Flinders Island Safe Haven
Flinders Island is a unique and wild place, with around 50 km of diverse and stunning coastline, featuring granite boulders, limestone headlands, sandy beaches, dune systems and sheltered bays. From 2025, Flinders Island will be transformed into a safe haven for nationally threatened species.
Flinders Island Safe Haven project
The restoration of Flinders Island will secure South Australia’s fourth largest island (4,000 ha) into Australia’s network of havens which consists of more than 100 predator free islands and 20 fenced areas that contain vulnerable mammals.
The project aims to protect and restore the island’s unique ecosystem by eradicating cats, rats and mice. Upon successful eradication of these pests, threatened plant and animal species can be introduced to the island. This will create a lasting impact that will stimulate conservation and nature-based tourism with opportunities for the community to get involved.
We will use current best practice rodent and feral cat eradication on the island with the engagement of technical experts.
This project is jointly funded by the Australian Government, the South Australian Department for Environment and Water and the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board in partnership with the Woolford family. Our funding for the project comes from the Landscape Priorities Fund which enables regional landscape boards to invest in large projects.
Working on the island
Working collaboratively with private landholders is recognised as a critically important step in modern conservation efforts.
The owners of the island, the Woolford family, are dedicated to creating a haven for threatened species, working with a skilled team to enhance the island’s ecosystem. A conservation agreement will be placed over most of the island, in addition to an existing Heritage Agreement that covers about 250 ha.
The unique nature of islands provides natural biosecurity barriers that dramatically reduce the cost to maintain a feral-free environment as well as a high level of ongoing protection against reinvasion.
Supporting the creation of an EP safe haven
The local community who regularly visit the island are critical to the success of this project. There will be times when the island is closed to visitors to ensure the success of the eradication process. When the island is open for visitors, support the project by following biosecurity procedures – all detailed on the Flinders Island Eco Escape site including:
- Contacting the Woolford’s if you are planning a trip BEFORE you leave the mainland.
- Checking the biosecurity checklists when considering visiting the island.
- Ensuring that all luggage has been checked and packed in accordance with the Flinders Island Biosecurity Plan.
- If arriving by plane, boat or barge, be sure to check the correct procedure for packing to avoid bringing unwanted rodents and pests.
- Not bringing firewood.
- Checking all surfboard covers, swags and tents, BBQ bags and other high-risk items that could harbour stowaway pests before leaving the mainland.
Biosecurity for the island is the responsibility of everyone who visits the island. Following these simple steps will make all the difference to the project success.
Community information session
Come along to our next community information session about this project on March 25, 6-7pm at the Elliston Sports Club.
Can't make this information session? We will also have staff available to talk about the project in our Elliston office (6 Memorial Drive) on:
- March 21 from 10am-3pm
- March 26 from 9am-12pm
- April 1 & 2 from 10am-3pm
Project timeline
January, 2025:
- biosecurity procedures in place for all island visitors
February, 2025:
- stock removed from the island
- project equipment transported to Flinders Island
March 2025:
- pest camera monitoring installed on the island
April 2025:
- final preparations for aerial baiting operations to commence including bait bucket calibration and helicopters arriving in Elliston
May 2025:
- island closed from May 1 for aerial baiting to begin
- on-ground operations begin on the island including aerial baiting operations (using PestOff 20R and Eradicat)
June 2025:
- island remains closed
- marine coastal buffer closure for 2 weeks following a second bait drop from June 9-23
July to December 2025:
- island remains closed
- cat on-ground operations take place including hunting, trapping and camera grid monitoring
January 2026:
- island will re-open
- biosecurity procedures compulsory for all visitors to the island
- any visitation to the island is communicated to the owners (Woolford's)
News and resources
- Media release announcing the project (Feb 2025)
- Creating an island safe haven for threatened species (article in Environment SA News - Feb 2025)
- Flinders Island Eco Escape website
- Guidelines for visiting the island
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