Friends of the Willunga Basin

Friends of Willunga Basin

- a group dedicated to preserving the environment and beauty of the Willunga Basin.

Thank you for visiting the official website of the Friends of the Willunga Basin. The site will be regularly updated with information regarding the Willunga Basin, the Friends Group and general environmental and planning issues relevant to the basin which is located south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu peninsular in South Australia.

The physical geographic boundaries to the area known as the Willunga Basin are the Sellicks Hill Range to the South and East [often referred to as the Willunga Escarpment] and the Southern slopes of the Onkaparinga Gorge to the North; the North-Easternmost point being in the vicinity of Bakers Gully. The Western boundary is the shoreline of St. Vincent's Gulf into which flow the catchment waters of the basin via a number of creeks. The total area of the Basin is 262 sq. kilometers.

The Willunga Basin forms part of the Fleurieu Peninsular and is often referred to as the natural "Gateway to the Fleurieu", being separated from the Southern Fleurieu by the Sellicks Hill Range.

The name "Willunga Basin" has emerged over the past ten years from being a simple geographic term defining the limits of a specific hydrological catchment area, to become a strong cultural definition of a community of rural villages south of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.

The Friends of Willunga Basin:

The Friends of Willunga Basin grew out of a community response to a proposed marina development in the late 1980's. The proposal sought to create an inland marina at the site of the "Washpool", a natural fresh-water wetland situated behind the dunes between the settled areas of Aldinga Beach and Sellick's Beach which has important aboriginal and environmental significance.

The marina plan had initially been developed without public consultation and when details of the proposal were finally released public sentiment turned against it. Large numbers of of well organised local people, dismayed by the adverse effects upon their area formed an organisation known at the time as the Aldinga Bay Anti Marina Association [ABAMA] to fight the issue. In 1989 the South Australian State Government disallowed the marina development.

ABAMA then turned its attention to wider planning and development issues within the region and in 1994 changed its name to the Friends of Willunga Basin whilst retaining its basic objectives.

The Friends promote planning initiatives which reinforce agricultural and related industries as the primary land use in the Willunga Basin and which confine new residential development to the west of Main South Road.

The Friends promote restoration of damaged environments in the Willunga Basin and promote legislation to ensure long term certainty for maintaining the integrity of agriculture and open space areas in the Basin.

Some Significant Initiatives beyond the Marina:

During 1992 to 1994 through representation on the then Willunga Council, landmark changes were made to the Council's planning philosophy. Council's 1992 Vision Statement, "A Preferred Future for the Willunga Basin" received a Civic Trust Award paving the way for a Strategic Plan and making a strong case for halting southern urban sprawl into the Basin.
Coining the name "Willunga Basin" to describe the district in a way that has created a strong sense of identity and a promotional tourism focus.
Our 1996 "Return of the Tree" ecofest left a lasting legacy of local support for our Association's objectives and assisted in establishing a "Willunga Basin" community.
Consistent contribution to almost all environmental and planning initiatives in our area has resulted in recognition of the Association's objectives and credibility by Local and State governments.
Strong opposition to the indiscriminate use of Jet Skis along our coastline has met with some success but more needs to be done.
A successful campaign in 1997 to displace the name "City South" for the newly amalgamated greater southern council area with a democratically elected alternative, "City of Onkaparinga".

The Friends may be contacted by letter at PO Box 236 Aldinga Beach 5173 SA or by phone on one of the following numbers:

Chairman: John Lawrie     08 8557 7634
Secretary: David Gill        08 8556 2289
Treasurer: Jim Fletcher     08 8556 7364

There are presently about 200 members and supporters of the Friends and we are keen to expand our numbers and hence influence over the manner of development and use of the Willunga Basin. If you are interested in joining the Friends as a Member or as a Supporter please contact the Secretary for an application form. Subscriptions are $7 for a family, $5 for an individual and $3 concession.

To study the detailed objectives of the Friends of Willunga Basin please click here

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Regular monthly committee meetings, to which all members are welcome, are held in the old council chambers in Willunga [now known as the "Willunga Hub"]. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month from 7.30 pm unless otherwise advised.

Occasional meetings on specific topics of concern to members will be advised in the Newsletter and on this web site.

New At it's April 9th committee meeting, the Friends of Willunga Basin agreed to the following policy position regarding the Sellicks Hill Windfarm proposal:

The Committee strongly advocates the shift from fossil fuel burning to renewable energy sources, and in that context, supports the Sellicks Hill Range Wind Farm proposal as presented.