Cell Descriptions - South East Natural Resources Management Board

SE5 – Carpenters Rocks
Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster); also the State endangered White-bellied Sea Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucogaster) and Little (Sternula albifrons) and Fairy (Sternula nereis) Terns. Numbers of the
tall shrub Pomaderris halmaturina ssp. halmaturina (EPBC listed V), Kangaroo Island Pomaderris,
have been recorded in this cell, within open woodland over calcarenite, within and adjacent to
Carpenter Rocks CP; the CP also contains the only known stand of the Carpenter Rocks Manna
Gum, Eucalyptus splendens ssp. arcana. Other listed fauna species include the EPBC listed
endangered Leathery Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and State endangered Swamp Antechinus
(Antechinus minimus) and Swamp Skink (Lissolepis coventryi).
Benthic Habitat
Some bare sand inshore in the embayments; large areas of platform limestone/ calcarenite reef.
Land Use/ Land Ownership
Carpenter Rocks CP. Bucks Lake Game Reserve; (see Management Plan for Carpenter Rocks CP
and Bucks Lake Game Reserve, 2007). Heritage Agreements 26001 & 26002. 16% of the cell area
is unallotted Crown land, mainly along the northern boundary of the cell. Linear residential
development along the coast from Pelican Point to Carpenter Rocks, is interspersed with
unallotted Crown land. Much of the vegetated dunes of Lighthouse Bay and vegetation adjoining
Bucks Lake GR is in private ownership.
Threats (Field visits and local reports)
The health of Bucks Lake depends on flows from Lake Bonney, which is subject to a number of
threats, including management decisions. The fire and grazing history show past threats to the
cell.
Opportunities
Bucks Lake Game Reserve is 138 hectares of near pristine seasonally inundated wetland (DEH,
2007). Bucks Lake rates highly in Slater and Farrington’s report (2010) for biological value and
wetland health. It is situated at the southern end of Lake Bonney. Hydrological alterations to
Lake Bonney, primarily drainage works in 1958 and 1972, reduced the frequency of inundation of
Bucks Lake and as a result this and other peripheral wetlands declined in condition (Bachmann,
2002). A connecting channel and regulating structure was constructed in 2009 and this has
resulted in restoration of the site, with a confirmed presence of the nationally vulnerable Dwarf
Galaxias in 2009. This site is currently being managed by DENR.
From Management Plan for Carpenter Rocks CP and Bucks Lake Game Reserve, 2007:
Identify sinkholes and safety issues.
Map soil types/ remediation.
Support hydrological investigation in Bucks Lake.
Survey and monitor species of conservation significance and identify and mitigate any
threats, particularly with regard to the Carpenter Rocks Manna Gum.
Manage the Coastal Wattle grassy shrublands to promote a more open grassland
environment to assist with the conservation of the Orange-bellied Parrot.
Undertake any necessary rehabilitation programs in the reserves, particularly with regard to
the cleared area in Carpenter Rocks Conservation Park and the necessary removal of any
rubbish from either reserve.
Maintain and establish programs to comprehensively monitor changes in vegetation
communities. In particular, support the monitoring programs associated with the Bucks
Lake Rehabilitation Project.
Monitor and investigate the need to rehabilitate riparian zone and wetland native vegetation
in Bucks Lake Game Reserve once the rehabilitation project is completed.
Limestone Coast and Coorong Coastal Action Plan 274