Regional Reserve (Australia)

A Regional Reserve is a type of protected area used in the Australian states of South Australia and Tasmania that allows the use of natural resources in conjunction with the protected area’s conservation function.

## South Australia

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Main article: Regional reserves of South Australia

In South Australia, a regional reserve is used where crown land being considered for protection where following needs and desires for the land exist:[1]

> the purpose of conserving any wildlife or the natural or historic features of that land while, at the same time, permitting the utilisation of the natural resources of that land.

As of 2014, the following regional reserves had been declared, with a total area of 9,340,161 hectares (23,080,040 acres), or 9.5% of the state’s land area:[2][3] Chowilla, Innamincka, Lake Frome, Nullarbor, Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert, Strzelecki and Yellabinna.

In November 2021, Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert Regional Reserve became part of the new Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert National Park, and Lake Frome Regional Reserve was upgraded to a national park as Lake Frome National Park.[4][5]

## Tasmania

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Main article: Protected areas of Tasmania § Regional reserves

In Tasmania, a regional reserve is used where “an area of land” being considered for protection has “high mineral potential or prospectivity” and is “predominantly in a natural state,” and the purpose for the protection meets the following requirement:[6]

> Mineral exploration and the development of mineral deposits in the area of land, and the controlled use of other natural resources of that area of land, including special species timber harvesting, while protecting and maintaining the natural and cultural values of that area of land.

As of 2014, there are 148 regional reserves in Tasmania with a total area of 454,682 hectares (1,123,540 acres):[7]

## See also

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* Protected areas of South Australia
* Protected areas of Tasmania

## References

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1. ^ "NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE ACT 1972 - SECT 34A". Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII). Retrieved 6 September 2015.
2. ^ "Protected Areas Information System - Area Statement: Summary of Protected Areas In South Australia (as of 16 July 2015)" (PDF). Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR). 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
3. ^ "Regional reserves". Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR). 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
4. ^ Gooch, Declan (26 November 2021). "Australia's biggest national park declared in South Australia's far north". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
5. ^ Speirs, David (26 November 2021). "SA now home to Australia's biggest national park". Premier of South Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
6. ^ "NATURE CONSERVATION ACT 2002 - SCHEDULE 1- Determination of class of reserved land". Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII). 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
7. ^ "Terrestrial Protected Areas of Tasmania (2014) (see 'DETAIL' tab)". CAPAD 2014. Australian Government - Department of the Environment (DoE). 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2015.