This article on the status of Little Lagoon seeks to dispel some of the myths and misconceptions in the Shark Bay community regarding development proposal in the World Heritage Area and the status of Little Lagoon Reserve. Little Lagoon Reserve (30899), comprising 510ha, is vested in the Shire of Shark Bay for the purpose of recreation. The Shire manages the reserve which surrounds the marine component of Little Lagoon - part of the Shark Bay Marine Park.

In October 1991, following a request by the Shire, the then Department of Transport (DOT) gazetted Little Lagoon as a water ski area. The Council subsequently withdrew support for this activity in 1993 and DOT de-gazetted the area. In addition to fish breeding and nursery habitats in Little Lagoon, it was deemed that motorized  water sports had the potential to conflict with passive uses i.e. swimming, windsurfing, canoeing, picnicking. Motorized watercraft were considered incompatible with activities on the Reserve and were prohibited.

At the time of listing the Shark Bay World Heritage Property in 1991, the gazetted Denham townsite (which did not include Little Lagoon) was excluded from the World Heritage Area (WHA). The nomination document specifically included Little Lagoon within the WHA on the basis of its aesthetic qualities and that the inundated birridas of the Peninsula are an integral part of the World Heritage values. In fact, exclusion of Little Lagoon from the nominated WHA would have meant the Australian obligations to the World Heritage Convention would not be met.

 In March 1994, the Denham townsite boundary was amended at the request of the Shire to include Little Lagoon and the surrounding area. This means that Little Lagoon is within the WHA and also within the townsite boundary. World Heritage Listing - Denham Townsite Development Recent comment and media articles have suggested that World Heritage listing is prohibiting expansion of the Denham Townsite and that all development along Stella Rowley Drive will be subject to a higher that normal level of assessment owing to the inclusion of Little Lagoon in the WHA. This is not correct. The reality is all development proposals in Western Australia are subject to appropriate levels of assessment (regardless of whether or not they are in a WHA). A development attracts a higher level of assessment only if it has the potential to impact on World Heritage values.

The proposed town planning scheme amendment, agreed upon at a recent LandCorp meeting held in Denham, is conservatively estimated to accommodate residential development along Stella Rowley Drive for another 15-20+ years. Therefore, it will be many years before development along Stella Rowley Drive is likely to have any impact on the values of Little Lagoon. World Heritage listing aims to preserve the determined values of an area for everyone to enjoy and appreciate. This includes local residents and international visitors who are attracted to the area because of its unique universal values, which are to be preserved for future generations.