New national park created on Bunuba Country!

BREAKING: Bunuba Traditional Owners and the WA Government have created the Bunuba National Park in the Fitzroy Valley

In a huge win for the Kimberley’s Martuwarra Fitzroy River, Traditional Owners have created a new national park, which will protect the Bunuba section of the river, Bandaralngarri including Jijidu Dimond Gorge, which has been a proposed dam site for decades.

Covering 220,000 hectares, the new national park will extend from the existing Danggu Geikie Gorge National Park, along the river, north to Dimond Gorge – protecting the gorge from dams and development forever.

Back in 1996, Environs Kimberley was formed when cotton farmers from New South Wales wanted to dam the Martuwarra Fitzroy River to irrigate broadscale cotton crops in the west Kimberley. We joined Traditional Owner groups from along the river in their determined struggle to prevent this from happening. After we stopped the cotton, there were further proposals to dam the river and pipe the water to Perth, which, after years of low rainfall, was running out of water.

Our long campaign in solidarity with TOs has paid off and the river at Jijidu is safe. Threats remain to the lower reaches of the river but for now, we celebrate!

This new national park will safeguard unique landscapes, wildlife,  Aboriginal culture and heritage, while creating sustainable local jobs, like Aboriginal ranger positions and Indigenous tourism. 

This announcement is a major milestone in the delivery of the Labor Government’s 2017 election commitment to create the Fitzroy River National Park and one step closer to their promise to protect the river. 

Today we congratulate Bunuba Traditional Owners for working with the WA Government to create this new national park! Help celebrate this win by sending a message of support to the Premier and Environment Minister. 


Image credit: Adam Monk

Send a message of congratulations to Bunuba Traditional Owners and the WA Government for this historic announcement!

    Dear Premier Cook and Environment Minister Whitby,

    Congratulations to you and the WA Government on partnering with Bunuba Traditional Owners on the creation of the Bunuba National Park.

    Traditional Owners and conservation groups like Environs Kimberley have been campaigning to protect the river from dams at Jijidu Dimond Gorge and the Margaret River Gorge for decades. I am extremely happy that these dam sites are now protected in national parks.

    This new national park is a major milestone in the delivery of the Labor government’s 2017 election commitment to create the Fitzroy River National Park and a step towards delivering on the promise to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.  

    You have my strong support for this conservation achievement as the Bunuba National Park will protect precious Aboriginal heritage and culture, and provide a protection mechanism for a significant stretch of the National Heritage listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River. 

    Bunuba Traditional Owners have been working to protect their Country for decades from large-scale development proposals. Now through this national park, Bunuba people can create sustainable economic development and job opportunities on Country that celebrate culture and the Fitzroy Valley’s unique natural values. 

    I look forward to welcoming the third Fitzroy River National Park on Kija Country in the near future and urge you to continue to work towards protecting outstanding environmental and cultural values of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.  

    Once again, I congratulate the Cook Government for the creation of the Bunuba National Park and for advancing sustainable economic development through joint management with Bunuba Traditional Owners. 

    Yours Sincerely,

    Become a Member
    Make a Donation
    Become a Volunteer