FLINDERS RANGES NATIONAL PARK

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (16:29): I move:

That this house requests his Excellency the Governor to make a proclamation under section 27(3)(b) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 to exclude sections 52 and 53 in deposited plan 90825, Out of Hundreds (Parachilna), from the Flinders Ranges National Park.

The purpose of this motion is to excise these parcels from the Flinders Ranges National Park. Under section 27(4) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, an alteration to the boundary of the Flinders Ranges National Park requires a resolution of both houses of parliament and a subsequent proclamation by the Governor.

The Flinders Ranges National Park is located between the townships of Hawker and Blinman, 450 kilometres north of Adelaide. The national park is renowned for its natural and geological significance and is a major part of the South Australian identity. Sections 52 and 53, which are to be excised, are located on the extreme northern boundary of the Flinders Ranges National Park and make up less than 1 per cent of the national park's total area. The sections under discussion are located within the Deadmans Bore region of the Flinders Ranges National Park.

Previous environmental assessments of this area have concluded that the land systems are relatively degraded from a conservation perspective and otherwise well represented elsewhere in the park, therefore will not impact the park's quality if removed.

This parcel, which is approximately 411 hectares in area, is proposed to be abolished from the national park and formally included in the Gum Creek Station pastoral lease. This is a more appropriate tenure for the land. In return for the land to be included in the Gum Creek Station pastoral lease, 423 hectares of land have been surrendered from the station to be proclaimed as an addition to the Flinders Ranges National Park. This land will be managed by the Flinders Ranges National Park Co-management Board under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

The land to be included in the Flinders Ranges National Park is located adjacent to the Aroona campground. It is a valuable contribution to the national park and contains significant intact biodiversity and landscape values. This excision has been supported by the Flinders Ranges National Park Co-management Board and the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association. I commend this motion to the house.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (16:31): I rise to support this motion as well and to point out that, very importantly, as well as being agreed to by all those who have an interest in the Flinders Ranges National Park, including the government and including the local Adnyamathanha people, it is also agreed to by the pastoral lessees at Gum Creek Station and, of course, their involvement and their agreement to this is as equally important as anybody else's. I have spoken with Mr and Mrs Bill and Jane McIntosh from Gum Creek Station. They certainly agree with this land swap. It is a very similar amount of property with regard to the area and, as the Minister for Tourism has pointed out, a sensible swap with regard to land type, and they certainly agree with this swap.

Motion carried.