Western Australia’s Bunbury regional park to be named Kalgulup

The name Kalgulup - which means place of fire in Noongar language - has been identified for a proposed regional park in Western Australia’s greater Bunbury region, which is being created as part of the State Government's Plan for Our Parks initiative.

The name Kalgulup was finalised through consultation with representatives from the Gnaala Karla Booja Native Title Working Group.

The word highlights the importance of fire in supporting life and how stories and wisdom are shared around campfires.

In conjunction with the Kalgulup announcement, the Kalgulup Regional Park draft management plan 2020 is now available for public comment.

The plan will provide guidance for the management of lands by a range of State Government agencies and local governments.

Kalgulup Regional Park is the amalgamation of two proposed regional parks, the Preston River to Ocean and Leschenault regional parks, and will cover more than 3,100 hectares.

The Westrn Australian Government's Plan for Our Parks initiative aims to create five million hectares of new national and marine parks and reserves in Western Australia.

WA Environment Minister Stephen Dawson explains "Kalgulup Regional Park will be formed as part of a bold plan to increase our conservation estate by 20% over five years, enhancing biodiversity and creating more jobs in regional and remote Western Australia.

"This regional park is very significant to Noongar people, and naming the area Kalgulup acknowledges its importance.

"Kalgulup Regional Park will be a stronghold for biodiversity, hosting 14 threatened animal species.

Bunbury MLA Don Punch added "this regional park will become a highly valued community asset that preserves our unique environment for generations to come, and I thank Gnaala Karla Booja for sharing a Noongar name for the park with the broader community.

"Language is an important carrier of culture so it is fitting there is a Noongar name to describe this place and enhance our understanding of our environment and its history.

"I know how important the regional park is to our community and I am looking forward to seeing people out and about enjoying the newly named Kalgulup Regional Park."

The two-month public comment period on the Kalgulup Regional Park draft management plan 2020 which can be viewed here, closes on 15th October 2020.