Land clearing and habitat loss are the biggest drivers of flora and fauna extinction in recent years; and Australia’s rate of land clearing has ranked among the highest in the developed world. This alarming trend continues to this day, as noted in the 2022 Australia State of the Environment report.

Alexandrina’s last remnants of native vegetation are contained in fragmented patches on both private and public land, and along our roadsides. Many of these parcels are small in area and/or linear in shape, making them more vulnerable to threats such as weeds, pest animals, diseases, and disturbance (known as edge effects). They are often also isolated from each other, limiting the ability of native fauna to move safely across the landscape through biodiversity corridors.

Some of Alexandrina’s major threats to the biodiversity include feral species, invasive weeds, such as gazanias, and human threats.

4 Wheel Drives (4WD)

One of the threats that our native environment faces is destruction caused by 4WD vehicles and inappropriate driving. Native vegetation, beach and dunes, and waterways can be easily destroyed when vehicles get bogged and off-road motorbikes leave designated tracks. Drivers of bogged vehicles often use inappropriate materials and methods to free their cars such as cutting down trees, destroying fences or placing rubbish under tyres in an effort to free the vehicle.

Alexandrina Council has closed and gated roads in sites where damage is frequently caused by these vehicles.
Please report destructive 4WD activities to Council by calling 8555 7000.

Illegal Dumping

Incidents of residents dumping garden or other waste on council land are unfortunately quite common, particularly in our urban biodiversity reserves and on roadsides.

Dumped waste is not only unsightly, but it smothers and kills the native plants underneath. Garden waste might seem less inappropriate; however, it contains seeds and cuttings which can easily become invasive bushland weeds which out-compete native species (such as gazanias).

Patches of natural bushland provide food and shelter for our native wildlife. Dumped waste can also flow into our creeks, rivers, and beaches. Dumped items can also contain toxic materials.

The whole community pays for the illegal dumping of rubbish. Penalties apply for persons caught illegally dumping waste on Council land.

Please report illegal dumping to Council by calling 8555 7000.

Firewood Collection

Dead timber provides important habitat to our native flora and faunal. The illegal collection of firewood from council reserves and roadsides has become a significant issue in the Alexandrina Council region.

To find out more about firewood collection, refer to the Firewood Collection page.

Feral Species and Invasive Weeds

Weeds and pests are a major threat to our biodiversity. They destroy our native vegetation and kill our native animals. To learn more about pests and weeds go here.

To learn more about our efforts to protect our biodiversity return to the Biodiversity page here, visit the Trees and vegetation page, or download our Environmental Action Plan.