Iron Range National Park will expand by more than 7,700 hectares when the Bligh Government today transfers five national parks and adjacent areas on the Cape York Peninsula to the Traditional Aboriginal Owners.

Environment Minister Vicky Darling said today's transfer of Iron Range National Park in northern Cape York Peninsula and four nearby island parks , would bring the number of jointly managed national parks in the region to 11.

"This is a move that now gives the upmost protection to one of the country's largest areas of lowland tropical rainforest," Ms Darling said.

"With the addition of more than 7,700 hectares of the former Iron Range Resources Reserve, Iron Range National Park will now cover an area of more than 53,100 hectares.

"That's protection for this pristine and majestic rainforest and the endangered southern cassowary which makes its habitat in this park.

"The park stretches from the Janet and Tozer mountain ranges to wild beaches and headlands along the coast. It also protects heathlands, rivers, dune systems and mangrove forests.

"It's famous internationally for its rich birdlife, including the eclectus parrot, palm cockatoo and magnificent riflebird and about half of Australia's butterfly species are found in this park, including the endemic theon jewel butterfly.

"And it will be renamed the Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park - Kutini means cassowary and Payamu means rainbow serpent in the language of the Kuuku Ya'u people, the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of this park.

Natural Resources Minister Rachel Nolan said Kutini-Payamu - along with the Piper, Forbes, Quoin and Restoration Island National Parks - would be jointly managed by the State Government and the Northern Kuuku Ya'u Kanthanampu Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC Land Trust.

"Three of these parks will also be renamed - Forbes will become Wuthara, Quoin will become Mitirinchi and Restoration will become Ma'alpiku Island National Park," Ms Nolan said.

"A further 3449 hectares, including two small islands, have been transferred to the Land Trust today.

"The island parks are important for nesting seabirds, including lesser frigatebirds, black noddies and black-naped terns.

"A nature refuge will be declared over 1,661 hectares of that area and will help the Land Trust to protect a range of habitats and wildlife."

Ms Darling said negotiations took several years and resulted in an Indigenous Land Use Agreement, an Indigenous Management Agreement for the joint management of the parks and a Conservation Agreement for the nature refuge .

"I would like to thank the Kuuku Ya'u people and their advisers, the Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation and the Cape York Land Council, for their time in working through the details of this complex set of agreements."

Ms Darling said under the new joint management partnership, the Bligh Government would provide the Land Trust with $175,000 a year for park works and services as well as $10,000 a year for educational support programs.

"This funding will enable further employment of local Aboriginal rangers in these parks.

"Kutini-Payamu has several camping areas - Chili Beach, Cooks Hut, Rainforest and Gordons Creek -- and under the joint management arrangements visitors will be able to enjoy walking and camping in these areas the same as they always have, with no change to beach access.

"A redevelopment project for the Chili Beach camping area and facilities has been identified as the first major joint management project by the government and the Land Trust.

"The redevelopment will provide more campsites for national park visitors and employment and training for Aboriginal joint management partners.

"Our government is committed to continuing its work with Traditional Owners on establishing joint management of all existing national parks on Cape York Peninsula and the creation of new jointly managed national parks in the region.

"The transfer of these parks brings the total area of land transferred to Aboriginal ownership in Cape York to 1,500,716 hectares, of which 871,942 hectares are jointly managed with traditional owners."

Environment

The Honourable Vicky Darling

28/07/2011