MANY enjoy the tranquillity of Mount Gambier’s Valley Lake Conservation Park, but none more than those who have helped shape the natural wonderland.
First established in 1967 as a wildlife park, the area’s focus shifted significantly in 2010 following drought conditions, with Mount Gambier’s Orazio Culteri spearheading a push towards conservation projects.
Mr Culteri worked alongside Natural Resources South East to establish an area where Yarra Pygmy perch fish could be bred due to their original habitat becoming decimated.
“That is when my students and I went through and saw this pond,” Mr Culteri said, referring to a water source in the heart of the reserve.
“We thought it would be a possible starting point.”
Since that singular discovery, passion and determination took over to shift the focus of the park toward conservation.
Now, the area is its own small ecosystem with many animals calling the secure area home.
Koalas, long-nosed potoroos, as well as bandicoots, echidnas, a multitude of lizards and everyone’s favourite kangaroos can be found within the secure reserve.
Mr Culteri hopes to bring more animals into the habitat in the future.
“We used to have a breeding program for the potoroos and I would love to bring that back,” Mr Culteri said.
“We also had a compound where young families would come and watch them eat.
“It was highly interactive and very educational.”
Koalas will be yet another major focus for Mr Culteri following observation of the park’s first family a handful of years ago.
“We also started off with one male koala before a lady brought in two females after she nursed them back to health.
“That was our first little family of koalas, but we are back down to one now as the others have moved on.”
Struggling to keep koalas contained due to preference of natural food sources, Mr Culteri hopes to plant more trees to keep them within the area.
“We would never want more than four or five koalas in the area at a time,” he said.
“If there are too many there is possibility for over grazing which will cause for patchy areas.
“It is about keeping the balance, but I would like to get other animals within the area as well.”
At the top of his wishlist sits the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, an endangered animal from across the Victorian border.
“It used to be here but is no longer,” Mr Culteri said.
“I would like to get into a negotiation with a zoo and bring some over here to research or have a breeding program with.”
Mr Culteri also mooted obtaining more nocturnal animals to build on a night tour concept.
“It would be a reason for tourists to stay another night within the city and would be a fantastic educational tool,” he said.
“However, it is very difficult to do anything with animals as there is a large amount of paperwork to do and by the time you get approved for the animal it may be six months down the track.”
Mr Culteri would also like to see a dedicated feeding area for kangaroos within the park.
“The park is complicated and is in no way simple,” he said.
“We need to ensure we maintain the balance for all animals to prevent any future issues.
“But the trick is not to overdo the park and keep it as it is meant to be.”
