New Pilbara National Park to be jointly managed by DBCA and Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation

The Purungunya Conservation Estate, a new 163,000ha park near Nullagine River, represents a significant advancement in both First Nations land management and environmental conservation in the Pilbara. Home to the Nyamal people for tens of thousands of years, the Purungunya area is internationally renowned for its 2.7 billion-year-old Meenthena carbon stromatolites. Scientific study of these ancient structures reveals crucial information on the early conditions of our planet, including the development of the Earth’s atmosphere and biosphere. Essentially, they offer a glimpse into the origins of life and the conditions under which it first flourished. The new park will benefit from joint management between the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation. Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Troy Eaton highlighted the historical significance of the park’s establishment for his people. “It is actually a journey in a Nyamal history page, that’s something that we can actually contribute to, to have a say and have an impact on what happens on this country moving forward,” Mr Eaton said. The partnership will support the creation of six full-time jobs in the region, including five full-time equivalent ranger positions and one position funded at the Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation. Mr Eaton noted that the positions will allow the Nyamal people to be “more dialled in, and get more people active in our community”. Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the binding nature of the agreement meant the Nyamal people had “the ability to manage and protect this country now in perpetuity”. He also stressed the importance of the park’s establishment for the State Government due to its contribution to the Cook Labor Plan for our Parks initiative, which aims to create five million hectares of new national parks across WA. The now-protected land is also crucial for preserving local biodiversity, safeguarding threatened species such as the Pilbara leaf-nosed bat, northern quoll and bilby. Mr Whitby highlighted the Pilbara’s captivating complexity. “I think people in Perth think of the Pilbara as a very flat, arid environment, they think of a very hot inhospitable place,” he said. “But inland here we see the beautiful Nullagine River, with its beautiful paperbarks and gum trees.” “It really is a spectacular landscape.”