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Yandi Mia (Karri Bowl)

Description

This project is led by the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

The proposed Karri Bowl site is in the Leeuwin – Naturaliste National Park in the vicinity of Giants Cave and the Karri Forest to the south, in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.

While photographs of the karri forest are frequently used and shared, the experience currently lacks curation, quality and safety, and fails to interpret the stories and significance of this ecologically important and unique forest area.

Key factors in this include:

Hazardous conditions

  • Located on a tight curve on Caves Road with double lines
  • Inadequate pedestrian provision
  • An uneven forest floor creates trip hazards in the absence of defined walkways
  • And an overall lack of a curated experience for the visiting public

Inadequate visitor experience

  • A single small viewing platform in place
  • Not served by any recognised walk trails
  • Inadequate parking
  • No interpretation
  • No visitor amenities

Objective

To create a world class elevated forest walk at this unique, highly visited and photographed forest setting and, in doing so, celebrate the deep cultural history and outstanding environmental values of the Boranup forest, and the broader Leeuwin – Naturaliste National Park.

Scope of Work

In order to achieve the project objective, DBCA has envisaged that it will be necessary to undertake work in four key areas, which would combine to create a world-class visitor precinct and forest experience.

  1. Interpretive visitor hub and facilities
  • New interpretive centre to introduce visitors to the forest and surrounds
  • New trail head for the Boranup forest walktrails
  • Curated and managed access to the forest via a state of the art elevated forest walk
  • Improved access to the Caves within the area, including Giants Cave and Brides doline.
  1. Interpretation throughout precinct
  • Aboriginal history and culture (Wadandi people have lived in this location for over 50,000 years as evidenced at nearby Devils Lair Cave)
  • European history and timber industry history
  • Forest, flora and fauna
  1. Walking track access
  • Exploration of potential to improve alignment of the Cape to Cape track for walkers to experience the forest, campsites and the Wadandi (rails to trails) track
  1. Safety improvements
  • Exploration of potential to realign of a dangerous section of Caves Road in accordance with WA Main Roads’ priority to improve safety, removing motor vehicles from the vicinity of the precinct

Karri Bowl is a potential node of the region’s Unbeaten Tracks initiative, which is a longer-term plan to interconnect the region’s walking, cycling and riding tracks.

Project status

  • DBCA is continuing to plan this project and consult with stakeholders