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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-04-07 Daily Xml
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NATIONAL PARKS

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:46): My question is directed to the Minister for Environment and Conservation. Minister, what significant additions have recently been made to South Australia's reserve system that will further protect South Australia's unique biodiversity?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (14:46): I thank the member for Ashford and again reinforce the point that I made yesterday about her attention to environmental matters and also her outstanding stewardship of the Natural Resources Committee on behalf of the parliament.

Today, I am pleased to draw to members' attention that the state has been gifted two significant additions to its public reserve system. Commodore Station is a perpetual lease pastoral property located in the Flinders Ranges, abutting the north-western boundary of the Flinders Ranges National Park, and South Australians have been gifted a unique 26 square kilometre parcel of scenic rangeland.

This stunning area—and I know, Madam Speaker, that you are very familiar with that area—includes scenically impressive range country and steep gorges and forms part of the great iconic landscape of the Flinders-Olary region which is recognised nationally and, indeed, internationally for its rich Aboriginal history and culture, its geological history and its impressive fossil remains.

On behalf of all South Australians, I would like to thank the owners of Commodore Station, Mr Ian McAuley and Ms Carola Cox, for their generous donation and for maintaining the rangeland in such outstanding condition. It is important to note that the government is currently in negotiation with the Adnyamathanha people regarding indigenous land use and co-management agreements for the Flinders Ranges National Park. With finalisation of negotiations, when that occurs, this generous land gift will also come under the co-management arrangements once they are finalised.

Some members would be aware that South Australians are also the beneficiaries of a gift of 16 hectares of land located adjacent to Salt Creek and the Coorong lagoon. This land has been most generously donated for inclusion in the Coorong National Park by Mr Christopher Legoe QC as a gesture of respect for the late author, Mr Colin Thiele. The member for Fisher is acutely aware of this and actually went down there at the time of a ceremony recognising that event. Of course it has only just been proclaimed, as we are aware.

Most members will know that Colin Thiele chose the beautiful Coorong as the setting for some of his best literary works, many having achieved worldwide acclaim and admiration. The Coorong National Park was first proclaimed in 1996 and, with this recent land addition, the park now comprises an area of 48,991 hectares.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: 1966.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Did I say 1996? Tom has corrected me and I thank him very much for that. I thought you were going to talk about The Sun on the Stubble as well as Storm Boy, but—

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: Sorry, Madam Speaker. This land addition—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: You're of the vintage to remember The Sun on the Stubble because you would have done it at school. I am not being disrespectful because we are the same vintage.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Yes; it's an outstanding book. This land addition includes a significant portion of the riparian zone abutting Salt Creek and supports potential food sources and with—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: I'm not going to bite, Madam Speaker. The riparian zone abutting Salt Creek supports potential food sources for the nationally endangered orange-bellied parrot. This land also includes suitable habitat for the vulnerable rufous bristlebird and the rare beautiful firetail.

The Hon. J.D. Hill: Can you impersonate it?

The Hon. P. CAICA: We have squawking parrots on the other side; I'm not going to do any form of impersonation. These additions to our state's reserve system also form significant parts of the Flinders-Olary and River Murray-South East NatureLink corridors which aim to connect nature conservation and restoration efforts on both public and private lands across landscapes. Within these corridors South Australian species and ecosystems will be better able to survive, evolve and adapt to environmental changes, including changes arising from climate change impacts.

I would like to once again to acknowledge and thank the McAuley family and Mr Legoe for their generous donations. South Australians will now be to enjoy even more wonderful scenic areas which will be conserved for the benefit of generations to come.

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