Main Valley Project Site - Morialta Conservation Park

Project Report 2009

It may be of interest to look back in time to 1984 when this project commenced. It began after the Main Valley in the Morialta Conservation Park was severely damaged by a flash flood and to rectify the damage, National Parks and Wildlife implemented a scheme to rehabilitate the valley but work was brought to a halt when funds ran out just after the track and bridge work had been completed.

A proposal was drawn up by Ranger, Russell Bath, and Pembroke School expressed an interest in carrying on the project by landscaping, revegetating and maintaining the Main Valley.

Due to its staffing situation, National Parks were unable to coordinate the work but Graham and Raelene of the SA National Parks Association volunteered to coordinate the programme for the next four years and then the project was continued through the Friends of Black Hill & Morialta.

Well, it has been a very long four years , in fact 25, and I am still the coordinator and am proud to be working, achieving and sharing experiences with students from Pembroke School.

Students are briefed in Occupation Health and Safety matters, the proper handling and use of herbicides and tools and also learn weed and native plant identification, together with a variety of other bush care initiatives and activities. During our sessions, other information is given about native fauna and feral threats they face. Geology too, is a topic we discuss, along with a variety of other topics that arise through student's questions.

Since our beginning in 1989 we have certainly made an enormous contribution to the areas we have worked in and I am confident that at the end of our sessions students have a better understanding as to why we need parks, the management/funding issues they face, a greater appreciation of Nature, and will have gained some new skills.

In the past we have worked in the Main Valley at Morialta, Ambers Gully and Ghost Tree Gully in the Black Hill Conservation Park and this year we concentrated our work in the Main Valley removing Broom, Fennel, Briar rose and other woody weeds representing a total of 290 volunteers hours valued at $5,800.00.

Again, we ran a successful program and I thank Malcolm, Principal and staff members for their friendship and continuing support .

Graham - Project Coordinator

September 1986 Cleared Boneseed
Morialta Conservation Park

Page last updated 17 February 2010 - new page added

Top of the page