Achievement report · management, pest plant and animal control, and biodiversity conservation have to be addressed across land use types and property boundaries. By combining the

Achievement report2012-13

The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board gratefully acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through its Caring for our Country initiative.

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au Copyright Owner: Crown in right of the State of South Australia 2013

Photos: Thanks to Martin Stokes, Jacob Kochergen, Marcus Pickett, Escapegoat Adventures, BirdLife Australia, Drs D McNeil and M Hammer, Julie Schofield, Kristy Manning and Luke Price for the use of photos within this publication.

Front cover photo credit: Martin Stokes.

The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural

Resources Management Board would like

to acknowledge the land on which it meets is the

traditional lands of Kaurna, Peramangk, Ngadjuri

and Ngarrindjeri people and that it respects their

spiritual relationship with their country. The board

also acknowledges the Aboriginal people as the

custodians of the greater Adelaide region and

that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still

as important to the Aboriginal people today.

In fulfilling its functions, the board is cognisant

of the cultural and natural heritage of traditional

owners and strives to achieve positive outcomes

wherever these matters are concerned.

Contents

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

IntroductIon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Land and bIodIversIty . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Land and watercourse management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Community training and education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Supporting agricultural industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Biodiversity conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Pest management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Snapshot: Turning plastic waste on farm

into a resource . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

nrM educatIon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Youth voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Living classrooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Snapshot: The collective power

of collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

PLannIng and evaLuatIon . . . . . . . 11

The Regional NRM Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Water allocation plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Monitoring and evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Snapshot: Shared vision takes shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

our Parks and reserves . . . . . . . . . 15

Fire management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Revegetating parks and reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

New dolphin defenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Snapshot: Learning from our burning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Snapshot: Rangers lead recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

coast and MarIne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Community support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Citizen science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Cleaning our oceans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Snapshot: Valuing the samphire coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

water ManageMent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Stormwater recycling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Stormwater and flood management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Stormwater quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Water sensitive urban design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Urban watercourses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Snapshot: Flows bring rare life back

to Adelaide’s parched rivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

coMMunItIes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Support for volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Community Natural Resource Centres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Community at the centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Raising awareness, building skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Snapshot: Vale Park Our Patch group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Snapshot: A group with GRRRunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

runnIng the busIness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Expenditure for 2012–13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Our people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

5-year hIghLIghts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

board MeMbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Agency representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

nrM grouPs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata). Credit: Peter Watton.

Foreword

The annual Achievement report

is one of the key accountability

tools of the Adelaide and Mount

Lofty Ranges Natural Resources

Management (NRM) Board. When

combined with the board’s statutory

Annual report and the annually

reviewed Investment plan, the

Achievement report forms part of

a strong framework for providing

the community with a transparent account of what we set

out to achieve in the past year and how we performed

against that plan.

In 2012–13 the board delivered the fifth year of the Regional

Natural Resources Management Plan. This report highlights

a variety of achievements under the plan, as well as providing

information on the cumulative results achieved in each of the

board’s major programs since 2008–09.

In the past year the board also progressed a major review of

the regional plan. The Regional NRM Plan is at the centre of

the board’s efforts to lead natural resources management in

the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges region, and for this

reason this review is one of the most important responsibilities

that falls to the board and genuine collaboration is required.

The process of developing the Draft Regional Natural

Resources Management Plan included two years of

collaborating with the community and stakeholders,

which included scientists, local government, technical experts,

industry and other government agencies. The statutory

consultation will be completed in the second half of 2013

and we expect the new plan to come into effect after

Ministerial approval.

The integration and alignment of the board’s activities into

the regional structure of the Department of Environment,

Water and Natural Resources continued in 2012–13. Under this

arrangement regional staff of the department now work on

the board’s behalf, implementing the regional plan in line with

the Investment plan set by the board each year.

A major advantage of this integrated delivery is that natural

resources can be managed at a landscape level. Many issues

of significance to the board including soil conservation, water

management, pest plant and animal control, and biodiversity

conservation have to be addressed across land use types

and property boundaries. By combining the management of

natural resources with the management of public lands, such

as parks, within the regional structure, staff are able to work

increasingly across landscapes thereby achieving better natural

resources outcomes across private and public property.

As always however, the success of the board in its endeavours

is very much dependent on the efforts of landholders, local

communities, industry, government and other stakeholders.

We thus owe genuine thanks to all our stakeholders,

whose efforts are instrumental in achieving with us the

productive and balanced use and conservation of the

region’s natural resources.

Professor Chris Daniels

PRESIDING MEMBER

Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources

Management Board

AMLR Achievement report 2012-13 | iii

The 11,000 square kilometres of the Adelaide and

Mount Lofty Ranges region cover metropolitan Adelaide,

Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula, Barossa Valley and coastal

waters of Gulf St Vincent.

The region’s 1.2 million people live and work in landscapes

ranging from highly developed urban and farming land

to remnant bushland and coastal areas. The 175 years of

intensive use since settlement have left natural resources

degraded and in need of careful management.

The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board

collaborates with many stakeholders to manage the region’s

land, water and native plant and animal resources to develop

and maintain productive and sustainable landscapes for all.

The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Natural

Resources Management Plan, adopted in 2008, includes

a vision of thriving communities caring for our hills, plains

and seas. Under this vision are four goals and thirteen

20-year targets, listed in the following pages.

Introduction

VISION

thrIvIng coMMunItIes carIng For our hILLs, PLaIns and seas.

1

2

3

our goaLs

ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES FOR LIFE AND LIVELIHOOD

COMMUNITIES ENGAGED AND ACTIVE

AMENITY, CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT VALUED

4 KNOWLEDGEABLE DECISIONS AND ACTION PARTNERS.

To achieve its vision, goals and targets, the board invests

in programs focused on achieving short- and long-term

NRM outcomes, and enabled by support programs.

The programs are funded by the NRM levy, partnership

and grant funding from Australian, state and local

governments, and collaborations with organisations,

business and individuals who co-invest funds and in-kind

support, and volunteer their time and energy.

LAND AND BIODIVERSITYThe Land and Biodiversity Program supports sustainable

management of the region’s natural resources through

collective action in cooperation with landholders,

community groups, industry and government.

NRM EDUCATIONNRM Education works with schools to develop a culture

of sustainability that connects their classrooms, and children,

with the natural world.

PLANNING AND EVALUATION The Planning and Evaluation Program provides a sound

foundation for the board’s work while also providing guidance

for all users of natural resources across the region’s diverse

range of land uses.

OUR PARKS AND RESERVESThe board works closely with the Department of Environment,

Water and Natural Resources to improve natural resources

on a landscape scale that includes the region’s national parks,

reserves and other public lands.

COAST AND MARINEThe Coast and Marine Program focuses on protecting

the region’s diverse coastal, estuarine and marine

ecosystems, recognising the productive and diverse

nature of these environments.

WATER MANAGEMENTThe board’s Water Management Program works to protect

water quality, increase the use of treated stormwater and

wastewater and build the management of urban stormwater.

COMMUNITIESThrough the Community Engagement Program the board

works to increase public awareness and participation

in decisions about NRM matters that affect or interest

them, effectively giving the community a voice in NRM

decision making.

AMLR Achievement report 2012-13 | 2

Twiggy Bush-pea (Pultenaea largiflorens). Credit: Peter Watton.

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATIONThe Adelaide and Mount

Lofty Ranges is a very

significant region for biodiversity. The varied landscapes

are home to a diversity of wildlife, with the region being

particularly significant for its plants and birds.

The biodiversity focus has been to protect and improve existing

habitats, reinstate additional habitat in areas where species are

declining, and recover species at immediate risk of extinction.

In 2012–13, 170 hectares of bushland across six private

properties was legally dedicated to conservation through

Heritage Agreements. In addition 6,052 hectares of bushland

was managed to improve its conservation value and

436 hectares of habitat was reconstructed in priority areas.

Work also supported the recovery of 104 plants, 39 animals

and four ecological communities at immediate risk of extinction.

PEST MANAGEMENTWork continued on the coordinated management of pest

impacts across the region through surveillance and control

of weeds along 2,781 kilometres of roadside, the drafting

of 10 new regional pest management plans, and continued

implementation of eradication and containment programs for

new and emerging priority pest species (such as Western

Cape Bridal Creeper, Bridal Veil, Needle Grass, Buffel Grass

and a number of feral animal species).

Land and biodiversity

The Land and Biodiversity Program

supports sustainable management

of the natural resources that

underpin the state’s economic

productivity and social well-being.

The program works closely with

landholders, community groups,

industry and government to take

collective action.

These actions focus on protecting,

improving and reconstructing natural habitats, recovering

threatened species, improving water quality, maintaining and

improving land condition, and supporting sustainable primary

production. Staff deliver technical support, education and

training events, property planning and incentives to members

of the community.

A total of 6,726 landholders participated in sustainable

natural resources management activities through the

program. In addition, 166 new volunteers participated in

board-supported programs to restore bushland and recover

threatened plants.

LAND AND WATERCOURSE MANAGEMENTDuring 2012–13 a number of other programs supported 3,122

landholders with technical information in response to inquiries

on topics such as land, pest, and water and biodiversity

management. An additional 3,110 landholders had one-on-

one property visits to give tailored technical advice; a further

2,634 landholders were approached to become involved in

local projects.

To increase the scale and speed of change, the board offers

a range of incentives to assist landholders through the

creation of property plans. Plans were developed and

implemented with 192 landholders during 2012–13.

New initiatives in 2012–13 included work to guide the

selection and demonstrate the importance of appropriate

pasture selection, an industry partnership to manage

abandoned orchards and the associated pest issues, trialing

of native predatory insects to reduce reliance on chemical

insecticides in horticulture and a recycling pilot with DairySA

and Tapex to recycle on-farm plastics.

In addition, new work was supported across 474 hectares

of land adjacent to watercourses to improve water quality.

COMMUNITY TRAINING AND EDUCATIONStaff delivered 40 targeted training and education events

with 927 landholders. Topics included property planning

and management, soil health, pasture management, cattle

management, water on farms, fencing, controlling pest plants

and animals, and identifying and managing native vegetation.

A further 19 workshops, supported by the board, attracted

160 community members.

SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIESThe 2012–13 sustainable industry grants awarded $331,000

which, in turn attracted an additional $157,000 of overall

value for producers.

The grants supported industries including horticulture,

viticulture, grazing, dairy, cropping and vegetable production.

These grants help agricultural industries develop and

implement systems to improve their ability to sustainably

manage natural resources, as the following examples from

these 2012-13 funded groups show.

The Adelaide Hills Wine Region will use its funding to assist

with the distribution and dissemination of local conservation-

focused assets including fact sheets, reports, maps

and workshops.

Dung Beetles Solutions Australia will work on drought-

proofing cherry orchards through soil renovation using dairy

dung and deep-tunnelling dung beetles to renovate soils

and promote tree vigour.

The Apple and Pear Growers of SA will look to demonstrate

how changing understorey microclimates through netting

increases water infiltration, reduces pest and disease control,

and improves soil condition through temperature, solarisation

and wind speed reduction.

No decline in conservation status

of native species (terrestrial, aquatic,

marine) from current levels

2 year

target

Condition and function

of ecosystems (terrestrial, riparian)

recovered from current levels

2 year

target

Land condition for primary production improved by 15%

2 year

target

Landholders attending a rabbit control field day.

2012-13 key achIeveMents

6,052 HAof remnant bushland (7% of region’s total) managed for conservation

474 HAof land managed for water quality improvement

6,726 LANDHoLDERS participated in sustainable NRM activities

2,781 KM of roadside managed through weed surveillance and control activities

436 HA of habitat reconstructed to stem species declines

170 HA of private land dedicated to conservation through 6 new Heritage Agreements

31% THREATENED SPECIES being recovered: 104 plants, 39 animals as well as 4 ecological communities

3 | AMLR Achievement report 2012-13

Gawler

Myponga

Willunga

Lobethal

EastwoodAdelaide

Victor Harbor

Mount Pleasant

Water quality management

Support sustainable agriculture

Biodiversity protection and rehabilitation

LAND AND BIODIVERSITY PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN WITH LANDHOLDERS

Productive capacity of agriculture maintained

at current levels

2 year

target

Snapshot: Turning plastic waste on farm into a resource

In a first for South Australia, all dairy farms on the Fleurieu Peninsula can now recycle their plastic silage wrap

and twine.

Thanks to DairySA and financial support from

the NRM levy, this new Plasback pilot program supplied bins

to participants to help recycle an estimated annual 40 tonnes

of plastic silage waste.

DairySA, partnered with Tapex, Australia’s largest

manufacturer of twine and other plastic products, and the

board, to take silage wrap and twine waste from dairy and

other farmers who use the plastic-wrapped hay to feed to

their livestock. Currently farmers dispose of this waste by

burying or burning on farm or stockpiling and taking it to

landfill – creating litter, animal hazards, toxicity and expense,

and wasting a potential resource.

Tapex recycles the plastic waste to make commercial products

such as shed wall linings, mobile calf pens and horse stalls.

Take a look at this short video on the board’s YouTube

channel: www.youtube.com/user/amlrnrmboard

BaCk fRoM ThE BRINk

The nationally-threatened Southern Brown Bandicoot (juvenile). Credit: Luke Price.

Historic landscape change has resulted in native species

and ecological community declines. Some are now

considered threatened, and without intervention,

are unlikely to persist.

In response, the board has significantly expanded

threatened species recovery work in the region.

This includes habitat improvement (e.g. fencing and

pest control) and increasing populations (e.g. planting

new populations or translocating animals). This work

supports the recovery of 104 threatened plants,

39 threatened animals and four ecological

communities in partnership with the community.

Species and ecological communities targeted include

nationally threatened animals (Southern Brown

Bandicoot, Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard and Mount Lofty

Ranges Southern Emu-wren); nationally threatened

plants (Mount Compass oak-bush, Marsh Gum, and

a number of spider, sun and greenhood orchids); and

ecological communities (Grey Box and Peppermint Box

Grassy Woodlands, and the Fleurieu swamps).

Extent of functional

ecosystems (coastal, estuarine, terrestrial,

riparian) increased to 30% of the region

(excluding urban areas)

2 year

target

Land based impacts on coastal, estuarine and marine processes

reduced from current levels

2 year

target

5 | AMLR Achievement report 2012-13 AMLR Achievement report 2012-13 | 6

NRM Education achieves its outcomes through collaboration.

In 2012–13, NRM Education engaged 8,625 students in

education for sustainability activities, 3,663 school staff,

1,554 adults and parents, and 49 stakeholder groups.

NRM Education continues to work with schools interested

in developing a culture of sustainability that connects their

classrooms with outside learning and the wider community.

A range of flexible and adaptable sustainability programs

allow the 230 schools registered with the Australian

Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI-SA) to choose their

own unique journey with NRM Education.

Throughout the year, NRM Education worked with 361

schools through a range of student and staff capacity-

building activities and gave technical support for school-based

projects. offering professional development to school staff

is an important part of enabling schools to own and deliver

environmental learning and action. In 2012–13 NRM Education

staff delivered 101 training events attended by 880 staff and

1,087 students.

Trust and familiarity are central to NRM Education’s approach.

Schools value face-to-face contact and in 2012–13, NRM

Education officers made 459 school visits. The officers can

embed sustainability thinking across the whole school

through development of a School Environmental Management

Plan (SEMP).

These living documents capture and coordinate the school’s

environmental and sustainability actions, and help the school

undertake projects, then link the learnings to the classroom

and the Australian curriculum. Currently, 135 education sites

are working with their SEMP, of which 30 were initiated

in 2012-13.

YOUTH VOICEYouth Voice recognises the importance of young people

being engaged in the decision-making process and having

their voices heard. Young people who develop organising and

leadership skills are the environmental stewards for the future.

NRM Education runs 11 Youth Forums across the region with

86 schools coming together in local clusters. At the forums,

496 school students attend meetings where ideas are shared

and school projects planned and reported on.

The Youth Environment Council is a state-wide initiative run

by NRM Education teams from the Adelaide and Mount Lofty

Ranges and SA Murray–Darling Basin regions. Across the state

59 student from 51 schools represent 711 students (including

those from the Youth Forums) at meetings throughout

the year.

NRM education

In early 2013 these students attended a three-day camp

at Woodside to develop skills and elect an executive to

represent the council at various meetings. Also on camp

older students (typically Year 9–10) took part in a mentoring

program to enhance their leadership skills by mentoring

younger members. This sharing of experience led to ideas

and inspiration for the running of future activities with the

wider council. It also helped new council members find their

strengths and develop as a team from a group of individual

school representatives.

LIVING CLASSROOMSWorking with schools and their communities allows NRM

Education staff to pick up on issues that are important to

young people and teachers alike. over the last 5 years the

growth in interest from schools relating to food gardens has

been significant. NRM Education has assisted 109 schools with

food gardens that reconnect young people to where food

comes from. Schools also use them to look at environmental

services such as pollination and seasonal eating as well as food

miles and organic gardening.

NRM Education supports schools to create these and other

outdoor learning areas or living classrooms. During 2012–13

NRM Education helped schools with 82 biodiversity gardens,

42 Aboriginal cultural gardens, 34 butterfly gardens and

29 frog ponds. Such learning sites need more than technical

advice for their development. In 2012–13 the board through

NRM Action Grants provided financial support to 46 school

projects, many of them to create these kinds of gardens.

There is increasing community desire to reconnect

young people to nature, to bring them back from their

disengagement from the natural world because of the time

they spend inside or on screens. NRM Education delivers

an environmental monitoring program that saw 2,689

students undertaking 116 monitoring events at

36 sites. Another response is to develop more

natural playscapes, which NRM Education

supports. Currently, 28 school yards have

natural play areas.


3,663 STAFFin schools engaged by NRM Education

8,625 STUDENTSengaged in sustainability activities through the region

1,554 ADULTSand parents engaged

496 STUDENTSstudents from 86 schools involved in 11 school forums

361 SCHooLSassisted in total

230 SCHooLSRegistered with the AuSSI program

Students take part in a mentoring program to enhance their leadership skills.


NRM school activity sites

Gawler

Myponga

Willunga

Lobethal

EastwoodAdelaide

Victor Harbor

Mount PleasantThe NRM Education team delivers sustainability themes to schools and the wider community in partnership with other agencies.

SCHOOL ACTIVITY SITES

Snapshot: The collective power of collaboration

Holistic sustainability encompasses a broad range of themes such as biodiversity, water, waste, energy, transport and climate change.

These themes are too diverse and specialised for any

one agency to deliver but can be delivered powerfully in

partnerships. NRM Education partners with the Department

of Education and Child Development to facilitate the

Education for Sustainability Forum across the region.

This forum brings together five government departments

with school programs to network and develop a common

framework for their school involvement.

Alongside the forum sits the Education for Sustainability

Network with a broader membership open to stakeholders

working with schools and the wider community. Run by

NRM Education, this network meets four times a year with

an average attendance of 40 people. These professional

development days foster a common understanding of how

best to work with schools and develop partnerships.

NRM education programs in the Adelaide and Mount

Lofty Ranges and SA Murray–Darling Basin jointly run the

Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources’

network for staff across the state who have a role in

supporting schools. Regular meetings explore how staff can

best support the department’s vital work of building the next

generation of environmental leaders and supporters.

YouTh MEET MINISTER

Five members of the Youth Environment Council

executive met this year with Environment Minister,

Ian Hunter. At this annual meeting council members

can report on environmental issues of concern to the

young people they represent across the state, and on

sustainability projects and associated learnings at their

schools. The Minister asked the executive what he could

do to help, and the meeting decided the Minister would

ask his office to write to all members of parliament to let

them know about the great work the council is doing.

The council, which began in 1997, provides valuable

training and experience to hundreds of young people,

and many past members now work in environmental

areas. one NRM Education staff member, an

ex-president of the council, now helps mentor the

next generation!


In the Barossa a project was completed to update surface

water mapping, supplying valuable information towards

environmental and hydrological studies required for the water

allocation plan. It identified aquatic environmental assets and

gathered data on the number of dams in the region.

A concept statement for the new water allocation plan for

the Adelaide Plains (including the Northern Adelaide Plains

and central Adelaide) was developed and consulted on.

And in the western Mount Lofty Ranges, a more flexible

approach to water metering was developed with industry

groups and users after community feedback about the

original proposal.

In McLaren Vale, the board joined with the Wine Industry

Association and National Centre for Groundwater Research

and Training to establish a pilot irrigation water monitoring

project and information system to help vignerons monitor

their water use.

MONITORING AND EVALUATIONThe board has statutory responsibilities under the NRM

Act to monitor and report on changes in resource condition

to its partners and the community.

Monitoring also allows the board to measure its progress

towards the targets set out in the Regional NRM Plan.

In effect, monitoring and evaluation enable the board

to evaluate its programs and projects to ensure levy funds

collected from the community are being invested wisely

in works that produce measurable benefits.

Community access to this information was improved during

2012–13. The board’s monitoring webpage was redeveloped,

with improved reporting for the key programs of water

monitoring, community weather stations, trashracks, and

stormwater harvesting and ecosystem condition. In addition,

a new page was added for the marine debris program.

The board received a commendation from the Stormwater

Industry Association for its web-based stormwater reporting

tool and a high commendation from the Water Industry

Alliance for its water information management system.

Ten new groundwater monitoring sites were installed bringing

the total to 33. The sites report groundwater levels and salinity

via telemetry to the board’s website allowing easy access by

industry groups, councils and the community. Groundwater

monitoring and reporting is undertaken in partnership with

the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

and the Environment Protection Authority.

other monitoring programs supported by the board include

woodland birds, fish, coastal revegetation, estuarine condition

monitoring programs (Bungala, Hindmarsh and Inman

estuaries), community participation and behaviour change,

and mangrove and samphire monitoring in the north.

Consulting on the Regional NRM Plan.

The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges region is home to

a diverse range of land uses, land management practices

and attitudes towards natural resources.

Planning for and evaluating actions to improve the region’s

natural resources are among the board’s key statutory

responsibilities. To this end the board has developed the

Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Natural Resources

Management Plan, the principal document that guides the

board’s efforts and ensures consistency with the state’s

Natural Resources Management Act.

THE REGIONAL NRM PLANA new Regional NRM Plan is expected to come into effect

in July 2014 following two years of community consultation.

The new plan identifies key drivers that influence the region

and divides it into seven subregions with specific, action

priorities identified for each.

Significantly, the plan takes a systems-based approach

underpinned by resilience thinking that sets out to understand

where the limits (or thresholds) are in the region’s social–

ecological systems. It recognises that a system can withstand

change and still recover but once it crosses a threshold there

may be significant or irreversible damage.

WATER ALLOCATION PLANSWater is a finite resource and water allocation plans are

developed to ensure the region’s water resources are allocated

fairly with consideration for economic, social, cultural and

environmental water requirements.

Water allocation planning is an ongoing process and during

2012–13 the four water allocation plans in our region

continued to be implemented and reviewed.

Planning and evaluation

all water resources used within

sustainable yield (allowing for variability)

2 year

target


Industry recognItIon for web-based water monitoring tools

MonItorIng of estuarine condition established for Bungala, Hindmarsh and Inman estuaries

10 NEWREGIoNAL groundwater monitoring sites installed

MaPPIngoF SURFACE WATER completed as part of investigations for water allocation plans

2 yearsengaging with community, industry and government incorporated into a draft regional plan


Surface water monitoring sites

Groundwater monitoring sites

Gawler

Myponga

Willunga

Lobethal

EastwoodAdelaide

Victor Harbor

Mount Pleasant

GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER MONITORING

all surface water and groundwater

resources meet water quality guidelines to protect defined

environmental values

2 year

target

Snapshot: Shared vision takes shape

Our livelihoods, lifestyles and landscapes into the future are protected by the long-term, shared vision contained in the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Natural Resources Management Plan.

Many organisations and individuals invest for the long term in

our region’s natural resources. The board works collaboratively

to get the most out of these investments and the levy by

making sure we all work towards the same goals. A key

purpose of the plan is to identify priorities and provide a focus

for these public and private investments.

The period 2012–13 was one of consolidating two years

of community input into the draft plan – building on local

knowledge and combining it with technical and scientific

input from many experts. At the six public information

sessions across the region during the consultation period,

the community shared their knowledge. There were also

numerous briefings for local government and other agencies.

Consultation also allowed the board to introduce some

of the exciting and different aspects of the new draft plan

to the community. The new plan takes an innovative

approach and differs from the previous regional plan in

some important ways.

The draft Regional NRM Plan:

• is systems based – the plan is underpinned by resilience

thinking which includes the social and economic influences

on managing natural resources in the region

• takes a subregional approach – priorities for action are

localised making the plan more relevant and accessible

for local communities

• provides greater transparency – decisions about resourcing

specific actions have been made using a defined and

repeatable prioritisation process that will be shared with

the community.

The board begins formal consultation on the draft plan

from 1 July 2013. During this consultation period the

community can assess whether the draft plan does indeed

reflect their input.

BIoDIvERSITY MoNIToRING

Crested Shrike Tit. Credit: Martin Stokes.

The woodland birds and fish monitoring programs are

part of long-term biodiversity monitoring programs.

At 60 sites (30 per year on rotation) bushland condition

monitoring assesses the progress of coastal revegetation

projects. options to monitor vegetation extent are

being investigated, including the use of high resolution

satellite imagery, remote sensing methodologies and

aerial photography.


REVEGETATING PARKS AND RESERVESRevegetation across 2,000 hectares of public lands continued

through the Million Trees Program, run by the Urban

Biodiversity Unit. During 2012–13, 200,000 local native plants

were established across 22 sites through 13 partnership

projects and 10 school bush garden sites.

Restoration work in 10 planting days across grassland

areas attracted more than 2,000 people over 2012–13.

These grasslands were part of the autumn prescribed burns

program; fire crew undertook a lot of the planting work.

Restoring the endangered ecological community of

Grey Box Grassy Woodlands is another strong focus of the

Urban Biodiversity Unit with works begun over 220 hectares.

An innovative angle is to encourage locals to grow these

plants in their own backyards. This year a Caring for our

Country grant helped make Grey Box Day the biggest yet.

Almost 12,000 plants were sold to over 250 households

and schools.

At Craigburn Farm the largest restoration program ever was

completed across its 180 hectares during 2012–13. Its strategic

location connects and buffers Sturt Gorge Recreation Park,

which contains some of the largest intact remnant woodland

in the region. More than 20,000 plants were planted with

another 10,000 revegetating the seed orchard for harvesting

on future projects, thanks to 100 volunteers, 75 school

children from Eden Hills and Belair primary schools, and staff,

with the assistance from a Caring for our Country grant and

the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

NEW DOLPHIN DEFENDERSA new volunteer action group was formed in october 2012

to focus on the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, 118 square

kilometres of ocean located along the eastern shore of

Gulf St Vincent. The group has grown to include over 80

registered volunteers delivering over 1000 volunteer hours

in just 8 months.

This action group helps staff to protect the dolphins by

providing information and education to the community and

promoting the environmental importance of the sanctuary.

The first Dolphin Day, held at Port Adelaide in January

2013, attracted more than 700 people. This event was

a collaboration between the board, SA Museum,

Marine Parks, other local and state government agencies

and private industry.

our parks and reserves form an important part of the region’s

social and ecological systems, contributing to human well-

being and natural resource outcomes in areas such as soil

and water quality, and conservation of biodiversity.

National parks and reserves, managed by the Department of

Environment, Water and Natural Resources, make up 33,184

hectares of the more than 1 million hectares in this region –

21,384 hectares of land reserves, with some parks overlapping

the region’s boundaries, and 11,800 hectares in the Adelaide

Dolphin Sanctuary.

These world-class parks and reserves provide a wide range

of facilities and services for all South Australians to enjoy

including recreational health, educational, or simply getting

away from it all and reconnecting with nature. During 2012–

13, it is estimated that visitors to these public lands exceeded

4 million.

Parks and reserves conserve an incredible diversity of living

landscapes and are sanctuaries for native wildlife with many

conserving threatened plant and animal species on land and

in our oceans.

The board works closely with the department to improve

natural resources on a landscape scale, extending across

the boundaries of private and public land.

FIRE MANAGEMENTFire management for biodiversity and asset protection

on public land throughout the year includes planning,

prescribed burning, maintenance of fire access tracks and fire

infrastructure, weed management and bushfire response.

The region employs 14 full-time staff plus 50 seasonal fire

crew to enhance capacity during prescribed burns and

bushfire seasons.

There is a total of 150 registered fire crew across the

department who operate as a brigade of the Country Fire

Service. They conduct bushfire response through trained

fire fighters working on the ground and in bushfire incident

management teams, at a state wide level. These crews

attended to 15 fires in 2012–13 including Cherryville,

Myponga Reservoir, South Para, Delamere, Rockleigh

and Stipiturus Conservation Park and the Coomunga fires

on Eyre Peninsula.

Another fire management tool is prescribed burning to reduce

fire fuel hazards, manage native vegetation and protect

biodiversity in strategic areas of our parks and reserves.

For the 2012–13 season, 42 burns were conducted across

834 hectares of public lands.

our parks and reserves

200,000local native plants established with Million Trees Program across 22 sites

30,000 Grey Box Grassy Woodland plants revegetating Craigburn Farm thanks to 100 volunteers and 75 school children

MANAGEMENT

tracks in Cleland Conservation Park and Belair National Park opened to cyclists

ALMoST

12,000 Grey Box Grassy Woodland plants sold to over 250 local households and schools

FIrst DoLPHIN DAY attracted over 700 people

2,000 PEoPLE helped with restoration work across grassland areas on 10 planting days

NUMBERS oF NATIoNALLY

endangered Mount Compass oak-bush more than doubled in just 2 years


Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary

Gawler

Myponga

Willunga

Lobethal

EastwoodAdelaide

Victor Harbor

Mount Pleasant

Parks and reserves

OUR PARKS AND RESERVES

Snapshot: Learning from our burning

Prescribed burning to reduce fuel hazards in our parks and reserves is a major part of operations and an important civic responsibility.

It helps control bushfires and prevents their spread into

populated areas.

Fire has had a major role in shaping Australia’s environment.

Now, extensive development of modern landscapes,

introduced species and fragmentation of natural areas, make it

difficult to replicate fire’s historic role. We can’t mimic historic

fire regimes but we can learn from prescribed burns and

bushfires in modified landscapes with strategic monitoring.

our understanding of habitat use by the nationally

endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot after fire is improving

following 6 years of monitoring at Scott Creek Conservation

Park, and a wealth of information on the response of native

plants and animals in Deep Creek Conservation Park after

the 2012 prescribed burn. Some real surprises included the

widespread appearance of native plants not previously seen

in the park, and one undescribed plant not recorded before

in the region.

The new information helps us understand fire in our modified

landscapes, so we can better manage bushfire risk while

improving the conservation values of our parks and reserves.

Snapshot: Rangers lead recovery

Rangers led the recovery of two nationally threatened animals (Mount Lofty Ranges Southern Emu-wren and Southern Brown Bandicoot) and 16 nationally threatened plants in the region.

Southern Emu-wren. Credit: Marcus Pickett.

The Mount Lofty Ranges retains a large number of threatened

native species, which can continue to persist only with active

recovery work.

Significant resources were secured through the Australian

Government’s Caring for our Country initiative to improve

threatened species habitats in our region’s parks and

adjacent areas.

There was great community participation with 11 Friends

of Parks groups, 450 local landholders, 390 volunteers and

departmental experts. This group worked hard on habitat

management activities such as weed control, across more

than 4,000 hectares in 18 parks and 4 private properties.

ENDaNGERED SPECIES DouBLED IN Two YEaRS!

Mount Compass oak-bush, with only 1,300 individuals

remaining, is a nationally endangered species found only

on the Fleurieu Peninsula. A new recovery program has

seen 1,400 seedlings planted, more than doubling the

population in just two years. Stipiturus Conservation

Park near Mount Compass is the only reserve containing

a remnant population so 100 community members

joined a ‘Swamp Fest’ planting day there thanks to

Caring for our Country funding.


The region’s coast, stretching from Middleton Beach on the

Fleurieu, to Mallala, north of Adelaide, contains significant

areas of remnant vegetation, including coastal cliff and dune

heath and woodland on the Fleurieu, and extensive stretches

of mangrove samphire and tidal flats in the north. Important

remnant coastal habitats remain along the metropolitan

coast at sites including Tennyson, Minda dunes, onkaparinga

estuary, Stanvac cliffs, the Port River and Barker Inlet. The

region’s marine waters with extensive seagrass meadows,

sandy bottoms and outcrops of rocky reefs support a unique

range of temperate marine life.

A key focus during 2012–13 has been the northern

Samphire Coast where salt marshes, tidal mudflats and salt

fields provide significant shorebird habitat of national and

international importance. Along with mangrove forests and

seagrass meadows they comprise the largest remnant habitats

in the region. This often overlooked coast is host to a range

of coastal wildlife and plants. To the south, Fleurieu Peninsula

boasts significant remnant coastal habitats, and high coastal

and visual amenity.

Across the region coastal on-ground works included 21,643

tubestock planted for revegetation, 800 hectares of weeds

controlled and 1.4 kilometres fenced to protect coastal sites.

Consultation is a strong focus. Regional workshops with more

than 40 coastal land managers and stakeholders, reviewed

implementation of the region’s two Coastal Action Plans.

In addition, a March 2013 seagrass rehabilitation workshop

with partner agencies and researchers, was supported.

Estuary and nearshore works included a review and risk

assessments of nearshore marine habitats to help local

managers better understand stormwater and land-based

threats to offshore environments. Continuing monitoring

of the onkaparinga estuary indicates that environmental

flows released into the river had a very positive effect

on the estuary, returning it to a more river-dominated,

rather than tidal, estuary.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTThis coast and marine work, funded from the NRM levy,

could not succeed without other involvement and support.

The focus is on working with local councils, community and

other partners to manage and conserve coast, estuarine

and marine environments.

Regional staff with the support of three coast, estuary and

marine officers hosted by local councils, continue to support

over 40 community groups and deliver on-ground works at

65 coastal sites.

The Coastal Ambassadors program trains community

members in coast and marine ecology and helps them develop

skills to be advocates for local coastal environments. Previous

Coastal Ambassadors graduates have gone on to volunteer

with a range of local groups including the Adelaide Dolphin

Sanctuary Action Group.

Coastal gardens demonstration sites were established at nine

surf life saving clubs in partnership with the Nursery and

Garden Industry of SA and support of Surf Life Saving SA.

These gardens, along with community workshops, help to

increase public awareness of local coastal plants.

CITIzEN SCIENCEStaff continue to support citizen science approaches and

coordinate or help the community with monitoring programs

for Hooded Plovers, shorebirds, Little Penguins, marine

invertebrates, reef fish and marine water quality. Support

continues for the Conservation Council of SA’s Reef Watch

and Feral or In Peril community dive monitoring projects.

The Feral or In Peril project won a United Nations World

Environment Day award for Excellence in Coastal and

Marine Management.

Coast and marine

CLEANING OUR OCEANSMarine debris (or rubbish) is a growing global problem that

impacts seas, coasts, marine wildlife and people. over 6,187

metres of monofilament fishing line and 1.38kg of sinkers was

successfully prevented from entering the marine environment

and processed for recycling in the NRM levy-funded T’angler

Bin Fishing Line Project. This project, run with the City of

onkaparinga, was launched in March 2013 by Minister Hunter

and onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg.

In 2012 the Gulf St Vincent Marine Debris Project collected

data on a tonne of litter found at 39 beaches along the

Adelaide, Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island coastlines.

The aim is to pinpoint the source of hazardous debris and

find ways to prevent it.

other activities included a forum to share knowledge on

activities across the state, nationally and internationally.

More than 40 key people, including researchers, natural

resources staff, other government agencies and councils,

discussed data, surveys, waste management strategies,

knowledge gaps and common issues. The forum was

initiated by the board with funding support by the Australian

Government’s Caring for our Country. The NRM regions

of Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island,

and Northern and Yorke have worked with the SA Museum

and Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society to investigative

plastics pollution and debris in Gulf St Vincent to determine

their sources, investigate the potential impacts and seek

solutions.


Coastal on-ground works resulted in:

21,463tubestock planted for revegetation PLuS

800 HA of weeds controlled aND

1.4 KM fenced to protect coastal sites

6,187 METRES of fishing line and 1.38kg of sinkers prevented from entering marine environment in T’angler Bin recycling project

40+ KEY STAKEHoLDERS reviewed Coastal Action Plans

9 SURF LIFE SAVING CLUBcoastal gardens demo sites established

Data collected from 1 tonne oF LItter across 39 beaches along Adelaide, YP and KI coastlines pinpoints sources of marine debris and ways to prevent it

MonItorIng of onkaparinga Estuary indicates environmental flows trial had positive effect returning it to a more river-dominated rather than tidal estuary

halt in the decline of seagrass,

reef and other coast, estuarine and marine

habitats and a trend towards

restoration

2 year

target


Undergoing training in coast and marine ecology for the Coastal Ambassadors program.

Gawler

Myponga

Willunga

Lobethal

EastwoodAdelaide

Victor Harbor

Mount Pleasant

Coastal gardens demonstration sites at surf life saving clubs

Marine debris project sites in the region

Coastal on-ground work sites

all coast, estuarine and marine water

resources meet water quality guidelines to protect defined

environmental values

2 year

target

COAST AND MARINE

Snapshot: valuing the samphire coast

The mangrove, mudflat and saltmarsh coastline north of Adelaide is a significant but highly threatened and undervalued remnant coastal corridor.

The board obtained funds from the Australian Government’s

Clean Energy Future Biodiversity Fund initiative to revegetate,

protect and enhance existing native vegetation, and manage

threats to biodiversity along this samphire coast. Globally,

temperate coastal saltmarsh is a significant carbon sink,

with some of the highest estimated long-term carbon storage

rates, in comparison to land and marine habitats. With project

partner, Birdlife Australia, the board aims to raise public

knowledge, and valuing of, saltmarsh and migratory

shorebird habitat.

The project also seeks to assess opportunities for coastal

habitat retreat in light of rising sea levels and scope options

for removing existing barriers. ongoing monitoring

with Birdlife Australia provides vital information for the

management of migratory shorebirds in this area.

In combination with coastal action planning and

threatened saltmarsh mapping, this information has

been invaluable in informing conservation planning

related to the future of the Ridley Dry Creek salt fields.

Thompson Beach Red Knot birds in flight. Credit: BirdLife Australia.

awaRD-fILLED YEaR

• The board’s Coastal gardens planting guide won

the Environmental Award at the Nursery and

Garden Industry of SA Awards of Excellence

• Hooded Plover volunteers, supported by Natural

Resources staff, won the community group category

of the City of onkaparinga’s Environment Award

• The Gulf St Vincent Prawn By-catch Reduction

System project, supported by the board, won the

2013 Seafood for the Future Environmental Award in

collaboration with oceanWatch Australia SeaNet SA,

SARDI, PIRSA, GSV Prawn Fishermen’s Association

and Lankhorst Euronet

• Coast and Marine Program Manager, Tony Flaherty

was a finalist in the 2012 Conservation Council

of SA’s Unsung Hero Award

• The board-supported Conservation Council of

SA’s Feral or In Peril won a United Nations World

Environment Day award for Excellence in Coastal

and Marine Management


Water is vital to the healthy function of all life. The relatively

high rainfall and numerous watercourses of the Mount Lofty

Ranges support the economic and social well-being of

a community of 1.2 million people and an economy

worth billions of dollars.

This region produces large volumes of stormwater and

wastewater from a large population in an urban environment.

Increasingly, stormwater and wastewater are regarded as

important sources for supplementing rural and urban supply.

STORMWATER RECYCLINGof the many stormwater recycling schemes the board has

an interest in four major schemes progressed significantly

during 2012–13.

Wetland construction at oaklands Park was close to

completion in June 2013, as were paths, bridges and weirs.

With cost savings and additional investment the project

was expanded, delivering extra value in using harvested

stormwater for irrigation and in the quality of the wetland site.

Civil works at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens scheme was

completed and efforts turned to planting and landscaping

during late 2012–13.

Waterproofing the West continued with major landscape-

transforming works along old Port Road and surrounds.

STORMWATER AND FLOOD MANAGEMENTDuring 2012–13 the board assisted local government with

14 stormwater management plans – in proposal development

and tender assessment, review of plans, flood investigations

maps and reports, and negotiating funding agreements for

future years. Twenty stormwater management plans are

at various stages across the region.

STORMWATER qUALITY The board operates 25 gross pollutant traps and a number

of sedimentation basins to improve the quality of stormwater.

During 2012–13 more than 4,200 tonnes of litter and

sediment was removed from watercourses with the aid of

board-owned and co-owned traps and basins. Technical and

financial assistance was given to five local councils to construct

and/or maintain gross pollutant traps.

Large-scale improvements began on the Watson Avenue,

Netley sedimentation basin to improve access and ease

of maintenance.

The board also provided technical and financial support to

investigate options to desilt the Patawalonga Lake. This helped

produce a proposal which the Department of Environment,

Water and Natural Resources used to secure state funds for

desilting in 2013–14.

WATER SENSITIVE URBAN DESIGNWater sensitive urban design (WSUD) integrates the

management of the total water cycle. Innovative examples

are footpaths and roads that allow rainfall to soak into the

ground, wetlands and raingardens that treat stormwater,

and grassed swales instead of concrete drains.

During 2012–13 the board made an in-principle funding

commitment for a local WSUD capacity-building program and

submitted an application for Australian Government funding.

Valuable investment in on-ground projects also continued.

The City of Unley’s Wattle Street project was completed

in September 2012 after 2 years of board involvement and

investment. For the Adelaide City Council’s Peacock Road

project, completed in November 2012, the board funded

the installation of water quality improving biofiltration beds.

The board also extended its involvement with the University

of Adelaide on WSUD related investigations at Waite Campus.

Water management

URBAN WATERCOURSES A native fish species thought to be locally extinct was

rediscovered in the first year of the 3-year Western Mount

Lofty Ranges environmental flows trial. This and other

encouraging preliminary results indicate significant benefits

for native fish migration, macroinvertebrate sustainability,

and water quality and faunal improvements in the

onkaparinga River estuary.

A second River Torrens water quality improvement trial

gathered additional data and tested dilution as a method

of controlling algal growth in the river and Torrens Lake.

The Goyder Institute for Water Research is analysing the

data for an independent assessment.

Fish passage along Breakout Creek was enhanced with fish

ramps installed at two weirs. At Torrens outlet fishway a

new maintenance access platform was largely completed,

increasing the time available for fish passage. The board also

supported the removal of a fish barrier in South Para River.

Surface water quality continues to be maintained through

the Mount Lofty Ranges Septic Tanks Rehabilitation Program,

supported by the board, Adelaide Hills Council, SA Water,

Environment Protection Authority and SA Health. It detects

failing septic tanks, and helps owners install new aerobic

systems better suited to the heavy clay soils of the

Adelaide Hills.

During 2012–13, over 100 septic tanks were replaced.

The board provides $80,000 per year towards an

Environmental Health officer in the council to carry out

inspections, interview owners and assist with rebates.

200 ML / YEARtreated stormwater to be reused from oaklands wetland

Pouched LaMPrey rediscovered in onkaparinga River after more than 100 years as part of Western Mt Lofty Ranges environmental flows trial

Assisted in 14

ManageMent PLans being developed for stormwater to assist local government

2 FISH RAMPS built at Breakout Creek and a fish barrier removed on South Para River, enhancing fish sustainability by improving passage


4,225 ToNNES of litter and sediment removed from urban watercourses

2 WATER SENSITIVE urban design projects completed at Wattle St, Unley and Peacock Rd, Adelaide

75% of stormwater used and 100%

of waste water reused

2 year

target

aP

Pr

oX


Water sensitive urban design on Wattle Street, Unley.

Gawler

Myponga

Willunga

Lobethal

EastwoodAdelaide

Victor Harbor

Mount Pleasant

Board owned or co-owned GPTs

River Torrens water quality improvement trial monitoring sites

Environmental flows trial reaches

average annual cost of flood damage

reduced

2 year

target

• a ‘normal’ winter–spring salinity gradient re-established

in onkaparinga estuary, replacing pockets of

hyper-saline water

• ammonium concentrations dispersed from the onkaparinga

estuary, aiding the high survival rate of juvenile fish.

The trial has so far been successful in its design to provide

environmental benefit while not impacting on SA Water’s

ability to securely supply water to greater Adelaide.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND WATER TRIALS

Snapshot: flows bring rare life back to adelaide’s parched rivers

Early results from an environmental flows trial in rivers in the western Mount Lofty Ranges exceeded expectations with news that a fish species, long thought to have died out, had returned to Onkaparinga River.

The Pouched Lamprey, which has not been seen for more

than 100 years in the river, was found during monitoring

to test the effectiveness of the environmental flows trial,

which began in 2012.

The 3-year trial, in the South Para, Torrens and onkaparinga,

the three major rivers flowing from the hills across the

Adelaide region to the sea, sets out to mimic some of the

natural flows that existed before settlement, with the aim

of creating healthier streams and cueing life stages in fish.

other promising and exciting results include:

• large numbers of Congolli and Common Galaxias,

responding to flows, observed migrating inland

• native fish species reappearing in good numbers

• streambeds transformed into aquatic habitat (riffles and

pools) where once they experienced extended dry periods

• sequential generations of flow-dependent

macroinvertebrates observed

• phytoplankton reappearing in the onkaparinga River

estuary, the first time since surveys began 2.5 years ago

• highly productive diatom communities now present in

the upper part of onkaparinga estuary during spring

• samphires reappearing along previously bare areas in

the middle part of onkaparinga estuary

wETLaND DELIvERS NEw waTER

A new wetland will distribute up to 170 ML/annum

of recovered water for irrigation of over 30 council

reserves through an extensive new distribution network.

The wetland and surrounding land form part of a

stormwater recycling project delivering a high-value

reserve for the City of Marion at oaklands Park.

The project stores water treated by the wetland in

an underlying aquifer. Construction will be completed

later in 2013 with the full stormwater recycling scheme

expected to be fully operational in 2015.

The Pouched Lamprey, not seen for over 100 years in the Onkaparinga River, found during monitoring of the environmental flows trial. Credit: Dr D McNeil and Dr M Hammer.


Communities

People have the right to be made aware of and participate in

decisions about matters that affect or interest them. But this

is not the only reason effective community engagement is

critical to managing our environment, water and other natural

resources. It is only with community support and participation

in NRM activities that enough of the right things get done.

The board endeavours to strengthen its relationships with

communities and supports the outstanding efforts of the

many groups, organisations and individuals working towards

sustainable NRM, through raising awareness, building capacity

for NRM and undertaking on-ground action.

SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTEERSVolunteer support continued to be a significant focus for

the board in 2012–13. Board-funded volunteer programs

collectively supported 157 volunteer groups comprising 8,582

individual volunteers who contributed 178,250 hours of their

time. At a notional value of $30 per hour of volunteer time,

this equates to a staggering $5,347,500 worth of effort.

The regional team of volunteer support officers provided

direct technical, project management and financial support

to 96 individual environmental projects across the landscape.

A further 46 school and 34 community projects were

supported through the board’s NRM Action Grants.

In 2012–13, grants totalled $199,500, and they leveraged

more than $454,000 of cash and in-kind investment in

natural resource projects.

COMMUNITY NATURAL RESOURCE CENTRESThe board continued to support and expand the network

of community-run Natural Resource Centres. The six centres

are located at Gawler, Mount Pleasant, Norton Summit,

Willunga, Normanville and Victor Harbor (opened in December

2012). Each makes available natural resources management

information, education and skills development relevant to their

particular community and landscape.

In 2012–13, the board provided a little over $320,000 in

support to the centres, which were thus able to collectively

achieve 13,633 hours of volunteer time and deliver

154 capacity building events such as seminars, workshops,

and field days involving 4,644 participants.

Improve the capacity of people in the community,

institutions and regional organisations to

sustainably manage our natural resources by 20%

2 year

target

COMMUNITY AT THE CENTREThe board is committed to engaging the community more

in the business of NRM, removing layers of bureaucracy,

and allowing local communities a voice in NRM decisions

that affect them.

The board’s current governance structure includes significant

community involvement through committees such as six water

allocation planning advisory committees, three subregional

NRM groups, four local NRM advisory committees, and

a coast and marine advisory committee. This structure is

being reviewed to ensure the community is at the centre of

NRM decision making – with meaningful relationships being

nurtured, healthy debate encouraged, decision making shared,

and accountability for decisions taken.

The board began collaborating with stakeholders on the

review of the Regional NRM Plan in May 2010. Since then it

has conducted 44 community meetings and workshops with

stakeholders, four public open house events, and numerous

briefings with targeted stakeholder groups. As part of this

consultation phase, 40 formal submissions and a number of

ad hoc ideas from informal discussions with stakeholders were

received and incorporated into the Draft Regional NRM Plan.

Consultation on this draft plan runs until 2 September 2013.

RAISING AWARENESS, BUILDING SKILLSThe board plays a central role in increasing community

awareness and understanding of the importance of integrated

and sustainable NRM, undertaking or supporting educational

initiatives, and providing mechanisms to increase the capacity

of people to improve their management of natural resources.

The long-term success of these programs depends on the

degree to which people can make informed decisions for

sustainable NRM and the ongoing economic viability of natural

resources. The board continued to work with individuals,

groups and organisations to raise awareness and build skills,

knowledge, confidence and motivation in the community.

The board website had close to 20,000 unique visitors over

2012–13, generating more than 140,000 page views, 50.1

per cent being return visitations. In addition to the significant

library of online publications for assisting land managers,

the board has now produced 40 online videos to promote

improved NRM practices.

Collectively these instructional videos have been viewed

over 7,000 times, indicating that land managers are

increasingly prepared to seek skills and knowledge in the

online environment.

Across all board programs in 2012–13 a total of 7,382

individuals participated in events such as seminars, field days

and workshops delivered to increase community capacity for

NRM. Topics included specific pest animal and plant control

techniques, pasture renovation, managing stock in times of

drought, growing native plant species, revegetation for habitat

provision, and creating native coastal gardens.

$5,347,500of in-kind effort from supporting community volunteer groups and individuals through the region

19,876unique visitors to the website

7,051online video views

7,382community members participated in capacity building events and programs

157 volunteer groups with 8,582 volunteers supported

4,644 PARTICIPANTS attended events run by 6 community-managed NRCs



Community-run Natural Resources Centres

Community volunteer projects

Gawler

Myponga

Willunga

Lobethal

EastwoodAdelaide

Victor Harbor

Mount Pleasant

Normanville

Norton Summit

COMMUNITY NATURAL RESOURCE CENTRES AND VOLUNTEER PROJECTS

Snapshot: vale Park our Patch group

In 2000, the Vale Park Our Patch group began revegetating project sites along the River Torrens at Vale Park and Gilberton to improve environmental education and establish community friendly wildlife havens along the Torrens Linear Trail.

The group works with schools and the local community so

they can engage with nature. So far the group has facilitated

the planting of around 29,000 local native plants of at least

200 different species (60 of conservation significance),

propagating at least 20,000 themselves.

The group is well connected with other volunteer projects

and often sought out for advice. They have re-introduced

native orchids to three sites on the Adelaide Plains, created

a wildflower/orchid walk, and run an annual community open

day, which in 2012 had 300 attendees and received significant

coverage in The Adelaide Advertiser.

Snapshot: a group with GRRRunt

The small Gawler River Riparian Restoration (GRRR) group of passionate locals has enlisted the help of the broader community and government in bringing a degraded but much loved river back to health.

The Gawler River Restoration Project on Gawler River

between the pony club and Gawler Bypass attracts

landholders and community members to volunteer their

time and resourcefulness.

The board, and local, state and Australian governments have

all contributed funding and technical support.

Hundreds of exotic trees and woody weeds, old machinery,

and dozens of tyres were removed from the river during

the early phase of the project. Local native plants grown

by community volunteers were then used to stabilise the

watercourse and provide habitat.

With the support of an NRM Action Grant from the board,

the group recently produced a short video which captures

their experiences, and can guide watercourse restoration and

local environmental action for any community. GRRR made

around 130 DVD copies available to councils, schools, landcare

groups, community Natural Resource Centres and libraries.

fRIENDS woRk GaINS SuPPoRT

The Friends of Protea Park and Michael Moran Reserve

are a group of local residents who work toward

ecological restoration and fire-risk reduction in two

reserves located in Crafers.

The group work closely with the Adelaide Hills Council

and the board to successfully remove pest plant species

from remnant bushland, revegetate nearby areas,

and reintroduce plant species lost from the reserves.

In 2012–13 the group ran two community planting

days hoping to attract nearby residents. Despite poor

weather, an overwhelming number turned out and

planted more than 1,200 seedlings. With new-found

support from fellow community members, the group are

feeling positive about the future of their reserves and

hoping to see some new faces in the coming months

at their regular working bees.


OUR PEOPLEIn 2010, the South Australian Government embarked on

a program to integrate and improve the functioning of the

NRM system in the state. This change has bought together

environment and natural resources management at a state

level, and integrated their delivery through a partnership

arrangement between the Department of Environment,

Water and Natural Resources and the state’s eight regional

NRM boards.

In early 2012 the South Australian Government made the

decision to transfer the employment of board staff from the

Natural Resources Management Act 2004 (the NRM Act)

to the Public Sector Act 2009, and bring these staff into the

department. As of 1 July 2012, DEWNR assumed responsibility

for management of the people delivering support services

to the board to ensure it is able to meet its statutory

requirements under the NRM Act and for the delivery of

the board’s business plan. The board and DEWNR now have

an agreement in place which details the services, projects

and funds to deliver the board’s annual work plan.

Under direction from the board, DEWNR regional staff

connect and work with the community, government agencies

and industries to progress sustainable natural resources

management and achieve a balance between the needs

of people and the environment. This requires a genuine

understanding of our stakeholders and the region’s natural

resources. Regional staff take pride in their close connection

to local communities, and the many scientists, engineers,

project managers, community officers and educators in the

regional staff make up a well-rounded pool of resources

and associated networks to support the board’s work and

the community.

Regional staff are given the appropriate tools and knowledge

to keep abreast of technology and best-practice techniques.

Ensuring safety in the workplace and providing staff with the

right environment and development opportunities remain

high priorities.

Running the business

The regional NRM levy is the principal source of income for the

board’s investment in natural resources management. This levy

is calculated on the capital value of rateable land in the region,

and collected from ratepayers through the local government

rates system. In 2012–13 the average annual levy was $38

per property, raising $23.3 million. Additional income was

received in the form of partnership and grant funding from

the Australian, state and local government, and from

NRM water levies. In 2012–13 the board’s total income

was $29.2 million.

Total expenditure for 2012–13 was $29.4 million1, including

$11.6 million in grant monies provided by the board to

landholders, community groups, individuals, non-government

organisations, and various state and local government

agencies for projects and programs aimed at delivering the

Regional NRM Plan. The table below shows the investments

made across all board programs for 2012–13.

The investment of board resources also attracts additional

funding and in-kind support from government, industry, and

the many community organisations and individuals who invest

their time and resources into NRM projects. By investing with

our partners, the board leveraged an additional $47.3 million

(revenue, cash and in-kind) which was directed towards

delivering the Regional NRM Plan – including approximately

$5.4 million of volunteer time, $2.7 million of private

landholder contributions, and $39.2 million invested by other

organisations in joint projects delivered by the board and our

partners.

1 Note: the 2012-13 result implies a deficit of $0.2 million. This figure is due to the completion of projects carried forward from 2011-12 year. The income related to those projects was recognised in 2011-12 with the expenditure occurring, and being recorded, in the 2012-13 year.

Asset Activities Expenditure $’000

Total $’000

Land Sustainable agriculture and training 1,294 11,785

Strategic pest animal and plant control 801

Land management 7,504

Strategic biodiversity Initiatives 2,186

Coast and marine Coast and estuary action plans 951 4,217

Marine and coast planning and management 477

Community and industry involvement 431

Adelaide’s Living Beaches 2,358

Water Stormwater and wastewater reuse 2,542 6,002

Stormwater management 412

Water sensitive urban design 333

Urban watercourses 1,717

Stormwater and groundwater quality 998

Community Volunteer support 1,565 3,724

NRM education 1,166

Communications and media 450

Consultation and engagement with stakeholders 543

Non-asset Policy and planning 1,965 3,649

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting 1,505

Research and development 179

Total 2012–13 expenses 29,377

ExPENDITURE FOR 2012–13


5-year highlightsThese graphs provide cumulative data on key on-ground activities that have been achieved over the first five years of the NRM plan.

08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/130

400

800

1,200

1,600

2,000

Cumulative Total

1,548 PRoPERTY PLANS DEVELoPED

7,280 ToNNES oF WASTE REMoVED

FRoM oUR WATERWAYS

36,254 LANDHoLDERS PRoVIDED

TECHNICAL ADVICE oN NRM ISSUES

08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/130

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

Cumulative Total

36,967 HECTARES oF NATIVE

VEGETATIoN ACTIVELY MANAGED

08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/130

200400

600800

1,000

Cumulative Total

888 KILoMETRES oF WATERCoURSE

REHABILITATED To IMPRoVE WATER QUALITY

274.7 HECTARES oF CoASTAL

REVEGETATIoN WoRKS CoMPLETED

08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/130

400

800

1,200

1,600

2,000

Cumulative Total

1,391 HECTARES oF RECoNSTRUCTIoN FoR BIoDIVERSITY CoNSERVATIoN

08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/130

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

Cumulative Total

08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/130

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

Cumulative Total

08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/130

100

200

300

400

Cumulative Total

3

6

98

4

5 7

10

1 2

The board comprises nine community members assisted by six agency representatives. They have a strategic role in implementing the Regional NRM Plan focusing on a whole-of-region approach.

Board members are selected for their knowledge, experience and commitment to managing natural resources in this large and diverse region. Their backgrounds are in the management of natural resources, conservation, agriculture, local government, public and/or business administration, regional and economic development, and natural and social science.

Board members

Chris Daniels

(Presiding Member)

24 February 2011 to present

Chris Daniels is Professor of Urban

Ecology, Division of Information

Technology, Engineering and

Environment at the University of

South Australia. He is Director

of the Barbara Hardy Institute, a

major research institute with a large

research agenda focused on creating

sustainable communities. Chris has

expertise in community engagement,

science, communication and business

administration.

Lynn Chamberlain

14 April 2010 to present

Lynn Chamberlain has expertise in

water resource management and

local government administration.

Cathryn hamilton


Cathryn Hamilton has experience in

community affairs at the regional level,

soil conservation, pest animal and plant

control, business administration, local

government, urban/regional planning,

natural and social sciences, and

management in land, conservation and

biodiversity, water resources, and coast,

estuarine and marine environments.

Debra Just


Debra Just has experience in local

government administration, urban

and regional planning, natural and

social sciences, and management in

water resources, conservation and

biodiversity, and coast, estuarine

and marine environments.

Robert Lewis PSM

21 october 2010 to present

Robert Lewis PSM has experience

in coast, estuaries and marine

management, fisheries and

aquaculture.

vicki-Jo Russell aM


Vicki-Jo Russell has experience in


and conservation and biodiversity

management.

angus williams

21 october 2010 to 13 April 2013

Angus Williams has expertise in

primary production and pastoral land

management.

1

5

6

7

9

102

3

4 Tauto Sansbury

1 December 2011 to present

Tauto Sansbury is the board’s

Aboriginal representative. He also has

experience in community affairs at the

regional level, business administration,

and natural and social sciences.

Russell Johnstone

13 September 2012 to present

Russell Johnstone has experience in

primary production, soil conservation,

pest animal and plant control, natural

and social sciences, and management

in land, conservation and biodiversity,

and water resources environments.

alexi kentish


Alexi Kentish has experience in


primary production and pastoral land

management, business administration,

natural and social sciences, soil

conservation, and management in land,

conservation and biodiversity,

and water resource environments.

8


AGENCY REPRESENTATIVESA number of individuals representing three spheres of

government sit on the board. These members do not

have voting rights but contribute significantly to the work

of the board.

Julia Grant

1 February 2011 to present

Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

andrew Grear

15 May 2005 to present

Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure

Gregory Pattinson


Local Government Association

karen Rouse

1 March 2009 to 28 March 2013

SA Water

andrew Solomon

1 August 2007 to 1 February 2013

Environment Protection Authority

Stuart west

12 August 2011 to 1 February 2013

Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA

NRM Group members are local residents and landholders who extend a strong link to the community, and bring local perspectives on NRM issues to the board.

NRM Group members have skills and experience in NRM such

as primary production, soil conservation, local government,

animal and plant control, salinity, Indigenous culture, and

biodiversity and water resource management.

The board has three NRM groups in its rural and peri-urban

areas: Central Hills, Northern and Fleurieu.

During 2012–13 these groups were highly active in:

the Regional NRM Plan review, including community

‘open house’ sessions; reviewing declared weeds under

the NRM Act; selection panel members on NRM Action

and Sustainable Industry grants; participation on board

committees; overseeing the annual roadside weeds program;

and participation at the National Landcare Conference.

NRM Groups

Northern NRM Group

Wes Seeliger, Nancy Bennett, Mark Webb, Helen Bourne (Chair), Michael Evans and Faith Cook. Absent: Andrew Mathews

Central hills NRM Group

Barrie Spencer (Chair) and Anna Kakoschke. Absent: Daniel Polson, Barry Windle and Andrew Murphy

fleurieu NRM Group

John Crompton, Lorraine Rosenberg (Chair), Ashleigh Pitman and Glen Rowlands.


205 Greenhill Road

Eastwood SA 5063

Phone: (08) 8273 9100

Fax: (08) 8271 9585

E-mail: [email protected]

www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges

FIS

9241

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Documents

Achievement report · management, pest plant and animal control, and biodiversity conservation have to be addressed across land use types and property boundaries. By combining the