Our On-Ground Work

Clink on the icons below to see more information about the 50+ sites across McLaren Vale where we are working to remove weed species and replant local native vegetation.

 

Our Projects

  • Maslin Creek is one of the three major creek systems in the Willunga Basin, winding its way through a landscape rich in ecological and cultural significance. At its heart lies the Maslin Creek Reed Swamp — the largest remaining reed swamp in the Greater Adelaide Metropolitan Region.

    Over the next decade, Biodiversity McLaren Vale is embarking on an ambitious long-term project to revive and restore this degraded but vital ecosystem. Working hand-in-hand with private landholders, community members and government partners along the catchment, we’re committed to breathing life back into the creek and its swamp.

    In April 2025, we held our very first Field Day at the Maslin Creek Reed Swamp on the Casella Family Brands property along California Road. It was just the beginning — and we’re excited to return again and again. Watch this space!

  • With its origins linked to trial work undertaken together with Pete Wadewitz since the 1990’s and a conversation with John Schutz in early 2019, Biodiversity McLaren Vale was proud to take part in the Olive Removal and Biochar Pilot Project in 2021.

    The purpose of the project was to find practical solutions to reduce woody weed infestations, improve biodiversity, reduce fire hazard on private land and National Parks, improve soil carbon and trail new technology to produce biochar on site rather than combusting to ash and demonstrate a circular economy.

    Click this link to read the final report on the Project.

  • Since 2021, Biodiversity McLaren Vale has partnered with SA Water and Hills Face Biodiversity Group to regenerate a 600m stretch of waterway that drains into the Aldinga Washpool.

    The Aldinga Washpool is a rare ephemeral freshwater wetland in Adelaide's south, supporting a large number of native plant and animal species including some of conservation significance. Recently, the State Government announced that the area will form part of a new conservation park, protecting this sensitive environment into the future. You can read more about the Washpool here.

    To enhance the environment of the Washpool, BMV has partnered with SA Water and the Willunga Hills Face Landcare Group to plant out this watercourse over the next few years. This will help to minimise erosion, reduce the levels of silt reaching the Washpool and improve water quality. Running alongside the SA Water Aldinga wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) site, this project is a joint initiative of the three organisations with support and funding from Landscape SA (Hills and Fleurieu) through a Grassroots Grant.

 

Useful information