THE state’s environment department has flagged expanding Canunda National Park and Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park.
Tabled at this week’s Grant District Council, the Department for Environment and Water has proposed proclaiming 29ha on the north eastern side of Pelican Road.
The proposed addition to the Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park comprises land owned by the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation and is situated in the primary production zone.
Department for Environment and Water protected areas manager Jason Irving said in correspondence to council the proposal mooted the addition of 29 hectares to the Carpenter Rocks National Park.
“Its addition will protect virtually the entire known range of Carpenter Rocks gum” Mr Irving said.
Additionally, he said the sedgeland and surrounding dense mallee heath provide critical habitat for a number of threatened species, including the nationally vulnerable swamp antechinus and Kangaroo Island pomaderris.
“Proclamation of these areas as park will provide the appropriate legislative protection for the biodiversity values of the land,” Mr Irving said.
Meanwhile, the proposed additions to Canunda National Park is about 389ha in the hundreds of Kongorong and Mayurra.
“The proposed additions are of high biodiversity value, comprising seasonally inundated swampy areas adjacent Lake Frome and coastal shrubland communities on the Admella Dunes south of Lake Bonney,” Mr Irving said.
These areas are critical habitat for a number of nationally threatened species including swamp antechinus, curlew sandpiper and red knot.
Both national parks are located on the coast near Beachport.
