Biodiversity
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Biodiversity Park
‘Biodiversity Park’ is 35.9 hectares of Crown Land (State) located near Pelican
Point on the Lefevre Peninsula. The site is considered highly ecologically
significant, supporting important flora and fauna communities. It is also
considered one of the last remaining land parcels available on the Lefevre
Peninsula for biodiversity preservation.
A Master Plan for Open Space on the Lefevre Peninsula was prepared by
Defence SA and South Australian Government in 2009. The Master Plan shows
Biodiversity Park be reduced down to approximately 26 hectares in area to
accommodate the new northern industrial precincts on the Peninsula. A new re-
vamped Biodiversity Park aims to include a community garden hierarchy of
walking trails, biodiversity garden, educational resources, bird watching hide,
discovery path, vision-impaired signage and disability access. The revegetation
works in the Biodiversity Landscape plan aims to enhance the biodiversity value
in this region.
Flora
The vegetation within Biodiversity Park has been extensively disturbed in the
past. A vegetation survey of the site was undertaken in March 2008 and
included rating diversity, weeds, cover, structure, pests and degradation for
three survey plots 30 by 30 metres.
Despite Biodiversity Park being heavily disturbed in the past, there are some
areas which contain moderate quality native vegetation. A total of 15 indigenous
plant species (the majority coastal) were found. Dominant native tree and shrub
species include
Dodonaea viscose, Myoporum insulare, Acacia ligulata
and
Nitraria billardierei.
The dominant ground cover plants include
Atriplex paludosa
spp.
cordata, Enchylaena tomentose
and
Isolepis nodosa.
No species of national or state conservation significance were identified,
however six species of regional conservation significance (Southern Lofty
Region) were located in 2008 and 2009.
A total of nine exotic plant species were found within Biodiversity Park in March
2008, some quite prevalent. The exotic plant species included a few species
proclaimed under the 'Animal and Plant Control Act 1986'.
Weed species of particular concern and requiring ongoing management are
‘woody' weed types (capable of forming a dense and permanent canopy) which
can potentially out-compete other local indigenous species (Environmental and
Biodiversity Services & Connell Wagner, 2004).
