Lake Newland Conservation Park
Encyclopedia
Lake Newland Conservation Park protects a 20 km long hypersaline lake and associated wetland
complex lying on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula
of South Australia
. It is separated from the sea by sand-dunes
. The southern end of the reserve is about 10 km north of the small town of Elliston
, and the northern end about 20 km south of Venus Bay
. The park was proclaimed in 1991; some additional areas were added in 1996.
sand-dunes creating a barrier between the Southern Ocean
and a depression in the Bridgewater Formation of Pleistocene
limestone
that is common throughout the western Eyre Peninsula. The dunes continue to encroach on the lake, lagoons and other wetlands in the park which are also fed by freshwater springs in the limestone. Average annual rainfall (recorded at Elliston) is 427 mm.
woodland
and scattered native shrubs. The lake margins are dominated by salt-tolerant Sarcocornia
and Tecticornia
species. The coastal shrublands that cover much of the reserve are mainly composed of Coastal Daisybush
, with Coast Beard-heath
, Seaberry Saltbush
, Long-pod Wattle
, Coastal Umbrella Bush and Cockies Tongues. The foredunes behind the beach contain Spinifex hirsutus grassland as well as Coast Saltbush
and Knobby Club-rush. Swale
s are characterised by Swamp Paperbarks
and Dryland Tea-trees
over salt-tolerant shrubs.
as an Important Bird Area
(IBA) because it regularly supports over 1% of the world population of Cape Barren Geese
, as dry-season visitors from their offshore island breeding grounds, and significant numbers of Fairy Tern
s and Hooded Plover
s. Slender-billed Thornbill
s occur in the park.
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
complex lying on the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...
of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It is separated from the sea by sand-dunes
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
. The southern end of the reserve is about 10 km north of the small town of Elliston
Elliston, South Australia
Elliston is a small coastal town in South Australia on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula 169 km northwest of Port Lincoln and 641 km west of Adelaide. The township is located on Waterloo Bay....
, and the northern end about 20 km south of Venus Bay
Venus Bay, South Australia
Venus Bay is a small tourist and fishing town sited on the bay of the same name, on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The town population numbers in the twenties during most of the year, but its numbers greatly increase during the summer holidays. At the 2006 census, Venus Bay had a population...
. The park was proclaimed in 1991; some additional areas were added in 1996.
Description
The park has a relatively recent geological history, with HoloceneHolocene
The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"...
sand-dunes creating a barrier between the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
and a depression in the Bridgewater Formation of Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
that is common throughout the western Eyre Peninsula. The dunes continue to encroach on the lake, lagoons and other wetlands in the park which are also fed by freshwater springs in the limestone. Average annual rainfall (recorded at Elliston) is 427 mm.
Vegetation
The park contains mobile sand dunes and sub-coastal wetlands. The vegetation includes areas of previously cleared land with patches of regenerating Drooping SheoakAllocasuarina verticillata
Allocasuarina verticillata or drooping sheoak is a nitrogen fixing native tree of southeastern Australia. Originally collected in Tasmania and described as Casuarina verticillata by French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1786, it was moved to its current genus in 1982 by Australian botanist...
woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
and scattered native shrubs. The lake margins are dominated by salt-tolerant Sarcocornia
Sarcocornia
Sarcocornia is a genus of succulent salt tolerant coastal plants.-Species:*S. alpini*S. blackiana *S. fruticosa*Sarcocornia globosa...
and Tecticornia
Tecticornia
Tecticornia is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plant largely endemic to Australia. In 2007, the genus Halosarcia, along with three other Australian genera was incorporated intothe genus....
species. The coastal shrublands that cover much of the reserve are mainly composed of Coastal Daisybush
Olearia axillaris
Olearia axillaris is a shrub of the Asteraceae family, found in coastal areas of Australia. Commonly known as the Coastal Daisybush, it was one of the first edible plants to be discovered by Europeans.-Description:...
, with Coast Beard-heath
Leucopogon parviflorus
Leucopogon parviflorus, commonly known as Coast Beard-heath or Native Currant, is a shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae. It is endemic to Australia....
, Seaberry Saltbush
Rhagodia candolleana
Rhagodia candolleana is a shrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, native to Australia.-Description:This species forms a dense shrub up to 2 metres in height...
, Long-pod Wattle
Acacia complanata
Acacia complanata, generally known as Long-pod Wattle and Flat-stemmed Wattle, is a perennial tree native to Australia. It can grow 5–6 m tall, but more often it grows as a large shrub. It is not listed as being a threatened species...
, Coastal Umbrella Bush and Cockies Tongues. The foredunes behind the beach contain Spinifex hirsutus grassland as well as Coast Saltbush
Atriplex cinerea
Atriplex cinerea is a species of plant in the Chenopodiaceae family. It occurs in sheltered coastal areas and around salt lakes in the Australian states of Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales....
and Knobby Club-rush. Swale
Swale
Swale is a local government district with borough status in Kent, England. Its council is based in Sittingbourne. The borough is named after the narrow channel called The Swale, a channel that separates the mainland of Kent from the Isle of Sheppey, and which occupies the central part of the...
s are characterised by Swamp Paperbarks
Melaleuca ericifolia
Melaleuca ericifolia is a shrub or small tree in the genus Melaleuca, native to Australia. The species grows to between 2 and 9 metres in height and has pale papery bark The linear leaves are dark green and scattered or in whorls of three. These are 7 to 15 mm long and about 1 mm wide...
and Dryland Tea-trees
Melaleuca lanceolata
Melaleuca lanceolata is a small tree or shrub in the genus Melaleuca, native to Australia. It has a number of common names including Black Paperbark, Moonah, Rottnest Island Teatree and Western Black Tea tree....
over salt-tolerant shrubs.
Birds
Some 89 km2 of the lake and its surrounds has been identified by BirdLife InternationalBirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
as an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
(IBA) because it regularly supports over 1% of the world population of Cape Barren Geese
Cape Barren Goose
The Cape Barren Goose is a large goose resident in southern Australia. The species is named for Cape Barren Island, where specimens were first sighted by European explorers.-Taxonomy:...
, as dry-season visitors from their offshore island breeding grounds, and significant numbers of Fairy Tern
Fairy Tern
The Fairy Tern is a small tern which occurs in the southwestern Pacific.There are three subspecies:* Australian Fairy Tern, Sterna nereis nereis - breeds in Australia...
s and Hooded Plover
Hooded Plover
The Hooded Dotterel or Hooded Plover is a species of bird in the Charadriidae family. It is endemic to southern Australia and Tasmania. There are two recognized subspecies, both of which are classifed as Endangered....
s. Slender-billed Thornbill
Slender-billed Thornbill
The Slender-billed Thornbill is a small bird native to Australia. It includes three separate sub-species:* A. i. hedleyi* A. i. iredalei* A. i. rosinae...
s occur in the park.