The Fleurieu is set to get a new national park, located in Hindmarsh Valley on a former dairy property.

The park is intended to protect the land’s high conservation value and will unlock an area that is not currently publicly accessible, according to the Department for Environment and Water.

It is part of the state government’s Parks 2025 Strategy, which aims to help build the capacity of parks across the state to conserve natural landscapes and wildlife, activate nature-based tourism, boost the economy and strengthen local communities.

The project will see $3 million invested to increase the number of recreational experiences within the newly proclaimed national park. 

This will include a lookout and mountain biking and walking trails and will provide recreational opportunities for people with accessibility requirements.

The area will protect additional habitat close to Mount Billy Conservation Park and is complementary to the surrounding attractions outside the boundary of the park, including nearby Hindmarsh Falls.

Proclaiming the area as a national park presents a unique conservation opportunity to protect nationally critically endangered Fleurieu Peninsula

Swamps, according to the Department for Environment and Water.

It will protect three species of endangered plants only found in the Hindmarsh Valley area, including Hindmarsh Valley greenhood, Mount Compass oak-bush and Hindmarsh correa.

The site also provides habitat for several at-risk species of animals and birds, including endangered southern brown bandicoots and western pygmy possums.

The new park will offer opportunities to expand habitat for species affected by the 2020 bushfires on Kangaroo Island and at Cudlee Creek.

The Department for Environment and Water will work closely with First Nations people, the City of Victor Harbor and the District Council of Yankalilla to establish the new national park and design the visitor facilities and experiences. 

Construction is expected to start in October and be ready to open by the end of 2021, with the trail network complete by May next year.