Face-lift for Fowler’s Bay Conservation Park

News article | 18 March 2015

Defining the campsite and visitor areas at Scott’s Bay, within Fowlers Bay Conservation Park, are just some of the proposed works being undertaken by Natural Resources Eyre Peninsula (NREP) and the Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation (CAC), in close consultation with the Fowler’s Bay community.

Greening Australia and BP are supporting a positive environmental benefit to the area by giving local people a voice in what happens within their parks as well as creating employment opportunities for aboriginal people to work on country.

Ranger Tamahina Cox said that in late February a catch up with 16 locals was held at Fowlers Bay Hall where a proposal of works were discussed and comment was sought for mock-ups of proposed interpretive signage.

“The work in February concentrated on the Fowler’s Bay headland and Scott’s Bay, although we are also planning to do some work at Mexican Hat in the future as part of the restoration project,” Ms Cox said.

“Unrestricted vehicles going off track and improvised camping in fragile areas are damaging dunes and vegetation.

“The light soils of Fowlers Bay, along with low rainfall and coastal winds present the perfect set of circumstances for this uncontrolled access to quickly become a real problem in the form of wind and water erosion,” she said.

“Community consultation has been undertaken for several years in the Fowlers Bay area through the respective progress associations at Fowlers Bay and Coorabie, and this has worked very well, “she said.

“This consultation will also now include the newly formed Far West Native Title claimant group,” she added.

“Future works are planned for Mexican Hat including defining visitor/ camping areas, and improving information on signage.

“Ceduna NREP staff would like to thank the Fowlers Bay community and everyone who has been involved with the project to date. We look forward to continuing working together in the future.”

If you would like to know more about the project, become involved or have a say in works within Fowlers Bay Conservation Park, please visit Ceduna Natural Resources Centre 50B McKenzie St, or call on (08) 8625 3144.

Fowlers Bay Conservation Park is situated approximately 140kms to the west of Ceduna and 20kms to the east of Coorabie township in the state’s far west. Fowlers Bay is a popular recreational camping and fishing location enjoyed by locals and visitors with a semi sheltered bay on one side of Fowlers Bay headland and dynamic ocean views on the other.