Images: Provided/Island Heights
Hindmarsh Island could soon be home to a world-class eco-tourism resort, with plans unveiled for a 600-acre sustainable village designed to showcase the region’s natural landscapes while supporting conservation and tourism.
The proposed Island Heights development from Noble Investments would replace currently grazed farmland on the northern side of the island with a low-impact retreat featuring up to 200 tourist chalets, conservation areas, regenerative agriculture, and environmentally focused visitor experiences.
Located within the Fleurieu Peninsula and close to internationally recognised wetlands and national parks, the development would provide a way for tourists to experience the internationally recognised Murray Mouth, Coorong, and Lower Lakes region.
“We see the potential to create world-class accommodation,” Island Heights Project Director Tim Lebbon said, adding that Hindmarsh Island has a “unique charm.”
“The beautiful surrounding country is part of the 142,500 hectare Coorong and Lakes Alexandina and Albert Ramsar Wetland, an internationally recognised site, and home to 65 threatened species.”
“Imagine just one hour south of Adelaide, stepping out from the comfortable surroundings of your cabin, to immediately immerse yourself amongst a world class wilderness area.”
The concept plans include accommodation positioned along high value view corridors with walking trails, boardwalks, and bird watching areas.
There would also be on-site cultural education programs developed in partnership with the Ngarrindjeri community.
Sustainability is central to the proposal, with the self sustaining facility featuring renewable energy, water harvesting, and advanced wastewater management systems to minimise environmental impact.
Lebbon said that the infrastructure would help reduce nutrient runoff from the village and surrounding grazing properties, while supporting wetland restoration and improving the landscape.
The plans come after the State and Federal Governments partnered with the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife to purchase the Mundoo Island Station, turning a further 1900 hectares of land into a vital wetlands habitat as part of the Coorong National Park. This acquisition includes Mundoo, Ewe, Long, and other surrounding Islands off the eastern tip of Hindmarsh Island.
Lebbon said that the plans would complement the ongoing conservation efforts and that the area “is a logical location for supporting eco-sensitive accommodation and infrastructure.”
“Our family has owned most of this property for more than twenty years,” he said.
“We aspire to develop and rejuvenate the land, to leave a lasting legacy for the community to enjoy.”
“With the expansion of the globally significant Coorong National Park, Island Heights is a logical location for supporting eco-sensitive accommodation and infrastructure,” Lebbon said.
The project is currently in the early stages of consultation, with the Island Heights team engaging with Alexandrina Council, the State Government, and potential development partners as it progresses through planning pathways.
Alexandrina Council Mayor Keith Parkes said the project aligned with the region’s vision of balancing tourism growth with environmental protection.
“Providing a balance of appropriate economic and tourism opportunities, environmental stewardship and cultural education, is a vision that we share,” he said.
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