Mining ban leads to creation of five million hectare national park in Western Australia.
A new national park that will be the biggest in the country will soon be created in WA's Kimberley region.
As reported in the Busselton Mail, mining companies Rio Tinto and Alcoa Australia both agreed to give up their rights to mine in the precious wilderness area.
The proposed Kimberley National Park will include 175,000 hectares of land on the Mitchell Plateau.
"The Mitchell Plateau and the Mitchell Falls are spectacular and unique landscapes in Australia and will be the jewels in the crown of the new Kimberley National Park," WA premier Colin Barnett said.
The park will encompass the existing Prince Regent, Mitchell River and Lawley River national parks, as well as new marine parks along the coast.
It's great news for the endangered animals in the region, such as the rough-scaled python, various turtles and the northern quoll.
Wildlife Explorer / Wikimedia Commons
