Clean and green park a treat for all

Mount Barker Courier
Wednesday 22/8/2007 Page: 10

Much more than simply a coastal strip of land, the Canunda National Park is a veritable treasure chest of pristine wilderness, stunning scenery and outdoor adventures. Situated on South Australia's South East coastline, the 9358 hectare park stretches for 40km between Southend and Carpenters Rocks, with entry points from both these towns, as well as Millicent to the east.

Dominated by rugged sand dunes, brimming with local fauna and flora, and bounded by a magnificent and varied coastline to the west and Lake Bonney to the east, the park is welt known locally as a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. The park offers kilometres of marked four wheel drive tracks criss-crossing the length and breadth of the park. Each year thousands of four wheel drive adventurers frequent the region, along with those on trait bikes and dune buggies. Those without a four wheel drive vehicle need not despair however, as many parts of the park are also accessible by two wheel drive.

Once on foot, visitors can take advantage of the scenic walking traits which direct them to a myriad of attractions hidden deep within the park, including unique sandstone formations, aboriginal and historical relics and spectacular lookouts. With kilometres of coastline featuring beaches, rocky headlands and reef platforms, the fishing opportunities within Canunda are endless. From these waters recreation fishers yield good catches of mulloway, salmon, sharks and rays off the beach, while sweep, abalone and crayfish are regularly caught off the rocks. Because one day is simply not long enough to spend in this treasured place, the park also boasts several camping areas, so visitors can take their time exploring all the park has to offer.

The Canunda National Park also has a reputation as a terrific vantage point for viewing the internationally acclaimed Canunda and Lake Bonney Wind Farms. Combined, these two projects are the largest windfarm in the Southern Hemisphere, consisting of 98 wind turbine towers, with a further 24 still to be erected.

The windfarm is not only a world leader in the production of renewable energy, it has also been designed to be in synergy with its local environment. The second stage of the Lake Bonney Wind Farm recently won a state award for excellence in project management, construction and environmental management. The windfarms already produce plenty of clean, green energy, and once complete in February next year, will regularly produce enough energy to light up thousands of Australian homes.

With so much to see and do, the reputation of the Canunda National Park is growing every year. But despite the increased volume of traffic the park sees each year it has remained a pristine wilderness, thanks to a committed community of National Parks Rangers, Friends of the Park, four wheel drive clubs, service organisations, schools and conscientious tourists.