Members of the Native Vegetation Council at CMV Farms near Langhorne Creek with Manager Phil Reilly (centre)
During May, the Native Vegetation Council (NVC) toured part of the Adelaide Mount Lofty region and surrounds as part of the annual visits it conducts.
The aim of the visits is to view sites where the Native Vegetation Council have invested funds for clearance offsetting from the Significant Environmental Benefit (SEB) Fund; to view progress of clearance approvals and community projects of note; to engage with the community at forums.
The main sites visited were:
• Site clearance for the approved SE Freeway access at Bald Hills Road Mount Barker, where Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure staff discussed design changes to reduce the construction footprint and minimise the impact on trees. The group then moved to view proposed locations within the area of District Council of Mount Barker to provide significant environmental benefit via offsetting grants.
• CMV Farms near Langhorne Creek where a 2002 clearance approval granted to the site has led to an enormous expansion of revegetation work far beyond the original offset requirements. The application was for clearance of 24 trees on a 450ha property for vineyards. Offset requirement was for 750 trees to be replanted involving 6 different species. The 750 trees has increased to 20,000 via direct seeding and tube stock with revegetation continuing.
• At Currency Creek the NVC toured the recent purchase site of the Nature Foundation SA ‘Watchalunga'; a nature reserve protecting a good portion of wetlands of the Finniss River and habitat of the Southern Emu Wren. We heard about plans to manage and establish more suitable habitat for this and other threatened species.
• Friends of Moores Road, Norton Summit showcased their work on the Morialta to Coralinga Biolink Project where they are linking private landholdings to allow movement of native flora and fauna across the landscape with habitat enhancement. This is a Landcare group that has targeted weed control focussing on Ixia, Phalaris, Gorse and Broom. Two significant fauna species sighted include the Southern Brown Bandicoot and the Chestnut-rumped Heathwren (both endangered). Two rare flora species have been identified (at State level) along with seven species that are uncommon within the Mount Lofty Ranges.
• Improving biodiversity on properties surrounding and including Cromer Conservation Parks west and east. The sites have received SEB grants over several years and this visit provided the opportunity to view progress on several sites.
Community forums were held at Mount Barker and Gawler where broad representation attended to hear about policy consultation topics and have their questions answered. Later in the year it is proposed to visit the Eyre Peninsula region.
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