FLINDERS RANGES NATIONAL PARK

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:58): I move:

That this council 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 the 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 will require a resolution of both houses of parliament and a subsequent proclamation by the Governor.

The Flinders Ranges National Park is located 450 kilometres north of Adelaide. The park is an iconic South Australian landscape and known for both its geological and cultural significance. The land to be excised from the park (sections 52 and 53) is located on the park's northern boundary. I am advised that it comprises 411 hectares, and this land covers less than 1 per cent of the national park's total area. The sections are within the area identified as Dead Man's Bore, and my advice is that they are considered to be of low conservation value to the park.

Environmental assessment of this area has concluded that the systems are relatively degraded and otherwise well represented elsewhere in the park. Once excised from the park, it is intended that these land parcels be included in the Gum Creek Station pastoral lease. Given the lack of conservation value of the parcels, this is a more appropriate tenure and use for the land. In return, Gum Creek Station has surrendered 423 hectares of land from their pastoral lease to be included in the Flinders Ranges National Park.

Once proclaimed as an addition to the park, the additional land will be managed by the Flinders Ranges National Park Co-management Board under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Land to be included in the Flinders Ranges National Park is located adjacent to the Aroona campground. It will be a valuable contribution to the national park, and my advice is that it 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, and I commend the motion to the council. I understand that we contacted officers and honourable members back in July, flagging this, and again in September. I am not quite sure whether we are prepared to go ahead with it, so I will stop.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (16:01): This is one of two motions which proposes to add bits and exclude bits from existing national parks. Flinders Ranges National Park obviously is an iconic national park in South Australia and is world renowned. I support the comments of the minister in relation to the purpose for which these alterations are being made; in doing so, I would like to thank the member for Stuart, Mr Dan van Holst Pellekaan, for his advice that he is also satisfied. I understand that he has spoken to the lessees and that they, too, are supportive of this move.

Motion carried.