SA Water is currently undertaking a $3 million project aimed at restoring native vegetation across 450 hectares of land in the Mt Bold Reservoir and Clarendon Weir catchment, south of Adelaide. This project will span a five year period, extending from 2004/5 to 2008/9.
Historically, the parcels of SA Water land included in this revegetation project had been managed by leasing them to local landholders for agriculture, predominantly cattle grazing with some hay cutting. Importantly, these parcels are within the water supply catchment that flows into Scott Creek, Clarendon Weir and Happy Valley Reservoir.
As part of the project, extensive weed control has been successfully undertaken. This work has sought to minimise as far as practicable potential exotic competition for the planted vegetation.
The revegetation areas have been planted with local native flora propagated from locally collected seed. Thus far, this has seen 230,000 seedlings planted in 2004/5, 211,000 seedlings in 2005/6 and 175,000 seedlings in 2006/7. 61 hectares are planned for planting in 2007/8 and a further 70 hectares in 2008/9. These plantings will be supplemented by niche seeding of various colonising species and ‘in-fill’ planting as required.
In addition to planting, remnant bushland restoration has been undertaken on 107 hectares of former lease land, including a 20 hectare site managed on a weekly basis by volunteers through SA Water's partnership with Bush For Life.
Along with establishing a self-sustained native vegetation landscape, the project will:
- Control invasive noxious weeds on SA Water land and ecologically sensitive neighbouring sites
- Assist in improving the quality of run-off water from SA Water land
- Provide a buffer for the diversity of wildlife in neighbouring reserves
- Increase the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through revegetation