A LOCAL scientist says native vegetation at the Loxton Riverfront Holiday Park could continue to die if the District Council of Loxton Waikerie does not intervene.
Despite engaging a third party managing agent to oversee the park’s operation on its behalf, the council is still responsible for investment in the park’s infrastructure.
However, the council alleges that in recent years the site, which is part of a large section of crown land that has been a dedicated caravan park for more than 50 years, has become a costly endeavour and moved to revoke its community land status in last month’s general meeting.
Retired agriculture scientist and regional entomologist Geoff Furness said despite the council’s decision, it should still consider adopting a wetland management plan.
“I propose that the rezoning and sale of the caravan park be subject to overall management plan for the entire floodplain from the Apex Park to the Habel’s Bend floodplain outlet,” he said.
“I suggest management be similar to that adopted to Banrock Station with all major and minor floods being free flowing across the entire wetland.
“Additional small scale flooding and drying cycles could be achieved using the stormwater dam and the final flood gate next to the houseboat sewage deposit station.”
Mr Furness said currently, minor flooding is prevented from entering the park’s wetland area, which is causing significant damage to local plants and red gums, and could have an adverse effect on tourists and the environment.
“When minor flooding is prevented from entering the caravan park wetland area, salt is pushed to the surface, causing major damage to the plants in this area and the death of many red gums,” he said.
However, District Council of Loxton Waikerie CEO David Beaton assured the red gums would not be affected by the revocation, as there were protections in place to prevent people from doing what they want with the land.
“The red gums under the native vegetation act are a protected tree, so you need to have the appropriate clearance issued by the Native Vegetation Council,” he said.
“There’s only that part on the upper area, which hasn’t got those river red gums in that area anyway, so I think those (red gums) that are currently there, there’s protections in place for them.”
“The bit that’s the lower level of the caravan park is subject to flooding, so there wouldn’t be anyone building down there, (and)… that wouldn’t be an area someone would be allowed to put new buildings in anyway.”
Mr Beaton said there was a possibility the council would implement a wetland management plan for the holiday park in the future.
“I’m not saying it’s something that we wouldn’t look at, but it’s just a matter of balancing it out with the other things we’ve got to do as well,” he said.
“Some of (the park) floods in a high river and some of it doesn’t, so there’s mapping that’s been done.
“It’s just a matter of having the constant ability and operational efficiency within it.”
Mr Beaton said the council wanted to see the caravan park meet its full potential, and in the current situation, it needed further capital investment the council could not provide.
“I think it’s a general consensus by the council and the community that it’d be better off in private ownership and in (the hands of) people who can invest heavily into the park to use the natural assets it’s got, and expand the facilities,” he said.