Werakata-Nationalpark
Vorlage:Infobox protected area of Australia Werakata is a national park in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. The park is located to the north, east and south of the town of Cessnock (the park is is separated into three distinct but closely located sections: near Abermain, near Kearsley and near Kitchener/Abernethy).
South of the national park is the separate Werakata State Conservation Area.[1]
History
The Werakata National Park was created on 26 February 1999 with land that had previously been part of the Cessnock State Forest (State Forest No. 874, 1130 hectares). On 1 January 2003, the park was expanded with more land from the former Cessnock State Forest (478 hectares) and also Aberdare State Forest (State Forest No. 981, 531 hectares).[2]
The Werakata State Conservation Area was created in 2007 (with an area of 2,257 hectares).
The Hunter region was inhabited by the Awabakal, Worimi, Wonnarua, Geawegal, Birrpai and Darkinjung Aboriginal tribes, although little is known about Aboriginal use of the area in the vicinity of the park. After European settlement in the 1800s, forestry commenced and sawmills were established in and near area the area of the park (most of the timber going to local mines for pit props). The Cessnock and Aberdare State Forests were declared in 1942 and 1963 respectively and logging continued until the forests were transferred to the National Parks and Wildlife Service.[3]
Flora and fauna
When the park was first gazetted, the Spotted Gum-Ironbark vegetation communities found on the park were identified as being poorly represented in the regional reserve system.
The park is home to several threatened species including:[3]
Other features
- Astills Picnic Area
- Kurri Sand Swamp Woodland.
- Bushwalking (walking up to Tomalpin hill)
- Bicycle trails (leave from Astills picnic area, along Deadmans Trail and return to the picnic area via Gibsons Road).
- An old Forestry Hut (off Old Maitland Road).[4]
See also
References
External links
- National Parks website - Werakata
- Friends of Werakata National Park website
- Flickr Photos of Werekata
Vorlage:National Parks of New South Wales Vorlage:Suburbs of City of Cessnock Vorlage:Hunter Region places and items of interest
- ↑ Werakata State Conservation Area. NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, abgerufen am 21. März 2011.
- ↑ History of Werakata National Park. Friends of Werakata National Park, abgerufen am 19. März 2011.
- ↑ a b , Information and Assessment Section Metropolitan Branch: The Vertebrate fauna of Werakata National Park and Werakata State Conservation Area. NSW Department of the Environment, Climate Change and Water, November 2008, abgerufen am 19. März 2011.
- ↑ Werakata National Park. NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, abgerufen am 19. März 2011.