Environment SA News

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

September is Biodiversity Month, a time to celebrate South Australia's incredible plants, animals and ecosystems, and to raise awareness of the species that need our help.

Each year, the Australian Government's Threatened Species Commissioner hosts the Threatened Species Bake Off to shine a spotlight on Australia's threatened species in a fun and creative way.

So, it's over to you - let's get baking!

Start your ovens! 🤗

Entries for the 2026 Threatened Species Bake Off are now open!

Bake a sweet treat between 1-15 September that represents an Australian threatened species. Use your creation to start a conversation about the species and why it matters.

To enter upload a photo of your creation to social media using the hashtag or email it to [email protected].

06/09/2026

Good morning ! Spring has sprung!

Now that the first weekend of the season is done, we want to see how you spent it.

Whether you got your hands dirty in the garden, enjoyed a walk between the showers, or captured the beauty of nature after rain, share your photos in the comments below.

📸 Show us your first weekend of spring! 🍃☔🌼

01/09/2026

Happy Biodiversity Month!

September marks Biodiversity Month in Australia, a time to celebrate the incredible variety of life that makes our country one of the most unique and biodiverse places on Earth.

From sweeping landscapes and thriving wetlands to native plants, animals and ecosystems found nowhere else on our planet, biodiversity is at the heart of our environment, communities and way of life.

It provides many of the essentials we rely on every day, including clean air, fresh water, healthy soil and the food on our plates.
Last year, South Australia’s first Biodiversity Act passed through the Parliament.

The historic legislation is designed to protect, enhance and restore our biodiversity, and address the impacts of climate change, ensuring better outcomes for native species and habitats.

You can help us implement SA’s first Biodiversity Act!

Have your say on finalising four supporting committees, which will play important roles in making the Act operational (link in comments).

31/08/2026

The Adelaide Park Lands are one of South Australia’s great treasures.

The Greener. Cooler. Wilder. Adelaide Park Lands Nature Positive Package aims to protect the character of the Park Lands, restore and strengthen their natural environment, and ensure they remain welcoming and accessible to every South Australian.

As part of this effort, a $15 million Adelaide Park Lands Nature Positive Package has been announced, following collaboration with Conservation SA

The package includes increasing tree canopy and habitat across the Park Lands, improving biodiversity and the resilience of rare native plants, restoring butterfly habitat, improving stormwater infrastructure and revitalising parts of the River Torrens.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/dew-nature-positive

31/08/2026

The state government has launched a new $6mHeritage Agreement Grant program for 2026-2030. The grants will fund native vegetation conservation projects for Heritage Agreement areas on private land across South Australia.

This follows the successful $6m Heritage Agreement Grants program 2023 – 2026 which funded more than 200 projects and enhanced biodiversity across 75,000 hectares.

Grants are for activities that improve biodiversity, including fencing, w**d and pest management and planting, and the program includes regional outreach, workshops and training to support landowners.

The Heritage Agreement Grants program makes a significant contribution to Australia’s commitment to aim to protect 30% of global land and marine areas by the year 2030. Heritage Agreements account for 3.5% of conserved land in South Australia.

27/08/2026

Great news for hikers and nature lovers! A section of SA’s iconic Heysen Trail at Cudlee Creek has been upgraded, creating a safe, permanent route through the Adelaide Hills.

26/08/2026

Happy World Lakes Day!!!

Today we want to shine a light on two very important South Australian lakes – Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert.

Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert form part of the River Murray weir pool between Lock 1 at Blanchetown and the Lower Murray barrages.

Lake Alexandrina is separated from the Coorong by five barrages, which control water levels and flow.

There are 11 fishways which allow native fish such as lamprey and congoli to migrate between Lake Alexandrina and the Coorong.

Water for the environment has provided continual flow through these fishways.

The diversity of habitat types and biota make Lake Alexandrina an important part of this Ramsar-listed wetland.

Water for the environment, is critical for the ecology of Lake Albert, too. In the last three years, without water for the environment, many of Lake Albert’s fringing wetlands would have dried out, and surface water salinity would have increased.

The reedy lakeshore near Waltowa wetland is special for the Ngarrindjeri people as it is a known black swan (kungari) breeding area.

There is another large, non-native bird associated with Lake Albert and Meningie. Do you know what it is?

We’re also curious, what unusual native fish, birds, insects or plants have you seen at Lake Alexandrina?

Share your comments below!

26/08/2026

You’re invited to have your say on a new draft park management plan for Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park in the northern Flinders Ranges.

The new draft plan is a refinement of the previous plan (2006) and outlines key objectives that will direct future management of the park. It has been co-designed with the park’s co-management board, which includes Adnyamathanha people, the land’s traditional owners.

You can read the draft plan and offer feedback via the government’s yourSAy platform, linked in the comments.

The consultation is open until 30 November 2026.

26/08/2026

The Flinders Ranges is looking a little different from its usual dry, rocky landscape right now. Heavy autumn and winter rains have thrown a green blanket across the land, producing some spectacular photo opportunities like this shot from Logan Spice Photography.

This is an unusual sight now, but did you know this entire landscape was once completely underwater? The ancient rocks of the Flinders Ranges are the remains of an ancient sea bed. They hold outstanding fossil and geological evidence of when animal life first emerged in the water, over 600 million years ago.

This story of the dawn of animal life on our planet is the centre of the World Heritage Nomination for the Flinders Ranges. World Heritage listing is the highest global recognition of a place’s value to humanity as a whole. The nomination, which is being assessed this year, is an exciting opportunity to recognise and celebrate this remarkable landscape on the world stage.

Discover more about the nomination at the link in the comments below.

Know before you go! Recent rains have impacted parks across the state, including within the Flinders Ranges. Always check closures and alerts before heading out at: parks.sa.gov.au/know-before-you-go/closures-and-alerts.

Plus, don’t forget to plan ahead and check the weather forecast at bom.gov.au, and consider delaying your visit during severe weather.

📸 Logan Spice Photography/Instagram