What was at stake: In 2010, the Wilderness Society South Australia travelled into the Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert to document its wilderness values. We were lucky to be there after a big rain. Every once in a while, rain transforms the swales between the sand dunes into temporary wetlands. Thousands of birds flock here from across Australia to feed and breed. Then native flowers burst into colour across the burnt-orange sand—a beautiful garden that seems to stretch into infinity.
This remarkable landscape spans millions of hectares across the heart of Australia. It protects unbroken sand ridges and ecologically vital wetlands like Kati Thanda—Lake Eyre. It’s a sanctuary for unique plants and animals. And it’s Country for First Nations people, who’ve been here for thousands of years.
Photo: This vast, intact wilderness is one of the world’s best examples of parallel dunal desert
What we were up against: For over a decade, the Wilderness Society has been working to protect this globally important ecosystem. After our first expedition, the former South Australian government recognised the Simpson Desert as high quality wilderness. But just before the area could be officially proclaimed under the SA Wilderness Protection Act, 1992, fossil fuel exploration leases were issued across the region, essentially locking it up for the fossil fuel industry.
How we did it: We were able to convince the first companies who bought the leases to pull out, making it clear the community would not stand for mining in one of the most intact desert ecosystems the world has left. Sadly, in 2017, a multinational named Tri-Star Energy Company took up the leases in the Simpson. Then in 2020, when the country was in COVID lockdown, it announced its plans for exploration.
The Wilderness Society then met with Tri-Star to express our serious concerns with its proposal, as well as relevant government officials and Ministers. We held public meetings and ran a major community awareness program, including billboards around Adelaide.
On 25 November, 2021, Australia’s largest ever national park in the Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert was proclaimed by the South Australian Government.