Life returns as Flinders Island becomes a safe haven

As a Landscape Officer in Streaky Bay with the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board, Gemma sees the impact of this work every day. 

It’s the annual return of eastern curlews — critically endangered migratory birds — made possible by protecting coastal saltmarsh habitats. 

It’s barren paddocks slowly regenerating with native grasses after sustained pest and herbivore control. 

And it’s the quiet comeback of birds and lizards on Flinders Island, following the removal of cats, rats and mice. 

It’s this project – the Flinders Island Safe Haven project – that’s close to Gemma’s heart.  

She’s the project coordinator and part of the team behind the recent rodent eradication effort – the largest in South Australia. 

The Flinders Island Safe Haven project aims to declare the island pest-free by 2027 and reintroduce nationally threatened mammals back into the wild. 

Delivered in partnership with the Woolford family, Department for Environment and Water, the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the landscape board, it’s a powerful example of what’s possible when community, landholders and government pull in the same direction. 

The result? South Australia’s fourth largest island (3,854 hectares) secured as part of a national safe haven network protecting vulnerable species. It’s a chance for birds, reptiles, invertebrates, mammals and native vegetation to thrive once more. 

“This is an example of making a real-world difference, where populations of endangered and vulnerable flora and fauna species are protected from pest species, and given a chance to flourish naturally,” says Gemma.