The Western Australian government has declared a new 1,000-hectare national park at Mungada Ridge in the Midwest to help protect its ancient landscape and rare plant and animal life.
Mungada Ridge, 200 kilometres south-east of Geraldton, is home to banded iron formations that contain some of the oldest rock formations in the world.
The national park lies in the heart of Midwest iron ore mining country and has been the target of miners seeking to mine iron ore in the region.
In 2014, the Environmental Protection Authority rejected a proposal to extend an iron ore mine into Mungada Ridge and recommended the banded iron formations be protected in the reserves system.
They are now the first mostly intact banded iron formations in the region to be protected within a national park.
Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the Environmental Protection Authority was currently considering another nearby iron ore mining application, but it was outside the new national park borders.
He described the park as an "incredible part of the state".
"The fact that we can establish a new national park that locks in this stronghold of rare species and rare environment is a wonderful thing."
Healing people and country
The national park is on Yamatji country and will be jointly managed by the Bundi Yamatji Aboriginal Corporation, the Conservation and Parks Commission, and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservations and Attractions.
Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation joint management project officer Megan Boddington said she was excited her people would be involved in safeguarding their country.
"As a Noongar and Yamatji lady myself, I see the importance of having our people work on the land," she said.
"It's really exciting times.
"It's all new at the moment but, as we start rolling and get things happening and get the rangers out on country, it's going to be a special journey not just for myself as the project officer on it but for the families of the culture committees and all traditional owners of Yamatji Nation."
