Cave control in minister’s hands

The future of Ngilgi Cave now rests in the hands of the Lands Minister after Busselton Council this week indicated its support to relinquish its vesting and to transfer control to the Margaret River Busselton Tourist Association.

MRBTA and its predecessor organisations have leased the site since 1996 and first approached the City in 2011 to negotiate a longer-term lease.

Through the MRBTA’s request, the City learned of an administrative error whereby the management order transferred from the City to the Conservation Commission of WA.

The management order returned to the City earlier this year.

The City has now indicated its support for a final changing of hands, which will involve the MRBTA taking control of the site.

Councillors voted 9-0 on Wednesday night to request the Department of Lands direct the site’s vesting to the MRBTA and for the minister to cancel the City’s management order and issue a new order to the MRBTA.

MRBTA group manager operations Steve Harrison told theTimes a successful outcome would put Ngilgi Cave “in line” with other caves in the region and said the minister had been supportive in recognising MRBTA’s track record in caring for the sites.

“MRBTA is currently vested with the operation, care and conservation of Lake, Mammoth and Jewel Cave and we are proposing to bring the current Ngilgi Cave agreement in line with that, as supported by DPaW (Department of Parks and Wildlife),” he said.

“Being vested with the Ngilgi Cave precinct will enable the MRBTA to invest funds into the care of the cave and upgrading the infrastructure at the site.”

In the council agenda, officers wrote rent currently paid by MRBTA to the city was a “nominal” $10 per annum and pointed to the site’s need for modernisation and upgrades to infrastructure as a reason to hand reins over to the MRBTA.

City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley said the MRBTA was committed to investing in the site’s future and was awaiting the outcome of an application for State funding to upgrade the facility.

“MRBTA has both the expertise and the vision to protect this important natural asset and grow its potential as a top tourism site,” he said.

“The vesting of the reserve would greatly assist them with their future plans for the site.”