Territory Eco-link Expands To Conlon’s Lagoon

A north-south wildlife corridor across Australia is set to expand with the addition of Conlon’s Lagoon into Territory Eco-Link.

The Territory Government launched Territory Eco-Link in 2009 with the South Australian Government later joining forces to create the world’s first transcontinental conservation corridor – the Trans-Australia Eco-Link - from the Arafura Sea in the north to Port Augusta in the south.

Parks and Wildlife Minister Karl Hampton said the Territory Government has entered into an agreement with the Alice Springs Shooting Complex Inc – the organisation whose land includes Conlon’s Lagoon – to protect the lagoon’s conservation and its immediate surrounds.

Mr Hampton thanked the Complex’s management committee for entering into the agreement which would bring significant environmental benefits to the lagoon which covers about 170 hectares in the south west corner of their land.

“Territory Eco-Link gives us the ability to better combat changes in climate, rain and fire regimes and the addition of Conlon’s Lagoon will help protect our unique biodiversity,” Mr Hampton said.

“Under this agreement native vegetation will not be destroyed or removed, non-Indigenous animals will not be introduced, natural water flow will not be interrupted, soil will not be removed and the use of vehicles will be restricted to use for approved management actions only.

“Conlon’s Lagoon is an ephemeral claypan that fills with water after periods of significant rain that supports a good diversity of wetland plants providing important food, shelter and nesting areas for a variety of animals and birds.

“The claypan includes a number of plant species that haven’t been found anywhere else in the Alice Springs region, including the Nitre Goosefoot (Chenopodium nitrariaceum) a greyish shrub with spiny branches that can withstand inundation for many months along with being drought-tolerant, providing good habitat for small birds, mammals and marsupials.

“This public-private partnership is also highly significant as it will be geographically central to the Trans-Australia Eco-Link which stretches 3500km from northern Australia to southern Australia.

“This project is conservation for the 21st century – all the best science tells us to best protect our animals and plants we need to save landscapes – not focus on individual species.”

Go to www.greeningnt.nt.gov.au for more information about Territory Eco-link.

Media contact: Edwin Edlund 0401 119 563

Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Alice Springs Branch Inc. PO Box 1503 Alice Springs NT 0871