140804Shackle Road Self Guided Drive Broch (1)

8/10/2019 140804Shackle Road Self Guided Drive Broch (1)

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Flinders Chase

National ParkShackle Roadself-guided drive


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2 Shackle Road self-guided drive

This self-guided nature drive on the rugged western end of

Kangaroo Island will take you from Flinders Chase Visitor Centre

to Cape Borda Lightstation (or vice versa) via Shackle Road and

Playford Highway. Allow at least two hours to complete the drive

or a full day to really explore.

To gain a greater understanding of the natural history of

Flinders Chase National Park and Ravine des Casoars Wilderness

Protection Area, follow the map in this guide. The trail symbol of

a yacca and the stop number, mark designated stops at points

of interest along the drive.

Why not plan your drive to end or start with a guided tour of the

Lightstation and museum at Cape Borda? Tour times are available

from Natural Resources Kangaroo Island (NRKI) offices and

visitor centres. If you have more time, consider an

overnight stay at Cape Bordas heritage

accommodation, or camp at nearby Harveys

Return. Contact Flinders Chase Visitor Centre

on (08) 8553 4410 for bookings.

In 1907 a track was put through to

connect Cape du Couedic Lightstation to

the Cape Borda Kingscote telephone

line. This line was completed in 1911and the track is now Shackle Road.

Please notethis drive traverses dirt

roads. These narrow, winding dirt roads

have a loose surface, that is corrugated

and slippery when wet. Please adjust your

driving speed to suit the conditions and

watch out for wildlife. Shackle Road will be

closed during winter months and at timeswhen it is not passable to 2WD vehicles. Reduce

your speed and watch out for wildlife.

Introduction

yacca xanthorrhoea sp


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Shackle Road self-guided drive 3

National Park

Wilderness Protection Area

NP

WPA

Shackle Road drive

Location

Cape Borda

Scotts Cove

Flinders ChaseVisitor CentreFlinders ChaseVisitor Centre

Maupertuis Bay

112233

44

55

66

77

88

910

1112

Ravine des Casoars

Stops812

0 km 10

10

Unsealed road

Major sealed road

Walking trail(referred to in stop 12)

Shackle Road drive

Cape du Couedic

West Bay

Ravine des CasoarsWilderness Protection Area

Cape Torrens

Harveys Return

Self registration station


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This is the home of the common termite

(Nasutitermes exitiosus).These moundsappear to be soft on the outside but

contain extremely hard tunnels and

chambers, constructed by the worker

termites, using a cementing compound

contained in their saliva mixed with soil

and cellulose.

The interiors of these mounds, which are

a constant 2530C, also play an

important role as incubators for goanna

eggs. The heath goanna (Varanus

rosenbergi), Kangaroo Islands only

goanna, lays up to fourteen eggs in early

February in the base of mounds. The hole

created by the strong claws of the female

goanna is miraculously repaired within a

few days by termites.

In September the young goannas hatch

and dig themselves out. Ravens (Corvuscoronoides and C. mellori), Australian

magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen)and grey

currawongs (Strepera versicolor)prey on

the young as they emerge from the

termite mounds.

Stop 1- Natures incubators

Can you see an unusual cone-shaped mound of

soil in the clearing?

Termites break down plant material and cycle

nutrients through the environment.

Grey currawong


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Rosenberg heath goanna

Goannas are unable to regulate their own

body temperature internally, and need tobask in the sun for at least half an hour

(longer on overcast days) before becoming

active. Please drive slowly as they may be

sluggish and unable to avoid your vehicle.

The trees in this area are mostly swamp

gums (Eucalyptus ovata)and are found in

the poorly drained areas of western

Kangaroo Island. Their botanical name

refers to their oval shaped leaves. Swamp

gums, along with manna gums

(Eucalyptus viminalis ssp. Cygnetensis)are

the preferred browsing trees of the koala

(Phascolarctos cinereus), which was

introduced to the island in 1923 and

commonly found in this area.

Swamp gum


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Rocky River is one of the few rivers in

South Australia where the entire catchment

lies within a protected area. This provides a

unique opportunity to maintain much of

the rich biodiversity of the park.

A 50 m walk downstream along the

Rocky River Hike will take you to a

seasonal waterhole (dry in late summer

and autumn). Platypus (Ornithorhynchus

anatinus)are well established in the Rocky

and Breakneck rivers, and waterholes such

as this are ideal feeding areas. Patient

observers may see them feeding during

the day, but you may wish to return to

this spot at dawn or dusk as these are

their preferred feeding times.

Platypus were introduced from the

mainland to Flinders Chase during the

1920s and 1940s. The practice of

importing rapidly disappearing mainland

species for protection ceased in the

1950s. Today Flinders Chase National Park

is seen as having a valuable conservation

function in its own right.

Stop 2- Few of a kind

Platypus

The striking scarlet

bottlebrush (Callistemon

rugulosus) which flowers in

spring, grows in this area.

Native cherry


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by their light grey and white trunks and

narrow leaves. The oval-leaved swamp

gums you saw at the previous stop also

occur along the river. Can you spot them?

While you are enjoying this serene location,

why not sit quietly and listen to the many

bird calls. You may be surprised how many

different birds can be detected by their call.

Can you hear the raucous but distinctive

K-jilk K-jilk or E-gypt E-gypt call of the

crescent honeyeater (Phylidonyris

pyrrhoptera).

The light green, drooping trees on the river

bank are native cherry trees (Exocarpos

cupressiformis). These trees parasitise the

roots of other trees, such as the tall,

graceful pink gums (Eucalyptus fasciculosa)

in the area. Pink gums can be recognised

Look for the prickly Christmas bush

(Bursaria spinosa) a tall shrub in this area

with clusters of creamy flowers, which

commence in December.

Crescent honeyeater on

pink gum


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Crimson rosella

Stop 3- Objects of erce competition

The tall trees in this area are sugar gums

(Eucalyptus cladocalyx). The common name

refers to a sugar compound present in the

leaves of young trees giving them a sweet

taste. Sugar gums are easily recognised by

the unique clumping of adult foliage at the

ends of the branches, which gives a storiedumbrella effect. Look for these trees as you

continue your journey.

The tall, gnarled trunks provide many

hollows for which competition is fierce.

Common brushtail possums (Trichosurus

vulpecular)make a home here, while birds

such as galahs (Cacatua roseicapilla),

rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus

haematodus)and crimson rosellas

(Platycercus elegans)use these hollows

when nesting.

On Kangaroo Island, sugar gums are

essential nesting trees for the threatened

glossy black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus

lathami halmaturinus). The trunks of their

nesting trees are collared with sheets of

iron to prevent possums from climbing up

and taking over the nesting hollows. Feral

bees create extra pressure for these

hollows as they establish

their hives there.

Rainbow lorikeet

Sugar gum


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Many species of orchids (which flower inlate winter and spring) occur under these

trees. A careful, observant walk will spot

these beautiful delicate plants.

The pale green bush, which is a common

understorey to the sugar gum trees at

this stop, is wallaby bush (Choretrum

glomeratum var. glomeratum). This plant

belongs to the same family as the native

cherry referred to at Stop 2 and is

another parasitic feeder. Tammar

wallabies(Macropus eugenii)find the

green berries extremely palatable, hence

the common name for this plant. If you

drive through this area after dark you may

be lucky enough to see tammar wallabies

nibbling delicately on these plants.

Pink fairy orchid

Mayfly orchidMosquito orchid

Tammar

wallaby

Wallaby bush


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Stop 4- Firebreaks

Bushfires are part of the cycle of life for

Kangaroo Island and evidence of previous

fires can be seen throughout Flinders

Chase National Park. The most recent fire

in December 2007 was started by

lightning and burned around 65% of

Flinders Chase National Park.

Shackle Road plays an important role in

fire management within the park by being

a firebreak. To safely manage fuel hazard

levels, prescribed (planned) fires are used.

Our trained specialists decide where,

when and under what conditions burns

will be managed. Regular fuel reduction

operations are undertaken along the

length of Shackle Road.

Can you see the tall yacca or grass tree

(Xanthorrhoea semiplana tateana)on the

edge of the firebreak? Yaccas are very

long-lived plants, growing only one

centimetre per year, so if you see one over

two metres high it means it is about

200 years of age. The long flower spikes

often grow following fires and may shoot

to 3.5 metres tall in about three months.

After fire, birds and pygmy-possums

pollinate the thousands of individual

flowers, and the seeds are then dispersed

onto the nutrient rich ash. The botanical

name refers to the gum which flows from

the stem. This may be found as dried hard

balls on the tall, black trunk.

Yacca


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Dark bush-pea

Brush bronzewing

used to manufacture explosives. Duringthe First World War several hundred

tonnes of yacca gum were ordered by

England and America. Yacca gum is also

used in the manufacture of wood stains

and fireworks.

Bronzewing pigeons (Phaps chalcoptera

and P. elegans)and beautiful firetail

finches (Stagonopleura bella)are common

in this area, as they feed on the seed of

the bush-peas (Pultenaea spp.)that

grow here.

Kangaroo Island bush-pea

Beautiful firetail

The green carpenter bee (the largest

native bee in southern Australia) nests in

dry flowering stalks of yaccas and in

trunks and branches of dead banksia.

The yacca gum harvesting industry began

as early as 1843 and by the early 1900s

several hundred men were employed. The

gum of the yacca contains a substance


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Stop 5- Ravine des Casoars

Wilderness Protection Area

You are now in the Ravine des Casoars

Wilderness Protection Area, covering

40,000 hectares. The ravine was named by

the explorer Nicolas Baudin in 1802, after

spotting large numbers of Kangaroo Island

emus, that the French believed to be

cassowaries (casoars). These lowironstone hills with steep-sided gullies and

narrow ridges, contain shallow lakes. The

low open mallee woodlands and sugar

gum woodlands cladding the hills provide

a diverse range of habitats. The Breakneck

and Rocky rivers begin within these hills.

The coastal cliffs and scenery of this area

are spectacular.

Ignited by lightning and driven by strong

winds, the fires of 2007 burnt 98% of

Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection

Area. Since then, regrowth has been

Tawny-crowned

honeyeater


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spectacular. The fires and recovery have

expanded our understanding of the role of

fire in native bushland.

What does wilderness protection

mean?The Wilderness Protection Act 1992

provides the highest possible protection

for natural land that still retains a

wilderness character, and hence is an

important addition to the suite of land

management legislation in South Australia.

The establishment of a system of

wilderness reserves ensures that these

areas will be preserved in their natural

state for present and future generations

to enjoy.

What can I do in a Wilderness

Protection Area? Visitors may access

some areas on foot and are encouraged to

adopt a tread lightly ethic as outlined in

The Minimum Impact Code for Wilderness

Use in South Australia brochure, available

from the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre.

As you enjoy the view from this spot, you

may be able to see the taller trees such as

sugar gums along the creek lines.

However, dominant species throughout

this area is Kangaroo Island mallee ash

(Eucalyptus remota). This species of mallee

only occurs on western Kangaroo Island. It

flowers in summer and is an important

food source for the many species of nectar

feeding birds and native bees.

Tawny-crowned honeyeaters (Gliciphila

melanops) are easily spotted flitting across

the road. Summer visitors may spot

elegant parrots (Neophema elegans)

flushed from the roadside. The bright

green elegant parrots, which are often

mistaken for budgerigars (Melopsittacus

undulates), feed on the abundant seeds

which have been produced by spring

flowering plants.

Sugar gum


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Common heath

Stop 6- Bullock Waterhole

Look closely at the plants and shrubs in

this area. The reeds and heaths found

here are common in areas where the soil

is poorly drained or swampy. As you

continue your journey you may recognise

these areas by the light green foliage of

swamp wattle (Acacia retinodes).

The soil in these waterlogged areas is

nutrient poor but plants have adapted to

the conditions. The common heath

(Epacris impressa) has formed an

association with a root fungus, which

assists the plant and nutrient uptake in

exchange for sugars obtained from its

roots. If you look carefully in spring and

summer you may see the delicate fairies

apron (Utricularia dichotoma), a small

single-stemmed plant about ankle height

Fairies apron

Swamp wattle


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with two purple petals. This plant,

like the sundews with their sticky leaves,

supplements its nutrient intake by

trapping insects.

Fairies aprons belong to the bladderwort

family and possess modified leaves or

bladders which are suction traps.

An enticing aroma near the bladder

entrance attracts small insects. When the

insects touch a sensitive hair, a door flies

open, sucking the insect inside the bladder.The door immediately closes and the

plant digests the insect. Thankfully these

plants are not people sized!

At the end of the short trail is a natural

spring. In 1907 this waterhole was used

by bullocks during the construction of a

telephone line that connected Cape du

Couedic to Cape Borda and Kingscote.

Please stay on the trail to conserve this

fragile habitat.

Many native animals use the waterhole as

a watering point.

Can you determine which animals have

visited by their tracks and scats?

The New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris

novaehollandiae) is common here and

gregarious flocks are often seen. Careful

observers may spot a brown falcon (Falco

berigora), patiently perched on mallee

branches or soaring overhead.

Brown falcon


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Stop 7- Bull Creek

Bull Creek has its catchment entirely

within the Ravine des Casoars Wilderness

Protection Area, and joins with the

Breakneck River system. This vast area of

undisturbed wetland provides ideal habitat

for many species of birds such as rails

(Rallus spp.)and crakes (Porzana spp.).These birds are seldom seen due to their

secretive habits within this dense,

swampy vegetation.

Spotted crake

Cutting grass


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Cinnamon fungus has been identified in

this area.Please help reduce its

spread by not walking off roads or

designated walking tracks.

Phytophthora cinnamomi, known as

cinnamon fungus, is a water mould,

fungus-like organism. It is carried in soil

and water and causes disease and death

to a wide variety of native plant species.

Phytophthora cinnamomiattacks the

roots and stems of susceptible plants

and causes them to rot. The plants are

no longer able to take up sufficient

water and nutrients and die.

This disease spreads quickly through

movement of water in the soil and

slowly from plant to plant by root

contact. People have dramatically

increased its spread by moving soil,

gravel and plants from infested areas

to uninfested areas. It can be

transferred long distances in soil

stuck to the underbodies and

wheels of vehicles and

earthmoving equipment.

Bushwalkers can spread it

with mud sticking to their boots,

tent pegs and toilet trowels.

You can help reduce the spread of

Phytophthora by staying on formed

roads and designated walking tracks and

by using foot hygeine cleaning stations

where provided.

Roads through sensitive areas such as

this pose a threat to the pristine quality

of these wetlands. Silt from the road can

wash into the creek adversely affecting

the vegetation.

Roadsides also provide ideal conditions

for weed introductions and these may

easily be brought in by earthmoving

equipment during maintenance

operations such as grading.

Brown stringybark


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Stop 8- Wildres

Take a few moments to look back over the

way you have come. The vista provides a

wonderful overview of the extent of the

park. While enjoying the view, ponder on

the management issues facing park

managers today. One of the most

challenging and perhaps the mostcontroversial is fire.

Fire is a natural occurrence on Kangaroo

Island and many plants and animal species

have evolved to live with it. Lightning

strikes are responsible for the majority of

wildfires within this park. Kangaroo Islands

native flora has evolved to depend on fire

to reproduce. Some species need heat to

crack open their hard seed capsules; some

need chemicals in the smoke to kick-start

epicormic buds that grow beneath their

bark; others need heat to stimulate

regrowth from underground lignotubers.

Fire also clears the undergrowth and allows

dormant plants to emerge into the

sunlight.

Banksias (Banksia marginateand B. ornate)

are large shrubs found in this area, which

have biologically adapted to thrive in a

fire-prone environment. They have tough,

woody fruits sealed with fire-proof resin

that stops the seeds from falling into the

fire. Banksia seedpods have a winged seed

separator that prevents seeds from falling

onto the ground until after rain.

Desert banksia

Silver banksia

Kangaroo Island dunnart


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The Kangaroo Island dunnart (Sminthopsis

aitkeni), found only on Kangaroo Island,

may prefer vegetation which has been

burnt at different times by fires of

varying intensities, creating a mosaic

effect.

Their seeds get a great start to life by

floating into newly watered, fertile soil

away from competition with other

seedlings.

Banksias take about eight to nine years to

reach maturity. Therefore fires that occur

before new seed set, can eliminate species,

providing a competitive advantage to other

faster growing species.

Like plant species, animals, including birds

and invertebrates also need different fire

regimes. The needs of animals differ

according to the habitat they prefer and

their diet. Some mammal species, such as

the Kangaroo Island kangaroo (Macropus

fuliginosus fuliginosus), favour frequent

fires and repopulate a burnt site rapidly,

taking advantage of the exposed

nutritious food supply. However, bush rats

(Rattus fuscipes)favour a longer fire

frequency because the area takes longer

to provide a suitable habitat for them

to flourish.

Kangaroo Island kangaroo


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Stop 9- Harveys return

A steep but rewarding hike (1 kilometre

return) to the tiny cove originally known as

Murrells Landing will have you pondering

the hardships and endurance of

pioneering settlers.

The cove was initially used by Joseph

Murrell to load salted seal skins collected

from the area in the early 1800s. It was an

extremely dangerous landing site and the

early hunters must have been skilful and

hardy seamen.

In 1834 the cove became known as

Harveys Return and it is the nearest landing

site to Cape Borda Lightstation. Much of

the material used to build the lighthouse

was landed at Harveys Return in 1858. In

1859, following repeated requests from

the first head lighthouse keeper Captain

Woodward, provision was made for a

double track and trolleys down the steep

incline with a horse-drawn winch near

the top.

The sea to land transfer of goods

continued to be a dangerous and

hazardous affair, until the site was finally

abandoned around 1928. Relics of the

landing apparatus are still visible today,

including the base of a derrick crane that

was erected atop a rocky platform in 1923,

with an additional connecting rail.

A history of the difficulties of Harveys

Return as a loading site and subsequent

improvements is presented at Cape Borda

museum.

The valley leading to the cove contains

drooping sheoaks (Allocasuarina verticillata),

the predominant food source for the

endangered glossy black-cockatoo. If you

move quietly you may be rewarded with a

flash of red from the glossy black-

cockatoos tail feathers as they fly overhead.

Spectacular outcrops of tightly folded,

thinly bedded schists

(known as zebra

schists due to its bands

of colours) can be seen

at the base of the cliffs

on the western side of the

cove.

A 400 metre section of this

coastline has been

designated as a geological

monument by the

Geological Society of

Australia.

Glossy black-cockatoo


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In summer the rocky cove becomes a sandy

beach and visitors to this area may see the

delicate footprints of birds and other

animals that use the beach.

Information on the walking trail to the cove

is presented in the brochure Parks of

Kangaroo Island, available from NRKI

offices and visitor centres or website.

Drooping sheoak


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Stop 10- Lightstation cemetry

This stop offers a grim insight to the

isolation and hardships of the lighthouse

keepers and their families, as well as the

rugged hazardous nature of the nearbycoastline. It also symbolises the importance

of sea trade and shipping to the developing

state of South Australia.

Unfortunately a simple ailment could

easily become a fatality due to poor

medical aid. One such event was the

death of the first head lighthouse keeperCaptain G.W Woodward who tripped and

pierced his eye on a stick; some four

weeks later he died. Three months later

the Lightstation was supplied with a

medicine chest, alas too late for Captain

Woodward!


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Captain George Main,

lighthouse keeper at Cape

Borda in the 1870s.

Captain Main buried two

of his sons in this cemetery.

His seven year old soncontracted Scarlet Fever from

a newly arrived family and

died in May 1875. Eighteen

months later his three year old

son fell over the cliff below

the lighthouse.

The cemetery was used for the keepers

and their families until 1937 when the

road was constructed. Due to the

isolation, the keepers were sometimes

required to carry out all the tasks of the

burial, including making the coffin. There

are five timber crosses marked InMemory, which may be the graves of

unidentified shipwreck victims.

Why is the cemetery so far from the

lightstation?

Look at the tall Sugar Gums they signify

deeper soil.

Why is one headstone facing the

opposite direction?Ask the Interpretive Officer at Cape Borda

Lightstation.


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Stop 11- Scotts Cove lookout

This stop offers visitors spectacular views

of magnificent rugged, sheer cliffs. On a

fine day the sparkling blue sea contrasts

impressively with the earthy colours of

the cliffs.

The cliffs are 145 metres high at this

point. The occasional fishing boat seen

gently bobbing at its anchor below,

seems vulnerable and fragile from this

height.

A careful scan with binoculars from the

lookout may reward the observer with

the sighting of a seal.

The sealing industry began to wind-down in the mid-1800s due to the

depletion, bordering on extinction, of

seals, caused by the wholesale slaughter

of the animals. Remote

colonies of fur seals

(Arctocephalus forsteri

andA. pusillus doriferus)

and Australian sea-lions(Neophoca cinerea) were

common at places like Scotts

Cove.

A gang of sealers worked at Scotts Cove

by lowering a man over the cliff by rope,

to kill and skin the animals peacefully

basking on the rocks below. When

sufficient skins had been obtained the

rest of the gang would haul the man

and the skins up the cliff.

Folklore has it that Scotts Cove was the

scene of a gruesome murder when gang

members refused to tolerate the brutality

of their leader any longer. When this

greatest ruffian of all was making his

last ascent of the day, the haul rope was

cut and he was dashed to pieces on the

rocks below.


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This section of coastline is regarded as a

death trap to shipping radioed the

Captain of the Portland Maruin 1935 as

she was sinking. The steamer was

successfully beached near Cape Torrens

but the combination of wild weather and

its cargo of wet and swelling grain added

the Portland Maruto the islands manyshipwrecks.

Keep a lookout for the white-bellied sea-

eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), endangered

in South Australia. These majestic coastal

raptors are sometimes seen soaring over

the cliffs and along the coast, with their

long, broad wings upswept. They prey on

fish and fledgling seabirds such as terns

and gulls. These birds are particularlysensitive to disturbance from above during

breeding season, which extends from May

to December. Please keep to existing

formed paths to avoid disturbing them.


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Stop 12- Cape Borda

Welcome to spectacular Cape Borda

Lightstation, built in 1858 to aid

navigation in the busy shipping lanes to

Port Adelaide. Cape Borda is the highest

light above sea level in South Australia

(155 metres) and the only square

lighthouse in the state. It was built toassist in the defence of South Australia,

and is equipped with a small signal

cannon which is fired daily. Cape Borda

had one of the last resident lighthouse

keepers in the state and was destaffed in

1989. The Department of Environment,

Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR)

continues to conserve the lightstation

precinct and offers the lightkeeper

cottages as accommodation to visitors.

Tours of the Lightstation and museum are

available to visitors daily. Access to the

reading room, souvenirs and light

refreshments are available between tours.


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Tour times are available from NRKI offices

and visitor centres.

Three well-defined walking trails have been

developed for visitors. The Clifftop Hike

and Return Road Hike are accessed from

the Cape Borda Lightstation precinct. The

Ravine Hike is accessed from Ravine Road.

For more information refer to the Parks of

Kangaroo Islandbrochure, available from

NRKI offices and visitor centres.

Cape Borda Lightstation and museum is

the last or first stop of the drive and offers

the visitor an insight into the

achievements of a bygone era.

The rare Kangaroo

Island logania (Logania

insularis) is only found

growing in the upper

northern and western

slopes of Cape Borda,

in an area of threesquare kilometres.

Further information:

Discover Kangaroo Island

Barker, S. & McCaskill, M. (1999)Royal Geographical Society of SA,

Adelaide

Kangaroo Island Visitor Guide

Tourism Kangaroo Island


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Bushre safety for travellersBushfires can occur without warning and

can quickly impact your travel route.

In South Australia, bushfires occurregularly. Being out on the road during a

bushfire is extremely dangerous last

minute evacuations are a life-threatening

option.

Total re bans

The CFS may declare Total Fire Bans on

days of severe weather, when high

temperatures, strong winds and low

humidity could cause fires to become

uncontrollable. Certain activities like

barbeques and camp fires are banned on

these days.

Do you know what you can and cant do

today?

Fire danger ratings

Every day during the Fire Danger Season,

weather and other factors are used to

calculate Fire Danger Ratings for each

District. These ratings are not predictors of

how likely a bushfire is to occur, but how

dangerous it could be if it did occur.

On total re ban days

On Total Fire Ban days, it is best to

postpone a trip into the bush, since thedangers of fires starting and moving

rapidly are extremely high. Think about

what you will do on those days: obey fire

bans, avoid activities that could start a fire

(such as driving through long grass,

campfires), and avoid activities that can

place you in areas of high risk.

For your safety Go to www.cfs.sa.gov.au

Monitor ABC Radio 891 AM

Contact Bushfire Information Hotline

1300 362 361 (TTY 133677)

Seek advice from park staff (Flinders

Chase Visitor Centre 8553 4490)

To report a fire, dial 000.

BushwalkingIt is advisable not to go bushwalking on Total

Fire Ban days, but if you are caught in a

bushfire you should:

Never try to outrun the flames.

Head for a natural fire break, e.g.

streams, clearings or rock outcrops. Keep away from high ground in the

path of the fire.

Never shelter in an above ground water

tank or dam.

Cover yourself or shelter behind a solid

object such as a rock, to protect yourself

against radiant heat.


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Fires can threatensuddenly and

without warning

WATCHfor signs of

fire, especially smoke

and flames

KNOWthe Fire

Danger Rating in your

area and be aware of

local conditions

HAVEyour

Bushfire Survival

Plan and kit ready

CALL000

to report a fire

TO SEEK

INFORMATION

listen to

local radio

go towww.cfs.sa.gov.au

or call the Bushfire

Information

Hotline on 1300

362 361

(TTY 133 677)

DANGER RATING WHAT SHOULD I DO?

CATASTROPHIC

TOTAL FIRE BAN

You need to act now.

These are the worst conditions for a bushfire -if a

fire starts, it will be extremely difficult to control

and will move very fast. Buildings are not built to

withstand these fires.

The safest place to be is away from any bushfire

prone areas.

Avoid travelling through forests, thick bush or

long dry grass

Leave bushfire prone areas the night before or

early in the morning. Act immediately do not

wait and see.

EXTREME

TOTAL FIRE BAN

You need to get ready to act

Fires that start under these conditions will be

unpredictable, fast-moving and difficult to control.

The safest place to be is away from any bushfire

prone areas: leave them early in the day, and do

not travel into these areas.

SEVERE

TOTAL FIRE BAN

You need to be aware.

Fires that start under these conditions will be

difficult to control.

If possible, avoid travelling into bushfire prone areas.

If not, only travel if you and your vehicle are wellprepared. Know where to go if there is a bushfire.

Watch out for smoke or any changes in conditions.

VERY HIGHYou need to be prepared.

Fires that start under these conditions are likely to

be controlled.

Buildings can provide safety. Know where to get

more information about the weather and bushfires,

and watch out for any changes

HIGH

LOW-MODERATE


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Travelling on the roadCars are a very dangerous place to be during

a bushfire, as they offer little protection from

radiant heat, and driving conditions are

often difficult and stressful.

If you are aware of bushfires before you

leave home, plan an alternative route and

do not travel to the affected area. If you

come across smoke while travelling, turn

around and go back. Listen to the radio and

ask locally for help to find a safe way

through.

Ensure your vehicle is properly maintained

for the journey you are undertaking. Keep

several woollen blankets and a supply of

fresh water in your vehicle, just in case you

are caught in a bushfire.

Before the re front reaches you

Park behind a solid structure to block as

much heat as you can. If this isnt

possible, find a clearing away from dense

bush and flammable material on the

ground, such as branches and leaves.

Park the vehicle off the roadway to avoid

collisions in poor visibility.

Face vehicle towards oncoming fire

front.

Turn headlights and hazard lights on.

Tightly close all windows and doors.

Stay inside your vehicle it offers better

protection from the radiant heat than

being in the open.

Shut all the air vents and turn the

air conditioning off.

Turn the vehicle engine off.

Get down below window level into foot

wells and shelter under woollen

blankets.

Drink water to minimise risks of

dehydration.

As the re front passes

During a bushfire the critical time for

personal safety is during the 5 to 10 minutes

it takes for the fire front to pass.

Stay in the vehicle until fire front haspassed.

Fuel tanks are very unlikely to explode.

Smoke gradually gets inside the vehicle

and fumes will be released from the

interior of the vehicle. Stay as close to

the floor as possible to minimise

inhalation and cover mouth with a moist

cloth.

Tyres and external plastic body parts maycatch alight. In more extreme cases the

vehicle interior may catch on fire.

Once the front has passed and the

temperature has dropped, cautiously exit

the vehicle (be careful internal parts

will be extremely hot).

Move to a safe area such as a strip of

land that has already burnt.

Stay covered in woollen blankets,continue to drink water and wait for

assistance.

If you need to use your vehicle as a shelter from a bushre:Research shows that sheltering inside a vehicle is a high risk strategy and it is highly unlikely

that a personal will survive in all but the mildest circumstances.The only sure way to survive a

bushfire is to be nowhere near the threat.


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Copyright

Licensed under Creative CommonsAttribution 3.0 Australia License

www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au

Copyright Owner: Crown in right of the state of South Australia 2013

Government of South Australia 2013

Disclaimer

While every reasonable effort has been made to verify the information in

this fact sheet use of the information contained is at your sole risk. The

Department recommends that you independently verify the information

before taking any action.

FIS 92672


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For further information contact:

Flinders Chase Visitor Centre

Flinders Chase National Park

Kangaroo Island SA

T: (08) 8553 4490

E: [email protected]

Cape Borda Lightstation

Flinders Chase National Park

Kangaroo Island SA Telephone

T: (08) 8553 4465

Natural Resources Centre Kangaroo Island

37 Dauncey Street

Kingscote SA 5223

T: (08) 8553 4444

www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/kangarooisland

National Parks SA

www.parks.sa.gov.au

Acknowledgements

Illustrations by Nicholas Burness Pike

Friends of Parks KI Western Districts for their contribution towards

the production of this booklet.

140804Shackle Road Self Guided Drive Broch (1)

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