Reservoir canopy reborn with native trees

Tree canopy in the Hope Valley Reservoir and Highbury Aqueduct Reserves will be restored through the Giant Pine Scale Revegetation Program.

Giant Pine Scale (GPS) is an invasive sap-feeding insect that attacks pine and other susceptible conifer trees, causing the tree to die.

The only permanent and effective treatment is to remove infested trees and nearby susceptible trees to stop the spread. Removed trees also must be chipped or mulched and placed under quarantine to destroy the insect and its eggs.

In partnership with the forestry industry, infected and at-risk trees have been removed from Hope Valley Reservoir, Highbury Aqueduct Reserve and several nearby sites within the City of Tea Tree Gully area.

This response has been effective in limiting the spread of GPS, and as a result, full eradication remains achievable.

Significant revegetation has been undertaken in areas no longer in the quarantine period, with more than 4,500 native trees, shrubs and grasses planted to restore habitat and amenity.

Revegetation of the impacted sites provides additional opportunities to increase biodiversity through planting native flora species, including South Australian blue gum grassy woodlands. Grassy woodlands are recognised for their high biodiversity value and offer important habitat for native fauna including the vulnerable yellow-tailed black cockatoo and the rare white-winged chough, which have been spotted at the Hope Valley Reservoir.