Protected areas of South Australia

Protected areas of South Australia consists of protected areas located within South Australia and its immediate onshore waters and which are managed by South Australian Government agencies. As of March 2018, South Australia contains 359 separate protected areas declared under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, the Crown Land Management Act 2009 and the Wilderness Protection Act 1992 which have a total land area of 211,387.48 km² (81,617.16 sq mi) or 21.5% of the state's area.^[1]

Jurisdiction[edit]

The jurisdiction for legislation of protected areas within South Australia and the immediate onshore waters known officially as ‘the coastal waters and waters within the limits of South Australia' belongs to the South Australian government;^[2] the major piece of legislation concerned with the creation and the subsequent management of protected areas is the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Protected areas created by this Act form the majority of South Australia’s contribution to the National Reserve System.^[1][3]

Other state legislation that may create protected areas include the following: Forestry Act 1950, Wilderness Protection Act 1992, Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981, River Murray Act 2003, Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Act 2005, Fisheries Management Act 2007, Marine Parks Act 2007, Crown Land Management Act 2009, Arkaroola Protection Act 2012 and Native Vegetation Act 1991.

While the Australian Government does not have the power under the Australian constitution to legislate for protected areas within South Australia, its treaty obligations and its constitutional responsibilities do permit it to develop policy for protected areas and to enter into agreements concerning protected areas. Examples include nomination of sites under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (also known as the Ramsar Convention) and establishment of agreements for Indigenous Protected Areas.^{[citation needed]}

National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972[edit]

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (also known as the ‘National Parks Act’) is the principal legislation in South Australia in respect to the establishment and management of protected areas; the act uses the term ‘reserve’ in lieu of the term ‘protected area’ while the agency which administers the act generally uses the term 'park'.^[4][5] It is concerned with the establishment and management of reserves, establishment of sanctuaries, conservation of native plants and animals, declaration of protected animals, the management of protected animals in respect to taking, keeping, farming and harvesting, and the control of hunting.^[4]

The act is administered by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW);^[6] as of February 2014, reserves declared under this act totalled 320 with a total area of 19,226,432 ha (47,509,550 acres) or 19.6% of South Australia's area.^[1]

The following types of reserves are listed within the Act: national parks, conservation parks, game reserves, recreation parks and regional reserves.^[5]

National Parks[edit]

National parks are 'areas considered to be of national significance due to wildlife, natural features of the land, or Aboriginal or European heritage';^[5] as of March 2018, the following national parks have been declared:^[7]

Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary[8] Belair Canunda Coffin Bay Coorong Flinders Chase Ikara-Flinders Ranges Gawler Ranges Great Australian Bight Marine Innes Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

Lake Gairdner Lake Torrens Lincoln Malkumba-Coongie Mount Remarkable Murray River Naracoorte Caves Nullarbor Onkaparinga River Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges Witjira

Conservation Parks[edit]

Conservation parks are 'areas protected for the purpose of conserving wildlife or the natural or historic features of the land';^[5] as of March 2018, the following conservation parks have been declared:^[7]

Aberdour Acraman Creek Aldinga Scrub Althorpe Islands Angove Avoid Bay Islands Baird Bay Islands Bakara Bandon Bangham Barwell Bascombe Well Baudin Baudin Rocks Beachport Beatrice Islet Belt Hill Beyeria Big Heath Billiatt Bimbowrie Bird Islands Black Hill Black Rock Boondina Breakaways Brookfield Bullock Hill Busby Islet Butchers Gap Calectasia Calpatanna Waterhole Cap Island Cape Blanche Cape Gantheaume Cape Willoughby Caralue Bluff Carappee Hill Carcuma Caroona Creek Carpenter Rocks Carribie Chadinga Charleston Christmas Rocks Cleland Clements Gap Clinton Cocata Cooltong Corrobinnie Hill Cox Scrub Cromer Cudlee Creek Custon Cygnet Estuary Danggali Darke Range Deep Creek Desert Camp Dingley Dell Douglas Point Dudley Eba Island Ediacara Elliot Price Eric Bonython Ettrick Eurilla Ewens Ponds Fairview Ferguson Ferries-McDonald Finniss Fort Glanville Fowlers Bay Franklin Harbor Furner Gambier Islands Gawler Ranges Geegeela Giles Glen Roy Goose Island Gower Grass Tree Greenly Island Guichen Bay Gum Lagoon Gum Tree Gully Hacks Lagoon Hale Hallett Cove

Hanson Scrub Heggaton Hesperilla Hincks Hogwash Bend Hopkins Creek Horsnell Gully Ironstone Hill Jip Jip Kaiserstuhl Kapunda Island Karte Kathai Kellidie Bay Kelly Hill Kelvin Powrie Kenneth Stirling Kinchina Kulliparu Kungari Kyeema Lake Frome Lake Gilles Lake Hawdon South Lake Newland Lake St Clair Lashmar Lathami Laura Bay Lawari Lesuer Leven Beach Lincoln Lipson Island Little Dip Lowan Lower Glenelg River Maize Island Lagoon Malgra Mamungari Mantung Marino Mark Oliphant Marne Valley Martin Washpool Martindale Hall Mary Seymour Media Island Messent Middlecamp Hills Mimbara Minlacowie Moana Sands Mokota Monarto Monarto Woodlands Montacute Moody Tank Morgan Morialta Mount Billy Mount Boothby Mount Brown Mount Dutton Bay Mount George Mount Magnificent Mount Monster Mount Scott Mount Taylor Mowantjie Willauwar Mullinger Swamp Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Munyaroo Murrunatta Mylor Myponga Nene Valley Nepean Bay Neptune Islands Newland Head Ngarkat Ngaut Ngaut Nicolas Baudin Island Nixon-Skinner Nuyts Archipelago Nuyts Reef Olive Island Padthaway Pandappa Paranki Lagoon Para Wirra Parndana Peachna Peebinga

Pelican Lagoon Penambol Penguin Island Penola Piccaninnie Ponds Pigface Island Pike River Pine Hill Soak Pinkawillinie Point Bell Point Davenport Point Labatt Pooginook Poonthie Ruwe Porter Scrub Pualco Range Pullen Island Pureba Ramco Point Ramsay Red Banks Reedy Creek Ridley Rilli Island Rocky Island (North) Rocky Island (South) Roonka Rudall Salt Lagoon Islands Sandy Creek Sceale Bay Scott Scott Creek Seal Bay Searcy Bay Seddon Shannon Sheoak Hill Simpson Sinclair Island Sir Joseph Banks Group Sleaford Mere Spaniards Gully Spring Gully Spring Mount Stipiturus Swan Reach Talapar Talisker Tallaringa Tantanoola Caves Telford Scrub Telowie Gorge The Dutchmans Stern The Knoll The Pages The Plug Range Thidna Tilley Swamp Torrens Island Troubridge Island Tucknott Scrub Tumby Island Venus Bay Verran Tanks Vivigani Ardune Vivonne Bay Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Wahgunyah Waitpinga Waldegrave Islands Wanilla Wanilla Land Settlement Warren Warrenben West Island Wharminda Whidbey Isles White Dam Whyalla Wirrabara Range Wiljani Wills Creek Winninowie Wittelbee Woakwine Wolseley Common Yalpara Yeldulknie Yulte Yumbarra

Former conservation parks include Cape Hart, Cape Torrens, Investigator Group, Isles of St Francis, Mount Rescue, Mount Shaugh, Naracoorte Caves, Port Gawler and Scorpion Springs and Western River.

Game Reserves[edit]

Game reserves are 'areas set aside for conservation of wildlife and the management of game for seasonal hunting.'^[5] As of March 2018, the following game reserves have been declared:^[7]

Bool Lagoon Bucks Lake Chowilla Currency Creek Lake Robe

Loch Luna Moorook Mud Islands Poocher Swamp Tolderol

Former game reserves include Coorong and Katarapko.^[4]

Recreation Parks[edit]

Recreation parks are 'areas managed for public recreation and enjoyment in a natural setting.'^[5] As of March 2018, the following recreation parks have been declared:^[7]

Anstey Hill Blackwood Forest Brownhill Creek Caratoola Cobbler Creek Granite Island Greenhill

Long Island O'Halloran Hill Onkaparinga River Shepherds Hill Sturt Gorge Totness

Regional Reserves[edit]

Regional reserves are 'areas proclaimed for the purpose of conserving wildlife or natural or historical features while allowing responsible use of the area's natural resources.'^[5] As of March 2018, the following regional reserves have been declared:^[7]

Chowilla Innamincka Lake Frome Nullarbor

Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert Strzelecki Yellabinna

Other South Australian legislation[edit]

Conservation Reserves[edit]

Conservation reserves are a parcels of 'land set aside for conservation of natural and cultural features under the Crown Land Management Act 2009.'^[5] As of March 2018, the following conservation reserves have been declared:^[7]

Bernouilli Buckleboo Bunbury Bunkers Cortlinye Cox Scrub Cunyarie Desert Camp

Hardings Springs Lacroma Moongi Mootra Pinkawillinie Reservoir Poolgarra Tola

As of March 2018, reserves declared under the Crown Land Management Act 2009 totalled 15 with a total area of 19,471 ha (48,110 acres) or less than 0.1% of South Australia’s area.^[1]

Native Forest Reserves[edit]

The Forestry Act 1950 allows for the declaration of forest reserves for ‘purposes relating to the conservation, development and management of land supporting native flora and fauna…’ Native forest reserves are administered by the South Australian Forestry Corporation (trading as ForestrySA) which is a wholly owned state government business;^[9][10][11] as of March 2014, the following native forest reserves which are located in the Southern Flinders Ranges, the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Limestone Coast have been declared:^[11][12]

Bagdad Boolara Burr Slopes South Cave Range Christmas Hill Comaum Congeratinga Coralinga Cudlee Creek Deadmans Swamp Dry Creek Gillap North Gillap South Glencoe Hill Grundy Lane Hacket Hill Hells Hole Honan Honeysuckle Island Swamp Kalumunda

Kangaroo Flat Kay Kennion Kersbrook King Tree Knott Hill Konetta Laslett Little Mt. Crawford Long Malone Heath McRosties Mount Benson Mount Gawler Mount McIntyre Mount Panorama Mount Watch Muddy Flat Nangwarry Native Wells

Overland Track Pond Flat Rock Shelter Rocky Reserve Round Waterhole Snow Gum Springs Road The Bluff The Heath The Marshes The Woolwash Topperwein Tower Hill Wandilo Warreanga Watts Gully Whennen White Waterhole Windy Hill Wombat Flat

Wilderness Protection Areas[edit]

The Wilderness Protection Act 1992 was established in 1992 to provide for ‘the protection of wilderness and the restoration of land to its condition before European colonisation’;^[13] the day-to-day administration of the act is carried out by DEW.^[14] As of March 2018, the following areas have been declared:^[7][15][16]

Billiatt Cape Bouguer Cape Gantheaume Cape Torrens Danggali Hambridge Hincks

Investigator Group Memory Cove[17] Nullarbor Nuyts Archipelago Ravine des Casoars Western River Yellabinna

As of March 2018, reserves declared under the Wilderness Protection Act 1992 totalled 14 with a total area of 1,843,454 ha (4,555,270 acres) or 1.9% of South Australia’s area.^[1]

Protected zones for Historic Shipwreck sites[edit]

The Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981 which is administered by DEW allows for the creation of protected zones over land and water around historic shipwrecks; the following protected zones have been declared:^[6][18][19]

HMAS Hobart Shipwreck Reserve

Zanoni Shipwreck Reserve

River Murray protection area[edit]

The River Murray Act 2003 which is administered by DEW has provision for ‘the protection and enhancement of the River Murray and related areas and ecosystems’.^[6][20]

As of September 2010, the following protection areas have been designated:

• The floodplain of the River Murray within South Australia including Lake Alexandrina, Lake Albert and the Coorong.
• The watershed of the following tributaries arising from the east side of the Mount Lofty Ranges - Marne, Bremer and Finniss rivers.^[21]

Aquatic reserves[edit]

The following areas have been declared under the Fisheries Management Act 2007 (SA). Aquatic reserves which are managed by the Department of Primary Industries & Regions (PIRSA), were 'established to protect the habitat, ecosystems and communities of the rich variety of underwater organisms found in the marine and estuarine waters of South Australia'. Aquatic reserves are considered to be IUCN Category II protected areas.^[22][23]

American River Aldinga Reef Bales Beach Barker Inlet-St Kilda Blanche Harbour-Douglas Bank Coobowie Whyalla - Cowleds Landing Goose Island

Great Australian Bight Marine Park Whale Sanctuary[24] Point Labatt Port Noarlunga Reef Seal Bay St Kilda – Chapman Creek Troubridge Hill West Island Encounter Bay Yatala Harbour Upper Spencer Gulf

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary[edit]

Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (ADS) is a sanctuary area intended to protect the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) population residing in the Port Adelaide River estuary and Barker Inlet as well as protecting and enhancing the Port Adelaide River estuary and Barker Inlet; the sanctuary was declared under the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Act 2005 and is managed by DEW.^[6][25][26]

Marine parks[edit]

Marine parks are marine protected areas located within the immediate onshore waters of SA set aside under the Marine Parks Act 2007 (SA) 'to preserve the biological diversity of the state's coastal, estuarine and marine environments while allowing ecologically sustainable use of the area's natural resources.'^[5] As of December 2013, the following marine parks have been declared:^[27]

Arkaroola Protection Area[edit]

The Arkaroola Protection Act 2012 which commenced operation on 26 April 2012 was created to ‘establish the Arkaroola Protection Area; to provide for the proper management and care of the area; and to prohibit mining activities in the area’; the protection area which is located 600 km (370 mi) north of Adelaide includes the Arkaroola Pastoral Lease and the Mawson Plateau part of the Mount Freeling Pastoral Lease. The former lease which has not been stocked for over 30 years is operated for the purpose of conservation and tourism under the name, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary; the protection area is reported as satisfying the definition of a "category II National Park".^[28][29]

Native vegetation heritage agreements[edit]

A native vegetation heritage agreements, usually known as a heritage agreement, is a legally binding agreement between a landowner and the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Conservation where the landowner agrees to protect native vegetation in perpetuity. In return, the Minister may agree to reduce statutory fees such as local government rates or offer assistance in term of funding of works such as fencing or provision of expert advice to ‘protecting and improving the conservation value of the heritage agreement area’;^[30] the enabling legislation is the Native Vegetation Act 1991. Land covered by heritage agreements is considered to meet IUCN Category III; as of February 2014, 1537 agreements in respect to 634,242 hectares (1,567,250 acres) of land within SA or 0.64% of the area of SA have been entered into between landowners and the minister.^[12] A notable example is the Gluepot Reserve.^[31]

Australian government[edit]

World heritage site[edit]

As of March 2015, Naracoorte Caves National Park is the sole World Heritage Site located in South Australia, it was co-listed under the name “Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte)” with Riversleigh located in Queensland during 1994 in recognition of the fossil assemblages present at both sites which are considered to be a “superb illustration of the key stages of evolution of Australia’s unique fauna”.^[32]

Ramsar sites[edit]

As a contracting party to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (known as the Ramsar Convention), Australia is encouraged ‘to nominate sites containing representative, rare or unique wetlands, or that are important for conserving biological diversity, to the List of Wetlands of International Importance’;^[33] as of March 2014, the Australian Government has nominated the following Ramsar sites within South Australia:^[34]

• Banrock Station Wetland Complex
• Bool and Hacks Lagoons
• Coongie Lakes
• Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland
• Piccaninnie Ponds Karst Wetlands
• Riverland

Indigenous Protected Areas[edit]

An Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) is a voluntary agreement between owners of indigenous owned land (known as traditional owners) and the Australian government which is intended to ‘promote biodiversity and cultural resource conservation on indigenous owned land’;^[35] as of March 2014, there are six IPAs in existence within South Australia:

• Antara-Sandy Bore^[36]
• Kalka-Pipalyatjara^[37]
• Mount Willoughby^[38]
• Nantawarrina^[39]
• Watarru and Walalkara^[40]
• Yalata^[41]

Biosphere reserves[edit]

Two biosphere reserves belonging to the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve program are located within South Australia - the Mamungari Conservation Park and the Riverland Biosphere Reserve.

The Mamungari Conservation Park in western South Australia which was formerly known as the Unnamed Conservation Park is co-managed by its traditional owners and DEW.^[42]

The Riverland Biosphere Reserve is located in the Riverland near Renmark. Two of its components are Calperum and Taylorville Stations which were respectively purchased by the Chicago Zoological Society in 1993 and the Australian Landscape Trust in 2000 with the ownership being deeded to the Director of National Parks. Both properties are managed by the Australian Landscape Trust.^[43][44]

See also[edit]

Protected areas of Australia Friends of Parks List of protected areas in Adelaide

National Parks and Wildlife Service (South Australia) Great Australian Bight Marine Park

Privately held reserves in South Australia[edit]

Bon Bon Reserve Boolcoomatta Reserve Buckaringa Sanctuary Dakalanta Sanctuary Gluepot Reserve Kalamurina Sanctuary

Moorunde Wildlife Reserve Nurragi Conservation Reserve Secret Rocks Nature Reserve Watervalley Wetlands Witchelina Warrawong Sanctuary Yookamurra Sanctuary

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Parks SA homepage, formerly the National Parks and Wildlife Service
• Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) Fisheries Aquatic reserves and marine parks
• DEW Maritime Heritage homepage

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