Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Park
The conservation park consists of a number of islands located in the following bays subsidiary to Coffin Bay - Port Douglas, Mount Dutton Bay and Kellidie Bay. Three of the islands are located in Port Douglas, being The Brothers and an unnamed group immediately west of Horse Peninsula and Rabbit Island immediately west of Coffin Bay township. Another island is located at the north end of Mount Dutton Bay, while Goat Island immediately north of Coffin Bay township in the channel connecting Port Douglas to Kellidie Bay.
The land in the conservation park first received protection as fauna conservation reserves under the Crown Lands Act 1929 on 16 March 1967. On 27 April 1972, the land under protection was reconstituted as the Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Park upon the proclamation of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. On 4 November 1993, additional land consisting of two unnamed islands located west of Horse Peninsula were added to the conservation park. As of 2018, it covered an area of 9 hectares (22 acres).
In 1980, the conservation park was described as follows:
These islands were declared a reserve because of their significance as breeding grounds for seabirds, including the uncommon reef heron, sooty oyster catcher, crested and caspian terns, fairy penguins, pacific and silver gulls. All five species of cormorant utilize the islands including large roosting colonies of black-faced and large pied cormorants. Rock parrots, silvereyes and the little grass bird are also known to nest here...
Several small, low-lying, limestone and sand islands in Coffin Bay. Natural vegetation has largely been replaced by introduced grasses and shrubs...
With the exception of the unnamed island at the mouth of Dutton Bay, which is linked to the Mainland at low tide, the islands, in the absence of introduced predators offer secure breeding and roosting sites.
The conservation park is classified as an IUCN Category Ia protected area. In 1980, it was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate.
References
- ^ "Terrestrial Protected Areas of South Australia (refer 'DETAIL' tab )". CAPAD 2016. Australian Government, Department of the Environment (DoE). 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ Shard, A.J. (16 March 1967). "CROWN LANDS ACT, 1929-1966: FAUNA CONSERVATION RESERVES DEDICATED" (PDF). THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. Government of South Australia. pp. 961–962. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ "Protected Areas Information System Reserve List" (PDF). Government of South Australia. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- ^ "Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Park". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
- ^ "Parks of the Coffin Bay Area Management Plan" (PDF). Department for Environment and Heritage. 2004. pp. 3 & 8. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ Robinson, A. C.; Canty, P.; Mooney, T.; Rudduck, P. (1996). "South Australia's offshore islands" (PDF). Australian Heritage Commission. pp. 140 & 210. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ "No. 56 of 1972 (National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972)". The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia: 660 & 703. 27 April 1972. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
All Islands in Mount Dutton Bay, The Brothers, Goat Island and Rabbit Island
- ^ Levy, Anne (4 November 1993). "NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE ACT 1972 PART III: ADDITION OF LAND TO RESERVES" (PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. p. 2174. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
Hundred Lake Wangary Sections 1586, 1587
- ^ "Mount Dutton Bay Conservation Park, Coffin Bay (sic), SA, Australia - listing on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate (Place ID 6706)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. 21 October 1980. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
This article incorporates text by Commonwealth of Australia available under the CC BY 3.0 AU licence.
