MEDIA RELEASE 6 April 2009

Endangered sea turtle program and Infrastructure Developments

In another important development, Gnaraloo Station secured an Australian Government grant in 2008 to launch its ongoing Gnaraloo Marine Turtle Survival Program to support the conservation of endangered and vulnerable turtles at Gnaraloo. The program is jointly managed with the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC).

“This is a local environmental issue at Gnaraloo of international conservation significance,” Karen Hattingh said.

Applications were received from all over the world to join the Gnaraloo Turtle Tracker Team 2008/09 and participate with the Station’s turtle beach monitoring program.

During November 2008, Gnaraloo Station recruited two Australian marine science graduates from Perth’s Murdoch University to undertake the daily turtle track monitoring under the guidance of Ms Hattingh. The season-end results of the program will be provided to DEC for inclusion in its databases on Ningaloo turtles.

Gnaraloo Airport Strip Developments

Gnaraloo Station also secured contributory grants during 2007/08 from the State and Australian Governments for its proposed upgrade of the Gnaraloo Airstrip to allow the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) to access the area on a 24/7 emergency basis. Gnaraloo Station will make financial and in-kind contributions to the works.

“Depending on the condition of the unsealed road from time to time, it is a three hour trip from Carnarvon to Gnaraloo,” Paul Richardson said. “The RFDS was unable to access Gnaraloo on a number of occasions since 2006 due to seasonal weather events such as cyclones, flooding or heavy rain making the road impassable. This latest development will be reassuring news for all visitors to the Gnaraloo coastline.”

A number of the stone cabins at the Homestead area, left unfinished by the previous owner of Gnaraloo, are near completion to be available to visitors during the 2009 winter wave season at Gnaraloo.

More information:

Paul Richardson, Gnaraloo leaseholder

Tel: 08 9942 5927 or

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www.gnaraloo.com