Scott Creek Conservation Park

Where is it?: Scott Creek Conservation Park is SE of Cherry Gardens towards Mount Bold Reservoir. Mount Bold Road forms the southern and south-eastern boundary. Gurr Road is the north-eastern boundary whilst the remainder of the park abuts private land. Scott Creek Road, Frith Road and Dorset Vale Road go through the park. There is parking available at the Alamanda Mines site along Dorset Vale Road.

Owner: Department for Environment and Water.

Property summary: Total area 712 hectares. Hundred of Noarlunga – Sections 232, 1114, 1125, 1169, 1412, 1455, 1593, 1669-1679, 3937, Allotments 10-13, 100¹.

Landscape Management Region: Green Adelaide, Landscape Management Region: Hills and Fleurieu

History: Scott Creek Reserve was purchased by the South Australian Government in the early 1970’s for water catchment purposes and possible future water storage. A study conducted by the then Engineering and Water Supply Deparment in 1975 found, that while the land was no longer required for water storage, it should continue to be managed by a Government authority, to ensure a clean water catchment and to preserve its natural conservation values ². Subsequently Sections 1669-1679 were proclaimed on 7 November 1985 as Scott Creek Conservation Park³. Sections 232, 1114, 1125, 1169, 1412, 1455, 1593, 3937 and Allotments 10-13 and 100 were added on 28 June 2001⁴.

Habitat: The main upper canopy species is messmate stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua) which is associated with several other species, including South Australian blue gum (E. leucoxylon), pink gum (E. fasciculosa) and cup gum (E. cosmophylla). In some valleys, river red gum (E. camaldulensis) and manna gum (E. viminalis) are the dominant canopy species. Silky tea-tree (Leptospermum lanigerum), swamp wattle (Acacia retinodes), soft water fern (Blechnum minus), and several sedge and rush species grow in the cooler, damper creeklines. Some of the dominant species occurring in the diverse lower canopy include golden wattle (A. pycnantha), sweet bursaria (Bursaria spinosa), silver banksia (Banksia marginata), needle bush (Hakea rostrata), drooping sheoak (Allocasuarina muelleriana) and native cherry (Exocarpos cupressiformis). Understorey species such as common heath (Epacris impressa), flame heath (Astroloma conostephioides), common fringe myrtle (Calytrix tetragona) and lavender grevillea (Grevillea lavandulacea) are conspicuous  when in flower. Portions of the more arable sections of the park have, in the past, been cleared. Consequently, the invasion of some major pest plants has taken place here and also in other sections where mining, logging and houses occurred. Natural plant communities are slowly re-establishing themselves in these areas².

More information: NPWSSA; Friends of Scott Creek

Total Species Recorded to Date: 135 (non-passerines 70, passerines 65)

Common Species: Common Bronzewing, Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, White-browed Scrubwren, Striated Thornbill

Less Common Species: Eurasian Coot, Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Black-shouldered Kite, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Weebill, Jacky Winter

References:

 ¹ Department for Environment and Water. (2019). Protected Areas Information System. Property Summary Report. 30 March 2019. p. 14.  

 ²Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs. (1999). Scott Creek Management Plan. Adelaide, Australia. 

 ³ Government of South Australia. National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972: Section 30—Scott Creek Conservation Park Constituted. The South Australian Government Gazette. 78: 1362. (7 November 1985). 

 ⁴ Government of South Australia. National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 Section 30(2): Alteration of Boundaries of Scott Creek Conservation Park The South Australian Government Gazette. 77: 2385. (28 June 2001) 

Updated: 28/07/2021