Friends of Dudley Peninsula Parks on Kangaroo Island have $20,000 to spend on weed control, revegetation and heritage conservation in local parks and reserves, thanks to the advocacy of Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie.

The money was secured by the Centre Alliance MP and announced last week by the federal government.

“The Friends group will use the money to cover volunteer training and to buy equipment and materials for weed removal and revegetation in the Cape Willoughby, Baudin, Lashmar and Pelican Lagoon Conservation Parks,” Rebekha says.

“The volunteers will fix tree guards and install kangaroo-proof fencing in key revegetation areas, to plant protected stands of the listed Kangaroo Island Narrow-leaved Mallee plant community and also Drooping She-oaks, the sole food source of the endangered Glossy Black-cockatoos, who lost 75 per cent of their habitat in the recent fires.

“Part of the funds will also be allocated to a project to preserve an important part of South Australia’s maritime heritage.

“Cape Willoughby Lighthouse will be 170 years old in 2022 and it houses one of Australia’s best lighthouse museum collections.

“The Friends have played a key role in promoting the heritage of this area.

“The Marine Safety Authority has offered the Friends the leadlight from the Althorpe Islands lighthouse to be part of the heritage display and so I am pleased this funding will assist them with the cost of the transport to the museum.”

In total, all of these projects are expected to involve more than 1,600 volunteer hours.

Friends of Dudley Peninsula Parks President Janine Mackintosh says members are looking forward to next year’s program.

“Kangaroo Island was devastated by last summer’s bushfires so we really appreciate this assistance, which will enable us to deliver these important projects to conserve our unique ecological and maritime heritage."