Biodiversity
Page 290
E.A. Carlson Reserve
This reserve is part of a large vacant parcel of land owned by South Australia's
Department for Environment and Natural Resources. It is generally not as
biologically diverse as the R.B. Connolly Reserve, and the invasion of alien
plant species is significant. However, it is an important part of the Open Space
network as it contains significant remnant vegetation, and links across to
Biodiversity Park immediately to the north. Three plants of conservation
significance that occur in the reserve include:
•
Lotus australis
: Now declining along the Gulf of St. Vincent, the Australian
trefoil used to be common in swales between Outer Harbor and Brighton,
but now is only found in few locations near Henley Beach and North
Haven.
•
Lawrencia squamata
: The thorny lawrencia is a plant usually associated
with samphire communities, and has been much reduced through the
systematic filling and alienation of much of the samphire flats all along the
coast.
•
Lomandra leucocephala
: The woolly mat-rush was once one of the
character species of the dunes along St. Vincent Gulf, but development in
coastal areas has lead to destruction of most of its former habitat. A few
colonies now exist at the Kooyonga and Grange Golf Clubs and near
Taperoo.
Due to the lack of clarity regarding future boundaries of the reserve, it remains
zoned residential. Given the conservation importance of this land it is
considered appropriate to protect it with appropriate zoning and management
policies and an area-specific biodiversity management plan (Source:
Environment Strategic Plan Research Paper, 2003). (Refer to location map 15,
page 299)
Pressure Indicator:
Distribution of pest species
Roy Amer Reserve
Council’s Roy Amer Reserve contains a series of four constructed wetland
areas and islands, incorporating an ASR scheme - it is located at Oakden
(formerly Regent Gardens), which was developed in 1995. The wetlands were
designed to capture the stormwater from the newly developed housing area.
The developed catchment area covers 77 hectares and generates a significant
amount of stormwater run-off. The four lakes have recently been reconstructed
and revegetated to improve water quality suitable to inject back into the aquifer.
Over the last few years a breeding colony of the Australian White Ibis
(
Threskiornis molucca
) has become self established at Roy Amer Reserve. The
number of Australian White Ibis has reportedly increased from 20 individual
birds to congregations of hundreds within two years and there are now
concerns that the population will continue to increase. Large numbers of
