The state government has appointed the inaugural Hills and Fleurieu landscape board to manage biodiversity, land, water, pest plants and animals in the area.

Nine regional landscape boards have replaced the old Natural Resource Management Boards, with new legislation taking effect from 1 July.

A new entity called Green Adelaide will manage the Adelaide urban environment.

The six Hills and Fleurieu landscape board members join chair David Greenhough to lead what has been described as a back to basic approach to managing natural resources in the region.

The new board members all live locally and provide a diverse range of skills and expertise. Fleurieu members include Carol Schofield AM, Amy Williams and Douglas (Drew) Smith.

Victor Harbor councillor Carol Schofield AM is a retired aquaculturalist and dairy farmer, now living in Encounter Bay. She is a previous chair of the Western Mount Lofty Rangers Water Allocation Committee.

President of the Parawa Ag Bureau, Amy Williams has a background in Landcare and the dairy industry. She chairs the Agribusiness Industry Skills Council and is part of the Fleurieu Dairyfarmers Collective Bargaining Group.

High school science teacher Drew Smith holds a Diploma of Conservation and Parks Management and a project to re-vegetate his McLaren Vale property has led to the reappearance of endemic birds and reptiles not seen there for 150 years.

The other board members are viticulturist and conservationist Janet Klein; biodiversity and forest expert Professor Andy Lowe; and veterinarian Dr Chris West, who has expertise in conservation science.

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs says the new landscape boards will partner with community groups, local government and industry to ensure regional landscapes and farming industries are thriving, resilient and sustainable.

“The successful passing of Landscape South Australia Act 2019 means we can get on with delivering this and the creation of new landscape regions are crucial to giving local communities a greater say in natural resources management and in particular how levies are spent.”

Member for Finniss David Basham welcomes the new Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board. “It’s great to see that there is good representation from around the region, as well some really unique experience and knowledge.” 

From 2022 the Hills and Fleurieu community will elect three out of the seven board members.

For more information visit the Landscape South Australia website.