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Proposal for Mary River National Park

(Darwin)

The Mary River National Park draft plan has been released.

Parks and Wildlife Minister Karl Hampton said the draft Plan outlines the future management of the Park in line with its cultural, biodiversity and tourism values.

"Joint management allows us to better care for our parks and reserves by combining traditional and contemporary land management knowledge," Mr Hampton said.

"This is a step in the right direction as the visitor experience is enriched and opportunities are provided to Traditional Owners to strengthen their important cultural influence of the region."

To enhance the visitor experience, key proposals include:

An elevated platform and/or elevated walkway, potentially at Couzens Lookout; and
Developing access and camping facilities within the McKinlay Sector of the Park.

Located 100km east of Darwin, Mary River National Park covers 112,000 hectares stretching from Adelaide River in the west to the East Alligator in the East.

"More than 20,000 people visit the Park each year which is home to vast floodplains considered to be of international significance and one of the Territory?s most important parks for biodiversity," Mr Hampton said.

"The varied ecosystems of the Park support several threatened species, such as the Mertens? Water Monitor and the Yellow Chat.

"The Park also supports high numbers of mature saltwater crocodiles and is often touted as one of the best places in the Territory to see large crocodiles."

The Park is jointly managed with the Limilngan and Unwinymil Traditional Owners and management of the Park is subject to the terms of an Indigenous Land Use Agreement and the Joint Management Plan, once it becomes operational.

The Draft Plan will be open for public comment until 1 October 2011.

Go to www.nt.gov.au/consult for more information or to provide public comment.