Friends of Para Wirra Conservation Park: War on Watsonia
🌳🥾 Pulling weeds, protecting habitat, loving their park. Check out what this great Grassroots Grants project is doing at Para Wirra, just out of Gawler in South Australia.
Check out how Grassroots Grants is backing practical stewardship at Williamstown to restore and connect remnant Blue Gum grassy woodland in the Barossa 💚. A Grassroots Grants case study.
Small levy dollars. Big park protection 💚
Twenty years, one weed, real results: Beating Watsonia at Para Wirra
If there’s one thing Friends of Para Wirra Conservation Park (FOPW) know well, it’s that some conservation battles take time.
For more than two decades, FOPW volunteers have been steadily tackling one of the most aggressive weeds in the park – Watsonia – and with support from the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board Grassroots Grants Program, they’re pushing that battle even further downstream.
If there’s one thing Friends of Para Wirra Conservation Park (FOPW) know well, it’s that some conservation battles take time.
For more than two decades, FOPW volunteers have been steadily tackling one of the most aggressive weeds in the park – Watsonia – and with support from the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board Grassroots Grants Program, they’re pushing that battle even further downstream.
Why Watsonia is such a problem
Watsonia forms dense, choking infestations along waterways and grassy flats. In Para Wirra Conservation Park, it once carpeted large sections of the South Para River corridor, out‑competing native grasses and herbs, altering water flows and destroying habitat.
Left unchecked, Watsonia spreads relentlessly through corms, bulbils and seed – making early, well‑timed control essential.
Watsonia forms dense, choking infestations along waterways and grassy flats. In Para Wirra Conservation Park, it once carpeted large sections of the South Para River corridor, out‑competing native grasses and herbs, altering water flows and destroying habitat.
Left unchecked, Watsonia spreads relentlessly through corms, bulbils and seed – making early, well‑timed control essential.
A long term, strategic approach
Rather than tackling small patches at random, FOPW began their work at a logical control point near the South Para Reservoir, with the support of SA Water. They then worked methodically downstream, section by section.
Over the years – supported by multiple grants, partners and countless volunteer hours – they have:
- Pushed the main Watsonia front steadily downstream
- Eliminated isolated outliers to prevent reinfestation and new populations
- Reduced infestations in tributaries such as Saplin Creek
- Coordinated work across land tenures and boundaries
- Continued to combat olives and boneseed to prevent them moving in where Watsonia has been controlled
This latest project builds on that foundation, targeting a rugged 1.5‑kilometre stretch of the South Para Gorge, where access is difficult and infestations are dense.
Rather than tackling small patches at random, FOPW began their work at a logical control point near the South Para Reservoir, with the support of SA Water. They then worked methodically downstream, section by section.
Over the years – supported by multiple grants, partners and countless volunteer hours – they have:
- Pushed the main Watsonia front steadily downstream
- Eliminated isolated outliers to prevent reinfestation and new populations
- Reduced infestations in tributaries such as Saplin Creek
- Coordinated work across land tenures and boundaries
- Continued to combat olives and boneseed to prevent them moving in where Watsonia has been controlled
This latest project builds on that foundation, targeting a rugged 1.5‑kilometre stretch of the South Para Gorge, where access is difficult and infestations are dense.
Bringing back the understorey
Now that pressure from weeds and herbivores has reduced, the focus will be shifted to rebuilding understorey diversity.
Using local-provenance tubestock, more than 750 native plants will be planted in May across degraded areas, targeting grasses, forbs and shrubs that are critical for woodland health but often missing from restoration projects.
The planting day will be supported by Trees For Life and delivered by the applicants, Bush For Life volunteers, and any other interested volunteers from the local community.
The result will be a landscape where remnant vegetation, new plantings and natural regeneration can start working together – just as they should.
Now that pressure from weeds and herbivores has reduced, the focus will be shifted to rebuilding understorey diversity.
Using local-provenance tubestock, more than 750 native plants will be planted in May across degraded areas, targeting grasses, forbs and shrubs that are critical for woodland health but often missing from restoration projects.
The planting day will be supported by Trees For Life and delivered by the applicants, Bush For Life volunteers, and any other interested volunteers from the local community.
The result will be a landscape where remnant vegetation, new plantings and natural regeneration can start working together – just as they should.
Heavy lifting – done right
Because of the steep terrain and proximity to water, much of the work is undertaken by experienced Bushcare contractors, using carefully timed spot‑spraying and selective herbicides, including Glyphosate Biactive near waterways.
FOPW volunteers play a crucial role before and after contractor works, by:
- Surveying and mapping infestations
- Locating and treating isolated plants and patches
- Monitoring previously treated sites
- Documenting recovery through photo‑points
All work is carried out by trained volunteers and qualified contractors, with decades of combined experience guiding decisions in the field.
Because of the steep terrain and proximity to water, much of the work is undertaken by experienced Bushcare contractors, using carefully timed spot‑spraying and selective herbicides, including Glyphosate Biactive near waterways.
FOPW volunteers play a crucial role before and after contractor works, by:
- Surveying and mapping infestations
- Locating and treating isolated plants and patches
- Monitoring previously treated sites
- Documenting recovery through photo‑points
All work is carried out by trained volunteers and qualified contractors, with decades of combined experience guiding decisions in the field.
Nature responds quickly
The payoff is clear.
Where Watsonia has been removed, native grasses such as kangaroo grass (Themeda)and lemon grass (Cymbopogon) are returning, along with riparian herbs, shrubs and sensitive species – including the SA‑rare annual fern Anogramma leptophylla.
Opening up river flats also improves:
✅ Habitat for declining woodland birds
✅ Water infiltration and moisture retention
✅ Ecosystem resilience during dry periods
Simply put, removing Watsonia gives the landscape room to breathe again.
Powered by volunteers and partnerships
This project is backed by:
- $10,000 in Grassroots Grants funding
- Over 135 hours of volunteer labour
- Close collaboration with DEW rangers, NYLB staff and neighbouring landholders
- Support from schools, Scouts and other Friends groups
FOPW also shares progress widely through newsletters, social media and community publications – helping build awareness of weed threats and the value of long‑term stewardship.
The payoff is clear.
Where Watsonia has been removed, native grasses such as kangaroo grass (Themeda)and lemon grass (Cymbopogon) are returning, along with riparian herbs, shrubs and sensitive species – including the SA‑rare annual fern Anogramma leptophylla.
Opening up river flats also improves:
✅ Habitat for declining woodland birds
✅ Water infiltration and moisture retention
✅ Ecosystem resilience during dry periods
Simply put, removing Watsonia gives the landscape room to breathe again.
Powered by volunteers and partnerships
This project is backed by:
- $10,000 in Grassroots Grants funding
- Over 135 hours of volunteer labour
- Close collaboration with DEW rangers, NYLB staff and neighbouring landholders
- Support from schools, Scouts and other Friends groups
FOPW also shares progress widely through newsletters, social media and community publications – helping build awareness of weed threats and the value of long‑term stewardship.
Proof that persistence works
Watsonia isn’t a weed you defeat in a single season. It takes patience, planning and people who are willing to show up year after year.
Friends of Para Wirra Conservation Park have done exactly that – and this project is another decisive step toward a Watsonia‑free river corridor.
It’s a powerful reminder that grassroots conservation, done well and done consistently, can deliver landscape‑scale change.
What makes the project successful?
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Key takeaways
|
Watsonia isn’t a weed you defeat in a single season. It takes patience, planning and people who are willing to show up year after year.
Friends of Para Wirra Conservation Park have done exactly that – and this project is another decisive step toward a Watsonia‑free river corridor.
It’s a powerful reminder that grassroots conservation, done well and done consistently, can deliver landscape‑scale change.
What makes the project successful?
|
Key takeaways
|
Grassroots Grants are delivered by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and are a great example of South Australia’s landscape levy at work, supporting local knowledge and community‑led action empowering communities to care for their environment.
Last year, the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board's Grassroots Grants (2025-2026) awarded $194,654 through the landscape levy to support volunteers, schools, community groups, First Nations, councils and landholder groups sustainably manage landscapes through on-ground work and education.
Expressions of Interest for the 2026-2027 round have closed. Stay tuned in early 2027 for the opening of the next round.
