Aldinga Washpool needs to be listed as conservation area

23 Jul 2020

Posted August 06, 2019

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has written to the State Environment Minister, David Speirs, to ask him to consider community requests to consolidate the 'Aldinga Washpool' sites into the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park.

In the letter, sent this week, Rebekha said numerous concerned constituents and environmental organisations had expressed their concerns about the long-term future of the sites.

"I understand that there is escalating community concern that parcels of Washpool land currently owned by SA Water are being considered for separate sale rather than being a part of any potential consolidation," Rebekha said.

"The Washpool site, including the land currently owned by SA Water, has high conservation value as a rare seasonal freshwater wetland in the Flinders Lofty Block biogeographic region.

"In 2001, Washpool Lagoon was recognised as a nationally important wetland in the Commonwealth Government's Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia, and has been identified as an important Indigenous cultural site.

"Numerous species with conservation significance occur within the site, and the wetland is visited by migratory shorebirds during spring and summer from as far away as Japan and China. The basin also continues to play a significant role in local flood mitigation."

Rebekha has asked the Minister to work towards consolidating the sites for conservation purposes and to consider the titles owned by SA Water.

Below is a copy of the letter sent to Minister Speirs.

Letter to Minister Speirs Aldinga Washpool 5.8.19

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