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Rockingham Lakes Regional Park is actually a network of areas in Rockingham, that together form a significant recreation and sanctuary zone in what is otherwise a highly urbanised area.
The park covers a total area of 4270 Ha.
The park stretches from Port Kennedy to Cape Peron along the coast and reaches inland to the wetlands of Lakes Cooloongup and Walyungup, Tamworth Hill, Tamworth Hill Swamp, Anstey and
Paganoni Swamps.
Probably the best known part of the park is Cape (or Point) Peron. This has traditionally been a popular holiday and day use destination for generations of people but it is now under threat from
developers who are hell-bent on replacing the natural bush land with marinas and canal developments that will be the preserve of the rich.
Find out more about the threat to Cape Peron.
The area contains rare and endangered species as well as a host of plants and animals that seek sanctuary from the ever encroaching housing developments.
The park rests on a globally unique land formation known as the Rockingham-Becher Plain. This is a consistently developed beach ridge plain and is one of the best examples of its type in the world.
Tuart, jarrah and marri trees can all be found in the park and the diversity of vegetation means that the area has a high conservation value.
Lake Richmond contains a community of thrombolites. These are similar to the more famous Stromatolites found in Hamelin Pool in the
Shark Bay area. The lake is unusual in the area as most other lakes are shallow. Richmond can reach depths of 15 metres and this means is has not (yet) dried up during the
summer months.
Lake Richmond is currently the area most under threat due to the proposed development at Cape Peron. The lake was originally salt-water but in 1968 drains were put in place that had the effect
of reducing salinity. The lake supports three types of fish, native freshwater tolerant, exotic and surprisingly, sea mullet.
More than 100 bird species use the park with several species being protected by international agreements. Frogs, long necked tortoise, reptiles and native marsupials all live in the park making the
conservation value of the area very high indeed.
NPW Website for more information
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