Protection of Range

HELENA AND AURORA RANGE (BUNGALBIN)

ACTIONS TAKEN AND EVENTS SINCE DECEMBER 2017

Traditional Owners submitted their Marlinyu Ghoorlie Native Title Claim application in December 2017 - includes Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin.
Updated and reprinted the Bungalbin Brochure - now available at Shires and Vistors Centres in Merredin, Southern Cross, Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie.
Presentation of paper: Balance: mining and conservation by Brian Moyle at the Goldfields Environmental Conference in Kalgoorlie on 16 May 2018.
Two additional rare endemic plants on Helena and Aurora Range were added to the Threatened Flora List in January 2018: Lepidoseprma bungalbin and Acacia shapelleae (Parks and Wildlife, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions).
Helena and Aurora Range website was upgraded and re-launched with new pages presenting "Bushwalks on the Range" in October 2018.
Event Public Forum for Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin was held on 30 November 2018.
Meeting with the Minister for Environment Stephen Dawson's Advisors in February 2019.
McGowan Labor government announces its 'Plan for Our Parks' initiative in February 2019, which includes a proposed Helena Aurora National Park.
Traditional Owner's Marlinyu Ghoorlie Native Title Claim application was accepted and registered with the Nationasl Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) in March 2019. Currently going through the process of Determination.
Meeting with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in July 2019 in regard to WA government's initiative, Plan for Our Parks, and the proposed Helena Aurora National Park.
Made submissions to the Plan for Our Parks in August 2019, supporting the proposed boundary for the Helena Aurora National Park.
Meeting with Minister for Environment's Advisors, Darren Forster and Shaun Meredith 15 February 2019
Die Hardy Range was added to the Plan for Our Parks initiative as a potential new national park.
Stage 1 of creating the proposed Helena Aurora National Park was announced as completed on 2 February 2021, where Mt Manning Range Nature Reserve was changed from nature reserve to Class A national park status.
Article published in Western Australian Bird Notes (BirdLife WA newsletter) "Helena and Aurora Range one step closer to becoming a national park" in February 2021.
Mining company seeks support from Traditional Owners for an iron ore exploration and mining on Mt Manning Range, 2018-2021.
Marlinyu Ghoorlie NT claimants voted not to support exploration & mining on Mt Manning Range (... that Mt Manning Range not be excised from Stage 2 of proposed Helena Aurora National Park) at their Native Title Group Meeting in May 2022.
Exploration License applied for by mining company over Mt Manning Range (within the proposed Helena Aurora National Park, part of government's Plan for Our Parks initiative) was refused by the Minister for Mines (under section 111A of the Mining Act 1978, WA) in September 2022.
Cook Labor government introduced the Reserves Bill 2023 to WA Parliament to add 145,000 ha (includes Mt Manning Range and Helena and Aurora Range Conservation Parks) to the Helena Aurora Range National Park on 11 October 2023.
Reserves Bill 2023 passed successfully through Legislative Assembly on 7 November 2023 and Legislative Council on 16 November 2023, and signed by the Governor on 28 November 2023.
ABC Radio News - Emily Smith reported on the proposed Helena Aurora Range National Park story, 30 November 2023.
Cook Labor government announces the successful completion of the Plan for Our Parks initiative on 2 January 2025.
Federal Court Judge O'Byrne, recognised the Marlinyu Ghoorlie Native Title claimants as the Traditional Owners of their claim area (an area from Mukinbudin to Kalgoorlie), and dismissed other Aboriginal group's claims to a connection to parts of this area - in court on 19 December 2025.
The negotiations and drawing up of an agreement between the Traditional Owners of Bungalbin (Helena and Aurora Range) and the State government, the signing of this agreement, followed by the registration of this agreement (with the Native Title Tribunal on 27/11/2025) - occurred over the period 2022-2025.
Reserves Act 2023 section 7 (Amendment to Reserve 48470) - Commencement Proclamation 2026 published on 15 April 2026 (on WA legislation website). The Reserves Act 2023 came in to operation the day after this published proclamation.
Land Administration process still to be completed - May 2026

SOME HISTORY OF INITIATIVES AND ACTIONS PRIOR TO 2017 - TO SAVE THE RANGE

Government of Western Australia initiatives and actions that were taken towards the conservation and protection of Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin - including providing scientific information (e.g. Department of Environment and Conservation; Environmental Protection Authority) that have highlighted the high conservation values of this Banded Ironstone Formation (BIF) range:

Biological surveys conducted on Helena and Aurora Range by the WA Museum, Department of Conservation and Land Management (now Parks and Wildlife within the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions). These surveys were essential to define the conservation values of the Helena and Aurora Range for flora and fauna. Landform and landscape were also suggested to be a conservation factor. (for more detail view Biological Surveys and Conservation History).
Helena and Aurora Range was vested within a Conservation Park in 2005 as part of the Mt Manning reserve management system, which has on some levels provided the Range some protection, although Conservation Parks allow mining (see Conservation History).
The value of Banded Ironstone Formation (BIF) ranges on the Yilgarn Craton was reviewed and documents published in; May 2007 (EPA Bulletin 1256) Advice on areas of the highest conservation value in the proposed extensions to Mount Manning Nature Reserve, and in August 2008 (Government of Western Australia) Strategic review of the Conservation and Resources Values Banded Ironstone Formation of the Yilgarn Craton.
The cumulative impacts of development of the BIF ranges in the Goldfields and Midwest were highlighted by the EPA Annual Report 2012-2013: Pressure point: Banded Iron Formation Ranged, Yilgarn Craton. The following statement was made at the conclusion of this section of the annual report:

"The EPA is concerned that, after almost 40 years of recommending conservation of the highest value ranges, there remains a significant imbalance between development and conservation of these unique landscapes and the species they support. Given the significant biodiversity values of the Helena Aurora Range, ... the EPA is adopting a presumption against any further development for those parts of the range that are within the conservation park identified in the government's framework for the Mt Manning region." (EPA Annual Report 2012-2013)

Community of Western Australia Initiatives and actions focused on three objectives:

to have Helena and Aurora Range (Bungalbin) gazetted as a Class A Reserve and National Park,
to raise community awareness of the magnificent natural heritage values of Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin.
to gain agreement from the mining community, financial institutions and government that Helena and Aurora Range (Bungalbin) is a No Go area for mining,

Included NGOs: Helena and Aurora Range Advocates (HARA), Wildflower Society of Western Australia (WSWA), The Wilderness Society (TWS), Toodyay Naturalists' Club, BirdLife Western Australia (BirdLife WA), BirdLife Australia, West Australian Family Bushwalking Club, Toodyay Historical Society, and others.

Also included the Traditional Owners: Kalamaia Kapurn People (Marlinyu Ghoorlie Native Title claimants)

Information sources for Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin

Facebook page: Helena & Aurora Range

Website: helenaaurorarange.com.au

Highlights of actions and initiatives taken by the community of Western Australia from 2010 to December 2017*.

Helena and Aurora Range Advocates Inc. (HARA), formed in 2010.
Facebook page Helena & Aurora Range, launched in 2010 (HARA).
Recognition of the importance of Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin within the Great Western Woodlands
Organising annual campouts to Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin (TWS)
Website helenaaurorarange.com.au, launched in December 2012 (HARA).
Video Helena and Aurora Range - jewel in the crown, launched in September 2013 (HARA)
National Park proposal for Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin, launched in October 2013 (TWS, WSWA, HARA)
Screening of Helena and Aurora Range jewel in the crown video at Perth outdoor Cultural Centre screen
Presentaion of paper Helena and Aurora: Too precious to Mine at the Goldfields Environmental Management Workshop in May 2014, by Brian Moyle (WSWA)
Advertisement in Kalgoorlie Miner (TWS, BirdLife WA)
Walk from Buckland to Bungalbin by Greg Warburton July 2014 (with support from Historical Society of Toodyay, Toodyay Naturalists’ Club, HARA)
Video of Buckland to Bungalbin launched (HARA)
Members of the Public made submissions on what the level of assessment they (individuals and groups) considered the J5 and Bungalbin East mine proposal should be assessed at. A total of 1,004 submissions from the public were received.
Helena and Aurora Range Art Fest at Perth Town Hall in February (TWS event)
Members of the Public made submissions on the J5 and Bungalbin East PER (Public Environmental Review), 5 September to 31 October 2016.
Video - Romolo speaks out for Helena and Aurora Range (TWS).
Members of the Public contacted their local MPs about their concerns for the protection of Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin during 2016.
Videos - Brian Champion, Elder of the Kalamaia Kapurn People speaks out for the protection of Bungalbin; from Kalgoorlie in October 2016 and from Bungalbin in November 2016.
Aboriginal Materials and Culture Bureau (AMC) registered seven sacred sites on Bungalbin in December 2016.
Opinion piece in The West Australian by Mark Henryon on 7 January 2017.
Letters to the Editor in The West Australian and Kalgoorlie Miner throughout 2017 by members of the public.
Cinema Advertisement during March 2017 at Garden City and Inaloo cinema complexes.
Crowd Funder to support campaign in April 2017 (TWS).
"birdsyoulove" page for Helena and Aurora Range launched in April 2017 - an invitation for people to say what they loved about the Range and why they wanted to see it protected. (BirdLife Australia).
Video - Helena and Aurora Range Ridge Walk launched on 2 May 2017 (WA Bushwalking Club).
Video - Helena and Aurora Range our WA Treasure - a drone perspective launched on 27 June 2017.
Production of Bungalbin Brochure including access map for how to get to the Range.
Online Petition, July to December 2017 (TWS).
Call to email or phone Minister Dawson: birdlife.good.do July-December 2017 (BirdLife Australia).
A5 booklet published for the Range, sent to Politicians, Shires, Visitor Centres and those supportig the Range (TWS, HARA, WSWA, WAFBC, BWA).
Campout at Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin, in September 2017, attended by 70 people (TWS).
Photos of individuals holding "I support a National Park for Helena and Aurora Range" poster - including Peter Garrett sent to Minister Stephen Dawson, November-December 2017.
Release of Helena and Aurora Range Science Statement, signed by 56 scientists, on 6 November 2017.
Helena and Aurora Range Stall held at the Perth 4WD & Adventure Show, 10-12 November 2017 (WA Family Bushwalking Club, Wildflower Society WA, HARA, TWS, BirdLife WA).
Release of second edition of National Park Proposal for Helena and Aurora Range, Bungalbin at Picnic at Hyde Park event on 24 November 2017.
Petitions tabled in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council at various times.

* December 2017 was when the WA Labor government made its decision not to allow mining on Helena and Aurora Range (Bungalbin). When the Range was saved from mining.