HomeFourth Creek

Fourth Creek

Location:

Morialta Conservation Park

Area:

14.7 Ha

Established:

1996

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Site Description

This project encompasses the whole of the Morialta Reserve. It includes the Morialta playground and picnic area and it is the only place where dog walking is allowed within Morialta. Before Morialta was declared this area was an angora goat farm and as such it is a highly modified area requiring revegetation as many species have been grazed out by the goats early last century.

What this project protects

This project is a large and complex one to manage as it transitions through several different vegetation types. Along the creek survive some of the oldest and largest River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in the park, pre-dating European settlement. They are full of fabulous habitat hollows and the area teems with birdlife. The creekline comes alive in winter when the common froglet and the eastern banjo frog can be heard calling as the sun goes down and in summer it protects a small area of native raspberry.
The southern slope has been highly degraded by the grazing and yet it is a transition zone from the red gum woodland to a South Australian blue gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) woodland. Higher up the slopes the vegetation transitions again into a black mallee (Eucalyptus porosa) woodland which is also a poorly represented habitat elsewhere in the park. Both of these woodlands protect small woodland birds and provide hollows for parrots and ring tailed possums. We frequently spy evidence of short beaked echidna living in the project area.

Eastern Banjo Frog

Our Focus

So much to focus on here! In the black mallee area we are focused on removing the olive which is threatening the very structure of the woodland.
In the South Australian blue gum area we are focused on removing the soursobs and the introduced annual grasses so that the understorey species we have reintroduced have a chance to take hold. To improve the understorey we have been revegetating the area by planting tubestock and spreading native grass seed.
Along the valuable creekline our focus is to push back the blackberry and the nasturtiums, two species which if allowed will completely smother local natives. Because this area is the bottom of the park’s water course any works upstream also improve the results downstream as seed sources are removed.

Nasturiums smother native understorey

Donations to Morialta Conservation Park’s Bandicoot Habitat Protection fund will help protect this project site

Donate Now

How to get involved

Come out and join us for a habitat restoration event the 3rd Wednesday of every month. Check out the upcoming events on our calendar.

Upcoming Events

Volunteer Stories

Hi, I’m Carmel and I have lived close to the Morialta Conservation Park all my life. It has always been one of my favourite places to walk with its natural beauty and abundant wildlife. I enjoy learning more about native plant life and mixing with people who have a similar passion whilst making some small contribution to keeping this park a place that future generations can enjoy as I have.

Hi, I’m Gerry and I volunteer at First Falls & Fourth Creek projects, I love walking the many trails in Morialta national park and I am passionate about improving the natural environment, plus it is a great chance to socialize with like minded people while improving this beautiful park so many people enjoy.

Hi my name's Sascha, ever since I was a child I was always fascinated by the life that was outside my door. I would spend hours lifting rocks, looking behind bark and watching birds as I grew. Now I devote all my time to conserve what is left of our fragile ecosystem. The work FOBHM is doing is a great way for me to expand my knowledge and help preserve the beautiful native habitats for the local fauna.