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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-05-13 Daily Xml
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Watchalunga Nature Reserve

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Can the minister inform the chamber about the official opening of Watchalunga Nature Reserve and its importance to the local ecology?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Recently, I had the pleasure of officially opening the Watchalunga Nature Reserve. The land was purchased by Nature Foundation SA as part of their ongoing efforts to preserve and protect native flora and fauna.

Watchalunga comprises approximately 92 hectares, I am advised, of low lying Fleurieu Peninsula swamp at the mouth of the Finniss River. It makes up quite a significant part of the approximately 500 hectares of the remaining Fleurieu swamp area in South Australia that is listed as a critically endangered ecological community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) of the federal government (the commonwealth). It is also located within the Coorong, Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert Ramsar site.

I am sure that everyone in this chamber will be aware of and very proud of the work undertaken by Nature Foundation SA, with a long established and productive working partnership with the state government aimed at protecting South Australia's natural biodiversity. The foundation and the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources have collaborated in the past to purchase land at Boolcamatta, Witchelina, Hiltaba, Cygnet Park and South Buckland Lake. This year, Nature Foundation SA is supporting DEWNR in the purchase and protection of land adjacent to Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park in the South-East.

The purchase of these land areas contributes to the government's strategy of expanding South Australia's protected areas to improve the long-term sustainability of our environment. Nature Foundation SA plays a very significant role in saving, protecting and restoring South Australia's natural biodiversity by purchasing and managing land of significant conservation value and restoring it to a more natural state. In this way, Nature Foundation protects threatened species, builds wildlife corridors and provides a base from which scientific studies can be undertaken.

The organisation has independently purchased and will manage Watchalunga—a beautiful and highly biodiverse area. The land supports numerous important indigenous species, including a population of the southern emu-wren—a species which is considered nationally endangered—and the vulnerable southern bell frog as well as the great egret—a migratory bird species protected, again, under the EPBC Act. It also supports significant vulnerable flora, including the state rare white purslane—a herbaceous, low-growing, multi-stemmed plant—and Gahnia filum, a thatching grass which makes up the sedge land in drainage lines and depressions, which is considered very important to the biodiversity values, particularly for the wildlife.

We must acknowledge and thank the previous owners of the property—Mrs Elaine Poyntz and her family—for taking such great care to preserve the area's biodiversity. They were indeed very proud to be at the opening and talking about the history of the land. Indeed, Mrs Elaine Poyntz will still occupy some high land from which she can look down on this wonderful area—well, it wasn't a donation, it was purchased, but I think it was purchased at a very, very reasonable price, and we thank her for that.

While the Nature Foundation have, as I say, independently purchased the reserve, they are working with many dedicated groups who are committed to protecting this highly significant area. I understand that the foundation has greatly appreciated the support from the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority Aboriginal Learning on Country program, particularly with respect to weed control, planning and fencing work.

The Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Group has also provided vital technical expertise and knowledge about the area. I should say that I think the Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Group send regular emails to honourable members, and they are usually very informative. I am also particularly pleased when I see their emails talking about local species that have been found again after many, many years of being thought extinct or absent from the local area.

The Conservation Council has coordinated important ongoing research at the property, I am told. By collaborating with these and other partners, the foundation continues to improve and share our knowledge of the Fleurieu swamp system. The health of the swamp system is critical to a healthy ecosystem and biodiversity, and the knowledge gained on the Watchalunga Reserve will contribute to recovery planning for many, many important species.

I would like to congratulate Nature Foundation SA for taking up a very rare opportunity indeed to protect a freshwater wetland in good condition, especially because there are precious few examples within the existing protected area. I also again congratulate all the groups involved in the event on 21 March for their ongoing contribution to the protection of our biodiversity. Finally, again, I would like to congratulate the Poyntz family and Mrs Elaine Poyntz for their far-sighted vision and their very keen desire to work with Nature Foundation to hand over land that they have kept in very good condition for the benefit of the state and the long-term future.

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