The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has announced that a 423-hectare portion of land, located south of Hindmarsh Tiers Road on the Fleurieu Peninsula, has been transferred from SA Water and is to be proclaimed as a new national park.
DEW said the national park would become an ecological haven for threatened native animals and plant species as well as an adventure-tourism destination for mountain biking and hiking.
Minister for Environment and Water, David Speirs said the national park was yet to be named and it was expected to be proclaimed later this year.
Mr Speirs said it was the first step in a $3 million project focused on delivering conservation and recreation outcomes in the Hindmarsh Valley.
He said the project included the imminent transfer of land at Aldinga Washpool; the recent proclamation of Nilpena Ediacara National Park; the creation of Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta (Adelaide’s second metropolitan national park); and the proposal to create Australia’s biggest national park – Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert.
“Once all of our changes take effect we will have more than doubled the area protected by national parks from 3.90 million hectares to 7.86 million hectares,” Mr Speirs said.
The Minister said the Hindmarsh Tiers area provided habitat for the nationally-endangered southern brown bandicoot; the chestnut-rumped heath-wren; the southern emu-wren; nationally-vulnerable bassian thrush; and the critically-endangered western pygmy possum.
He said it was also the location of nationally critically-endangered Fleurieu Peninsula Swamps and three species of endangered plants which were only found in the Hindmarsh Valley area including the Hindmarsh Valley greenhood (Pterostylis bryophila); Mount Compass oak-bush (Allocasuarina robusta); and Hindmarsh Valley correa (Correa calycina var. calycina).
Mr Speirs said mountain bike and walking trails were expected to be constructed in the new park, avoiding environmentally sensitive areas.
Further information on the new national park can be accessed at this PS News link.
