Northern and Yorke Region
The Northern and Yorke region covers the Lower, Mid and Upper North of South Australia, the Southern Flinders Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, part of the Adelaide Plains, the Spencer Gulf and the Gulf St Vincent. The Northern and Yorke region has a rich array of landscapes, including the broad undulating cropping lands of the Mid North and Yorke Peninsula, the geological formations of the southern portion of the Flinders Ranges, the mix of vineyards and native vegetation in the Clare Valley, the coastal landscapes of Yorke Peninsula and vegetated corridors along watercourses and roadsides. Collectively these features distinguish the region, contribute to the quality of life of the region’s 95,000 residents and bring economic return through their role in attracting tourists.
The region includes two National Parks, 16 conservation parks and three forest reserves covering more than 40,000 hectares. There remain some tracts of significantly important vegetation in the Mid North and there is more than 21,738 hectares of privately owned native vegetation is under Heritage Agreement. Spencer Gulf and the Gulf St Vincent feature the largest areas of seagrass in South Australia. They provide important spawning and nursery areas for many marine species along with habitat for rare species such as the Australian fur seal and sea lion.
The diverse coastal systems support breeding colonies of seabirds, wetland and wading birds and feature sites of international significance for migratory shore birds. Four coastal wetlands are recognised as nationally important. There are three main river catchments in the Northern and Yorke region, Broughton, Wakefield and Willochra, plus the upper section of Light catchment. These rivers are characterised by highly variable flow, with ephemeral channels, permanent spring fed pools and some continuously flowing sections. The Northern and Yorke Region is rich in Aboriginal culture, with different Aboriginal groups having traditional associations with the area; integral to the future management of our natural resources.
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