South Australian Government plans new national park for Hindmarsh Valley

The South Australian Government is to open a new national park near Victor Harbor, in the Hindmarsh Valley, as of next year.

Previously a dairy farm, then owned by SA Water, the 423-hectare parcel of land is about to become an outdoor haven for hikers and mountain bikers.

Enjoying almost total support from the community, the South Australian Government to spend $3 million on building trails and facilities, hoping it will capitalise on its decision to create another national park at Glenthorne Farm, in Adelaide's southern suburbs, and to open the Myponga Reservoir for recreation, also on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Advising that as well as a major trail network for mountain bikers and hikers, the park, which is yet to be named, will be a habitat for threatened species of native plants and animals, South Australia Environment Minister David Speirs stated “we've got the rare Bassian thrush located here, the emu-wren - there's a whole range of species that call this home.

"By protecting this land, it forms part of the native vegetation corridor across the Fleurieu Peninsula."

Minister Speirs went on to say that the South Australian "Government is committed to protecting our state’s natural environment by increasing the area covered by national parks investing record levels of funding to increase visitor numbers and boost our regional economies.

“Once all of our changes take effect we will have more than doubled the area protected by national parks from 3.90 million hectares to 7.86 million hectares since coming into government.

“The opportunity at Hindmarsh Tiers is truly exciting and this new national park will become an ecological haven for threatened species and nature-based tourism destination that adds to what we are already offering at the nearby Myponga Reservoir.

“This ensures that we can not only protect a very unique part of the Fleurieu Peninsula but also allowing opportunities for visitors to be able to experience and see this beautiful part of South Australia for themselves which will support local businesses and create jobs.

“We have a very strong tradition of parks and reserves in South Australia, dating back to 1891 when Belair National Park was created as Australia’s second national park and more recently last year when Glenthorne become Adelaide’s newest metropolitan national park.

“National parks are essential spaces to enjoy nature in all its forms, and provide South Australians with a wide range of environmental, social and economic benefits.

“This latest purchase of land is an exciting and very beautiful addition to our current network of national parks across South Australia.”

Image: The new national park will be about 9 kilometres from Victor Harbor. Credit: South Australian Department for Environment and Water.