Water Park Creek, Byfield

North of the Iwasaki Resort is the Byfield area. Of high environmental value it was sought by conservationists as a national park. In October 1987 Premier Bjelke-Petersen proposed to make it an environmental park under the management of the Iwasaki Sangyo Corporation. The Capricorn Conservation Council, and the National Party’s State Conference strongly opposed a proposal clearly in conflict with the view that national parks belong to the people. When Bjelke-Petersen left the Conference early, it enshrined the national park and called for a register of foreign land holdings. The park has been expanded and Corio Bay, with Shoalwater Bay, has been declared a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. Waterpark Creek, Byfield. Collection of Carol Gistitin.