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Whyalla Conservation Park provides an excellent example of community support and involvement making a significant contribution to the conservation of South Australia's biodiversity. Not only have the Friends of Whyalla Conservation Park made a substantial voluntary commitment of time, money and materials over many years in protecting and maintaining the park, but they have also been instrumental in researching and preparing this plan of management.
The plan of management was released in draft form for public review in February 1996 with a closing date for public submissions of 17 May 1996. At the close of the public exhibition period, three written representations had been received. Thanks are extended to those who took the time to make a submission. In December 1996, a reserve planning and management sub-committee of the SA National Parks and Wildlife Council considered the draft plan and public submissions in detail.
In its review, the sub-committee made one correction (to a map scale) and proposed one amendment (regarding reference to a vulnerable species, the peninsula dragon). These recommendations were endorsed at the subsequent Council meeting on 11 December 1996 and the plan was approved for adoption in January 1997. The intervening time period has been taken up with final editing and preparations for printing.
The plan sets the future direction for the park. It reinforces the need for strong community involvement in planning and management, and prevention of vandalism and activities deleterious to the park environment. Low-impact visitor use is encouraged, long term conservation and rehabilitation strategies are proposed and a commitment is made to providing facilities and services that meet best practice standards.
The future of this and other parks in South Australia will continue to depend to a very large extent on the dedication shown by local communities. The plan of management for Whyalla Conservation Park is now formally adopted under the provisions of section 38 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.
Hon. Dorothy Kotz MP
Minister For Environment & Heritage
The assistance of the following persons in the preparation of this draft plan is gratefully acknowledged:
This draft plan sets the future direction for the management of Whyalla Conservation Park. The Friends of Whyalla Conservation Park have been active since the group's formation in 1987 and are largely responsible for a decrease in the level of vandalism in the Park. This vandalism was a problem even before the Park's dedication in 1971.
It is fitting that the Friends have sought to prepare this plan and to promote and maintain the Park as a community asset.
The plan highlights the need for:
This plan is divided into four main sections.
The first contains the background information relating to the location, natural features, history and visitor use of the area.
The second outlines the management philosophies and objectives which act as a guide for future management actions.
Proposals for implementing the objectives are discussed in the third part.
The fourth and final part provides a summary of management proposals which will enable the reader to obtain a concise overview of the implications of this plan.
Whyalla Conservation Park is a park of 1 011 hectares. Although small in comparison with other arid area parks, it is acknowledged as a fine example of the Western myall/chenopod (Acacia papyrocarpa/chenopod) woodland so characteristic of north-eastern Eyre Peninsula. It was conserved both for the conservation value of this woodland and for its position only 10 km north of the City of Whyalla. It was intended to serve a recreational purpose for Whyalla as a picnic site
The Park was proclaimed as a National Park on 4th November 1971. In 1972, following the passage of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, it was reclassified as Whyalla Conservation Park.
Since its proclamation, it has also been recognised as part of an Australian Heritage area of significance for ground lichens and as a centre of distribution of ant species.
