| Franklin Harbor Conservation Park | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of the east coast of Eyre Peninsula near Cowell - the peninsula on the right side is within the conservation park. | |
  Franklin Harbor Conservation Park | |
| Location | South Australia |
| Nearest city | Cowell.[2] |
| Coordinates | 33°44′39″S136°56′17″E / 33.74417°S 136.93806°E /-33.74417; 136.93806 |
| Area | 13.56 km2 (5.24 sq mi)[3] |
| Established | 22 January 1976[4] |
| Governing body | Department for Environment and Water |
Franklin Harbor Conservation Park is aprotected area in the Australian state ofSouth Australia located on the east coast ofEyre Peninsula in the gazetted locality ofCowell about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) south of the town centre in Cowell.[2][5]
The conservation park consists of land on a peninsula that encloses the south east side ofFranklin Harbor and on four islands within Franklin Harbor includingEntrance Island.[6] The conservation park occupies land in Sections 258, 259, 260 and 261 of thecadastral unit of theHundred of Playford.[4]
The conservation park was proclaimed on 22 January 1976 under theNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.[4][7] As of July 2016, the conservation park covered an area of 13.56 square kilometres (5.24 sq mi).[3] Since 2012, the conservation park has been overlapped by the protected area known as theFranklin Harbor Marine Park.[8]
As of 1982, the conservation park was considered to have "significance" for the following reasons:[5]
...(it) preserves an area ofmangrove andsamphire flats, an association that is markedly depleted in South Australia. The entrance islands ... contain a population ofdeath adders. The islands also provide a safe roosting and feeding site for sea birds.
As of 1982, the flora of the conservation park was described as follows:[5]
Two of the islands and the protected side of the peninsula feature a low woodland ofAvicennia marina and a samphire shrubland. The seaward side of the peninsula features a sandy beach backed by minor areas of open scrubland dominated byboxthorn, with scatteredCallitris,Santalum,Leucopogon andNitraria.
The conservation park is classified as anIUCN Category Ia protected area.[1] In 1982, it was listed on the now-defunctRegister of the National Estate.[5]