Mundoo Island Station acquisition expands vital national park

The state and federal governments have partnered with the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife (FNPW) to acquire Mundoo Island Station, a 1900-hectare property to be added into Coorong National Park – increasing the internationally recognised park to more than 50,000 hectares.

The acquisition includes Mundoo, Ewe and Long Islands along with other surrounding islands off the eastern tip of Hindmarsh Island.

Located just south of Goolwa, Mundoo Island Station sits at the end of the River Murray and is part of the 142,500ha Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Ramsar Wetland – one of Australia’s most important wetland sites.

Mundoo Island Station, which has operated as a cattle and sheep station for more than a century, will be destocked and grazing, cropping and fertiliser use ceased to enable significant wetland restoration and rehabilitation.

Improved habitat will support native shorebirds as well as dozens of migratory bird species, including the critically endangered curlew sandpiper and far eastern curlew.

Transforming the station into a protected national park also provides opportunities for the reintroduction of threatened fish species like the Yarra pygmy perch, Southern pygmy perch, Murray hardyhead and purple-spotted gudgeon.

The existing Lawari Conservation Park, on the eastern side of nearby Hindmarsh Island, also will be incorporated into Coorong National Park and the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) will prepare a new management plan to guide management of the new additions.

In addition to its environmental value, Mundoo Island is culturally significant to the Ngarrindjeri people and contains registered Aboriginal heritage sites.

DEW will work with the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation to ensure these important sites are protected, including the ‘Meeting of the Waters’ where the River Murray and Coorong and surrounding waters connect.

Adding Mundoo Island Station to the park network aligns with the 30 by 30 commitment, which aims to protect 30 per cent of Australia’s landmass and marine areas by 2030 to halt further biodiversity loss.

DEW Park Planning and Visitor Experience Director, Jason Irving, said the Mundoo Island was important for both its environmental values and its significance to the Ngarrindjeri people.

"Incorporating Mundoo Island Station into the Coorong National Park protects this important area forever and provides incredible opportunities for significant regeneration and improvement of the land after decades of cattle and sheep grazing," he said.

"A number of partners have contributed to the purchase of the station, demonstrating the significant outcomes that can be achieved through strong collaboration between multiple levels of government and non-government organisations."

Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation Executive Officer Bill Wilson said the organisation was genuinely excited by the purchase of Mundoo Island, which holds significant cultural heritage to the Ngarrindjeri Nation.

"Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation look forward to working in co-partnership relationship with the State Government around the care and protection of Mundoo Island into the future," he said.

FNPW CEO Ian Darbyshire said the acquisition of Mundoo Island Station marked a significant milestone in the foundation's commitment to safeguarding Australia’s unique natural environment and protecting First Nations cultural heritage.

"We are proud to partner with the Australian and state governments to support the conservation of up to 65 nationally listed threatened species and three threatened ecological communities, helping to set a global benchmark for conservation excellence," he said.

"This collaborative work advances our three pillars of Healing Our Land, Saving Species and Growing Parks, with a clear focus on embedding the knowledge and stewardship of Traditional Owners at the heart of conservation outcomes."