| Munyaroo Conservation Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)[1] | |
  Munyaroo Conservation Park | |
| Location | South Australia |
| Nearest city | Cowell[2] |
| Coordinates | 33°23′28″S137°17′38″E / 33.39111°S 137.29389°E /-33.39111; 137.29389[1] |
| Area | 201.39 km2 (77.76 sq mi)[3] |
| Established | 13 October 1977[3] |
| Governing body | Department for Environment & Water |
Munyaroo Conservation Park is aprotected area in the Australian state ofSouth Australia in the gazetted locality ofMidgee located on the east coast of theEyre Peninsula about 36 kilometres (22 miles) south south-west ofWhyalla and 35 kilometres (22 miles) east north-east ofCowell.[2][4]
The conservation park consists of three separate blocks of land - two adjoin the coastline withSpencer Gulf respectively immediately south of Muminnie Beach and Plank Point and the third being located to the west on the east side of theLincoln Highway.[4][2]
The conservation park was proclaimed under theNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 on 13 October 1977.[3] On 20 August 2009, the Munyaroo Conservation Reserve which have been dedicated as aconservation reserve on 11 November 1993 under the state'sCrown Lands Act 1929 was added to the conservation park.[5][6] The conservation park was constituted to permit access under the state'sMining Act 1971 to its west and south portions only.[4]
The land protected by the conservation park was considered in 2014 by its managing authority to be significant for the following reasons:[4]
Munyaroo Conservation Park (20 139 ha) consists of three separate areas in close proximityto each other on the Spencer Gulf coastline. They provide an important habitat link between the coastal vegetation and inlandmallee of the peninsula. The two large coastal blocks include low impact sandy beaches with an intertidal zone ofmangrove andsamphire communities. These communities provide habitat for shorebirds such asplovers,terns and theSooty Oystercatcher which is listed as rare under theNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Behind the coastal dune system are low openwoodlands ofWestern Myall andFalse Sandalwood, with a Bluebush andBladder Saltbush understorey. The mallee and saltbush associations contain populations of the Yellow Swainson-pea which is listed as vulnerable under theNational Parks and Wildlife Act and theDwarf Four-toed Slider which is listed as rare under the act.
The conservation park is classified as anIUCN Category VI protected area.[1]