One of Adelaide’s last remaining coastal freshwater and estuarine lagoon systems will form part of a new conservation park at Aldinga with the state government deciding to protect the area from potential housing development.

Aldinga Washpool is a well-known habitat for a wide range of native species, particularly birds and swamp plants of conservation significance, including a threatened coastal saltmarsh that’s nationally listed as a vulnerable threatened ecological community.

The Washpool is also of considerable spiritual and cultural significance to the Kaurna people and contains numerous archaeological sites and artefacts.

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs says the Washpool land will be combined with the adjacent Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park to create one new conservation park.

“This is a significant moment for the local community who have been championing for the Aldinga Washpool to be protected for decades,” Minister Speirs says.

“In 2018, a Washpool Working Group was established, and we have been working closely with this group to ensure the land’s cultural and environmental values be protected and restored.

“The Department for Environment and Water, SA Water, Green Adelaide, City of Onkaparinga and other members of the working group have been working on flood mitigation, stormwater management, weed control, revegetation plans, water quality and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage.”

“We will now work with the local community about the future management, and a planning process will commence next year to consolidate hydrological, ecological, and cultural work done so far.”

Recognising its cultural and environmental significance, and that it’s now surplus to SA Water operational requirements, the entirety of the Aldinga Washpool land has been transferred, encompassing five allotments totalling 31.64 hectares. 

There is also a mix of state government tenures in the process of being transferred. When complete, the total area of land added to the park will be about 74 hectares.

Don Chapman, of Friends of Willunga Basin, says the announcement comes after an incredible 50 years of community environmental activism that includes community organisations, Kaurna groups and local MPs Leon Bignell and Rebekha Sharkie.

“The Aldinga Washpool Lagoon is a rare ephemeral freshwater wetland. For a relatively small conservation area, it has an astonishing number of resident and visiting bird species, including some from as far away as Japan and China. 

“The shallow water teems with invertebrate aquatic life. This announcement can only improve the environment for bird and invertebrate life.”

Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson says the announcement is a huge win for the Onkaparinga region and anyone who loves the Washpool area.

“The Aldinga Washpool area can now continue providing environmental, cultural, social and economic benefits for generations to come.

“However, there are still areas of land adjacent the washpool zone that are marked as ‘subject to further consideration for inclusion in the conservation park’ on the state government’s proposed park map.

“Both Council and our community agree that all land in the area should be included in the park, including these zones.

“Given the cultural significance of the Washpool, the City of Onkaparinga also recognises the important opportunity the proclamation of the park presents for co-management with Kaurna representatives.

“Through their community co-design process, we urge the state government to discuss the potential of involving Traditional Owners in the management of the park.”