New Western Australian national park to protect world-renowned Pilbara stromatolites

The Western Australian Government's Plan for Our Parks initiative is creating the Purungunya Conservation Estate to protect internationally renowned carbonate stromatolites that reveal details about the evolution of early life.

The park's creation marks a major milestone for Plan for Our Parks, with four million hectares of new conservation estate created under the ambitious policy.

Located near the majestic Nullagine River, Purungunya Conservation Estate encompasses 163,000 hectares of new national park and 39,000 hectares of new conservation park.

The area has been home to the Nyamal People for tens of thousands of years and is internationally renowned for the 2.7-billion-year-old Meentheena carbonate stromatolites.

The permanent deep pools of the Nullagine River are also important for a range of wildlife species, with the river's large fringing gums providing bird nesting and roosting areas.

Purungunya Conservation Estate will be jointly managed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation, with five full-time equivalent ranger positions created to manage the reserves and one full-time equivalent position funded at NAC.

The area was a pastoral station running sheep and cattle from the early 1900s before being purchased by the State Government for conservation in 1999.