The draft plan is now out for three months public consultation via the State Government’s YourSAy portal.
The parks of the central Fleurieu Peninsula are situated between the townships of Yankalilla, Ashbourne and Victor Harbor. There are 15 parks within the region, including the Hindmarsh Valley National Park, which was proclaimed in 2021.
The strategies outlined in the plan were developed by the Department for Environment and Water with input from First Nations people, key stakeholders, park managers and technical experts.
The parks have similar ecological and geographic features and are subject to similar issues. Establishing one management plan will allow a consistent approach to biodiversity conservation and public visitation across the area.
Some of the parks in the region contain the Fleurieu Peninsula Swamps, which are listed as critically endangered under the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
There are 119 plant species and 37 animal species within the parks that are listed as threatened under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.
National Parks and Wildlife Service Executive Director Mike Williams said he welcomed and encouraged input from the public on the future management of this area.
“Their views will help us to develop a strong and adaptive strategy for the whole of the area,” Mr Williams said.
“This approach will help strike the balance between continuing to provide opportunities for visitor access and conserving the area’s many threatened species.”
The plan sets out a strategy for conserving the region’s native flora and fauna, particularly its endemic and threatened species.
Many of the parks contain walking trails and other opportunities for visitor access. A strategy for continuing to provide low-impact opportunities for recreational experiences is also outlined.
Feedback received will be considered during the development of a final plan. Once complete, the final plan will be adopted under Section 38 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.
To have your say visit: https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/park…
Submissions close on Monday 28 August.