Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park Draft Management Plan

We are seeking your views on the draft management plan for Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park and Elliot Price Conservation Park.

What's being decided?

We have developed a draft park management plan for Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park and Elliot Price Conservation Park which outlines the objectives and strategies for the long-term management of these parks.

The plan aims to ensure that the parks are managed to:

• conserve their important values;
• recognise, protect, promote and build community respect for Arabana and Dieri people as the traditional owners and custodians of Country; and,
• welcome park visitors to enjoy and learn about the parks.

The management arrangements outlined in this plan were created with input from First Nations, key stakeholders, park managers and technical experts. Establishing one management plan for these parks will ensure a consistent approach to biodiversity conservation and public visitation across these parks.

We welcome your input into the strategic management of the parks.

Background

The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 requires a park management plan for every park in South Australia. Park management plans are the primary public accountability document for each of South Australia’s parks. Management plans set the strategic direction for how parks are managed.

The Department for Environment and Water, with advice from the Arabana Parks Co-management Advisory Committee, developed the draft park management plan for Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park and Elliot Price Conservation Park.

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park and Elliot Price Conservation Park are adjoining parks, located approximately 700 km north of Adelaide. The parks comprise the bed of Lake Eyre/Kati Thanda, the associated dune system and the lower reaches of the Cooper River System, as well as sparsely vegetated dune fields and smaller salt lakes.

Draft plans set the direction for the management of the park, including what activities may be allowed and where. These policies aim to protect First Nations culture, ensure safety and enjoyment of visitors, and conserve environmental values. To learn more about the proposed policies for Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park, please read the draft Management Plan. We have also prepared a video and FAQs to provide additional information on the management directions for this park.

Get involved

Find out more:

• read the draft Management Plan
• take a look at our FAQs
• watch the short informative video.

Have your say by:

• Completing the survey
• Posting your written submission to: National Parks and Protected Area Program Unit GPO Box 1047 Adelaide SA 5001
• Emailing a submission with ‘Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park and Elliot Price Conservation Park' in the subject line to: DEWProtectedAreaManagement@sa.gov.au

You can get hard copies of the draft park management plan from Department for Environment and Water offices at:

• Adelaide: Natural Resources Centre, Ground floor, 81-95 Waymouth Street, Adelaide SA 5000
• Port Augusta: 9 MacKay St, Port Augusta SA 5700.

Please note: We may make your submission publicly available on the Department for Environment and Water’s website unless you indicate on the submission that you wish it to remain confidential. Any responses that are made on a confidential basis may still be subject to access under Freedom of Information laws.

What are the next steps?

Your feedback will help finalise a park management plan for Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park and Elliot Price Conservation Park which we will take to the Parks and Wilderness Council for further advice.

We will provide the management plan, as well as any advice from the Parks and Wilderness Council, to the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water for adoption.

We expect that the final plan will be adopted in 2024, and will be available on this page and at the Department for Environment and Water website.