About Limestone Coast Landscape Board*
The Limestone Coast landscape management region covers an area of approximately 28,000 square kilometres bound by the Victorian border to the east, the Southern Ocean to the south and the Coorong to the west. This area of South Australia is commonly referred to as the Limestone Coast due to its proximity to the coast and the abundance of limestone located under the soil, which acts as a filter to produce high quality water.
The climate of the region is characterised by cool wet winters and mild to hot, dry summers. Average annual rainfall varies considerably within the region, from approximately 850mm in the south to 450mm in the north of the region. With a favourable climate, suitable soils and underground water, the Limestone Coast has a strong history as a highly productive area that supports a diverse and profitable industry base.
The Limestone Coast contributes about $5 billion per annum towards the South Australian GDP with more than 30% of the State’s GDP produced by our agricultural sector. The key economic activities in the region supported by natural resources include plantation forestry, wine/viticulture, agriculture, dairy, potatoes, fishing/aquaculture and their associated industries.
The region is distinguished by a series of stranded dunes that rise between 20-50 metres above inter-dunal plains. These plains can be inundated over winter and host a variety of internationally-recognised wetland systems, including the Ramsar-listed Bool and Hacks lagoons and part of the Coorong and Lower Lakes Wetlands. The region also hosts and extensive network of limestone sink holes and caves, which include the World Heritage Listed Naracoorte Caves.
*Formerly Natural Resources South East. Note that from the 1 July 2020, landscape regions replaced NRM regions in South Australia.