The Habitat

Keith & District Conservation Park

"Gateway to the 'Coonawarra' district, a major wine area & tourist destination for the Limestone Coast."

Keith is a farming town on the Dukes Highway, 240 km south east of Adelaide, in the centre of the Coonalpyn Downs. The area has been transformed from infertile pasture to productive farming by the use of plant nutrition and modern farming methods. Of interest in the town are the National Trust - classified buildings in Heritage Street which includes the former Congregational Church (1910), with 11 locally made leadlight windows depicting the town's life and pioneering history, as well as the Old Manse. In the area you will find, Mount Rescue Conservation Park, only 16 km north of the town which is a vast expanse of sand plain with heath, pink gums, Aboriginal campsites and burial grounds and heaps of native wildlife. The Old Settlers cottage, built in 1894 is 2km north east on Emu Flat road and Ngarkat Conservation Park, 25km north east, is for those who enjoy the beauty of flora and fauna. For scenic views, and diverse wildlife Mt Monster Conservation Park is only 10km south of Keith.

Keith Area School's Project

In conjunction with: The Tatiara Council; Keith Community Centre; Apex Club and Lions Club.

The main focus of the project is to re-establish local habitats to resemble the flora and fauna that were present prior to European inhabitation. Many species in the area are either threatened or endangered and the development of a protected and safe environment may enable future generations to be able to see these species. The project therefore involves the establishment of four different types os remnant habitats fournd in the Keith district, being:

a woodlands habitat over a grassy or heath understorey
grasslands
a granite outcrop habitat
a wetlands habitat

Walking paths will be provided to enable easy access to the different areas and to reduce the amount of disturbance to the individual habitats.

Objectives of the Project

re-establishment of some local flora and fauna
provide feeding habitats for some threatened species
improve the aesthetics of the area concerned
provide an outdoor classroom to promote conservation to students of all ages
to promote conservation of local species to the wider community
to encourage students and the community as a whole to care for their natural flora and fauna and to consider developing wildlife corridors and stepping stones to link the Conservation Parks and remnant native vegetation
to link conservation and care for our environment to a range of curriculum areas
to provide students with an enjoyable and rewarding activity that will provide benefit to future generations
encourage ecotourism in Keith

Pre-European Habitat Restoration

Local Details and History

Pre-restoration Site Description:

The area of land was relatively flat with some pines and Eucalypts around the perimeter of the site. The majority of the area is bare of local vegetation except for weeds and the centre was once a cricket pitch. In the southern corner closest to the school is a large drainage ditch that allows for the storm-water run off from the streets. The site has been neglected and unused for the last 25 years or more.

Project location:

The seleted site is directly opposite the southern side of the school grounds near the main street of Keith. Adjacent to this site is the Keith Caravan Park and on the other side is the Keith Hotel/Motel. The area is clearly defined by roads on three sides and the Caravan Park on the remaining side.

Background to the Project

The South East of South Australia supports a highly diverse biota with some relatively unique species continuing to survive in the Keith District. The Keith-Willalooka District has been identified as one of five threatened habitat areas. Conservation of the area is important because it contains:

vegetation types that have been selectively cleared and modified
habitats poorly conserved in government reserves and Heritage agreements
small blocks of native vegetation
regionally or State threatened plant communities
species of high conservation significance
species populations and ecosystems at threat from extinction in
the shorter term (less than 50 years time)

The Monarto Mint Bush (Prostanthera eurybioides) is a nationally endangered species native to South Australia with only two distinct populations at Monarto and Mt Monster Conservation Park (15km south-west of Keith). A recovery plan has been prepared for this species and students of Keith Area School could become part of this plan establishing and maintaining an environment to support the re-establishment of seedlings in a controlled environment.

Extensive land clearing in the Keith district from the 1880's until the 1960's resulted in the reduction of most of the area's natural vegetation to scattered trees over introduced pasture and cropping land or highly fragmented small blocks. Today, less than 13% of the South East region is covered with native vegetation and most of this occurs along roadsides in scattered remnants. From the 1980's, the spread of lerp (psyllid insects), Bridal Creeper (Myrsyphyllum asparagoides) and Mundulla Yellows have left much of the roadside vegetation in poor health, having a significant effect on the biodiversity of the Upper South East. Bridal Creeper smothers and eradicates understorey vegetation including orchids and lillies, including Vanilla Lily - Dichopogon sp that is still present in neighbouring parklands. Local Eucalypt species Pink Gum (Eucalyptus fasciculosa) and Blue Gum (E. leucoxylon) are affected by lerp and Mundulla Yellows respectively. Thirty-eight species of mammals, birds and plants have become extinct since European settlement and it has not stopped there.