New national park named Alwal declared on Cape York Peninsula
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 13:48 
Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius) image by TheGirlsNYA NEW national park has been declared on Cape York Peninsula covering an area home to endangered parrots and rare rock-wallabies.
The 42,500-hectare park, west of Cooktown, was named Alwal National Park at a ceremony on Wednesday.
Acting Environment Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the park was a significant nesting ground for the endangered golden-shouldered parrot.
She said it also was home to the endangered red goshawk bird and the rare Cape York rock-wallaby.
"It features diverse landscapes from sandstone escarpments, low hills and seasonal wetlands to patches of vine thicket, and protects the upper reaches of Morehead River and its tributaries ...,'' Ms Palaszcuk said.
She said traditional owners and Queensland's department of environment and resource management would jointly manage the park.
A second property on Cape York, covering 37,000 hectares, has also been handed back to traditional owners under Wednesday's agreement and will include a 2,700-hectare nature refuge.
Ms Palaszczuk signed off on the agreement on Wednesday, saying it was another milestone for indigenous land rights and another win for conservation in Queensland.