Environment Minister Albert Jacob urges more parents to take kids to see great outdoors

WA kids are too “urbanised” and need to ditch the couch for a tent, according to WA’s Environment Minister. | WIN A NATIONAL PARK HOLIDAY

Parks for People campaign celebrating WA’s National Parks and camping. Albert Jacob with wife Cecylia and their children Joshua (3) and Daniel (18 months) in Yanchep National Park.

WA kids are too “urbanised” and need to ditch the couch for a tent, Environment Minister and father-of-two Albert Jacob says.

His comments come as the Barnett Government announced entry to the state’s national parks would be free over the upcoming WA Day long weekend.

There are about 100 national parks in WA, with 30 of them attracting a $12-a-car entry fee for a day visit.

Mr Jacob said the experiences offered in our national parks were “peerless”, but not enough children were seeing the great outdoors.

“More and more we have become urbanised,” he said.

“There’s more and more recreational options at home – computer games have gone light years ahead from where they were when we were kids and the entertainment options closer to home and in the metropolitan area and in the suburbs are there.

“I want to make sure successive generations actually get a first-hand experience of our national parks, of our nature gems, and the best we can get them to do that is to get them to stay in them.”

Mr Jacob said a lot of West Australians didn’t realise many national parks were “within a day’s drive from the CBD”.

PARKS FOR PEOPLE COMPETITION

The Barnett Government launched a $21 million Parks for People package last year to create more high-quality, low-cost accommodation options.

It will deliver at least 450 new camp and caravan sites at 16 parks across the state.

“Some of our nature experiences that can be offered in our national parks are peerless,” Mr Jacob said. “Where we maybe fell a bit short … is in the quality of facilities and that’s what’s being addressed in the Parks for People program.”

Caravan Industry Association WA chief executive Simon Glossop said the biggest hurdle to visitor numbers at national parks was time-poor families who have stopped taking longer breaks.

“The best way for families to reconnect really is through caravan and camping trips where they get to work together and spend time together,” he said.

Mr Jacob, a former tree surgeon, said upgrades wouldn’t affect the environment.

“If we show that we care, and we’re putting value on what we’re putting in into the infrastructure, I’ve always found that people reciprocate and value the area more as well,” he said.

To celebrate WA’s national and marine parks, The Sunday Times and PerthNow are running the Parks for People photo competition calling on readers to share their favourite picture of a WA national or marine park.

PARKS FOR PEOPLE - Alyssa Gilchrist - Fortescue Falls, Karijini National Park.

Two winning entries are selected each week to experience the best of what WA has to offer – including trips to the Ningaloo coast and a ‘glamping’ adventure at Warren National Park.

This week’s winner was Alyssa Gilchrist with her picture of Karijini National Park.

The Sunday Times and PerthNow picture editor Jackson Flindell said the picture conveyed an “overwhelming feeling of calmness” while also displaying the jaw-dropping beauty of the area.

The runner up was Rebecca Brooks with her snap of a sea lion at Jurien Bay Marine Park.

This week’s top prize is a three-day Bungle Bungle Discovery Tour including a scenic flight over Lake Argyle, a trek along the ancient dry riverbed of Piccaninny Creek and a breakfast in the heart of Purnululu National Park.

Lake Argyle in the Kimberley.

To enter email your pictures to [e-mail] with a subject line

“Parks for People”.

Remember to include your name, address and phone number.

Originally published as Environment Minister Albert Jacob urges more parents to take kids to see great outdoors