Conservation reserves of South Australia facts for kids

Conservation reserves of South Australia are special protected areas in the Australian state of South Australia. These are areas of crown land (land owned by the government) that have been set aside specifically to protect nature and important historical sites. This type of protected area has been used since at least 1985. As of March 2022, there were 16 conservation reserves in South Australia. They cover about 193.6 square kilometres (74.73 sq mi). This is less than 1% of South Australia's total land area.

What are Conservation Reserves?

In South Australia, a conservation reserve is a type of protected area. It is crown land that is protected for its natural beauty and cultural history. These reserves are managed under a law called the Crown Land Management Act 2009. This law replaced an older one from 1929.

Conservation reserves are only for land controlled by the government minister in charge. This land is specifically dedicated to conservation. Sometimes, declaring a piece of crown land as a conservation reserve is a first step. It can later become a reserve under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

As of 2016, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources manages these conservation reserves. In 2016, there were fifteen such reserves. They covered a total area of 194.71 square kilometres (75.18 sq mi). This is a very small part of South Australia's land. All fifteen of these reserves are classified by the IUCN as Category VI protected areas. This means they are protected areas where people can use natural resources in a sustainable way.

Current Conservation Reserves (as of June 2016)

The Government of South Australia listed the following conservation reserves in December 2016.

Bernouilli Conservation Reserve

Bernouilli Conservation Reserve (36°58′21″S 139°41′09″E / 36.972430°S 139.685770°E / -36.972430; 139.685770 (Bernouilli Conservation Reserve)) was created on 11 November 1993. It covers 265 hectares (650 acres) of land. You can find it in Cape Jaffa, which is in the state's Limestone Coast region.

Buckleboo Conservation Reserve

Buckleboo Conservation Reserve (32°54′53″S 136°12′52″E / 32.9148°S 136.2144°E / -32.9148; 136.2144 (Buckleboo Conservation Reserve)) was established on 13 September 1990. It is 281 hectares (690 acres) in size. This reserve is located in Buckleboo on the Eyre Peninsula. Its name comes from the old town of Buckleboo.

Bunbury Conservation Reserve

Bunbury Conservation Reserve (36°08′32″S 139°57′33″E / 36.1422°S 139.959160°E / -36.1422; 139.959160 (Bunbury Conservation Reserve)) was created on 11 September 1993. It covers 1,945 hectares (4,810 acres). This reserve is in Bunbury, which is part of South Australia's Murray and Mallee region.

Bunkers Conservation Reserve

Bunkers Conservation Reserve (31°23′55″S 138°50′14″E / 31.3986°S 138.8373°E / -31.3986; 138.8373 (Bunkers Conservation Reserve)) was established on 27 March 2001. It is a large reserve, covering 14,062 hectares (34,750 acres). It is located in the Flinders Ranges area, in the state's Far North region. The reserve is named after the Bunker Range. This land is managed by the Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby Association Incorporated. They help protect the yellow-footed rock wallaby.

Cortlinye Conservation Reserve

Cortlinye Conservation Reserve (33°03′16″S 136°19′26″E / 33.054510°S 136.323990°E / -33.054510; 136.323990 (Cortlinye Conservation Reserve)) was created on 12 November 1987. It covers 208 hectares (510 acres). This reserve is in Cortlinye on the Eyre Peninsula. Its name comes from its past use as the Cortlinye Water Conservation Reserve.

Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve

Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve (35°21′18″S 138°44′15″E / 35.3551°S 138.7375°E / -35.3551; 138.7375 (Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve)) was established on 11 November 1993. It is a small reserve, only 21 hectares (52 acres). It is located in Tooperang. The reserve is named because it is close to the Cox Scrub Conservation Park.

Cunyarie Conservation Reserve

Cunyarie Conservation Reserve (32°56′48″S 136°16′15″E / 32.946590°S 136.270850°E / -32.946590; 136.270850 (Cunyarie Conservation Reserve)) was created on 11 November 1985. It covers 94 hectares (230 acres). This reserve is in Cunyarie on the Eyre Peninsula.

Desert Camp Conservation Reserve

Desert Camp Conservation Reserve (36°28′30″S 140°22′55″E / 36.475090°S 140.381830°E / -36.475090; 140.381830 (Desert Camp Conservation Reserve)) was established on 11 November 1993. It covers 882 hectares (2,180 acres). It is located in Marcollat on the state's Limestone Coast. This is about 65 kilometres (40 mi) north-west of Naracoorte. Its name comes from its closeness to the Desert Camp Conservation Park.

Hardings Springs Conservation Reserve

Hardings Springs Conservation Reserve (36°03′54″S 140°43′55″E / 36.064960°S 140.731920°E / -36.064960; 140.731920 (Hardings Springs Conservation Reserve)) was created on 24 April 1997. It is a very small reserve, only 7 hectares (17 acres). It is located in Sherwood on the state's Limestone Coast.

Lacroma Conservation Reserve

Lacroma Conservation Reserve (33°16′10″S 136°16′50″E / 33.269550°S 136.280440°E / -33.269550; 136.280440 (Lacroma Conservation Reserve)) was established on 14 April 1988. It covers 45 hectares (110 acres). This reserve is in Solomon on the Eyre Peninsula. Its name comes from the nearby Lacroma Water Conservation Reserve.

Moongi Conservation Reserve

Moongi Conservation Reserve (32°53′22″S 136°09′05″E / 32.889550°S 136.151350°E / -32.889550; 136.151350 (Moongi Conservation Reserve)) was created on 13 September 1990. It covers 232 hectares (570 acres). It is located in Buckleboo on the Eyre Peninsula. Its name comes from the old town of Moongi.

Mootra Conservation Reserve

Mootra Conservation Reserve (33°02′52″S 136°25′43″E / 33.047820°S 136.428580°E / -33.047820; 136.428580 (Mootra Conservation Reserve)) was established on 2 March 1989. It covers 949 hectares (2,350 acres). This reserve is in Moseley and Cortlinye on the Eyre Peninsula. Its name comes from its past use as the Mootra Water Conservation Reserve.

Pinkawillinie Reservoir Conservation Reserve

Pinkawillinie Reservoir Conservation Reserve (32°57′33″S 136°07′49″E / 32.95918322°S 136.13018525°E / -32.95918322; 136.13018525 (Pinkawillinie Reservoir Conservation Reserve)) was created on 14 May 1987. It covers 279 hectares (690 acres). It is located in Pinkawillinie. Its name comes from its past use as the Pinkawillinie Water Conservation Reserve.

Poolgarra Conservation Reserve

Poolgarra Conservation Reserve (33°17′52″S 136°05′10″E / 33.297770°S 136.086130°E / -33.297770; 136.086130 (Poolgarra Conservation Reserve)) was established on 28 January 1988. It covers 170 hectares (420 acres). This reserve is in Caralue on the Eyre Peninsula. Its name comes from its past use as the Poolgara Water Conservation Reserve.

Tola Conservation Reserve

Tola Conservation Reserve (33°07′38″S 136°18′54″E / 33.1272°S 136.3151°E / -33.1272; 136.3151 (Tola Conservation Reserve)) was created on 28 January 1988. It is a small reserve, covering 30 hectares (74 acres). It is located in Solomon on the Eyre Peninsula. Its name comes from the Tola Tank Water Conservation Reserve, as it uses part of that land.

Former Conservation Reserves

Some areas that were once conservation reserves have changed their status. This means they are no longer called "conservation reserves." Instead, they have either been added to existing protected areas or become new protected areas under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. For example, the Barwell Conservation Reserve, created in 1993, was added to the Barwell Conservation Park in 2007. Similarly, the Caralue Bluff Conservation Reserve, created in 1993, became the Caralue Bluff Conservation Park in 2012. This shows how protected areas can change over time to offer different levels of protection.

Other Places Called "Conservation Reserve"

There are a few other places in South Australia that include "conservation reserve" in their names, even if they aren't officially gazetted (officially announced by the government) as such.

• Mutton Cove Conservation Reserve is next to the Port River in the suburb of Osborne, near Adelaide. Even though it's often mentioned in official papers, it hasn't been officially gazetted as a conservation reserve. However, the bay itself is part of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary. There's a ship's graveyard here, with old shipwrecks. After a big storm in 2016, the area now floods often. It is also threatened by rising sea levels, which could change the types of plants growing there.

• Nurragi Conservation Reserve is a special kind of protected area. It is a private protected area, meaning it's owned by a non-government group, the National Trust of South Australia. It is located near Milang, Nurragi, and Sandergrove.

• Tennyson Dunes Conservation Reserve is located in the suburb of Tennyson in Adelaide. The Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Ian Hunter, announced its dedication as a conservation reserve in 2015. However, as of December 2016, it had not been officially gazetted.