My final activation for Friday 12th April 2024, was the Lake Newland Conservation Park VKFF-1046. The park is located about 9 km north of Elliston and about 656 km from Adelaide
Above:- Map showing the location of the Lake Newland Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.
After my dinner, I headed north out of Ellison along the Flinders Highway. This highway connects the towns of Cedun a and Port Lincoln and was named in honour of the famous explorer Captain Matthew Flinders.
Above:- Captain Matthew Flinders. Image c/o Wikipedia.
I was hoping to access the park off the Flinders Highway. I reached a park sign and a gate with a track leading down to the park, but I was unsure if I was allowed access at this particular point. It turned out that this was Lake Newland Road and access was probably allowed. But I erred on the side of caution and headed back south.
The sun was setting and there was a magnificent sunset to be enjoyed as I travelled down the highway.
I accessed the park via Walkers Rock Road. Sadly it was almost dark by the time I got into the park so I only managed a couple of quick photographs.
The park stretches along the coastline from near Three Lakes Road in the south to Mount Damper Road at Talia to the north. The park features the most extensive wetland on the Eyre Peninsula. (Parks SA 2024)
Above:- The park boundaries of the Lake Newland Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Earth.
The Lake Newland Conservation Park is about 8,880 hectares in size and was first proclaimed on the 1st day of August 1991 with additional areas added to the park on the 27th day of June 1996 and the 14th day of October 2010. (Birds SA 2024)
Above:- An aerial view of the Lake Newland Conservation Park. Image c/o Google Maps.
The park has three specific vegetation types: Coastal Dune area, Saline Lakes and Flats, and Limestone Plains. (Birds SA 2024)
Birds SA have recorded about 111 native species of bird in the park including Cape Barren Goose, Pied Oystercatcher, Singing Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Willie Wagtail, and Silvereye. (Birds SA 2024)
I drove down to the Walkers Rock campground and set up in one of the empty camp parking areas. I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole supported on the 7-metre heavy-duty squid pole.
I logged a total of 82 contacts on 20, 40 & 80m SSB.
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
- VK7IAN
- VK5MAZ
- VK3SPG
- VK2RO
- VK2EXA
- Vk2YW
- Vk1AO
- VK2MET
- VK3SX
- VK3PWG
- KD1CT
- VK5GY
- Vk4DNO
- VK3APJ
- VK3CEO
- KG8P
- VK5FANA
- VK5TUX
- VK6LK
- VK6LMK
- VK3PF
- VK3KAI
- VK4NH
- VK4DXA
- VK3CWF
- VK3SO
- VK3SFG
- VK2IO/p (Tallaganda National Park VKFF-0474)
- VK5NM
- VK4EMP
- VK4TI
- VK3EJ
- VK2HAK
- VK5JBH
- VK2DG
- VK4NRI
- VK3VPM
- VK4KD
- VK5FR/p (Lincoln National Park VKFF-0286)
- VK4SMA
- VK5BRU
- Vk3GB
- Vk3NFS
- VK3SQ
- VK2BD
- JF7RJM
- VK5KVA
- VK5DW
- VK7MAD
- VK2LQ
- VK2PCT
- VK5AMH
- VK5PE
- VK5AYL
- VK4HMI
- VK5CX
- VK5RU
I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-
- VK5DW
- VK3PF
- VK3KAI
- VK5MAZ
- VK2HAK
- Vk5NM
- Vk3GL/p
- VK4NH
- VK4DXA
- VK5TUX
- VK5CZ
- Vk3CWF
- VK5HAA
- VK5KVA
- VK5BRU
- VK3SMW
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
- W1FDY
- N3SJL
- VK6CB
- VE9CF/p
- N4HOZ
- N4C
- VK6ZG
- VK6JDW
- VK6ZLO
References.
- Anon, (n.d.). Newland – Birding – Birdwatching – South Australia – Eyre Peninsula – Birds SA | birdssa.asn.au/location/lake-newland-conservation-park/. [online] Available at: https://birdssa.asn.au/location/lake-newland-conservation-park/ [Accessed 5 Jun. 2024].
- National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia. (n.d.). Lake Newland Conservation Park. [online] Available at: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/lake-newland-conservation-park [Accessed 5 Jun. 2024].‌‌
VK5PAS 