Our State Government announced new management arrangements for Araluen Botanic Park. I read some of the following points in their media release on the Government of Western Australia's website.

The 60ha park has been transferred to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), from the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC).

The Government feels that DEC had the practical expertise to care for Araluen because it already managed nearby nature reserves.

The park, which has been managed by the Araluen Botanic Park Foundation under a lease agreement with WAPC since 1995. It has 14ha of developed garden beds and a number of heritage buildings and is on the State Register of Heritage Places.

They acknowledged the Foundation's volunteers work and said they hope they will continue their support.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher said the new management arrangement would apply from July 1, 2010 and allow DEC to manage Araluen as a multi-use park.

She said the foundation would be contracted to manage the 14ha developed area of the park while DEC would manage the rest, in a manner that complemented the adjacent Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve.

Just thought all the lovers of Araluen might be interested in the Park's future. I am very happy about the continued connection to Stinton Cascades Nature Reserve which is a very beautiful and high quality Reserve in Roleystone.