NATIVE VEGETATION

City of Onkaparinga 

NATIVE VEGETATION 

NATIVE VEGETATION STRATEGY 2010 –14 

A Community Plan 2028 initiative

native vegetation strategy 

A Community Plan 2028 initiative 

2

Contents 

MAYOR’S INTRODUCTION ........................................................ 4 

PURPOSE OF THE NATIVE VEGETATION STRATEGY 2010 –14 ........................5 

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY? ............................................................ 6 

OUR LANDSCAPE ................................................................... 7 

CURRENT VEGETATION MANAGEMENT .........................................10 

CITY OF ONKAPARINGA MANAGED NATIVE VEGETATION SITES ..............12 

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS ..............................................................14 

LINKS TO REGIONAL, STATE AND FEDERAL PLANNING .........................16 

LINKS TO WIDER COUNCIL PLANNING ..........................................17 

POLICY PRINCIPLES ................................................................18 

OUR ROLE .........................................................................20 

STRATEGY 1: Conserving natural areas ........................................23 

STRATEGY 2: Connecting habitats ..............................................27 

STRATEGY 3: Responding to climate change ...................................30 

STRATEGY 4: Integrating fi re risk management .................................33 

STRATEGY 5: Improving urban biodiversity .....................................35 

STRATEGY 6: Engaging the community and building knowledge ..............38 

GLOSSARY .........................................................................42 

REFERENCES .......................................................................45 

ATTACHMENT 1: Descriptions of vegetation groups ...............................46 

ATTACHMENT 2: Central Lofty Landscape .........................................48 

ATTACHMENT 3: Foothills and Hills Face Landscape ..............................52 

ATTACHMENT 4: Willunga Basin Landscape ......................................57 

ATTACHMENT 5: Southern Adelaide Coastline Landscape ........................63 

ATTACHMENT 6: City of Onkaparinga managed native vegetation sites .........68 

ATTACHMENT 7: Related plans and legislation ....................................70 

ATTACHMENT 8: Threatened species and ecological communities ...............74 

3



MAYOR’S INTRODUCTION 

The native vegetation of our 

region helps to provide us 

with our unique sense of 

place and is an important 

part of our natural heritage. 

In our region we have a 

wide range of habitats 

that have grown to refl ect 

the features of the land, 

including the stringybark 

forests of the range, the red gums and sedges 

of our waterways and the coastal vegetation of 

our cliffs and dune systems. 

Our fl ora and fauna continues to face 

challenges. Like most of the Adelaide and Mt 

Lofty Ranges region, the City of Onkaparinga 

has been extensively cleared for both agriculture 

and urban development with only 9% still 

covered in native vegetation. What remains 

is vulnerable to the threats posed by human 

activities, including the spread of weeds, 

uncontrolled recreation, risk of fi re, and 

changes in our climate. 

The Native Vegetation Strategy is our response 

to these threats and details what Council will be 

doing over the next fi ve years to both conserve 

and improve our local biodiversity, in particular 

with the 490 hectares of native vegetation that 

we manage. Our work includes managing 

weeds and disease, replacement planting and 

improving our knowledge about how species 

might adapt to changes in climate. We also 

seek to address the climate change threat of 

carbon emissions through revegetation with our 

local species. 

We share this responsibility with government 

agencies and the hundreds of volunteers that 

continue to work on Council land, within the 

conservation areas owned by State Government 

and on their own private properties. Together we 

will continue to improve our local biodiversity 

and to encourage our natural heritage to live 

and evolve. 

4

PURPOSE OF THE NATIVE VEGETATION 

STRATEGY 2010 –14 

Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg 

This plan outlines the City of Onkaparinga’s 

biodiversity priorities and actions for the next 

fi ve years with a focus on the management 

of remnant vegetation, and the revegetation 

of land that we manage. This includes 

considering the links between native vegetation 

and native fauna. 

The Native Vegetation Strategy 2010 – 14 

is our local response to the national and 

global issue of a decline in biodiversity. The 

relationship between this plan and wider 

government and council planning is presented 

on page 14 and 15. 

HOODED PLOVERS 

Adult Hooded Plover 

Photo by Glenn Ehmke 

These small birds spend their entire lives on our sandy beaches 

and, due to their poor success at breeding, their numbers are 

declining. Nationally, the Hooded Plover is threatened with 

extinction and in South Australia it is listed as vulnerable. There 

are less than 30 nesting pairs of Hooded Plovers in the Fleurieu 

region. 

Each spring and summer when the beach is at its busiest, pairs 

of birds lay their eggs directly on the beach in a shallow nest 

scrape. When the adults incubate the eggs they are very prone to disturbance, leaving the 

well camoufl aged nest when a person or animal approaches to keep the location hidden. 

For as long as the person or animal is in the area, the parents will remain off the nest. When 

the eggs are left unattended they can overheat, be eaten by a predator or be stepped on. 

Hooded Plover chicks have a low chance of survival. 

For one month after hatching they cannot fl y. They need 

to feed by the water’s edge but, because they are easily 

frightened, they spend a lot of time hiding which can lead 

to starvation. 

The City of Onkaparinga is assisting the Adelaide and 

Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board 

to manage the human impacts to the birds during their 

breeding season through a Hooded Plover Recovery Plan. 

Hooded Plover chick hiding 

next to cuttle fish 

Photo by Glenn Ehmke 

5



WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY? 

Biodiversity is the diversity of life in all its forms 

across the planet. It ranges from large scale 

ecosystems to the different species of fl ora and 

fauna, and to genetic differences between 

individuals of the same species. These three 

levels work together to create the complexity 

of life on earth. 

Biodiversity is not static but is constantly 

changing. It is increased by genetic change 

and evolutionary processes and reduced by 

processes such as habitat degradation, a 

decline in fl ora and fauna, and the extinction 

of species. Diversity in all its forms (genetic, 

species and ecosystem) is a critical factor in the 

resilience of an area and its ability to respond 

to signifi cant changes such as fi re, food, climate 

and human impacts. Diversity is the key to 

maintaining viable populations of our native 

fl ora and fauna. 

Australia is a signatory to the International 

Convention on Biodiversity which recognises 

both the importance of conservation and the 

recovery of threatened species. In the most 

recent State of the Environment Report (2008) 

the number of vulnerable and endangered 

plants, animals and ecological communities in 

South Australia was found to be increasing, and 

peri-urban areas were said to be particularly 

vulnerable due to the pressures of housing and 

other changes in land use. 1 

6 

Hart Rd Wetland, Aldinga Beach 

1 

Environment Protection Authority (2008) State of the Environment Report

OUR LANDSCAPE 

The landscape of our region is highly diverse, 

covering an area of 51,800 ha at the southern 

end of the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges region. 

Our western boundary is 31 km of coastline 

including open beaches, reefs, dunes and cliff 

formations. Extending inland from the coast are 

the Noarlunga and Willunga plains which gently 

rise up to the foothills of the Southern Mt Lofty 

Ranges. The highest point is 420 metres above 

sea level at Coromandel East. 

Nine signifi cant catchments and riverine systems 

carry large volumes of water from the ranges to 

the coast, especially during the winter months. 

The City of Onkaparinga’s northern boundary 

is defi ned in part by the Sturt and Field Rivers 

and through its centre fl ows the Onkaparinga 

River. Other signifi cant riverine systems in the 

region include Christie Creek, Pedler Creek, 

Maslin Creek, Pt Willunga Creek, Washpool 

and Sellicks Creek. 

Prior to European settlement 

Before 1836, the landscape in the City of 

Onkaparinga refl ected the natural features 

of the plains, foothills, estuaries and coastal 

lagoons. These landforms supported a diverse 

range of native fauna including the platypus 

which was found in the Onkaparinga River. 

The diversity of vegetation and landforms 

provided a continuous mosaic of different 

vegetation communities that provided essential 

resources such as food, water and shelter. It 

also enabled fauna species to move freely 

throughout their range, to disperse and take 

refuge from events such as bushfi re and 

fl ooding. 

The vegetation communities were diverse and 

included the Stringybark forests of the upper 

ranges, Grey Box Woodlands of the foothills, 

River Red Gum forests along watercourses, 

Mallee Box Grassy Woodlands of the plains 

and Samphire swamps within sheltered tidal 

areas and estuaries. For a full description of 

our vegetation communities, see Attachment 1. 

The Kaurna people managed this landscape 

before Europeans arrived, and moved through 

their land as the season and their tradition 

allowed. Some traded in karko (ochre) and met 

together at signifi cant places. Clothed in cured 

hides which were often prepared at a site near 

Rekarung (the Aldinga Scrub), they lived in wodli 

which were simple summer housing of branch 

and leaf and more substantial winter structures 

moulded of grass and earth. Their diet was rich 

and diverse, built from the fl ora and fauna that 

surrounded them. 

Vegetation clearance 

and modification 

Resembling the majority of the Adelaide and 

Mount Lofty Ranges region, the vegetation of 

our council area has been heavily cleared for 

agriculture, urban and coastal development. 

Throughout the entire council region only 

9% of our original vegetation remains, 

existing as small fragmented islands of 

habitat in a highly modified landscape. 

The larger patches of remnant vegetation are 

owned by state government authorities, much 

of which is under protected public ownership 

including the Onkaparinga National Park, 

Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park and Scott 

Creek Conservation Park. The protected 

watershed areas of Mount Bold and Happy 

Valley Reservoirs also contain signifi cant 

areas of native vegetation. See Map 1 

Native Vegetation Cover by Ownership. 

7



OUR LANDSCAPE 

With the alteration of the landscape, the 

distribution and abundance of native species 

has also inevitably changed. Some native 

species have adapted to urban environments 

and expanded their range including the possum 

and the western grey kangaroo. Others have 

declined and become threatened or extinct 

causing a fl ow-on effect to other species. For 

example the stiff white spider orchid relies on 

the native bee for pollination, and a decline in 

the number of native bees is a major reason 

why the orchid is now a threatened species. 

Our remaining vegetation 

If we are to effectively conserve the native 

vegetation on our land we need to both 

understand what it was like originally, and 

what we have now. It can be seen from Map 1 

that the remaining vegetation is not evenly 

distributed with the areas that were more 

suitable for agriculture extensively cleared prior 

to the 1940s. Typically these were areas with 

fertile soils and fl at or undulating land that 

contained grasslands and grassy woodlands, 

dominated by native grasses, daisies and 

lilies and occasional trees such as eucalypts 

and sheoaks. 

The grasslands in particular were preferentially 

cleared to the extent that today only 5% of 

the pre-European vegetation remains on the 

fl atter plains area. In comparison, steeper, less 

accessible terrain with less fertile soils has 26% 

of its pre-European vegetation remaining. 

8

MAP 1 

MAP 1



CURRENT NATIVE VEGETATION 

MANAGEMENT 

The vulnerability of our remaining native 

vegetation requires that we address threats 

and improve the condition and resilience 

of our remnants. Current threats include 

habit fragmentation, weed and feral animal 

infestation, uncontrolled access, drought and 

clearance for fi re management. 

We will actively manage the remnant vegetation 

on our land by gaining knowledge about 

the type of vegetation and the condition it is 

in, developing management plans for active 

restoration in degraded areas and providing 

adequate resources for ongoing maintenance 

and monitoring. 

Strategies of restoration 

Our approach to active restoration is based on 

the following planning framework: 

1 To maintain the condition of habitats that 

remain in good condition, or are largely 

unmodifi ed (including remnants). It is much 

easier and cheaper to avoid the effects of 

degradation than it is to try and reverse them. 

2 To improve the condition of habitats that are 

degraded or that have been modifi ed. 

Sub-regional landscapes 

To assist with planning and priority setting 

at a regional scale, some state plans have 

divided the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges into 

sub-regional landscapes according to their 

soils, geological landforms and pre-European 

vegetation patterns. This landscape mapping is 

a useful guide to analysing our diverse region 

including the existing vegetation, the threats to 

remnant vegetation and the opportunities for 

revegetation. 

In applying this tool, the City of Onkaparinga 

is divided into the following sub regional 

landscapes, see Map 2 Sub-regional 

landscapes: 

›› Central Lofty Landscape – 3,122 ha 

›› Hills Face/Foothills Landscape – 8,518 ha 

›› Willunga Basin Landscape – 38,342 ha 

›› Southern Adelaide Coastline Landscape – 

1,818 ha 

For a comprehensive description of each 

sub-region, see Attachments 2 – 5. 

3 To reconstruct habitat elements that have 

been lost, using revegetation and assisted 

regeneration. 2 

10 

2 

Department of Environment & Heritage (2009) Informing Biodiversity Conservation for Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges

MAP 2 

MAP 2 

MAP 2 

Subregions are defined by the Department of Environment & 

Natural Resources according to their landscape characteristics of 

soils, geological landforms and patterns of pre-European vegetation.



CITY OF ONKAPARINGA MANAGED 

NATIVE VEGETATION SITES 

The City of Onkaparinga currently manages 

491 ha of remnant vegetation within 

48 biodiversity reserves and 560 km 

of remnant vegetation within its roadside 

verges (see Map 3 City of Onkaparinga 

Managed Sites). 

Areas that contain large areas of remnant 

vegetation include: 

›› Tangari Regional Reserve, Woodcroft 

– 98.3 ha 

›› Piggott Range Rd Reserve, Onkaparinga Hills 

– 33.5 ha 

›› Lonsdale Reserve, Christie Creek – 23.7 ha 

It is interesting to note that, of the remnant 

vegetation managed by the City of 

Onkaparinga, approximately 210.6 ha or 

44% is found within the extensively cleared 

Willunga Basin region. The signifi cance of 

these landholdings cannot be underestimated 

and highlights the importance of our ongoing 

commitment to manage and conserve our 

remaining native vegetation. 

For a full list of reserves being actively managed 

for biodiversity conservation, see Attachment 6. 

›› South Port Noarlunga Dunes – 31.2 ha 

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MAP 3 

MAP 3 

MAP 3



OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 

Our management of remnant native 

vegetation has improved through: 

›› the creation of a dedicated Biodiversity Unit to 

manage areas of remnant vegetation in our 

reserves, with specialised skills in revegetation, 

weed and erosion control, volunteer 

management and education 

›› the preparation and implementation of Native 

Vegetation Management Plans for 13 larger 

sites and annual work plans for a further 63 

sites to prioritise works and ensure that our 

resources are used for the greatest impact 

›› continuing to expand the Roadside Marker 

System which alerts staff, contractors and the 

public to areas of signifi cant native vegetation. 

Markers have been installed at 95 roadside 

native vegetation sites, totalling 89 km 

›› working with the state government to 

revegetate the Coast to Vines Rail Trail, Port 

Noarlunga dunes, Sellicks Beach foreshore, 

Hart Road Wetland at Aldinga Beach, 

Sauerbier Creek at Aberfoyle Park and Tangari 

Regional Park at Woodcroft through the 

Million Trees Program 

›› integrating local species within our landscape 

designs in streetscapes, formal gardens and 

water sensitive design projects 

›› altering broad-acre slashing regimes to 

encourage the regeneration of native grasses 

and increase the amount of habitat and food 

sources for butterfl ies and other invertebrate 

species. 

›› the removal of woody weeds such as olives 

and boneseed that compete with native 

vegetation as well as create a fi re risk 

›› combining resources with other agencies 

to deliver revegetation and weed control 

programs on the ground. In 2009/10, a total 

of $100 000 was received from the Adelaide 

Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource 

Management Board and the Department for 

Environment and Heritage. 

Our areas of native vegetation have 

increased through: 

›› planting over 400,000 seedlings at Pedler 

Creek Reserve, Sellicks Creek and community 

sites including Willunga Creek, Silver Sands 

Coastal Reserve and Weymouth Oval 

Tawny Frogmouth in an Aldinga Beach backyard 

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OUR ACHIEVEMENTS 

Our support for the community 

continues through: 

›› our 53 community sites (see page 41, Map 

4 Community Sites) where volunteers work 

to restore and improve areas of bush or 

coastal vegetation with technical, planning 

and fi nancial assistance from the City of 

Onkaparinga, Trees For Life and the Adelaide 

and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources 

Management Board 

›› community planting events that encourage a 

hands-on experience at sites including South 

Port Noarlunga Dunes, Thalassa Reserve in 

Aberfoyle Park and Hart Road Wetland at 

Aldinga Beach 

›› distributing $36,848 since 2006 to community 

groups and schools for revegetation projects 

through the Environmental Grants program. 

Our knowledge of biodiversity has 

grown through surveying and mapping: 

›› 491 hectares of remnant vegetation within 

48 council reserves (see Map 3 City of 

Onkaparinga Sites) including plant species 

and vegetation communities, allowing us to 

compare the current vegetation to the original 

vegetation that was found prior to European 

settlement 

›› environmental weeds along 1200 km of 

roadsides, enabling us to prioritise our weed 

control programs starting with sites adjacent 

to conservation areas. 

Biodiversity Team members inspecting a patch of 

the regionally threatened Teucrium racemosum 

(Grey Germander) found growing within a degraded 

Willunga Plains roadside 

15

LINKS TO REGIONAL, STATE 

& FEDERAL PLANNING 

Our local response to biodiversity refl ects the global, national, state and regional priorities that 

have been identifi ed in the following legislation, strategies and associated regional plans. For a 

full description of these plans see Attachment 7. 

International agreements 

International Convention on Biological Diversity 1992 

Agreements and Convention on Migratory Species 

Federal legislation 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) 

Federal government plans 

Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation 

Strategy 2010-2020 

National Recovery Plans 

for Threatened Species 

Weeds of National Signifi cance & 

Threat Abatement Plans 

State legislation 

Native 

Vegetation Act 

1991 

Development 

Act 1993 

Natural 

Resource 

Management 

Act 2004 

Fire and 

Emergency 

Services Act 

2005 

Coast 

Protection Act 

1972 

Crown Lands 

Act 1929 

South Australian Government plans 

State Natural 

Resources 

Management Plan 

2006 

No Species Loss – 

a nature conservation 

strategy for South 

Australia 2007-2017 

The AMLNRM 

Board’s Investment Plan 

2009/10 -2011/12 

Nature Links – 

Cape Borda to Barossa 

NatureLink 

Regional planning 

Informing Biodiversity 

Conservation for the 

Adelaide and Mt Lofty 

Ranges Region SA (2010) 

Regional Recovery Plan 

2009-2014: threatened 

species and ecological 

communities of Adelaide & 

the Mt Lofty Ranges of SA 

A Biodiversity Investment 

Plan for Urban Adelaide 

2008-2011 

Metropolitan Adelaide 

and Northern Coastal 

Action Plan 

16 

City of Onkaparinga Native Vegetation Strategy 2010 –14

LINKS TO WIDER COUNCIL PLANNING 

Community Plan 2028 

Desired outcome 2028 ‘Biodiversity is protected and restored’ 

Native Vegetation Strategy 2010 –14 

Conserving 

natural areas 

Connecting 

habitats 

Responding 

to climate 

changes 

Integrating 

fi re risk 

management 

Improving 

urban 

biodiversity 

Engaging 

community 

Building and 

learning 

knowledge 

Related council planning 

Climate 

Change 

Strategy 

Vegetation 

Management 

Plans 

Native 

Vegetation 

Inventory 

Coastal Action 

Plan 

Tree Strategy 

(under 

development) 

Waterproofi ng 

the South 

Christies Creek, 

Onkaparinga 

Estuary & Field 

River plans 

Native Regional Vegetation Planning Stategy 

2010 –14 

›› Details strategies and actions to protect and 

restore native vegetation on land managed by 

the council 

›› Targets council activities (planning, design, 

service provision) that have an effect on fl ora, 

fauna and ecological communities 

›› Provides a reference for project and capital 

works planning over the next fi ve years 

Planting guidelines 

›› Details suitable plant species – natives and 

exotics for each suburb in the council area 

›› Planting selection refl ects the landscape, 

character and environmental values of 

each suburb 

›› Informs the design process for projects that 

require landscaping and planting schemes 

›› Provides a reference for implementing actions 

in the Tree Strategy (under development), 

Recreation Open Space Strategy, Recreation 

Trails Network and Native Vegetation Strategy 

17



POLICY PRINCIPLES 

The Native Vegetation Strategy 2010 –14 is 

underpinned by the following policy principles 

that help to guide and clarify our decisionmaking: 

Native vegetation priorities 

and planning 

›› Native vegetation planning is most effective 

when considering the landscape as a whole 

including conservation areas, agricultural and 

urban landscapes. 

›› The protection and restoration of native 

vegetation is achieved most effectively through 

cooperation with the community, private 

industry and other relevant government 

agencies. 

›› The effective management of native vegetation 

assets requires ongoing maintenance and 

project proposals that refl ect these costs. 

›› Native vegetation planning is based on 

science and evidence-based research, 

and is informed by the analysis undertaken 

by government agencies. 

Management 

›› The highest conservation priority is the 

protection and continued maintenance of 

existing remnant vegetation on land under 

our own care and control. 

›› Conservation areas require active 

management. ‘Active management’ requires 

the setting of a biodiversity goal that is specifi c 

to the site, and the delivery of on-ground 

works to a level that achieves this goal. 3 

›› Effective native vegetation protection requires 

identifying, understanding, preventing and 

reducing threatening processes. 

›› Monitoring outcomes rather than activity is 

the most effective way to measure the success 

of management programs. 

›› Native vegetation corridors, linkages between 

remnants and stepping stones allow the 

movement of local fl ora and fauna and 

improves a species ability to adapt and 

evolve. 

Revegetation 

›› The revegetation of open space should seek to 

enhance existing remnants through buffer 

plantings and/or the creation of corridors. 

Land use planning 

›› The principles of the Development Plan will 

refl ect the policy principles of this strategy, 

and areas of high biodiversity value should be 

zoned to provide protection from development 

and changes in land use. 

Land acquisition, disposal 

and transfer 

›› Conservation is a legitimate land use. 

›› Council land with conservation values should 

only be sold or transferred to others where the 

transfer will result in long-term conservation 

benefits (eg transfers to the State National 

Parks System or Heritage Agreements). 

Independent advice will be sought to 

determine existing biodiversity value. 

18 

3 

DEH (June 2009) Regional Recovery Plan 2009-2014 for threatened species and ecological communities of Adelaide and the Mt Lofty 

Ranges of SA

POLICY PRINCIPLES 

›› The consideration of native vegetation value 

will include remnant mature trees as they 

provide critical habitat such as nesting hollows 

for Australian birds and most tree-living 

animals. 

›› We only consider the purchase of strategic 

native vegetation sites when all other 

options have been fully explored (eg 

heritage agreements, land management 

agreements). If purchasing land, state or 

federal government agencies or groups will 

be approached for fi nancial and/or in-kind 

support. 

Private land 

›› We will support conservation and revegetation 

on private land primarily through: 

– the Environmental Grants and Awards 

program 

– cooperation with programs delivered 

through other levels of government 

and agencies such as natural resource 

management boards 

– the provision of information to help guide 

investment, such as strategic revegetation 

priorities and vegetation data. 

Fire management 

›› Fire risk assessments include the evaluation 

and documentation of the risk of reducing 

biodiversity value, including damage to 

remnant trees and understorey. 

›› When reducing the fuel load in vegetated 

areas, we aim to minimise harm to native 

vegetation. Our fuel reduction methods 

will be site-specifi c and appropriate to the 

signifi cance of the vegetation and proximity 

to people or property. 

›› Prescribed burning may be used if justifi ed 

for ecological and/or or fuel reduction 

purposes and should be consistent with the 

Ecological Fire Management Guidelines (in 

preparation by DENR). Consequences of the 

burn such as increasing the prevalence of 

weeds or acacias are considered. 

Open space and recreation 

›› Major park redevelopments and trails 

will follow a planting design that includes 

consideration of biodiversity, habitat, weed 

potential and fi re risk. 

›› The provision, design and management of 

open space will seek to reduce the impact of 

uncontrolled activities on biodiversity areas 

eg horse-riding, mountain-bike riding and 

walking. 

›› The design of open space within land 

divisions will include sites of high biodiversity 

value or the creation of new natural landscape 

or habitat areas as part of their open space 

allocation. 

Community involvement 

›› We recognise the importance of engaging 

with the community in the management of 

biodiversity. 

›› The involvement of volunteers on our land 

provides a balance of on-ground achievement 

and educational outcomes. 

19



OUR ROLE 

The City of Onkaparinga is one of many 

agencies and groups involved in the 

conservation of biodiversity in our region. 

The following role statements outline the areas 

where we have a clear responsibility to act. 

Leadership 

›› We identify strategic land parcels to create 

buffers to existing remnant vegetation, connect 

existing habitats or to protect threatened 

species. 

›› We monitor state and regional research 

and methodologies to inform Councils role, 

decision-making and operations. 

›› We support and monitor climate change 

research on ecosystems and species and 

their ability to adapt to a changing climate. 

›› We integrate biodiversity outcomes into 

bushfi re management planning, open space, 

active and passive recreation and water 

management projects. 

›› We inspire custodianship for local biodiversity 

assets through community planting events, 

information about threatened species, and 

through publishing stories from volunteers. 

Owner/custodian 

›› We protect remnant vegetation and improve 

and monitor biodiversity outcomes on land 

under our care and control through vegetation 

surveys, the roadside and reserve marker 

system, vegetation management plans, 

revegetation projects, linear trails, wetlands, 

carbon sequestration initiatives and weed and 

disease control programs. 

›› When designing and maintaining open space 

and roadsides we consider both the protection 

and restoration of biodiversity and the 

reduction of fi re risk. 

›› We comply with relevant legislation and codes 

of practice. 

Regulatory 

›› We will apply land use planning and 

development controls that protect remnant 

vegetation. 

›› We will enforce where mandated and make 

others aware of relevant legislation eg 

Development Act, Local Government Act, 

Environment Protection and Biodiversity 

Conservation Act, Native Vegetation Act, 

Natural Resources Management Act and the 

Fire and Emergency Services Act. 

Information provider 

›› We provide information to the community 

on fl ora and fauna on Council-owned 

land through interpretive signage, and by 

distributing information from other agencies 

on our website and at events. 

›› We provide data from vegetation surveys to 

other agencies to inform their decision-making 

and strengthen opportunities for collaboration. 

›› We provide a link for groups to external 

funding assistance and relevant networks. 

›› We provide staff training in plant identifi cation 

and weed control methods. 

20

OUR ROLE 

Advocate 

We advocate to state government for improved 

biodiversity controls in the Development Plan 

and for improved biodiversity on land owned 

by state government and private landholders. 

This includes the sites of major housing 

developments. 

Facilitator/initiator 

We join or bring together agencies, groups and 

individuals to collectively resolve biodiversity 

issues including vegetation clearance, fi re 

management, data gathering or weed and 

pest control. 

Part funder 

We contribute funds for biodiversity projects 

through the Environmental Grants & Awards 

program and provide support to targeted 

projects and programs in conjunction with 

other providers. 

Direct service provider 

We undertake services, capital works and 

projects that incorporate biodiversity outcomes 

in accordance with our adopted service levels, 

plans and strategic directions. 

Agent 

We provide a service on behalf of another 

party that funds the service when the funding 

conditions are consistent with our strategic 

directions. 

21

OUR STRATEGY 

Goal 

Community Plan Desired Outcome 2028: Biological diversity is protected and restored 

Supported by Policy Principles 

Strategy Strategy Strategy Strategy 

Connecting 

habitats 

Expanding, linking 

and buffering 

existing areas 

of remnant 

vegetation 

Responding 

to climate 

change 

Enabling species 

to adapt to 

a changing 

environment and 

sequestering 

carbon 

Integrating 

fire risk 

Integrating 

fire risk 

management 

with biodiversity 

outcomes 

Improving 

urban 

diversity 

Integrating 

natural areas 

into urban 

open space 

Actions 

including roles and performance measures 

Strategy 

Engaging the 

community 

and building 

knowledge 

Inspiring, 

supporting and 

informing the 

community 

22 

Strategy 

Conserving 

natural 

areas 

Protecting and 

actively managing 

remnant 

ecosystems 

and threatened 

species

STRATEGY 1 – conserving natural areas 

Objective 

Protecting and actively managing remnant 

native ecosystems and threatened species. 

Our naturally occurring ecosystems cannot 

be replaced so it is critical to conserve and 

manage what remains along our coastline 

and in our foothills and riverine environments. 

Key issues 

›› Our remaining remnants of native vegetation 

exist as islands separated by a mix of land 

uses such as agriculture, horticulture, roads 

and housing. 

›› The fragmented nature of these remnants 

makes them more vulnerable to threats such 

as weeds, feral animals, drought and plant 

diseases. It also limits the ability of some 

fauna to escape a fi re or to breed more widely 

within their own species and therefore create a 

more robust population. 

›› Planned urban growth places further pressure 

on the peri-urban land around townships and 

land adjacent to the coast. 

Threatened ecological communities 

and species 

Sometimes intervention is needed that focuses 

on a particular species or ecological community 

that is threatened at either a national, state or 

regional level. 

Ecological communities 

The Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) 

and Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native 

Grasslands of South-eastern Australia 

have been listed as endangered under the 


Conservation Act 1999. Examples locally 

include Tangari Regional Park. There are 

also 12 ecological communities in our 

region threatened at the state and regional 

level including Mallee Box woodland 

(Eucalyptus porosa) found in Aldinga Scrub 

Conservation Park. 

The Chaffy Saw-sedge (Gahnia fillum) 

Sedgeland is the only threatened ecological 

community found on council land at Aldinga 

Beach and Port Noarlunga and along 1.2 km 

of council roadside. Variations of threatened 

ecological communities are also found on 

council land, in particular Grey Box Grassy 

Woodlands (Eucalyptus microcarpa) and Mallee 

Box Woodlands (Eucalyptus porosa). 

For further details on threatened ecological 

communities from our region see Attachment 8. 

Species - Flora 

The Pink-lip Spider-Orchid (Caledenia behrii) 

and Stiff White Spider Orchid (Caladenia rigida) 

are both nationally endangered. A further six 

threatened fl ora species have been identifi ed 

as of critical conservation priority 4 within our 

reserves, including the Australian Broomrape 

(Orobranche cernua var. Australiana). We 

have been working with South Port Noarlunga 

Coastcare to encourage the regeneration 

of Orobranche in the dune system through 

eradicating threats such as the highly invasive 

Pyp Grass weed. 

4 

Ibid. 

23



STRATEGY 1 – conserving natural areas 

Species - Fauna 

Information on fauna is limited to some of 

the larger council reserves and anecdotal 

information, however a number of threatened 

fauna species are known to be present including 

the Black-chinned Honeyeater (see page 29), 

Southern Brown Bandicoot, Tawny Frogmouth 

and the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo. 

We will continue to: 

›› develop annual work plans and undertake 

on-ground works within 48 reserves that 

contain 491 ha of remnant vegetation 

›› manage 560 km of roadside remnant 

vegetation in partnership with the Adelaide Mt 

Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management 

Board. Work includes remnant protection 

works within 95 Roadside Marker System 

sites (pictured) and the targeted control of 

signifi cant environmental weeds 

›› fund the Native Vegetation Advisory Service 

which advises staff on the habitat value and 

presence of native vegetation, particularly 

as part of project scoping, development 

assessment, property management and 

compliance issues 

›› collaborate with volunteer groups across 

53 community sites where volunteers work to 

restore and improve areas of bush or coastal 

vegetation 

›› provide training opportunities for teams 

of young unemployed people in the 

environmental management fi eld through 

supporting Australian Government programs 

such as National Green Jobs Corps 

›› monitor national legislative requirements 

relating to threatened species via the 


Conservation Act (1999) and ensure that 

council practices are consistent with this Act. 

›› identify and address threats to biodiversity 

including the management of environmental 

weeds, fuel loads and unauthorised access 

24

CONSERVING NATURAL AREAS 

Twenty (2028) Five (2014) 

Desired outcome Our role Our action 

STRATEGIES 

Actively manage 

100% of remnant 

vegetation for 

biodiversity 

conservation on 

land under our 

care and control. 

• Owner/ 

custodian 

• Owner/ 

custodian 

A.1 

A.2 

›› Maintain and improve the condition of 491 ha of 

remnant vegetation that is currently managed within 

48 biodiversity reserves. 

›› Improve plant diversity and restore missing structural 

layers within currently managed biodiversity reserves 

through undertaking selective enhancement plantings 

on 344.7 ha including: 

• Tangari Regional Park, Woodcroft 

• Woodland Ridge, Aberfoyle Park 

• Sauerbier Creek, Aberfoyle Park 

• McHarg Reserve, Happy Valley 

• Glenloth Reserve, Happy Valley 

• Cherry Gardens Cemetery 

• Ochre Point, Moana 

• South Port Noarlunga Dunes 

• Pedler Creek Reserve, Seaford 

• Sellicks Beach Coastal Reserve. 

• Owner/ 

custodian 

A.3 

›› Prepare vegetation management plans to identify 

and prioritise works within Sauerbier Creek, Aberfoyle 

Park, South Port Noarlunga Dunes, Port Noarlunga, 

Christies Creek Reserve, Lonsdale, Blewitt Springs 

Reserve, Blewitt Springs and McHarg Reserve, 

Happy Valley. 

• Leadership 

• Owner/ 

custodian 

A.4 ›› Review state and national Threatened Species 

Recovery Plans to inform management of land 

owned by the council. 


• Owner/ 

custodian 


• Owner/ 

custodian 

A.5 

A.6 

›› Develop a seed bank and plant propagation area to 

assist with the securing of local genetic plant material. 

›› Implement a Phytophthora Management Plan based 

on the DENR Phytophthora Management Guidelines 

(2006). 

25



CONSERVING NATURAL AREAS 

Protecting and actively managing remnant native ecosystems and threatened species 

Twenty (2028) Five (2014) 


STRATEGIES 

Provided protection 

for remnant 

vegetation under 

the Development 

Plan. 

Native vegetation 

can be easily 

identifi ed in 

reserves and on 

roadsides. 

• Regulator 


A.7 

A.8 

›› Review the council-wide natural resource 

management provisions to ensure that remnant 

vegetation is protected. 

›› Conduct a native vegetation assessment on 

developments that are likely to impact on biodiversity, 

including those over 20 allotments in size. 

›› Provide development assessment staff with training 

on the value of biodiversity, threats to biodiversity 

and basic native vegetation identifi cation. 

›› Install standardised vegetation markers to defi ne 

the extent of remnant vegetation within City of 

Onkaparinga biodiversity reserves. 

›› Expand the number of sites managed through the 

roadside marker system as recommended by the 

Roadside Vegetation Survey undertaken in 2008. 

26 

State, regional and local targets 

City of Onkaparinga Community Wellbeing 

Monitor 

›› Areas of signifi cance under the council’s control 

and active care and management. 

›› Number of Bush for Life sites. 

Federal Department for Environment, Water, 

Heritage and the Arts 

The federal government’s top priority is the 

protection of ecosystems that currently have less 

than 10% of their area protected as part of 

conservation area. 

Department of Environment and 

Natural Resources 

›› Actively managing 100% of remnant native 

vegetation for biodiversity in the Adelaide 

and Mt Lofty Ranges region, by 2030. 

›› Increase the proportion of under-represented 

ecological communities in the protected area 

network, by 2030. 

The Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges Natural 

Resource Management Board (2008) 

3 year targets 

›› Council development plans amended to 

incorporate NRM objectives. 

›› Active management of 4500 hectares of 

native vegetation in formal conservation areas. 

›› 2,500 hectares of native vegetation on private 

land being actively managed. 

›› 20 new in-perpetuity conservation covenants 

(including Heritage Agreements) signed over 

200 ha. 

›› Management plans developed and implemented 

for priority pest species.

STRATEGY 2 – connecting habitats 

Objective 

Expanding, linking and buffering existing 

areas of remnant vegetation. 

Our approach to reconstructing habitat is to 

rebuild the elements that have been lost. We 

do this by revegetating and, in some areas, 

assisting plants to naturally regenerate by 

removing threats such as weeds and modifying 

mowing practices. When re-planting, we aim 

to re-establish: 

›› buffer areas to protect existing remnants 

›› connecting areas to restore connectivity 

›› specific habitats lost through preferential 

clearance patterns, and large scale habitat. 


›› manage 55 ha of revegetation across 31 sites 

including wetlands, creeklines, cliff stability, 

reserves and roadsides 

›› seek revegetation opportunities as part of 

the development of recreational trails such 

as the Coast to Vines Trail, construction of 

wetlands and restoration works including Hart 

Road wetland, Sellicks Creek and cliff stability 

projects 

›› participate in biodiversity planning initiatives 

including Naturelinks, Scott Creek Mt Bold 

Biodiversity Committee and the Onkaparinga 

Estuary Rehabilitation Steering Group 

›› work with the Department of Environment & 

Heritage Urban Forest Million Trees Program 

and the AMLR NRM Coastal and Catchment 

Programs to develop, fund and deliver 

revegetation projects. 

27



CONNECTING HABITATS 

Twenty (2028) Five (2014) 


STRATEGIES 

Buffer areas 

established 

around remnant 

vegetation that has 

available land. 

Native vegetation 

areas established 

within new 

subdivisions. 


• Initiator/ 

Facilitator 

• Owner/ 

custodian 

• Owner/ 

custodian 

B.1 

B.2 

›› Reconstruct habitats in 52.7 ha of open space reserves 

adjacent to remnant vegetation to act as a buffer and 

to increase the overall area of native vegetation. 

›› Priority will be given to threatened vegetation 

associations such as Gahnia fi lum Sedgeland and 

grey box woodlands as well as preferentially cleared 

vegetation groups such as grassy woodlands. 

›› Revegetation and management of remnant vegetation 

(where it exists) in 11 new parcels of open space, 

and water-sensitive design sites contained within 

land divisions (57.6 ha). 

B.3 ›› Develop plant selection guidelines for maintenance 

staff working in open space that adjoins remnant 

vegetation, biodiversity reserves and creeklines to 

ensure that trees and understorey plants are replaced 

with locally indigenous species. 

Improved native 

vegetation in 

riparian areas. 

• Owner/ 

custodian 


B.4 

B.5 

›› Revegetate wetland areas created as part of Water 

Proofi ng the South stage 1 & 2. 

›› Apply for State funding for the development of linear 

trails and revegetation. 

B.6 

›› Manage new coastal cliff stability and erosion sites at 

Moana, Port Noarlunga and Maslin Beach. 

Private landholders 

are providing links to 

remnant vegetation 

through restoring or 

revegetating on their 

property. 


Facilitator 

B.7 

B.8 

›› Work with the McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism 

Association to encourage the revegetation and 

restoration of remnant vegetation in vineyards. 

›› Work in partnership with AMLR NRM offi cers to 

encourage rural landholders adjoining council 

biodiversity reserves to undertake works on their land 

to reduce impacts to and buffer remnant vegetation 

on public land. 

28

CONNECTING HABITATS 


State Strategic Plan 

By 2010 have fi ve well-established biodiversity 

corridors aimed at maximising ecological outcomes 

particularly in the face of climate change 

30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide 

›› Increase the extent of functional ecosystems (coastal, 

estuarine, terrestrial and riparian) to 30% of the 

region, excluding urban areas. 

›› Develop waterway linear parks along Pedler Creek, 

Onkaparinga River, Port Willunga Creek, Christies 

Creek and Field River by 2036. 

›› Developing a coastal linear park from Sellicks 

Beach to North Haven by 2020. 

Department of Environment and 

Natural Resources 

Conservation targets for the Adelaide and Mt Lofty 

Ranges region: 

›› An increase in the extent of native vegetation 

cover in the AMLR. This will be achieved through 

reconstruction of over 54,000 ha of native 

vegetation by 2030, in accordance with defi ned 

restoration priorities for each landscape of the 

AMLR. This will increase the native cover of the 

region from 13% to 19%. 

The Adelaide and Mt Lofty Region Natural 

Resource Management Board 

3 year target: 440 hectares of functional ecosystems 

reconstructed in priority areas. 

BLACK-CHINNED HONEYEATER MELITHREPTUS GULARIS GULARIS 

In South Australia the Black-chinned Honeyeater is considered 

vulnerable, with its range limited to two main areas around the 

Mt Lofty Ranges and in the South East. 

The population in the Mt Lofty Ranges has experienced a dramatic 

decline in both distribution and abundance in recent decades. 

Threats include a lack of large areas that provide suitable habitat 

due to clearance of native vegetation. They are also under threat from the invasion of pest 

plants and animals as well as competition or aggressive behaviour of other birds such as 

the New Holland Honeyeaters. 

They are often found high up in a canopy of large eucalypts, and also like the silver 

banksias (Banksia marginata) and native pines (Callitris gracillis). They have a strong 

churring call and live in small communal groups, moving in response to the fl owering 

cycles of their food plants and the availability of insects. 

While the Black-chinned Honeyeater has disappeared from some areas, recent surveys have 

confi rmed that they are breeding around Morphett Vale with a high percentage of sightings 

also in Happy Valley, Woodcroft and Sturt Gorge. They seem to be favouring our urban 

parks, patches of remnant vegetation and scattered trees which highlights the importance of 

actively managing these habitats. 

29



STRATEGY 3 – responding to climate change 

Objective 

Enabling species to adapt to a changing 

environment and sequestering carbon. 

Key issues 

›› In biological terms, the Adelaide and Mt 

Lofty Ranges region is considered a relatively 

isolated cool and humid temperate island, 

and there is evidence that such areas are 

highly vulnerable to rapid environmental 

change. 

›› There is an urgent need for a better 

understanding of the climate change 

impacts, risks and vulnerabilities of our 

region in relation to how our fl ora, fauna 

and ecological communities will adapt to this 

change. Current threats to biodiversity such 

as habit fragmentation, weed infestation, 

urbanisation, drought and fi re will be 

compounded by changes in temperature 

and rainfall in ways we do not currently 

understand. 

Carbon sinks 

›› Revegetating land, forestry or growing 

crops is a means of storing carbon, 

sometimes referred to as biosequestration 

or carbon sinks. 

›› In South Australia a strong trend in large 

scale biosequestration in land use change 

and forestry has meant that the natural 

resource sector (including agriculture) has 

gone from being a net emitter of greenhouse 

gas emissions (1.67 million tonnes CO2e 

in 1990) to a signifi cant sink in (3.2 million 

tonnes CO2e sink in 2002). An increase 

in commercial forest plantations and 

revegetation activities has contributed to 

this trend. 

›› While growing trees and other vegetation 

can reduce carbon, the primary carbon 

reduction goals of the City of Onkaparinga 

are to reduce energy use and increase the 

use of renewable energy. However, if multiple 

local benefi ts can be achieved through large 

plantings such as increased biodiversity, 

reduced erosion, recreational opportunities 

and increased amenity, then carbon sinks 

remain an important initiative to pursue. 


›› monitor scientifi c research about climate 

change projections and impacts 

›› implement works on the foreshore to mitigate 

erosion and gullying impacts as an outcome 

of the Climate Change Impacts on Coastal 

Lands Report (2007) 

›› implement the Climate Change Strategy. 

30

STRATEGY 3 – responding to climate change 

How will our flora and fauna adapt to climate change? 

Our remnant vegetation, and the fauna 

that lives within it, are confi ned to small and 

fragmented areas, making them vulnerable to 

weed infestation, erosion and the changes in 

temperature and rainfall regimes that result from 

drought and climate. 

It is important that our long-term planning 

does not assume that the future climate and 

distribution of natural resources will be the same 

as they have been over the last century. 5 

Professor Barry Brook, biologist and climate 

scientist at the University of Adelaide is working 

with a team of researchers and the City of 

Onkaparinga to determine the future impacts of 

climate change on two distinct areas of South 

Australia – the arid lands, and the Adelaide and 

Mt Lofty Ranges region. 

Using current and historical data on selected 

species, this project is developing modelling 

that can: 

›› reveal habitats of high conservation priority 

›› inform ecological restoration – by identifying 

sites and communities that will benefi t most 

from present rehabilitation efforts, and those 

which may be too diffi cult to maintain. 

Collectively, this will ensure as many species 

as possible are able to survive in refuge areas 

or move into new areas to adapt to future 

environmental and landscape change. 6 

This research is partly funded by the council and 

the Australian Research Council and will form 

part of a global initiative to better forecast the 

impact of future climate and land use changes 

on biodiversity. 

5 

East Meets West NatureLink Plan Implementing South Australia’s Strategic Plan 

6 

University of Adelaide ARC Proposal: Planning for a transformed future: Modelling synergistic climate change and land use 

impacts on biodiversity 

31



RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE 

Twenty (2028) Five (2014) 


STRATEGIES 

An increase in the 

resilience of our 

ecosystems and 

species to adapt to 

climate change. 

A carbon offset 

program operating 

that delivers 

local biodiversity 

benefi ts. 


• Part Funder 


C.1 

C.2 

›› Identify the adaptation needs of keystone fl ora and 

fauna species and the implications for land use and 

biodiversity planning in cooperation with Adelaide 

University. 

›› To develop a local biodiversity planting program 

that combines biodiversity and carbon sequestration 

outcomes and meets accreditation standards. 


State Strategic Plan 

›› Achieve the Kyoto target by limiting the state’s 

greenhouse gas emissions to 108% of 1990 levels 

during 2008 –12, as a fi rst step towards reducing 

emissions by 60% by 2050. 

Department of Environment and Natural 

Resources 

›› NatureLinks target of ‘have fi ve well established 

biodiversity corridors aimed at maximising 

ecological outcomes particularly in the face of 

climate change, by 2010’ 

32

STRATEGY 4 – integrating 

fi re risk management 

Objective 

Integrating fire risk management with 

biodiversity outcomes. 

Key issues 

›› Community perception has been heightened 

to the potential danger of vegetation close to 

property. Requests to the council for vegetation 

clearance have tripled in the 2009/10 fi re 

season. 

›› The risk to property and life in the event of a 

bushfi re is very real for residents living in a 

bushfi re zone. We seek to minimise the risk of 

fi re in two main ways–to reduce fuel load on 

its own land, and to advise residents of fuel 

reduction strategies on their own properties. 

The council also has the authorisation to 

issue fi nes to landowners if properties are 

not adequately maintained to reduce fi re 

risk, however the Country Fire Service is 

the primary agency responsible for fi re 

management, community education and fi re 

ban advice. 

›› In the wake of the Black Saturday Royal 

Commission, there have been changes to 

the state legislation that governs vegetation 

clearance. 

approval of the CFS Chief Offi cer, and this 

area could exceed 50m depending on the 

fuel type and slope. 

›› While the changes to the Native Vegetation 

Act ‘allow’ clearing however they do not 

require clearing. 

›› While the term ‘clearance’ is often thought 

to be the removal of all vegetation, the intent 

of the legislation is to minimise fi re risk by 

reducing the fuel load. This can be done by 

various techniques including the selective 

removal of native vegetation, the eradication 

of woody or grassy weeds, or the selective 

removal of low tree limbs. 


›› focus on the reduction of grassy and woody 

weeds (including olives and boneseed) to 

encourage the regeneration of biodiversity 

and the reduction of fi re risk 

›› ensure that a 20 metre ‘clearance’ is included 

around housing and public facilities in new 

housing areas. This may include roads, 

grassed areas or other barriers to fi re. 

›› A property owner can now reduce, modify 

or remove any native vegetation within 20m 

of a prescribed building without approval. 7,8 

Clearance beyond 20m of a prescribed 

building is also allowed subject to the written 

7 

Prescribed building – permanently fi xed to the ground, has obtained development consent, may be in the course of construction, 

dwellings, hotels, motels, schools, offi ce buildings, shops, restaurants, service stations, storage buildings, laboratories, factories, 

hospitals, private garages, carports and sheds. 

8 

The exception is the clearance of a Signifi cant Tree (Regulations under the Development Act) which still requires approval from the 

council. 

33



INTEGRATING FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT 

Twenty (2028) Five (2014) 


STRATEGIES 

A reduction in 

the risk of fi re 

on council land 

with remnant and 

native vegetation 

that is adjacent to 

properties. 

The community 

takes responsibility 

and is informed 

about how to 

effectively reduce 

fi re risk on their 

property. 

• Owner/ 

custodian 


D.1 

D.2 

›› Assess council land for potential fi re risk and 

develop a response specifi c to each site based on 

risk and the signifi cance of the vegetation. 

›› Develop and implement management strategies for 

roadside vegetation that consider fi re risk and the 

conservation rating and condition of the vegetation. 

›› Deliver a consistent message to the community on 

methods to reduce fuel load that reduce the threat 

to signifi cant vegetation. 

34 

Native vegetation and bushfire on council land 

We aim to achieve complementary outcomes 

wherever possible through our fi re risk and 

vegetation management programs. For example, 

by removing olive trees one is removing both a 

fl ammable threat and an environmental weed 

so, in combining the funding and expertise in 

both vegetation management and fi re risk, more 

can be achieved. 

As a result of changes to both the Native 

Vegetation Act (1991) and the Fire and 

Emergency Services Act (2005), we have 

reviewed our approach to fi re safety and 

vegetation management, with our bushfi re risk 

mapping helping us to identify the broad areas 

within our area that are considered a high 

fi re risk. Within the high-risk areas, there are 

2050 council-owned sites of which 500 were 

identifi ed for an on-site assessment. 

These assessments were conducted by a bushfi re 

safety offi cer and a biodiversity technical offi cer, 

with land adjacent to infrastructure considered 

a high priority for fuel management. The risk 

assessments have enabled the signifi cance 

and the condition of the vegetation to be 

established. This then helps us to decide on the 

response that will be the most effective while 

minimising the harm to our fl ora and fauna. 

Education on fuel management is considered to 

be critical because, while vegetation is one form 

of fi re risk, in some circumstances concerns 

about nearby vegetation may be less important 

than the storage of any fl ammable material 

adjacent to the house or shed. 

It is important that all land owners including 

this council, take responsibility for reducing 

fi re risk and that the action taken is based on 

an assessment of the actual, rather than the 

perceived, risk. For this reason, risk assessments 

are being undertaken on a site-by-site basis.

STRATEGY 5 – improving urban biodiversity 

Objective 

Integrating natural areas into urban 

open spaces 

Natural environments provide an opportunity 

to maintain our natural heritage, and a space 

where people can interact with, and receive 

the benefi ts from nature. As the pressure for 

urbanisation continues and higher density 

developments are encouraged in some parts 

of the city, the provision of green space and 

nature experiences becomes of even greater 

importance. 

By developing pockets of nature in Adelaide’s 

parks and gardens we can achieve multiple 

benefi ts – conserving biodiversity, reducing 

water consumption, enabling enjoyment 

from interacting with nature and importantly, 

developing a local sense of place. 

Key issues 

›› An estimated 97.3% of the pre-European 

settlement vegetation of the Adelaide Plains 

has been removed as our urban area has 

expanded. Of the vegetation that remains, 

75% of it consists of mangroves and coastal 

samphire communities. 9 

›› Before this development and clearing, the 

Adelaide Plains supported 21 vegetation types 

ranging from open forests and woodlands to 

coastal dunes and salt marshes. 

›› Over 725 species of native plants and 177 

species of bird are known to have occurred 

across Adelaide with 140 (19%) now locally 

extinct and another 393 (54%) rare or 

threatened. 

›› Much of our current urban fl ora and fauna 

is introduced species. Apart from birds, 

native animals are rare in our suburbs. A few 

such as brush-tailed possums, blue-tongued 

and shingle-back lizards, geckos and the 

occasional brown snake have adapted to 

urban life. However many of the original plant 

and animal species are no longer found, or 

only occur in much smaller and fragmented 

populations. 10 

›› South Australia is the most suburbanised state 

in Australia with approximately 80% of people 

living in metropolitan Adelaide. 

Parks and open space provide an accessible 

alternative for interaction with nature and a 

landscape in which the natural heritage of the 

plains can be restored. 11 

Our public spaces are subject to many 

competing needs other than revegetation, 

including formal or informal sports fi elds, picnic 

areas, events, bike paths and public buildings. 

The integration of nature into the design of 

parks needs to consider these activities as part 

of the design. 

9 

Urban Biodiversity Unit for the Dept of Heritage, A biodiversity investment plan for urban Adelaide 2008 – 2011 

10 

Urban Biodiversity Unit website: Backyards for Wildlife 

11 

Dreschler Z in Daniels C, Tait C Adelaide Nature of a City: the ecology of a dynamic city from 1836 to 2036 

35



IMPROVING URBAN BIODIVERSITY 

Twenty (2028) Five (2014) 


STRATEGIES 

Major housing 

developments 

protect existing 

biodiversity and 

create new natural 

spaces and habitat 

areas. 

Parks and open 

spaces provide 

natural spaces 

for people and 

habitat for local 

fl ora and fauna. 


Facilitator 

• Information 

provider 

• Owner/ 

custodian 

E.1 

E.2 

E.3 

›› Assess future urban land release areas for existing 

remnant vegetation and future revegetation priorities. 

›› Develop a landscaping package for prospective 

developers that encourages the integration of 

biodiversity into developments eg buffer zones, use 

of local species, and integrating existing remnant 

vegetation into the design. 

›› Incorporate biodiversity and natural spaces into 

existing parks and open space. 


The Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges NRM Board 

›› Revegetation and threat abatement undertaken in 

20 high priority urban locations supported. 

36



STRATEGY 6 – engaging the community 

and building knowledge 

Objective 

Inspiring, supporting and informing 

the community. 

Our enthusiasm in restoring our native 

vegetation is evident in the number of sites 

where volunteers give freely of their time and 

energy (see page 41, Map 4 Community Sites), 

and in the private properties where owners have 

sought legislative protection for the vegetation 

on their land through heritage agreements. 

The protection and restoration of biodiversity 

is a responsibility of government, the private 

sector and the community. It requires our 

collective commitment and cooperation. The 

more informed and educated we are, the more 

effective our response will be. 


›› support the 53 community groups who work 

to revegetate and care for areas of signifi cant 

biodiversity through developing work plans 

and giving fi nancial support and advice 

›› continue to deliver the Environment 

Grants & Awards program which allocates 

$20,700 annually to community groups and 

individuals, many of which undertake work 

related to biodiversity 

›› Provide information on the website from the 

Urban Biodiversity Unit of DENR and other 

agencies on backyard biodiversity, local plants 

species and where to purchase them. 

There are a number of agencies that work with 

private landowners and volunteers including 

Trees for Life, the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges 

Natural Resources Management Board, 

Greening Australia and the Urban Biodiversity 

Unit. We will continue to work with these 

groups that provide education and support for 

our community to ensure that services are met 

without being duplicated. 

38

ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND BUILDING KNOWLEDGE 

Twenty (2028) Five (2014) 


STRATEGIES 

The community 

is aware of the 

signifi cance of 

local plants and 

areas of habitat, 

the threats that 

they can help 

alleviate, and how 

to get involved in 

local groups. 

Private landholders 

are creating 

buffers or 

providing habitat 

areas that connect 

existing patches of 

vegetation. 


provider 


Facilitator 


provider 

F.1 

F.2 

F.3 

›› Operate bus tours of signifi cant biodiversity 

project sites 

›› Engage local groups and residents and include 

biodiversity information in the annual Sustainable 

Living Expo. 

›› Design, establish and promote locally indigenous 

gardens on suitable council land, in particular at 

community centres and libraries. 

›› Identify private landholders with property in or 

adjacent to areas of biodiversity signifi cance. Work 

with the AMLR NRM Board to alleviate threats on their 

property and contribute to buffering or connecting 

vegetation. 

Information on 

the condition and 

state of biodiversity 

is shared between 

groups. 



provider 

F.4 

›› Develop and promote a digital information system 

that provides data on fl ora and fauna on council 

land to agencies and the community. 

The condition and 

state of biodiversity 

is known. 


F.5 

›› Ensure native vegetation and fauna data is captured 

through fi eld assessments, planning, site visits, 

surveys, photos and opportunistic sightings. 


AMLR NRM 3 year target 

›› An increase in the number of people who 

volunteer to improve the management of our 

natural resources. 

39



THE IMPORTANCE OF GREY BOX (EUCALYPTUS MICROCARPA) 

Grey Box Woodlands can be found from 

Burnside through to Sellicks Beach, growing 

on both the foothills and the plains. They were 

preferentially cleared from our urban landscape 

historically because the fertile soils they grow 

on, and more recently because of their close 

proximity to residential development. There 

is now less than 8% of Adelaide’s Grey Box 

remaining and the Australian Government 

listed Grey Box Woodlands as a nationally 

endangered ecological community in April 

2010. 

Contained within these woodlands are plant, 

bird, reptile and insect species that rely on this 

vegetation community for their ongoing survival. This includes some of Adelaide’s declining 

bird populations such as the Black-chinned Honeyeater and Crested Shrike-tit. 

The widely spaced Grey Box trees provide just the right amount of light and shade for over 

100 native grass, herb, lily and orchid species to grow beneath their canopies. As weeds 

encroach into these areas the growing conditions change, and many of the remaining 

patches are heavily infested with weeds such as olives which reduce the plant diversity 

substantially. 

The City of Onkaparinga manages signifi cant areas of Grey Box Woodland in a diverse 

range of sites. These include Tangari Regional Park at Woodcroft, Piggot Range Road in the 

Onkaparinga Hills, Christies Creek Reserve at Lonsdale and Sauerbier Creek in Aberfoyle 

Park. Activities in these areas include weed control and bush regeneration techniques. 

40

MAP 4



GLOSSARY 12 

Active management is on-ground 

management undertaken at a level suffi cient 

to achieve the defi ned goals for improving 

the condition of biodiversity of a site or a 

wider area. 

Biodiversity refers to the variability among 

living organisms from all sources (including 

terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems 

and the ecological complexes of which they are 

part) and includes diversity within species and 

between species and diversity of ecosystems. 

Biosequestation is the process of capturing 

and storing carbon in living organisms such as 

plants and algae. 

Buffers are areas that directly surround patches 

of vegetation and are often revegetated. 

Carbon sequestration refers to the process of 

removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere 

and storing it in another location (called a 

carbon sink). 

Carbon sinks are natural or man-made means 

of storing carbon and include forestry and other 

plantations. 

Coastal vegetation is found along cliffs and 

dunes and in sheltered tidal zones. These plants 

have adapted to tolerate wind, salt, sandy soils 

and eroded cliff-tops. 

Connecting areas refers to areas between 

fragments or patches. 

Connectivity is the location and spatial 

distribution of natural areas in the landscape 

that will allow species and populations to 

access food, breeding sites and shelter, increase 

habitat availability and facilitate dispersal and 

migration, and enable ecological processes 

to occur such as evolution, water movement 

and fi re. 

In fragmented landscapes, connectivity is most 

likely to occur where there are a series of close 

habitat areas arranged like ‘stepping stones’. 

Conservation clusters are multi-property 

sites that are actively managed for biodiversity. 

Sites encompass private and public lands and 

provide a buffer around protected areas such 

as conservation zones. 

Ecological communities are a group of 

species that interact with each other and 

are adapted to particular conditions of soil, 

topography, water availability and climate. 

These communities need all of their different 

components to survive. 

Ecosystems are a biological community 

of interacting organisms and their physical 

environment. 

Exotic species are introduced species from 

outside of Australia. 

Fragments are restricted areas of habitat 

within a variety of other land uses. 

Grassy Woodland is typically dominated 

by scattered eucalypts with an abundance 

of grasses, sedges, scattered shrubs and 

herbaceous species such as daisies and lilies. 

The tree density is variable but, with around 

30 trees per hectare, there are open areas 

without a canopy. In higher rainfall areas tree 

density may be higher, resulting in woodlands 

that resemble forests. Grassy Woodlands 

contain a very high diversity of native plant 

species, which is particularly noticeable in 

spring when wildfl owers emerge from between 

tussocks of grass. 

42 

12 

No Species Loss, a Nature Conservation Strategy for South Australia 2007-2017, Caring for Country Business Plan 2010/2011, 

Regional Recovery Plan 2009-2014 for threatened species and ecological communities of Adelaide and the Mt Lofty Ranges of SA, 

Native Vegetation Act (1999), EPBC Act (1999).

GLOSSARY 

Heathy Woodland has a dense understorey 

and mid-storey of low small-leaved shrubs. 

Most Heathy Woodland is dominated by 

eucalypts (often stringybarks), although some 

is dominated by native pines. 

Indigenous species are locally naturally 

occurring species that are genetically distinct. 

Keystone species are species that play a 

critical role in maintaining the structure of an 

ecological community and whose impact on the 

community is greater than that which would be 

expected based on their number. 

Landscape scale refers to planning, 

implementation or reporting which incorporates 

areas larger than individual sites, properties or 

habitats, and often includes a mix of different 

vegetation types and landforms ranging across 

several sub-catchments or environmental areas. 

Landscape scale projects involve groups of 

landholders which support the development 

of biodiversity conservation plans and 

management arrangements across their 

properties. 

Local provenance plants are grown from seed 

that is collected from plants growing near the 

planting site in similar environmental situations. 

Planting local provenance plants increases the 

success of revegetation projects, as the plants 

are genetically adapted to local conditions and 

the risk of disrupting the local fl ora gene pool is 

minimised. 

Native vegetation is defi ned by the Native 

Vegetation Act as a plant of a species 

indigenous to South Australia. This covers the 

full range of naturally occurring native plants, 

from tall trees to small ground covers, native 

grasses, wetland plants such as reeds and 

rushes, and marine plants. The plants may 

comprise natural bushland or they may be 

isolated plants in a modifi ed setting, such as 

single trees in pastured paddocks. 

Passive recreation areas are generally open 

spaces that have minimal development and 

allow unstructured or informal activities to occur. 

Patches are areas of least modifi ed habitat 

surrounded by more modifi ed habitat. 

Relictual landscapes have been extensively 

cleared and heavily modifi ed, and have 

less than 10% of pre-European vegetation 

remaining. 

Reconstruction of habitat or ecosystems using 

revegetation and/or assisted regeneration. This 

could include the re-establishment of buffers to 

protect existing remnants, the re-establishment 

of corridors to restore connectivity, the reestablishment 

of specifi c habitats lost through 

preferential clearance patterns, and large-scale 

habitat re-establishment. 

Remnant vegetation refers to small areas of 

native plant communities around which most 

or all of the original native vegetation has 

been cleared. These remnants are a valuable 

refuge and habitat corridor for native plants and 

animals. Remnant trees are isolated native trees 

that can form important habitat, particularly for 

their breeding and nesting hollows. 

Resilience is the capacity of an ecosystem to 

tolerate disturbance without collapsing into a 

qualitatively different state. A resilient ecosystem 

can withstand shocks and rebuild itself when 

necessary. 

Riparian vegetation is found along watercourses 

and on fl ood plains and usually refl ects 

the better soils and moist conditions that are 

found in these lower parts of the landscape. 

In the City of Onkaparinga, the steeper slopes 

and ridges of the foothills are dominated by tall 

43



GLOSSARY 

open forests of Candlebarks, Manna Gums, 

Swamp Gums, Blackwoods and Stringybarks. 

Along the drainage lines, Red Gums dominate, 

with a more open vegetation and some open 

grassy patches in the understorey. 

Threats are activities or processes that have 

caused, are causing or may cause the 

destruction, degradation and/or impairment 

to a site, habitat or ecosystem. 

Weeds are plants that require intervention 

to reduce their effects on the economy, the 

environment, human health and amenity. 

Abbreviations 

AMLR NRM 

CFS 

DEH 

Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board 

Country Fire Service 

The former Department of Environment and Heritage 

DENR Department of Environment and Natural Resources (replaced DEH July 2010) 

EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 

44

REFERENCES 

Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural 

Resources Management Board (2008). Creating 

A Sustainable Future. An Integrated Natural 

Resources Management Plan for the Adelaide 

and Mount Lofty Ranges Region, Vol A. 

Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural 

Resources Management Board (2009). 

Metropolitan Adelaide and Northern Coastal 

Action Plan 

Australian Museum (December 2009) What is 

Biodiversity? australianmuseum.net.au/2010- 

International-Year-of-Biodiversity 

Byron Shire Council (2004) Byron Biodiversity 

Conservation Strategy 

City of Burnside Biodiversity Strategy: Nature 

Conservation in an urbanised landscape 

City of Joondalup Biodiversity Action Plan 

2009-2019 

City of Onkaparinga Climate Change 

Discussion Paper 

City of Onkaparinga website, Environment 

Profi le: Pre-European Flora and Fauna http: 

//www.onkaparingacity.com/environment/ 

european.asp 

Daniels C, Tait C Adelaide Nature of a City: the 

ecology of a dynamic city from 1836 to 2036 

Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity 

Conservation (2006). State Natural Resources 

Management Plan 2006. 

Department for Environment and Heritage 

Informing Biodiversity Conservation for Adelaide 

and the Mount Lofty Ranges SA: priorities, 

strategies and targets 


(2008) No Species Loss, A Nature Conservation 

Strategy for South Australia 2007-2017 

Department for Environment and Heritage (June 

2009) Regional Recovery Plan 2009-2014 for 

threatened species and ecological communities 

of Adelaide and the Mt Lofty Ranges of SA 


(2009) East Meets West Plan: Naturelinks 

Department of Environment Land & Water 

Biodiversity State of the Environment 2006: 

Theme commentary; Steven Cork, Land & 

Water Australia and CSIRO 

http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/ 

publications/commentaries/biodiversity/ 

utilisation.html 

Department of the Environment, Water, 

Heritage and the Arts: Biodiversity http:// 

www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/hotspots/ 

index.html 

Department of Planning and Local Government 

(2009) 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide 

Department Water Land Biodiversity (Feb 2009) 

Management of Native Vegetation to Reduce the 

Impact of Bushfire 

Environment Protection Authority (2008) State 

of the Environment Report 

Government of South Australia (2007) East 

Meets West NatureLink Plan 

Shire of Yarra Ranges (2008) Environment 

Strategy Policy Directions 

South Australian Government, South Australia’s 

Strategic Plan. 

Urban Biodiversity Unit website: Backyards for 

Wildlife http://www.backyards4wildlife.com.au/ 

index.php?page=adelaide-s-biodiversity 

Urban Biodiversity Unit for the Department of 

Heritage, A biodiversity investment plan for 

urban Adelaide 2008 – 2011 

University of Adelaide ARC Proposal: Planning 

for a transformed future: Modelling synergistic 

climate change and land use impacts on 

biodiversity 

45



ATTACHMENT 1 – Descriptions of 

vegetation groups 13 

VEGETATION 

GROUP 

Grassland 

Grassy 

Woodland 

Heathy 

Woodland 

Heathy Open 

Forest 

Shrubland 

Mallee 

Riparian 

DESCRIPTION 

A native grassland is dominated by native grasses and herbs, with few 

or no trees. All grasslands in the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges 

Region are tussock grasslands, having discrete clumps or tussocks of 

grasses, herbs or sedges. 

Grassy Woodlands are woodlands with an understorey dominated 

by grasses, herbaceous species (eg daisies, lilies) and sedges, a 

scattered shrub layer and a discontinuous tree layer. The over-storey 

is typically dominated by eucalypts. 

Similar to Heathy Open Forest, Heathy Woodland has a dense understorey 

and mid-storey of a variety of low small-leaved (sclerophyllous) 

shrubs. These layers have high structural diversity, but contain fewer 

species than grassy woodlands. 

Heathy Open Forest has a canopy dominated by eucalypts, and a 

dense understorey comprising many species of low shrubs, generally 

with small sclerophyllous hard leaves. 

Shrubland is vegetation with an open to very dense layer of shrubs 

up to 2m in height, with few or no trees. Shrubland types in the 

AMLR include coastal chenopod shrublands, low-rainfall open plains 

shrublands, and high-rainfall sclerophyllous shrublands. 

Mallee is a term used to describe vegetation with low, 

characteristically multi-stemmed trees. Mallee may have a grassy 

or shrubby understorey, or a mixture of both. The type of understorey 

is dependent upon soil and rainfall patterns. 

Riparian vegetation is vegetation found along watercourses and on 

fl ood plains. Riparian zones represent transition areas between land 

and water. The natural vegetation of these areas usually refl ects 

the better soils and moist conditions found in the lower parts of 

the landscape. 

AREA AND 

DISTRIBUTION* 

5%. Located on 

plains either side 

of the spine of the 

AMLR. 

37%. Widespread. 

Wide arc either side 

of spine of AMLR, 

and on good soils 

in ranges. 


Spine of AMLR, 

Fleurieu Peninsula. 

7%. High-rainfall 

areas, central spine 

of AMLR. 

2%. Restricted. 

Northern Adelaide 

Coastline, Northern 

Adelaide Plains, 

Fleurieu Peninsula. 

2%. Peripheral. 

Northern and 

eastern boundaries 

of region. Some 

coastal. 


Restricted to riparian 

zones. 

46 

13 

Department for Environment and Heritage (June 2009) Regional Recovery Plan 2009-2014 for threatened species and 

ecological communities of Adelaide and the Mt Lofty Ranges of SA, adapted from the Draft AMLR Biodiversity Strategy 

* Area as a percentage of total remnant vegetation. Note, this fi gure should be treated with care. Mapping of grassy ecosystems 

is particularly problematic.

ATTACHMENT 1 – Descriptions of 

vegetation groups 

VEGETATION 

GROUP 

Wetland 

Coastal 

DESCRIPTION 

A number of wetland types are found in the AMLR, including 

freshwater wetlands especially in the lower Fleurieu Peninsula, 

and seasonal wetlands of the Adelaide Plains. Freshwater wetland 

vegetation in the AMLR is shrub-dominated and typically very 

dense. Note that estuarine creeks particularly of the south coast 

are considered under ‘Coastal’; Red Gum Wetlands along creeks 

featuring waterholes with fringing reeds are considered under 

‘Riparian’. 

Coastal vegetation is vegetation that is subject to the infl uences 

of coastal environments. 

AREA AND 

DISTRIBUTION* 

2%. Restricted. 

Primarily Fleurieu 

Peninsula and 

Adelaide Plains. 



ATTACHMENT 2 – Central Lofty Landscape of the 

Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges 14 

undulating crests. Gentle slopes and fl ats, broad 

elongate valleys and rolling low hills, dissected 

by watercourses and narrow creek fl ats. 

Land use 

Major land use: peri-urban 

Minor land use: grazing, horticulture and 

conservation. 

Pre-European vegetation 

Dominated by heathy forest (40%) and riparian 

vegetation (33%). Other vegetation types 

include grassy woodland (14%) and heathy 

woodland (13%). 

Landscape modification and clearance 

patterns 

The Central Lofty landscape is classifi ed as 

‘fragmented’. Within the Mount Lofty Ranges 

region 18,500 ha of pre-European vegetation 

remains (26%). 

Area and landforms 

The Central Lofty Landscape covers an area of 

71,833 ha representing 9.2% of the Adelaide 

and Mt Lofty Ranges region. 

3,122 ha of the Central Lofty Landscape 

is located within the City of Onkaparinga, 

representing approximately 7% of the total 

council region. 

The Central Lofty landscape is identifi ed as the 

high elevation central divide of the Mt Lofty 

Ranges. It contains dissected escarpments, 

precipitous cliffs, deep narrow gorges, steep 

to moderately steep slopes and rises with 

Half of the pre-European vegetation was cleared 

prior to the 1940s. Clearance was selective 

towards good soils, with a disproportionate loss 

of grassy woodland and riparian vegetation. 

Only 14% of the pre-European extent of Grassy 

woodland, and 20% of riparian vegetation 

remains compared to over 30% of the original 

extent of heathy vegetation types. 

Remnant vegetation and conservation 

protection 

Remnant vegetation is dominated by heathy 

woodland, with this vegetation type comprising 

almost 50% of the remnant vegetation in the 

landscape, followed by riparian at 25%. 

48 

14 

Adapted from: Department for Environment and Heritage, Informing Biodiversity Conservation for the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges 

Region South Australia; Urban Biodiversity Unit for the Department of Heritage, A biodiversity investment plan for urban Adelaide 

2008 – 2011; City of Onkaparinga Native Vegetation Inventory.


Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges 

Protection of remnant vegetation is relatively 

proportioned across the vegetation groups. 

There are signifi cant amounts of remnant 

vegetation on public land (not legislatively 

protected) which is managed by SA Water. 

Ecological communities of conservation 

significance 


signifi cance that were identifi ed within the 

Mt Lofty Region and can be found within the 

Central Lofty sub region are: 

›› Leptospermum lanigerum Closed Shrubland 

›› Eucalyptus ovata +/- E.viminalis ssp. 

cygnetensis +/- E.camaldulensis var. 

camaldulensis Low Woodland 

›› Eucalyptus viminalis ssp. cygnetensis and/or 

E.viminalis ssp. viminalis Woodland 

›› Eucalyptus fasiculosa +/- E.leucoxylon 

Heathy Woodland 

Flora of conservation significance 

Seven fl ora species listed as nationally 

threatened under the Environment Protection 

and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999, 

are found within the Central Lofty sub-regional 

landscape. 

46 fl ora species considered threatened within 

the Mount Lofty Ranges region are found within 

the Central Lofty sub-regional landscape. 

Flora priorities (very high priorities only) 

›› Corybas dentatus 

›› Ghania radula 

›› Gratiola pumilo 

›› Haloragis myriocarpa 

›› Helichrysum rutidolepis 

›› Lycopodium deuterodensum 

›› Pratia puberula 

›› Psilotum nudum 

›› Thelymitra circumsepta 

›› Todea barbara 

›› Wurmbea uniflora 

Fauna of conservation significance 

49 fauna species considered threatened within 

the Mount Lofty Ranges region 15 are found 

within the Central Lofty sub-regional landscape. 

Fauna priorities (very high and high 

priorities only) 

›› Bassian Thrush 

›› Beautiful Firetail 

›› Black-chinned Honeyeater 

›› Brown Toadlet 

›› Bush-banded Rail 

›› Chestnut-rumped Heath-wren 

›› Crested Shrike-tit 

›› Cunningham’s Skink 

›› Eastern Water Skink 

›› Heath Goanna 

15 

Department for Environment and Heritage (June 2009) Regional Recovery Plan 2009-2014 for threatened species and ecological 

communities of Adelaide and the Mt Lofty Ranges of SA 

49




Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges 

›› Lewin’s Rail 

›› Pygmy Copperhead 

›› Scarlet Robin 

›› Southern Brown Bandicoot 

›› Tiger Snake 

›› Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo 

City of Onkaparinga profile 

Council reserves – remnant vegetation 


7 ha of remnant vegetation within the Cherry 

Gardens Cemetery Reserve. 

The dominant broad vegetation group within 

this reserve is: 

›› Heathy Woodland – 5 ha 

The most dominant ecological communities 

within City of Onkaparinga reserves in the 

Central Lofty landscape are: 

›› Eucalyptus obliqua, E. cosmophylla 

Heathy Low Woodland – 3.2 ha 

›› Eucalyptus obliqua, E. cosmophylla 

Heathy Low Open Woodland – 1.3 ha 

›› Eucalyptus fasiculosa, E. cosmophylla 

Heathy Low Woodland – .48 ha 


significance within City of Onkaparinga 

reserves: 

None recorded. 

Council roadsides – remnant vegetation 

The City of Onkaparinga own a total 70 km of 

roadsides within the Central Lofty sub-region 

and 56 km of these roadsides contain the 

following broad vegetation groups: 

›› Heathy Woodland – 37 km 

›› Grassy Woodland – 15 km 

›› Heathy Forest – 2 km 

›› Shrubland – 2 km 


within City of Onkaparinga roadsides in the 

Central Lofty landscape are: 

›› Eucalyptus obliqua Heathy Woodland 

–12 km 

›› Eucalyptus obliqua +/- E. cosmophylla +/- 

E. camaldulensis var. camaldulensis +/- E. 

fasciculosa Heathy Woodland – 8 km 

›› Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon, E. 

fasciculosa +/- E. viminalis ssp. cygnetensis 

Grassy Woodland – 8 km 

›› Eucalyptus obliqua, E. fasciculosa +/- 

E. leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon +/- E. viminalis 

ssp. cygnetensis +/- Pinus radiata 

Heathy Woodland – 9 km 



roadsides: 

None recorded. 

56 km of roadside native vegetation is 

incorporated into our roadside marker 

system program. 

50


Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges 

Unmade road reserves 

Survey information of remnant native vegetation 

on council – owned unmade road reserves 

is not comprehensive enough to allow for 

a full analysis as part of the current native 

vegetation mapping project. The data available 

is outdated, incomplete and captured using 

inconsistent survey methods. 

Flora of conservation significance within 

council reserves, roadside reserves and 

unmade road reserves 

One priority fl ora species has been recorded 

within City of Onkaparinga Reserves: 

›› Juncus amabilis 

Habitat reconstruction/ 

revegetation 

Current City of Onkaparinga projects 

We do not currently manage any habitat 

reconstruction/revegetation projects within the 

Central Lofty sub-region. 

Potential City of Onkaparinga projects 

Habitat reconstruction projects in this region 

could focus on: 

›› the reconstruction of disproportionately 

cleared grassy and riparian habitat to provide 

resources for species dependant on them and 

to increase indigenous vegetation cover to 

greater than 30% of the landscape 


cleared grassy and riparian habitat to 

increase remnant size 


cleared grassy and riparian habitat to 

buffer and connect existing vegetation 

›› buffering riparian zones 

›› enhancement plantings within existing 

remnants that have limited natural 

regeneration potential to restore the 

pre-European structure and diversity. 

Enhancement planting opportunity: 

Cherry Gardens Cemetery – 1.3 ha Eucalyptus 

obliqua, E.cosmophylla Heathy Low Open 

Woodland. 

51



ATTACHMENT 3 – Foothills and Hills Face 

Landscape of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges 15 

Land use 

Major land use: peri-urban development 

Minor land use: grazing, viticulture, 

conservation. 


Almost half of the landscape (47%) was covered 

with Grassy Woodland, including Box Grassy 

Woodlands which were common among the 

foothills. Other common vegetation types were 

Riparian (27%), Heathy Woodland (16%) and 

Heathy Forest (10%). 

Landscape modification and 

clearance patterns 

This subregion is considered ‘fragmented’. 

Within the Mt Lofty Ranges region 6,837 ha 

of pre-European vegetation remains (27%). 


The Foothills and Hills Face Landscape covers 

an area of 2,588 ha, representing 3.3% of the 

Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges region. 

8,518 ha of the Foothills and Hills Face 

Landscape is located within the City of 

Onkaparinga, representing 16% of the 

total council region. 

The Foothills and Hills Face landscape is 

identifi ed as steep low hills, sandy ridges 

and dissected slopes (north). 

Many areas in the foothills were cleared prior 

to the 1940s. Clearance was selective towards 

the fertile soils with vegetation on steep hills 

and escarpments cleared less extensively than 

other vegetation. Almost half (44%) of the pre- 

European extent of Heathy Forest remains as 

remnant vegetation. All other vegetation types 

were over 70% cleared. 


protection 

This sub-region is dominated by Grassy 

Woodland (40%), followed by Riparian at nearly 

30%. Vegetation types such as Heathy Forest 

were less cleared and are now more dominant 

than they were historically, with 17% remaining. 

52 

15 

Adapted from: Department for Environment and Heritage, Informing Biodiversity Conservation for Adelaide and the Mount Lofty 

Ranges; Urban Biodiversity Unit for the Department of Heritage, A biodiversity investment plan for urban Adelaide 2008 – 2011; 

City of Onkaparinga Native Vegetation Inventory.


Landscape of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges 

Protection of remnant vegetation on protected 

public land is equally represented by Grassy 

Woodland and Heathy Forest. However, the 

pre-European dominant Grassy Woodlands are 

proportionately not well protected on public 

lands. Signifi cant amounts of Grassy Woodlands 

remain in unprotected public lands. 


significance 

Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcapra) Grassy 

Woodlands was listed as a nationally threatened 

Ecological Community under the Environment 

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) 

Act in April 2010. 




Foothills Hills Face sub region are: 

›› Banksia marginata Grassy Low Woodland 

›› Eucalyptus microcarpa Grassy Low Woodland 

›› Eucalyptus viminalis ssp cygnetensis and / or 

E.viminalis ssp viminalis Woodland 

›› Eucalyptus fasciculosa +/- E.leucoxylon Heathy 

Woodland 

›› Allocasuarina verticillata Grassy Low 

Woodland 


8 fl ora species that are listed as nationally 

threatened under the EPBC Act are found 

within the Foothills and Hills Face sub-regional 

landscape. 

39 fl ora species considered threatened within 

the Mount Lofty Ranges region 16 are found 


landscape. Five of these species are endemic 

to the foothills and the majority of these 

species have a preference for Grassy 

Woodlands, Heathy Woodlands and Wetlands. 

Flora priorities (very high and high 


›› Brachyscome diversfolia 

›› Caledenia behrii 

›› Caledenia gladiolata 

›› Caledenia rigida 

›› Diuris brevifolia 

›› Glycine tabacina 


›› Lagenophora gracillis 

›› Mazus pumilio 

›› Oreomyrrhis eriopoda 

›› Prasophyllum occultans 

›› Pratia puberula 

›› Psilotum nudum 

›› Pterostylis cucullata ssp. sylvicola 

›› Ranunculus papulentus 

›› Schoenus discifer 

›› Thelymitra cyanapicata 

›› Todea barbara 

›› Utricularia lateriflora 

16 


communities of Adelaide and the Mt Lofty Ranges of SA 

53





54 

›› Veronica derwentiana ssp.homa. 

›› Viola betonicifolia ssp. betonicifolia 

›› Wurmbea uniflora 


44 fauna species considered threatened within 

the Mount Lofty Ranges region are found 


landscape These species display a preference 

for Grassy and Heathy Woodlands. 

Fauna Priorities (Very high and high 



›› Brown Toadlet 










24.2 ha of remnant vegetation within 2 reserves 

in the Foothills and Hills Face sub region for 

conservation purposes. These are: 

›› Woodland Ridge Reserve – 2.2 ha 

›› McHarg Reserve – 22 ha 

The dominant broad vegetation groups 

found within these reserves are: 

›› Grassy Woodland – 13.3 ha 

›› Riparian – 10.9 ha 


found within the 2 reserves are: 

›› Eucalyptus leucoxylon, E.camaldulensis Grassy 

Woodland – 8.4 ha 

›› Acacia pycnantha, Olea europaea tall 

Shrubland – 3.9 ha 

›› Eucalyptus camaldulensis Woodland – 3.6 ha 

›› Eucalyptus leucoxylon Grassy open Woodland 

– 3.3 ha 



reserves 

›› Eucalyptus microcapra Grassy Woodlands 

– 1.5 ha, a Nationally Threatened Ecological 

Community under the EPBC Act 1999. 


The City of Onkaparinga owns 197 km of 

roadsides within the Foothills and Hills Face 

sub-region and 157.4 km of this roadside 

contains the following broad vegetation groups: 


›› Heathy Woodland – 23.5 km 

›› Riparian – 15 km 

›› Heathy Forest – 13.9 km 



Foothills and Hills Face landscape are: 

›› Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. camaldulensis 

Grassy Woodland – 15.8 km 

›› Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. Leucoxylon



Grassy Woodland – 11.9 km 


+/- E. leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon +/- E. 

fasciculosa +/- E. cosmophylla Grassy 

Woodland – 11.2 km 

›› Eucalyptus obliqua +/- E. cosmophylla +/- 

E. camaldulensis var. camaldulensis +/- E. 

fasciculosa Heathy Woodland – 10.7 km 


signifi cance within City of Onkaparinga 

roadsides: 

›› Eucalyptus microcapra Grassy Woodlands, a 

Nationally Threatened Ecological Community 

under the EPBC Act 1999. 

7 km of roadside remnant vegetation is 

incorporated into our roadside marker 

system program. 

Council unmade road reserves 


on council owned unmade road reserves 






Flora of conservation significance within 

council reserves, roadside reserves and 

unmade road reserves 

Three priority fl ora species have been recorded 

within City of Onkaparinga unmade roadside 

reserves: 


›› Caledenia rigida 


revegetation 


The City of Onkaparinga does not currently 

manage any habitat reconstruction/revegetation 

projects within the Foothills/Hillsface sub-region. 



would focus on: 


cleared grassy habitat to provide resources for 

species dependant on them and to increase 

indigenous vegetation cover to greater than 

30% of the landscape 


cleared grassy habitat to increase remnant size 


cleared grassy habitat to buffer and connect 

existing vegetation 






Enhancement planting opportunities 

Two sites totalling 24 ha require selective 

remnant enhancement plantings to increase 

existing plant diversity and restore missing 

structural layers: 

›› McHarg Reserve 

›› Woodland Ridge Reserve. 

›› Diuris behrii 

55





The major ecological communities that could be 

established through enhancement plantings are: 

›› E.camaldulensis +/- E.leucoxylon Woodland 

– 8.4 ha 

Riparian opportunities 

›› Onkaparinga River within Clarendon township 

›› Sauerbier Creek at Aberfoyle Park 

›› Eucalyptus leucoxylon, E.camaldulensis Grassy 


›› Eucalyptus leucoxylon +/- E.microcarpa 

Grassy Woodland – 6.4 ha 

›› Eucalyptus microcarpa Grassy Woodland 

– 1.5 ha 

56

ATTACHMENT 4 – Willunga Basin Landscape 

of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges 17 

Land use 

Major land use: grazing on modifi ed pastures 

Minor land use: urban, viticulture, horticulture. 


Dominated by Grassy Woodland (70%). Other 

vegetation types include Heathy Woodland 

(16%), Riparian (9%) and small areas of 

Shrubland (2%) and Grassland (2%). 

Landscape modification and clearance 

patterns 

The Willunga Basin landscape is classifi ed 

as ‘relictual’. Within the Mount Lofty Ranges 

region 2,970 ha of pre-European vegetation 

remains (5%). 

Areas and landforms 

The Willunga Basin Landscape covers an area 

of 55,422 ha, representing 7.1% of the Mount 

Lofty Ranges Region. 

38.342 ha of the Willunga Basin Landscape 

is located within the City of Onkaparinga. 

This represents approximately 74% of the total 

council region. 

The Willunga Basin Landscape is identifi ed as 

undulating steep slopes, undulating rises and 

hills, dissected escarpments, steep rocky hills 

and hillslopes. 

Much of this landscape was cleared prior 

to the 1940s for agricultural development. 

All vegetation types have been at least 90% 

cleared. Clearance was selective towards Grassy 

Woodlands (96% cleared). Other vegetation 

types including Riparian, Shrubland and Heathy 

Woodland were approximately 90% cleared. 


protection 

Within the Willunga Basin Landscape, remnant 

vegetation is dominated by Grassy Woodland 

(48%), with Heathy Woodland (31%) and 

Riparian vegetation (16%) also represented. 

Protection of remnant vegetation on public land 

which is legislatively designated for conservation 

comprises 25% of the remnant vegetation and 

11% for public land that is not designated for 

conservation. 

17 


Ranges; Urban Biodiversity Unit for the Department of Heritage, A biodiversity investment plan for urban Adelaide 2008 – 2011; City 

of Onkaparinga Native Vegetation Inventory. 

57




of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges 

Ecological communities of 

conservation significance 


Woodlands is now listed as a nationally 

threatened Ecological Community under 

the Environment Protection and Biodiversity 

Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. 




Willunga Basin sub region are: 

›› Eucalyptus porosa Woodland 

›› Gahnia filum Sedgelands 





›› Allocasuarina verticillata 

Grassy Low Woodland 


Five fl ora species are listed as nationally 

threatened under the EPBC Act 1999 are 

found within the Willunga Basin sub-regional 

landscape. 

Seventeen fl ora species considered threatened 

within the Mount Lofty Ranges region are 


landscape. One of these species is endemic to 

the Willunga Basin and has a preference for 

Grassy Woodlands. 

Flora priorities 

›› Adiantum capillus-veneris 


›› Carrea eburnea 

›› Corybas unguiculatus 

›› Cullen parvum 

›› Diuris behrii 

›› Eleocharis atricha 

›› Euphrasia collina ssp. osbornii 

›› Glycine latrobeana 


›› Maireana decalvans 

›› Montia fontana ssp. chondrosperma 

›› Prasophyllum occultans 

›› Prasophyllum pallidum 

›› Pterostylis cucullata ssp. sylvicola 

›› Pterostylis curta 

›› Schoenus latelaminatus 


Fifty fauna species considered threatened 

within the Mount Lofty Ranges region 18 are 


landscape. These species display a preference 

for Grassy and Heathy Woodlands. 

58 

18 


communities of Adelaide and the Mt Lofty Ranges of SA



Fauna priorities (Very high and high 


›› Australian Bittern 

›› Baillon’s Crake 



›› Bush-banded Rail 

›› Crested Shrike-tit 



›› Five-lined Earless Dragon 


›› Orange-bellied Parrot 


›› Spotless Crake 

›› Spotted Quail-thrush 

›› Tawny Frogmouth 


›› Zebra Finch 




210.6 ha of remnant vegetation within 28 

reserves located within the Willunga Basin sub 

region for conservation purposes. The major 

reserves are: 

›› Tangari Regional Reserve – 98.3 ha 

›› Pedler Creek Reserve – 48.9 ha 

›› Piggott Range Rd Reserve – 33.5 ha 

›› Christies Creek Reserve – 23.7 ha 



›› Grassy Woodland – 127.1 ha 


›› Heathy Woodland 14.7 ha 

›› Grassland – 9.7 ha 

›› Wetland – 2.9 ha 

›› Sheltered Tidal – 1.6 ha 

›› Shrubland – .5 ha 



›› Eucalyptus microcarpa +/-Allocasuarina 

verticillata Grassy Woodland – 35.5 ha 


– 31 ha 

›› Eucalyptus camaldulensis Open Woodland 

– 21 ha 

›› Eucalyptus porosa, Allocasuarina verticillata 

Grassy Open Woodland – 15.4 ha 

59





›› Eucalyptus microcarpa +/-Eucalyptus 

camaldulensis Grassy Woodland – 15.4 ha 



reserves: 

›› Eucalyptus microcapra Grassy Woodlands – 

115.9 ha is a listed as a nationally threatened 

ecological community under the EPBC Act 

1999. 


The City of Onkaparinga owns a total 819 km 

of roadsides within the Willunga Basin subregion 

and 341 km of this roadside contains 

native vegetation from the following broad 

vegetation groups: 


›› Heathy Woodland – 48 km 

›› Riparian – 5.6 km 

›› Grassland – 0.7 km 

›› Shrubland – 0.5 km. 



Willunga Basin are: 


– 38 km 


Grassy Woodland – 30 km 

›› Eucalyptus porosa +/- E. fasciculosa +/- E. 

leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon Grassy Woodland 

– 29 km 

›› Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. leucoxylon 

Grassy Woodland – 24 km. 



roadsides: 

›› Eucalyptus microcapra Grassy Woodlands – 

(Nationally Threatened Ecological Community 

under the EPBC Act 1999). 

24 km of roadside vegetation is incorporated 

into the roadside marker system. 

Council unmade road reserves 


on council owned unmade road reserves 







Two priority fl ora species has been recorded 

within City of Onkaparinga reserves: 

›› Dianella longifolia var. grandis 

›› Cullen parvum 

One priority fl ora species has been recorded 

within City of Onkaparinga roadsides: 

›› Oleria pannosa ssp. pannosa 

60




revegetation 


Council currently manages or works in 

partnership with community groups to 

implement 26 habitat reconstruction, 

revegetation or landscaping projects totalling 

47 ha within the Willunga Basin sub-region 

including: 

›› Hart Rd Wetland – 17 ha 

›› McLaren Flat Wetland – 4.8 ha 

›› Christie Creek, Hunter Road Christies Beach 

– 1.6 ha 

›› Christie Creek Biodiversity Site, Marston Dr, 

Morphett Vale – 1 ha 

›› Ernest Crescent Wetland Reserve (Woodcroft) 

– .6 ha 

›› Frank Smith Wetland Reserve, Coromandel 

Valley – .5 ha 

›› Willunga, Wirra Creek Wetland Reserve 

– 1.8 ha. 



will focus on: 

›› the reconstruction of buffering vegetation to 

increase remnant size 

›› ensuring that development and landuse are 

managed and that remnants are buffered 

›› reconstructing habitat for promotional and 

educational purposes in the community 







Twenty one sites require selective remnant 

enhancement plantings to increase existing plant 

diversity and restore missing structural layers. A 

total of 109.9 ha of existing remnant requires 

enhancement planting. 

Major enhancement planting opportunities are: 

›› Tangari Regional Reserve – 41.2 ha 


›› Sauerbier Creek – 7.9 ha 

›› Glenloth Reserve – 4.8 ha. 

The major ecological communities that could be 


›› Eucalyptus microcarpa +/- Allocasuarina 

verticillata Grassy Woodland – 17.2 ha 

›› Eucalyptus camaldulensis Woodland 

– 16.8 ha 


– 15.7 ha 

›› Eucalyptus camaldulensis Open Woodland – 

12.3 ha. 

61





Buffer planting opportunities 

There is 42.8 ha of open space adjacent 

to remnant vegetation that is available 

to reconstruct pre-European vegetation 

communities. This would act as a vegetative 

buffer as well as increasing overall native 

vegetation cover. 

The following broad vegetation groups would 

be established through buffer planting: 

›› Grassy Woodland – 23 ha 


›› Sheltered Tidal – 3 ha 

›› Heathy Woodland – 3.2 ha 

Major buffer planting opportunities are: 

›› Onkaparinga Estuary – 12.4 ha 


›› Kangarilla Landfi ll Reserve – 6.4 ha 

›› Lonsdale Landfi ll Reserve – 6 ha 

›› Coast to Vines Trail – 1.6 ha. 

The major ecological communities that can be 

established through buffer plantings are: 

›› Eucalyptus porosa, Melaleuca lanceolata +/- 

Pittosporum angustifolium Low Open Grassy 


›› Eucalyptus camaldulensis Open Woodland 

– 8 ha 

Riparian opportunities 

›› Pedler Creek within the McLaren Vale township 

and lower reaches at Seaford Heights 

›› Lower reaches of Willunga Creek at Port 

Willunga/Aldinga 

›› Maslin Creek and its tributaries within the 

Willunga township 

›› Lower Reaches of the Onkaparinga River 

and estuary 

›› Christies Creek and tributaries within the 

residential areas 

›› Field River and tributaries 

›› Sauerbier Creek at Aberfoyle Park 

›› Sturt River. 

62

ATTACHMENT 5 – Southern Adelaide Coastline 

Landscape of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges 19 

Land use 

Conservation is the major land use along 

our coastline. 


Coastal vegetation was dominated by cliffs, 

both sheltered (15%) and exposed (11%), 

with sheltered dunes (8%) and exposed dunes 

(6%) also present. Terrestrial vegetation in 

the hinterland adjacent to coastal areas was 

dominated by Grassy Woodland (40%) and 

Heathy Woodland (10%). Wetland vegetation 

covered approximately 3%. 

Landscape modification and 

clearance patterns 

The Southern Adelaide Coastline landscape is 

classifi ed as ‘fragmented’. Within the Mount 

Lofty Ranges region 2,059 ha of pre-European 

vegetation remains (22%). 


The Southern Adelaide Coastline Landscape 

covers an area of 9,328 ha, representing 

1.2% of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges 

region. It is made up of undulating rises, 

steep to precipitous hillslopes and coastal 

cliffs, localised coastal fl ats and low sandy 

rises, and the undulating coastal plain 

surrounding Cape Jervis. 

1,818 ha of this area is located within the 

City of Onkaparinga (pictured), representing 

around 3% of our region. 

Some parts of this landscape were cleared 

shortly after European settlement. Clearance 

was selective towards sheltered cliffs (90% 

cleared), sheltered dunes (79% cleared) 

and exposed dunes (80% cleared). Exposed 

cliffs were only 35% cleared. Hinterland 

areas were also cleared selectively towards 

Grassy Woodlands (95% cleared) and Heathy 

Woodlands at a much lower rate (37% cleared). 

Remnant vegetation and 

conservation protection 

Within the Southern Adelaide Coastline 

Landscape, remnant vegetation comprises 

coastal vegetation and hinterland vegetation. 

The most dominant vegetation types include 

19 


Ranges; Urban Biodiversity Unit for the Department of Heritage, A biodiversity investment plan for urban Adelaide 2008 – 2011; City 

of Onkaparinga Native Vegetation Inventory. 

63





exposed cliff vegetation (33% remnant 

vegetation) and heathy woodland (28%), along 

with sheltered cliff (7%), sheltered dune (8%) 

and exposed dune (5%). 

Protection of remnant vegetation on public land 

which is legislatively designated for conservation 

comprises 69% of the remnant vegetation and 

17% for public land that is not designated for 

conservation. 

Ecological communities of 

conservation significance 


Woodlands was listed as a nationally threatened 

ecological community under the EPBC Act in 

April 2010. 




Southern Adelaide Coastline sub-region are: 


›› Freshwater Wetlands 

›› Gahnia filum Sedgelands 

›› Melaleuca halmaturorum 

Shrubland/Low Open Forest 


One fl ora species found within the Southern 

Adelaide Coastline sub-regional landscape is 

listed as nationally threatened under the EPBC 

Act 1999. 

The following 16 fl ora species that are considered 

threatened within the Mount Lofty Ranges 

region are found within the Southern Adelaide 

Coastline sub-regional landscape. Seven of 

these species are endemic to the Southern 

Adelaide Coastline and have a preference for 

coastal areas. 

Flora priorities 

›› Asterolasia muricata 

›› Austrostipa echinata 

›› Calendenia valida 

›› Calochilus cupreus 

›› Carrea eburnea 

›› Corybas expansus 

›› Dampiera lanceolata var. intermedia 

›› Daviesia pectinata 

›› Euphrasia collina ssp. osbornii 

›› Logania minor 

›› Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa 

›› Orobranche cernua var. australiana 

›› Podolepis muelleri 

›› Phyllanthus striaticaulis 

›› Prostanthera chlorantha 

›› Spyridium coactilifolium 


40 fauna species that are considered threatened 

within the Mount Lofty Ranges region 20 are 

found within the Southern Adelaide Coastline 

sub-regional landscape. 

These species have a preference for Grassy 

and Heathy Woodlands. 

64 

20 


communities of Adelaide and the Mt Lofty Ranges of SA



Fauna priorities (very high and high 


›› Australian Bittern 



›› Brown Quail 



›› Southern Emu-wren 




249.5 ha of remnant vegetation in this region 

for conservation purposes. Major reserves are: 

›› Port Noarlunga Dunes – 31.2 ha 

›› Onkaparinga Estuary – 23.2 ha 

›› Ochre Point, Moana – 19.6 ha 

›› Silver Sands Coastal Reserve – 12.7 ha 


found in the coastal reserves are: 

›› Sheltered Cliff – 140.8 ha 

›› Sheltered Dune – 69 ha 

›› Sheltered Tidal – 32 ha 

›› Shrubland – 2.7 ha 


›› Wetland – 2.5 ha 


found within the coastal reserves are: 

›› Nitraria billardierei Atriplex paludosa +/- 

Rhagodia candolleana Low Shrubland 

– 22.8 ha 

›› Olearia axillaris Leucopogon parviflorus 

+/- Acacia longifolia var.sophorae 

Shrubland –19 ha 

›› Beyeria lechenaultii+/-Pomaderris 

paniculosa+/-Acrotriche patula 


›› Sarcocornia quinqueflora Halosarcia spp. 

Sclerostegia arbuscula Low Closed Samphire 

Shrubland – 10.8 ha. 



reserves: 

›› Gahnia filum Sedgelands – 1.8 ha. 



reserves: 

›› Gahnia filum Sedgelands – 1.8 ha. 


The City of Onkaparinga own a total 13 km 

of roadsides within the Southern Adelaide 

Coastline sub-region and 5.3 km of this 

roadside contains the following broad 

vegetation groups: 

›› Heathy Woodland – 2.7 km 

›› Sheltered Dune – 1.4 km 

›› Wetland – 1.2 km. 

65






found within the coastal reserves are: 

›› Eucalyptus fasciculosa Heathy Woodland 

– 2.7 km 

›› Eucalyptus fasciculosa Woodland – 1.4 km 

›› Gahnia filum Sedgeland – 1.2 km. 



roadsides: 

›› Gahnia filum Sedgelands – 1.2 km. 

2 km of roadside vegetation is incorporated 

into our RMS program. 

Unmade road reserves – remnant 

vegetation 


on council – owned unmade road reserves 






Flora of conservation significance: 

›› Orobranche cernua var. australiana. 


revegetation 


This currently manages or works in partnership 

with community groups to implement habitat 

reconstruction, revegetation, landscaping 

projects within the Southern Adelaide Coastline 

sub-region including: 

›› Sellicks Creek and Foreshore Access Reserve 

›› Palmer St Beach Access 

›› Maslins Beach esplanade 

›› Moana Sands Coastal Reserve 

›› Port Noarlunga Dunes 

›› Graham Rabbet Reserve 

›› Pioneer Reserve 

›› Cliff stability plantings at Maslins Beach, 

Moana, Port Noarlunga 

›› Esplanade amenity plantings at Aldinga 

Beach, Port Willunga, Moana, Port Noarlunga 

and O’Sullivans Beach. 


Potential City of Onkaparinga managed 

habitat reconstruction projects in this region 

will focus on: 


cleared sheltered cliffs and sheltered dune 

habitat to provide resources for species 

dependant on them 

66





habitat to increase remnant size 



habitat to buffer and connect existing 

vegetation 






20 sites require selective remnant enhancement 

plantings to increase existing plant diversity and 

restore missing structural layers. A total of 

209.5 ha of existing remnant requires 

enhancement planting: 

›› Ochre Point – 19.6 ha 

The following vegetation groups would be 

established through buffer planting: 

›› Sheltered Dune – .29 ha 

›› Sheltered Tidal – 3.7 ha 

›› Shrubland – 5.9 ha. 

The ecological communities that could be 

established through buffer plantings are: 

›› Nitraria billadierei, Atriplex paludosa +/- 

Rhagodia candolleana Shrubland – 5.9 ha 

›› Gahnia filum Sedgeland – .27 ha 

›› Sarcocornia spp, Halosarcia spp 

Low Samphire Shrubland – 3.4 ha 

›› Olearia axillaris, Acacia longifolia 

var.sophorae Shrubland – .29 ha. 

›› Port Noarlunga Dunes – 21.1 ha 

›› Sellicks Beach – 18.9 ha 

The major ecological communities that can be 


›› Olearia axillaris Leucopogon parviflorus 

+/-Acacia longifolia var.sophorae 


›› Beyeria lechenaultii+/-Pomaderris 

paniculosa+/-Acrotriche patula 


Buffer planting 

There is 9.9 ha of open space adjacent 

to remnant vegetation that is available 

to reconstruct pre-European vegetation 

communities. This would act as a 

vegetative buffer and increase overall 

native vegetation cover. 

67



ATTACHMENT 6 – City of Onkaparinga 

managed native vegetation sites 

RESERVE NAME HA SUB-REGIONAL LANDSCAPE 

68 

Cherry Gardens Cemetery Reserve 7 ha Central Lofty 

Woodland Ridge Reserve 2.2 ha Foothills and Hills Face 

McHarg Reserve 22 ha Foothills and Hills Face 

Sauerbier Creek Reserve, Aberfoyle Park 8.5 ha Willunga Basin 

Pedler Creek Reserve, Seaford Rise 48 ha Willunga Basin 

Blewitt Springs Reserve 3.9 ha Willunga Basin 

Glenloth Reserve, Happy Valley 4.8 ha Willunga Basin 

Piggott Range Road Reserve, Onkaparinga Hills 33.5 ha Willunga Basin 

Pimpala Reserve, Morphett Vale (Heritage Agreement 

Area) 6.3 ha Willunga Basin 

Christies Creek (West of Trainline) 23.7 ha Willunga Basin 

Mandilla Reserve 2 ha Willunga Basin 

Tangari Regional Park, Woodcroft 98.3 ha Willunga Basin 

Tarnnannga Reserve, Morphett Vale (Christies Ck) 4.3 ha Willunga Basin 

Panalatinga Environmental Reserve, Fraser Ave, Happy 

Valley 3.2 ha Willunga Basin 

Christie Creek Reserve, Lonsdale 6.2 ha Willunga Basin 

Topaz Reserve, Flagstaff Hill 1 ha Willunga Basin 

Vines Creekline, Woodcroft 5.8 ha Willunga Basin 

Lonsdale Landfill Reserve 10.8 ha Willunga Basin 

Shannon Reserve 0.4 ha Willunga Basin 

Coast to Vines Trail (McLaren Vale) 4.5 ha Willunga Basin 

Willunga Courthouse Reserve 1.7 ha Willunga Basin 

Happy Valley Lifestyle Village (Open Space) 3.6 ha Willunga Basin 

River Road, Noarlunga Downs 17.8 ha Willunga Basin 

York Drive 1.2 ha Willunga Basin 

Amery Road Roadsides, Blewitt Springs 

Not yet 

surveyed Willunga Basin 

Kangarilla Landfill Reserve 11.6 ha Willunga Basin 

California/Branson Road 

Not yet 

surveyed Willunga Basin 

Farnsworth Drive Reserve, Plover Patch, Morphett Vale 3 ha Willunga Basin 

Anne Street Reserve .05 ha Willunga Basin 

Jimmy Watson Reserve, Woodcroft 2.9 ha Willunga Basin

ATTACHMENT 6 – City of Onkaparinga 

managed native vegetation sites 

RESERVE NAME HA SUB-REGIONAL LANDSCAPE 

COASTAL RESERVES 

Onkaparinga Estuary (council owned) 39.9 ha Southern Coastline 

Port Noarlunga South/Seaford 16.62 ha Southern Coastline 

Moana 0.66 ha Southern Coastline 

Moana Sands Conservation Park (foredune) 4.4 ha Southern Coastline 

Moana South Cliffs 19 ha Southern Coastline 

Ochre Point 19.66 ha Southern Coastline 

Maslin Beach (Quarry to Maslin Creek, estuary) 16.84 ha Southern Coastline 

Maslin Beach South (from Maslin Creek to Blanche 

Point) 

18.29 ha Southern Coastline 

Port Willunga (Blanche Point to Anchor Tce) 19.95 ha Southern Coastline 

Port Willunga (Anchor Tce to Butterworth Rd) 15.14 ha Southern Coastline 

Aldinga Beach (Butterworth Rd to Wattle Av) 21.12 ha Southern Coastline 

Silver Sands (Wattle Av to Loongana Rd) 13.1 ha Southern Coastline 

Sellicks Beach North (Loongana Rd to Sellicks Creek) 14.4 ha Southern Coastline 

Sellicks Beach (Sellicks Creek to council boundary) 26 ha Southern Coastline 

Tingira Reserve, O’Sullivan Beach 12.8 ha Southern Coastline 

Christies Beach (Gulfview Rd to Witton Bluff) 3.01 ha Southern Coastline 

Port Noarlunga 1.25 ha Southern Coastline 

Port Noarlunga Dunes and samphire 32.3 ha Southern Coastline 

TOTAL AREA OF BIODIVERSITY RESERVES 634.14 

69



Attachment 7 – Related plans and legislation 

International agreements 

International Convention on Biological 

Diversity 1992 

Australia is a signatory to the Convention on 

Biological Diversity. The primary aims of the 

convention are the conservation and sustainable 

use of biological diversity. The convention 

emphasises the need for in situ conservation 

measures and promotes the recovery of 

threatened species. The main implementation 

tool for the convention is the National Strategy 

for the Conservation of Australia’s Biodiversity. 

Agreements and Convention on 

Migratory Species 

Some of the bird species within the City of 

Onkaparinga region are migratory. The following 

bilateral agreements provide a formal 

framework for the conservation of migratory 

birds of the East Asian – Australasian Flyway. 

All migratory bird species listed in these bilateral 

agreements are protected in Australia as 

matters of national environmental signifi cance 

under the EPBC Act. 

›› Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement 

(JAMBA) 

›› China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement 

(CAMBA) 

›› Republic of Korea Australia Migratory Bird 

Agreement (ROKAMBA) 

Federal government plans and 

legislation 


Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) 

The EPBC is the Australian Government’s 

central piece of environmental legislation. It 

provides a legal framework to protect and 

manage nationally and internationally important 

fl ora, fauna, ecological communities, wetlands, 

migratory species and heritage areas. The states 

and territories have responsibility for matters 

of state and local signifi cance, in SA under the 

South Australian National Parks and Wildlife 

Act 1972. 

Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation 

Strategy 2010-2020 

This plan sets out broad priorities that seek to 

build ecosystem resilience through creating 

conservation linkages, protecting threatened 

and endangered species, establishing a 

national framework for conservation outside 

of designated reserves, building data-sets and 

implementing an ongoing national campaign 

for biodiversity education. The plan identifi es 

local government through its contribution to 

the development of local biodiversity plans, 

monitoring and reporting and through its role in 

local and regional planning. 

The Vegetation Strategy 2010-2014 applies the 

approach contained in the national strategy that 

seeks to build connectivity around core habitats 

including reserves and strengthen the resilience 

of landscapes. This includes managing patches 

of remnant vegetation outside of reserves 

that can serve as stepping stones and linear 

corridors to aid the movement of species. 

70


The following plans are implemented under 

the framework of the national Biodiversity 

Conservation Strategy: 

›› national recovery plans for nationally listed 

threatened species 

›› Australian Weeds Strategy (2007) 

›› threat abatement plans for weeds of national 

signifi cance. 

South Australian legislation 

Natural Resources Management 

Act 2004 

This Act provides the legislative framework for 

the sustainable and integrated management 

of the state’s natural resources. Key regulatory 

functions of the NRM Act include the ability 

to control water use through prescription, 

allocations and restrictions (eg groundwater at 

McLaren Vale), and the requirement to control 

pest plants and animals and any activities that 

might result in land degradation. A ‘duty of 

care’ ensures that there is a environmental 

and civil obligation to take reasonable steps 

to prevent land and water degradation, and 

prosecution for negligence is possible under 

this Act. 

Native Vegetation Act 1991 

The Native Vegetation Act covers both private 

and public land and is designed to prevent 

the broad scale clearance of native vegetation 

for agriculture and urban development. The 

Act includes the provision of incentives and 

assistance to landowners for the preservation, 

enhancement and management of native 

vegetation. Native Vegetation Regulations 

(2003) set out circumstances in which native 

vegetation may be cleared without the 

need for specifi c consent from the Native 

Vegetation Council and also specify the 

need for the establishment of offset planting 

in some situations. 

Development Act 1993 

Development within an area of intact native 

vegetation is subject to the regulations of 

the Native Vegetation Act and planning 

authorities are required to refer certain types 

of development applications such as land 

subdivision to other agencies, including the 

Native Vegetation Council, for specialist advice. 

The Coast Protection Board establishes whether 

land and any development on it is likely to 

affect, or be affected by, coastal processes 

including storm surge fl ooding and short or 

long-term changes in the coastline’s position. 

The board can recommend that development 

applications along the coast be rejected if, for 

example, the development impinges on the 

conservation of coastal, estuarine and marine 

habitats. 

Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005 

This Act provides for the South Australian Fire 

and Emergency Services Commission and its 

role in the governance, strategic and policy 

aspects of the emergency services sector. This 

includes the prevention, control and suppression 

of fi res and the handling of certain emergency 

situations. 

Environment Protection Act 1993 

The State’s Environment Protection Act 1993 

is administered by the Environment Protection 

Authority to provide for the protection of the 

environment, control actions that will or might 

result in pollution and prepare the State of 

Environment Report. 

71




Coast Protection Act 1972 

The State’s Coast Protection Act 1972 is 

administered by the Department for Environment 

and Heritage to protect the coast from erosion, 

deterioration, pollution or misuse on both 

private and public land and to engage in 

environmental restoration. The Coast Protection 

Board is the primary authority and prescribed 

body in South Australia managing coastal 

protection issues and providing advice on 

coastal development. 

Crown Lands Act 1929 

The state’s Crown Lands Act 1929 regulates 

the use of Crown land under the care of local 

government (eg cemetery reserves, water 

reserves, stone reserves and parklands). 

Numerous sub-populations of threatened 

species occur on Crown Land Act reserves. 

Crown land under the care of local government 

can be proclaimed as Conservation Reserves 

under the Crown Lands Act and managed for 

biodiversity conservation purposes. 

South Australian 

Government Plans 

State Natural Resources Management 

plan 2006 

This is the guiding document for natural resource 

management in South Australia. The 

NRM Council is established under the NRM Act 

2004 and acts as a peak advisory body, with 

eight regionally based community-driven NRM 

Boards. Each regional NRM Board is required 

to prepare a regional NRM Plan and associated 

investment strategies that establish the priority 

projects for funding. 

Creating a Sustainable Future Volume 

C – the Board’s Investment Plan 

2010/2011-2012/2013 – Adelaide 

& Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources 


This plan provides an outline of how the board 

proposes to invest funds collected through the 

NRM Levy and other sources over the next three 

years. The programs address targets that include 

stormwater quality, stormwater harvesting, 

ecosystem restoration and community 

participation. 

Nature Links – Cape Borda to 

Barossa NatureLink 

NatureLinks aims to create fi ve discrete 

biodiversity corridors strategically located 

across the State. The City of Onkaparinga 

region falls within the Cape Borda to Barossa 

NatureLink which ranges from the western edge 

of Kangaroo Island, north-east across Backstairs 

Passage, and north through the Adelaide region 

to the Barossa Valley. 

The purpose of NatureLinks is to integrate 

biodiversity considerations into planning 

processes and to address habitat fragmentation 

through building partnerships and community 

engagement. NatureLinks is led by the 

Department of Environment and Natural 

Resources in partnership with regional 

natural resource management boards and 

the Department of Primary Industries and 

Resources SA. 

72


No Species Loss - a nature conservation 

strategy for South Australia 2007-2017 

seeks to fulfi ll South Australia’s role in 

implementing Australia’s international 

biodiversity commitments. The overall aim is to 

not lose any more species in South Australia, 

on land, in rivers, creeks, lakes, estuaries or the 

sea. Nature Links supports the implementation 

of No Species Loss on the ground. 

Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges 

Regional Plans 

Informing Biodiversity Conservation for 

Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges 

SA: Priorities, Strategies and Targets. 

The strategy proposes landscape restoration 

based on an analysis of the landscape 

that includes pre-European vegetation and 

vegetation modifi cation patterns. The City of 

Onkaparinga has collated data that enables a 

similar analysis which is contained in the Native 

Vegetation Strategy 2010–14, Attachments 2–5. 

Regional Recovery Plan 2009-2014 

for threatened species and ecological 

communities of Adelaide and the Mt 

Lofty Ranges of SA (June 2009) 

This document guides regional investment of 

threatened species projects, incorporating 200 

priority plant, bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian 

and freshwater fi sh species, and a number of 

ecological communities at risk in the region. 

The long-term aim of the plan is to reduce the 

probability of threatened species and ecological 

communities of the AMLR region becoming 

extinct in the wild, and to maximise the viability 

of individual species. Priority species on land 

managed by the City of Onkaparinga have 

been identifi ed in Attachments 2 – 5, 8 of the 

Native Vegetation Strategy 2010 –14. 

A Biodiversity Investment Plan 

for Urban Adelaide 2008-2011 – 

Urban Biodiversity Unit 

Identifi es opportunities for undertaking 

high priority restoration works in Adelaide’s 

urban area. Finds key locations and sites for 

undertaking remnant vegetation management 

or revegetation and guides investment that will 

contribute to state conservation targets and 

help protect the habitats and species of highest 

conservation priority. The timeframe aligns 

with the AMLR NRM Board (2008) Creating 

a Sustainable Future Volume C – the Board’s 

Investment Plan. 

Metropolitan Adelaide and Northern 

Coastal Action Plan – Adelaide & 

Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resource 


This plan provides a detailed review of the state 

of the coastal environment from Port Wakefi eld 

to Sellicks Beach, including the identifi cation of 

threats, and recommendations for conservation 

priorities within each council area. The City 

of Onkaparinga is working with the NRM 

Board and local groups on planting projects 

and addressing threats within the coastal zone 

such as weeds, pest animals and uncontrolled 

access. 

73



ATTACHMENT 8 – Threatened species 

and ecological communities 

National and state threatened species 

Flora and fauna species are listed as threatened 

at a national level under the Environment 

Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 

1999 (EPBC Act) or at a state level under the 

South Australian National Parks and Wildlife 

Act 1972 (NPW Act). The EPBC Act lists species 

as Critically Endangered, Endangered or 

Vulnerable and the NPW Act lists species as 

Endangered (Schedule 7), Vulnerable (Schedule 

8) or Rare (Schedule 9). 

Regional threatened communities 

and species 

Priority ecological communities that are 

threatened within the Adelaide and Mount 

Lofty Ranges and represented within our region 

include: 


›› Allocasuarina verticillata Grassy Low 

Woodland 


›› Themeda triandra =/- Danthonia spp 

Tussock Grassland 

›› Callitris preissii +/- E.leucoxylon Grassy Low 

Woodland 



›› Eucalyptus ovata +/- E.viminalis ssp. 

cygnetensis +/- E.camaldulensis var. 

camaldulensis Low Woodland 


74

ATTACHMENT 8 – Threatened species 

and ecological communities 





›› Freshwater Wetlands 

›› Gahnia fillum Sedgeland 

Flora and fauna species of conservation 

significance 

The following species of fl ora and fauna are 

considered threatened and have been identifi ed 

as a priority in the Adelaide and Mount Lofty 

Ranges Region. 

›› Melaleuca halmaturorum Shrubland/Low 

Open Forest 

›› Leptospermum lanigerum Closed Shrubland 

SUBREGION 

NO. OF 

THREATENED 

FAUNA SPECIES 

NO. OF 

THREATENED 

FLORA SPECIES 

THREATENED FLORA SPECIES 

RECORDED IN COUNCIL RESERVES 

Central Lofty 49 46 

›› Jointed Twig Rush 

Juncus amabilis 

Hills Face/ 

Foothills 

44 39 

›› Pink-lipped Spider Orchid 

Caledenia behrii 

›› White Spider Orchid 

Caledenia rigida 

›› Behr’s Cowslip Orchid 

Diuris behrii 

Willunga Basin 50 17 

›› Pale Flax Lily 

Dianella longifolia var.grandis 

›› Small Scurf-pea 

Cullen parvum 

›› Silver Daisy Bush 

Olearia pannosa ssp. pannosa 

Southern 

Adelaide 

Coastline 

40 16 

›› Australian broomrape 

Orobranche cernua var. 

australiana 

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