites & rest areas in the north of Western Australia. Canning Vale, WA: Priceless Publishing.

Holland, J. (2001). A guide to priceless campsites & rest areas in the south of Western Australia. (2nd Ed.). Canning Vale, WA: Priceless Publishing.

• The author/publisher can be emailed at campsite@start.com.au if you are having trouble locating a copy.

Perth Bushwalkers Club

West Australian Family Bushwalking Club Inc

Western Australian Rogaining Association

Western Walking Club Inc

MAPS

There are two main publishers of topographical maps within Western Australia. They are Landgate and the Department of Conservation and Environment (DEC). In addition the Australian mapping agency, National Mapping also publishes some maps of interest. Contact details for these agencies are reproduced below along with the details of the main map shops in Perth.

Department of Conservation and Environment
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Phone: (08) 9442 0300

DEC produce the Land Management Series of maps (1:50 000).

Landgate
1 Midland Square
Morrison Rd (Corner Great Northern Hwy)
MIDLAND WA 6056

Located within walking distance of the Midland train station. See Transperth timetable – Midland Line.

National Mapping
Scrivener Building
Dunlop Court, Fern Hill Park,
BRUCE ACT 2617

National Mapping’s main Perth agencies are the Perth Map Centre, The Chart and Map Shop and Landsgate.

Western Australian Atlas (WALIS)

From the about page: “WALIS is developing the Western Australian Atlas to be the premier web mapping tool for Western Australia. The WA Atlas is the only reference tool available where users can create their own maps from a wealth of Western Australian information.”

Map Retailers

Perth Map Centre
900 Hay Street
PERTH WA 6805
Phone: (08) 9322 5733

Located in the city. A good source of maps, guide books, atlases etc. One stop shop.

The Chart and Map Shop
14 Collie Street
FREMANTLE WA 6160
Phone:

Located within walking distance of the Fremantle train station. See Transperth timetable – Fremantle line.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

South West Coach Lines – Servicing the south West of western Australia

Transperth operate the bus and train services within the Perth metropolitan area.

Transwa (Western Australian Government Railways) provide a limited train service and a comprehensive bus service serving the southern half of Western Australia.

Taxies. A number of companies provide taxi services in WA. For a listing, do a search in the Yellow Pages.

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Tags: Bibblumun Track,Cape to Cape Track,Coastal Plains Walk Trail,Fitzgerald River National Park,Walk Trails
Categories: Hiking, Walk Trails
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