Overview
At the turn-off to Norman Rd there is a place to park safely. From here, you can look across the road to the edge of the Corackerup Nature Reserve.
The pullover area adjoins the privately-owned conservation property that was initially restored by Carbon Neutral.
The property is in a very strategic position for the broader restoration efforts in the Fitz-Stirling as it adjoins Nowanup and Corackerup Nature Reserve.
Story of the place
Ecological restoration
It is obvious that there is still some way to go until this patch of revegetation looks like the original bush, particularly when compared with the original bush over the road in Corackerup Nature Reserve.
The practice of ecological restoration is constantly evolving and improving, and many properties in the Fitz-Stirling (particularly Nowanup) have been sites of experimentation with different techniques, different mix of species.
While it may take decades, if not longer, for them to look more like the original bush, there are two important achievements here already.
First, the wildlife is back – various monitoring programs have shown substantial use by wildlife, for both moving through and breeding – within the first five to six years after planting.
Secondly, the ecological trend line has been reversed and the old farmland is now at a point where it can ‘heal itself’ – gradually become more like the original bush over time.
Justin Jonson
Threshold Environmental
“Ecological restoration is like being a detective. You’ve got to dig in the soil to find out what the soils are and create detailed maps. You’ve got to look at the vegetation on the sides of the cleared land. You’ve got to look for any kind of remnant trees that may be still growing in an area like a rocky pile or something like that, that the farmers weren’t able to clear and you build the map and that map then becomes your stepping stone to deciding how to put back the plants where they need to go.”
“This arid evergreen vegetation is amazing and it’s the complexity that actually drew me here. I mean, if you want to do restoration, it’s sort of like anybody can fill out an easy crossword puzzle, but when the crossword puzzle gets challenging that’s when it becomes more interesting and unpacking this flora, unpacking the relationship between the soils and the plants and where they grow and what they grow with. I mean that is a challenge that is exciting.”
See & Do
Ecological restoration in action
If you walk about 50m to the north of the pullover area you will reach a fence, beyond which is a revegetated area, part of the privately-owned conservation property. This is private property, and a dieback protection area, so please do not go beyond the fence.
Giving back and getting involved
Gondwana Link plays a key coordination role in the ecological restoration work in the Fitz-Stirling area.
Nearby
There are many other sites to visit nearby including:
Carbon Neutral restoration site
This property was purchased and replanted for ‘Carbon sequestration, biodiversity and habitat restoration.’
Nowanup
Nowanup is a special place. A centrepiece of ecological restoration in the Gondwana Link, it is also a centre for the Noongar community for healing country and healing people.
Corackerup Creek Crossing
Like nearby Chingarrup Creek, Corackerup Creek is also deeply incised into the surrounding landscape, and is part of a substantial sub-catchment of the Pallinup River.
Chingarrup Sanctuary
Just to the north of Chingarrup Creek is Chingarrup Sanctuary the very first property purchased for ecological restoration as part of the Gondwana Link program, back in 2002.
Chingarrup Creek Crossing
All the brooks and creeks in this area are tributaries of the Pallinup River, the largest river system on the South Coast.
Boxwood Hill - Ongerup Road
This first stretch of road will take you into the heart of one of Australia’s most important ecological restoration areas.
Boxwood Hill crossroad
The intersection on South Coast Highway that leads to the Fitz-Stirling area.
Practical Information
Facilities
This is a remote area and there are limited facilities available. There is a roadhouse at the Boxwood Hill intersection.
See Visitor Information from the Shire of Jerramungup for accommodation, eating and camping options in Jerramungup and Bremer Bay.