Environment and Conservation Minister Jay Weatherill has announced Billiatt was the fifth wilderness protection area to be proclaimed on the South Australian mainland, and the first in the Murraylands.

“The area consists of about 60,000 hectares of large sand dunes dominated by mallee vegetation and open shrub land," he said.

“Its large size and relatively undisturbed condition provides highly significant habitat for the fauna of the Murray Mallee region.

“A number of nationally threatened birds, including the Western Whipbird, the Malleefowl and the Red-lored Whistler, rely on the area for survival.”

Mr Weatherill said SA was fortunate to have substantial areas of internationally significant wilderness.

Wilderness protection areas receive the highest protection offered by the Wilderness Protection Act 1992.