Imagine a place... ... ... ... ..where you can wander through the shade of ancient forests, discover fossils underfoot, see a rainbow of wildflowers, sit and listen to a symphony of bird songs, all with the magnificent views of the Stirling and Porongurup Ranges as your backdrop. Twin Creeks Conservation Reserve has this to offer the visitor, plus much much more!
BUT WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP TO SECURE THIS PROPERTY!
HISTORY
Twin Creeks Conservation Reserve was purchased by the Friends of the Porongurup Range Inc. on behalf of the community in order to conserve the incredible bio-diversity found there for the benefit of future generations, and as a wildlife corridor from the Porongurup National Park.
The property came to their attention when a rare orchid was discovered on the property, and efforts were made to find a purchaser that would preserve the bio-diverse values.
When this failed, an application was put to Canberra for funding under the National Reserves System to help the 'Friends' purchase it themselves. This was granted as the property offered eco-system that were not already preserved in the area.
After a steep learning curve to get the Association registered as an Environmental Charity, and having thus gained status as a Deductable Gift Recipient, frantic efforts were made to raise funds for the purchase within the year.
This was three quarters achieved by the settlement date in April 2003 and with a loan from the vendor to pay the balance within twelve months, we were able to settle the property and commence management of it.
DESCRIPTION
The Twin Creeks Conservation Reserve comprises 511 hectares of which approximately 400 is still remnant or regrowth bushland.
It is situated just 4 kilometres north of the Porongurup National Park's boundary and is almost joined by other reserves and remnant vegetation in the corridor. It also has a main creekline running south-west to north-east across the property (Gaalgeeup) which is fed by another creek on its northern boundary before it flows directly into the Kalgan River.
Just 500 meters to the south of the Reserve, another creek system (Bolganup) passes by, which also feed into the Kalgan River lower down.
Only a total of 50 kilometres north of Albany, the Reserve is in easy reach for interest groups such as Wildflower & Bird groups.
NATURAL ATTRIBUTES -
LANDSCAPE
Because the Reserve sits on the junction of three main vegetation systems, and is part of the complex Porongurup geology, there are many different soil types supporting many different habitats, eg:
Laterite uplands - jarrah and marri forest, dryandra and grass tree thickets
Deep granitic sand - melaleuca and heath, banksia littoralis woodlands
Winter wet sands - rush swamps
Ironstone - mallee woodlands and heath
Spongelite - mallee woodlands, melaleuca thickets and heath, fossils
Inundated ironstone - melaleuca, kunzea & agonis thickets with low heath
Winter creek mud flats - paperbark and rush
Laterite & sand - Wandoo woodlands, mallee heath
Creekline floodplain - Yate and sedges
Granite outcrop - Allocasuarina Grove, native grasses
FLORA
From early estimates, and the number of differing habitats, considering the variety of species per quadrant, it is estimated that about 1,000 species of plants will be found in surveying over the next few years.
We already know that two rare and six priority flora species inhabit the Reserve.
FAUNA
This is very much an unknown at this stage, except that we know that the more common marsupials such as western grey kangaroo, brush-tailed possum, ring-tailed possum, pygmy possum and honey possum can be found on the Reserve. There is also a population of Western Brush Wallaby and echidnas there too.
We will have to wait for a survey to be able to confirm what other little critters are hiding in the dense heath and unburnt forest.
The Albany Bird Group have already conducted spring and autumn bird surveys and have so far counted 74 species, including the white-tailed black cockatoo and the red-tailed black cockatoo. There is also a wedge-tailed eagle's eerie in the Reserve, and a chick was successfully reared this year.
As far as the invertebrate population is concerned, well, that is anyone's guess, and it is hoped that someone would like to take up the challenge of databasing these.
ACCESS
At present, whilst we are still in the access planning stage, a 'permit' is required to visit the Reserve. This can be obtained by calling in at the Porongurup Shop and Tearooms to register and pick up the key.
As much of the Reserve is wetland, and until we can get boardwalking in place, we ask that you respect hygiene procedures so that soil borne diseases are not spread.
A map with car access and parking places can be picked up with the key.