A cattle station at the mouth of the River Murray will be transformed into a wetland habitat under the expansion of the Coorong National Park.
Located south of Goolwa, Mundoo Island Station is part of the 142,500ha Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar Wetland – one of Australia’s most important wetland sites.
The State and Federal Governments have partnered with the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife to acquire the 1900ha property, increasing the internationally recognised Coorong National Park’s size to more than 50,000ha.
The expansion will help to protect endangered species, reduce nutrient runoff and improve environmental resilience across the Murray Mouth.
The acquisition includes islands surrounding the eastern tip of Hindmarsh Island such as Mundoo, Ewe and Long.
Improved habitat will support native shorebirds as well as dozens of migratory bird species, including the critically endangered curlew sandpiper and far eastern curlew.
Transforming the station into a protected national park also provides opportunities for the reintroduction of threatened fish species like the Yarra pygmy perch, Southern pygmy perch, Murray hardyhead and purple-spotted gudgeon (pictured).
The existing Lawari Conservation Park, on the eastern side of Hindmarsh Island, will be incorporated into Coorong National Park.
Mundoo Island Station, which has operated as a cattle and sheep station for more than a century, will be destocked and grazing, cropping and fertiliser use ceased to enable significant wetland restoration and rehabilitation.
To help run the bigger park, the State Government will prepare a plan to guide management of the new additions.
In addition to its environmental value, Mundoo Island is culturally significant to the Ngarrindjeri people and contains registered Aboriginal heritage sites.
DEW will work with the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation to ensure these important sites are protected, including the ‘Meeting of the Waters’ where the River Murray and Coorong and surrounding waters connect.
Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation Executive Officer Bill Wilson said the corporation was "genuinely excited" by the purchase of Mundoo Island, which holds significant cultural heritage to the Ngarrindjeri Nation.
National Parks & Wildlife CEO Ian Darbyshire said the acquisition of Mundoo Island Station "marks a significant milestone in the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife's commitment to safeguarding Australia’s unique natural environment and protecting First Nations cultural heritage".
