SaltfieldsCreating the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary

Our vision We will create an internationally important conservation area on the fringes of Adelaide that safeguards migratory birds, improves the health of Gulf St Vincent and supports sustainable urban development.

The opportunity 4

What we are trying to solve 5

What we have done so far 6

What we are going to do 7

Why this is good for South Australia 7

How this fits with the government’s priorities 8

The evidence 10Some background 10

Gulf St Vincent 10

Land use and rehabilitation requirements 10

Internationally important migratory shorebirds 10

Dry Creek: an important flyway hub 12

Threatened and unique habitat 13

Declining water quality in the gulf 13

Green infrastructure 13

It all adds up: a strategic and timely opportunity 14

Conserving internationally important shorebird habitat 14

Network of aquatic and terrestrial conservation areas 14

Improving water quality 14

Green space supporting sustainable urban development 14

Time to act 15

The proposal 17

Conserving the Adelaide hub of the international migratory bird flyway 17

Enhancing water quality in Gulf St Vincent 17

Creating a more liveable and sustainable city 18

Offering exclusive eco-tourism experiences 20

Facilitating Indigenous involvement 20

Next steps 21

References 23

Saltfields 3

The opportunity

4 Saltfields

What we are trying to solveSince the 1930s, the saltfields that stretch 35 kilometres along the Gulf St Vincent coastline, from Dry Creek in the south to Middle Beach in the north, have been used to provide brine for the commercial production of soda ash.

From June 2013, all salt production at Dry Creek ceased with the closure of the Penrice soda ash factory. This change in land use presents both challenges and opportunities.

The past 80 years have seen the saltfields develop into a patchwork of artificial and natural wetlands, providing a diverse range of habitat for migratory birds that travel annually to Australia from the northern hemisphere.

With the removal of commercial salt production, some ponds are likely to dry out if water is no longer pumped through them, with the possible risk of acid sulphate soil formation, while others might be reopened to the sea and become tidal. These changes are likely to affect important roosting and feeding areas of migratory bird species and could result in disturbing odours affecting the amenity of the area and local residents.

If no action is taken and the site is not managed in an integrated fashion, the drying of ponds and potential emergence of acid sulphate soils could have high remediation costs. These changes would also severely jeopardise conservation values by fragmenting land and degrading habitat, which is likely to lead to contravention of our conservation obligations under legislation and international agreements.

The conservation significance of this area has been elevated by the destruction and disturbance of similar habitat elsewhere along the gulf and worldwide decline in migratory shorebird habitat.

Additionally, water quality issues in Gulf St Vincent need to be addressed. Pollution from stormwater, wastewater and industrial discharges is a major cause of poor water quality along Adelaide’s metropolitan beaches and is contributing to coastal habitat loss.

A plan is needed that capitalises on the change in land use at the saltfields in a manner that will improve environmental quality and the amenity of the area, and maintain the commercial and recreational values of the gulf including some of the state’s most significant fisheries.

The saltfields are listed as being of national and international

significance for migratory shorebirds that travel annually to Australia

along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (Bamford et al. 2008), in

particular the red-necked stint and the sharp-tailed sandpiper.

The flyway passes through 22 countries with about 55

migratory species, a total of five million birds travelling along it

What we have done so farThe South Australian Government has long been committed to protecting Gulf St Vincent and its varied and unique coastal and marine ecosystems, recognising the area as a valuable asset to South Australia. Numerous initiatives and protection mechanisms are in place – both terrestrial and aquatic – that affect the saltfields area and provide a strong foundation for this proposal. These include a marine park, the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary, aquatic reserves and conservation parks.

The Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park spans the waters of the upper reaches of the Gulf and is one of the state’s network of 19 marine parks. The park features wetlands of national importance, including the Light River Delta, which is considered one of the most ecologically intact mangrove and saltmarsh systems in South Australia. The park also protects a major fish nursery and spawning ground and is a favoured area for recreational boating and fishing.

The Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is a multiple-use conservation area established under the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Act 2005. It covers 118 km2 including Port Adelaide, Barker Inlet, Outer Harbor and North Haven. While the sanctuary has a clear focus on protecting dolphins and their habitats, the protection afforded by the sanctuary also helps improve habitat for other species including shorebirds. The sanctuary’s landward boundary includes many areas of shorebird habitat.

The area also includes two aquatic reserves – The Barker Inlet-St Kilda and St Kilda-Chapman Creek Aquatic Reserves – that are managed under the Fisheries Management Act 2007. These were established to conserve mangrove and seagrass communities and to protect nursery areas for several important commercial and recreational fish species. The reserves also support important saltmarsh habitat.

Two conservation parks in the vicinity – the Port Gawler and Torrens Island Conservation Parks – protect important saltmarsh and mangrove habitats. The Torrens Island Conservation Park lies adjacent to the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.

There has also been attention to identify and address the causes of declining water quality. The recently released Adelaide Coastal Water Quality Improvement Plan (EPA 2013) sets targets and makes recommendations for improving water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems in the gulf, including taking a more integrated approach to managing and treating wastewater and stormwater. The plan builds on and complements the Adelaide Coastal Waters Study (EPA 2013), which was initiated by the Environment Protection Authority in 2001, in response to concerns about declining water quality in Gulf St Vincent. The success of the plan relies on multiple government and non-government partners working together.

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1. Protect the Adelaide hub of the international migratory bird ‘flyway’

Establish the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary along a 60 kilometre stretch of the Gulf St Vincent coastline from Barker Inlet in the south to Port Parham in the north.

2. Enhance water quality in Gulf St Vincent

Provide local councils and SA Water with the opportunity to manage and treat stormwater and Bolivar wastewater before it is discharged to the gulf.

3. Create a more liveable and sustainable city

Create a network of natural green space on the fringes of the northern Adelaide Plains that will allow stormwater recycling, absorb carbon dioxide and enhance the amenity and attractiveness of the region.

4. Provide exclusive eco-tourism experiences

Provide opportunities for developing exclusive, high-end tourism experiences with a focus on national and international birdwatchers.

5. Offer opportunities for Indigenous involvement

Employ and engage Aboriginal people and use Indigenous knowledge to develop and implement environmental and cultural heritage education and interpretation programs.

What we are going to doThe South Australian Government is committed to creating an extensive conservation sanctuary over the former Dry Creek saltfields. This will fulfil our international, national and state environmental obligations and will secure social, economic and environmental benefits for South Australia. The following initiatives are proposed:

Why this is good for South AustraliaThe Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary will provide an extensive area of habitat within close proximity of Adelaide that will deliver significant benefits to the state.

The sanctuary’s focus on protecting significant migratory shorebirds will elevate South Australia’s status nationally and internationally as an important contributor to worldwide shorebird conservation and support the Australian Government in achieving its international obligations.

Broader ecological benefits of the proposal, including a cleaner, more liveable city, and improved water quality in the gulf, will enhance the quality of life for all South Australians. Creating a green corridor that supports a healthy environment will improve air quality, water quality and amenity – benefits that will extend beyond the reserve boundary.

The creation of the coastal reserve will provide green infrastructure that will help protect against sea level rise and storm surges, and support the liveability and sustainability of residential development in northern Adelaide.

The sanctuary will also boost the state’s tourism industry by attracting bird enthusiasts from around the world, marketed as providing high-end, exclusive wildlife experiences. It will also provide opportunities to respect Indigenous knowledge and involve Aboriginal people in the development and implementation of the sanctuary.

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How this fits with the government’s priorities The South Australian Government has identified seven strategic priorities that will make the most difference to the future prosperity of our state.

The sanctuary will help progress two of these priorities:

• Creating a vibrant city – by helping to improve water quality in the gulf, particularly adjacent to some of Adelaide’s most popular swimming beaches, by boosting tourism and by providing a greenbelt that enhances liveability and amenity in the northern areas of Adelaide

• Premium food and wine from our clean environment – by contributing to better water quality in the waters of Gulf St Vincent, supporting important commercial fisheries including one of the state’s major prawn fisheries, and general improvement in environmental quality through providing green infrastructure.

Seven strategic priorities

Creating a vibrant city

An affordable place to live

Every chance for every child

Growing advanced manufacturing

Safe communities, healthy neighbourhoods

Realising the benefits of the mining boom for all

Premium food and wine from our clean environment

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The evidence

Saltfields 9

Some backgroundGulf St Vincent

Many South Australians use the gulf every day for a wide range of recreational activities. The gulf also supports important commercial fisheries including one of the state’s major prawn fisheries, commercial shipping, and is the basis for a strong tourism industry.

Land use and rehabilitation requirementsThe Dry Creek saltfields were first constructed by ICI in the 1930s, and have been maintained by an annual series of pumping activities since. The land on which the saltfields were constructed historically supported wetlands, especially saltmarsh and mangroves.

The mineral leases over the Dry Creek saltfields cover around 10,000 hectares. Around 4,000 hectares were developed as salina ponds (artificially controlled saline ponds used to produce salt). The rest of the land is undeveloped and remarkably well preserved due to limited access to the site for the past 80 years.

The land under mining lease is either owned by the Crown, including the majority of coastal land seaward of the ponds, or is freehold land owned by Ridley Corporation. The majority of land owned by Ridley occurs on the landward side of the saltfields.

Internationally important migratory shorebirdsThe East Asian-Australasian Flyway is the migratory route for millions of waders and shorebirds that breed in northern Asia and Alaska and spend the non-breeding season in South-East Asia and Australasia (Figure 1). The flyway passes through 22 countries with approximately 55 migratory species travelling along it, equating to about five million birds annually.

Habitat loss throughout the flyway has contributed to drastic declines in many of the migratory shorebird species that spend the summer in Australia. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP 2013) reports that ongoing habitat degradation along the length of the flyway is threatening some migratory shorebirds with extinction. A disproportionately high number of shorebird species have been classified as threatened and many are under increasing threat from habitat destruction (IWSG 2003).

There is growing evidence suggesting that populations of migratory shorebirds are declining in Australia (Nebel et al. 2008, Gosbell and Clemens 2006, BirdLife Australia unpublished data cited in Purnell et al. 2012).

In partnership with Japan, the Australian Government developed the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership, which was launched in Indonesia in 2006. The partnership is the major international framework for conserving migratory shorebirds and their habitat across the flyway, and complements Australia’s international commitments to protect shorebirds and migratory species under bilateral agreements.

UNEP 2013

Degradation along the flyway is threatening some migratory species with extinction

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Australia

New Zealand

Hawaii

FijiInodnesia

AlaskaSiberia

China

Mongolia

Malaysia

Japan

SOUTH EASTASIA

Taiwan

Korea

Australia

New Zealand

Hawaii

FijiInodnesia

AlaskaSiberia

China

Mongolia

Malaysia

Japan

SOUTH EASTASIA

Taiwan

Korea

ARCTIC OCEAN

PACIFIC OCEAN

YELLOW SEA

Bar-tailed godwitRuddy turnstoneLesser knotPacific golden ploverRed-necked stintWhimbrelCurlew sandpiperSharp-tailed sandpiper

Terek sandpiper

Eastern curlew Migration route

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Figure 1. The East Asian-Australasian Flyway

Dry Creek: an important flyway hubThe Dry Creek saltfields are listed as being of national and international significance for migratory shorebirds that annually travel to Australia along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (Bamford et al. 2008). In particular, the saltfields host a significant portion of the world’s population of two species that migrate via the flyway: the red-necked stint and the sharp-tailed sandpiper.

Recent analysis of Australia-wide population data showed that seven of the species that use the flyway are experiencing declines of between two and eight per cent each year. This would equate to a loss of between 50 and 95 per cent of the Australian populations of these species over the next 25 years (Purnell et al. 2012). Six of these species regularly occur at the Dry Creek saltfields.

To ensure the conservation of migratory shorebirds, the Australian Government has signed bilateral migratory bird agreements with Japan (the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement – JAMBA in 1974), China (the China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement – CAMBA in 1986) and Korea (Republic of Korea-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement – ROKAMBA in 2007). These agreements require parties to protect migratory birds by protecting and conserving important habitat.

The Dry Creek saltfields support a number of species that are subject to Australia’s bilateral migratory bird agreements: 27 species are subject to the JAMBA, 23 species are subject to the CAMBA and 25 species are subject to the ROKAMBA.

The saltfields support a seasonal average of 25,000 waterbirds, including 15,000 shorebirds, with a total of 52 different species recorded. Twenty-nine of these species are protected under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The area also supports 17 species that are listed as rare and two species that are listed as vulnerable under the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

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Threatened and unique habitatThe Dry Creek saltfields consist of diverse and relatively pristine saltmarsh and wetland habitat that is declining elsewhere in the region and across the state due to urban encroachment, pollution and agricultural development. Continued protection of this habitat from development and degradation is critical.

Saltmarsh is not only ecologically valuable habitat but is also one of the highest carbon sequestration habitats known. In recognition of its significance, coastal saltmarsh was listed as a threatened ecological community under the EPBC Act in August 2013.

The saltfields support species of state and national conservation significance, including the largest Australian population of bead glasswort and the samphire thornbill, both listed as nationally threatened under the EPBC Act.

Two wetlands of national significance occur in the area – the Port Gawler and Buckland Park Lake, and the Barker Inlet and St Kilda wetland (DWLBC 2003, Bamford et al. 2008).

Declining water quality in the gulfThe Adelaide Coastal Waters Study was initiated by the EPA in 2001, in response to concerns about the decline in coastal water quality, as well as the loss of more than 5,000 hectares of seagrass along the metropolitan coastline. Findings from the study (EPA 2008) indicate that the main causes of deteriorating water quality in the gulf are nutrient-rich inputs from stormwater, sewage treatment plants and industrial discharges.

The study found that nutrient loads to Adelaide’s coastal waters have increased by a factor of 30 to 50 times compared to conditions prior to European settlement. High levels of suspended solids in the near-shore waters (mainly due to stormwater flows) are contributing to seagrass loss, and are also a major cause of poor water quality along Adelaide’s metropolitan beaches.

Water quality improvement targets associated with reducing the nitrogen load into the gulf are set out in the Adelaide Coastal Water Quality Improvement Plan (EPA 2013).

Green infrastructureThe value of green infrastructure in urban landscapes is becoming increasingly recognised by health professionals, water managers, planners, policy makers and designers around the world (Ely and Pitman 2012).

Green infrastructure is the network of green spaces and waterways that occurs in urban environments and includes parks and reserves, gardens, creeks and wetlands, road and rail corridors and sports ovals. This network provides multiple benefits including managing and treating stormwater, maintaining urban biodiversity, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and providing pleasant green spaces for rest, relaxation and recreation.

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It all adds up: a strategic and timely conservation opportunityGovernment policy recognises the high conservation values of Gulf St Vincent and the importance of maintaining healthy and productive coastal and aquatic ecosystems to support international treaty obligations and the state’s long-term prosperity. The need for improved conservation efforts to stem the decline of migratory bird species, improve the water quality of the gulf and address any potential environmental and social/health risks associated with the closure of the Dry Creek saltfields are also recognised.

The end of the saltfields commercial production provides the opportunity to address each of these priority areas, as well as achieve additional environmental, economic and community benefits for South Australia.

Building on the conservation values of the existing saltfields will enable South Australia to play a key role in supporting international and national efforts to secure the future of the world’s migratory shorebirds. The proposed creation of a conservation reserve that stretches 60 kilometres along the edge of the gulf will consolidate a number of existing

conservation areas on both land and sea. This means that our conservation efforts can occur at a much broader and more meaningful scale than could be achieved by a more piecemeal and fragmented approach.

Rehabilitated tidal saltmarshes and some of the former salt ponds can potentially be used by local councils and SA Water to manage and treat stormwater and wastewater before it is discharged to the gulf.

This will have positive effects for aquatic ecosystems and species, will ensure Adelaide’s beaches are safe for swimming, and support the continued operation of important commercial fisheries that operate in the gulf.

The proposed Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary will provide a network of connected green spaces that will improve amenity in the area, provide natural wetlands for filtering and treating stormwater and wastewater, improve air quality and provide residents with access to natural green spaces.

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Time to actThe closure of the Dry Creek saltfields presents the state with a rare and strategic opportunity to secure a significant environmental and community asset in close proximity to Adelaide, to address pressing conservation priorities, particularly the need to protect migratory bird species and improve water quality in Gulf St Vincent, as well as to provide economic and health benefits to the state. This will also help prepare for the expected impacts of climate change, including sea level rise, storm surges and greater impact from storms.

If we do not act now, we risk losing a rare opportunity to improve the health of the gulf and ensure the future growth areas of northern Adelaide are sustainable, liveable and attractive. In addition, failing to safeguard the habitat values of this area would seriously erode South Australia’s capacity to contribute to international and national conservation obligations.

Saltfields 15

The proposal

16 Saltfields

Conserving the Adelaide hub of the international migratory bird ‘flyway’The Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary is proposed along a 60 kilometre stretch of the Gulf St Vincent coastline, from the Barker Inlet to the township of Port Parham (Figure 2). It would be second only to the Coorong as the longest continual coastal reserve in the state.

The proposed sanctuary will help the Australian Government meet its international obligations to protect migratory waterbirds and will contribute to implementation of the Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds (DEH 2006) developed under the EPBC Act.

It is proposed that land identified as suitable for inclusion in the sanctuary, which is likely to be the majority of Crown lands in the area, is proclaimed as a conservation park under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. This will provide one of the highest levels of protection allowed for by state legislation and is equivalent to the two existing reserves in the area – the Port Gawler and Torrens Island Conservation Parks.

While this status will provide a high level of protection, it will still allow flexibility to ensure multiple objectives can be achieved through the management plan for the park. In addition, zones can be created within the park to facilitate particular activities, or to better protect ecologically sensitive or significant areas.

The newly proclaimed park would connect with areas that are already part of the conservation estate including the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary and the Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park. Land recently purchased for conservation purposes at Buckland Lake would also be incorporated.

It is important to note that the proposal does not include the southernmost ponds known as the crystallisers. These lie immediately adjacent to the Port River Expressway and Port Wakefield Road and have been identified in the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide as an urban growth area. This proposal focuses on the saltfields to the north of this area, which have higher conservation values and are identified in the 30-year plan as being mostly of high environmental significance.

Enhancing water quality in Gulf St VincentThe cities of Playford and Salisbury and the District Council of Mallala have expressed interest in using some of the former salt ponds to capture, treat and possibly reuse stormwater. SA Water is also investigating the possibility of diverting its wastewater stream from the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant into selected ponds to strip nutrients and improve the discharge quality prior to release into Gulf St Vincent. Retaining water in some of the former ponds would also reduce the risk of acid sulphate soils forming.

The sanctuary could provide the opportunity for councils to manage and treat stormwater by flushing it through rehabilitated tidal wetlands, which would act as natural filters for sediments and other pollutants, mirroring the natural flow of runoff across coastal saltmarsh and mangroves.

Reducing the input of nutrients and other pollutants to the gulf will assist in meeting water quality improvement targets. In particular, it will have a positive impact on efforts to improve the quality of water at some of Adelaide’s most popular swimming beaches. Along with other measures to improve water quality in the gulf, the sanctuary will help safeguard some of the state’s most significant commercial fisheries and prized recreational fishing spots.

… second only to the Coorong as the longest continual coastal reserve

in the state

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Creating a more liveable and sustainable cityOnce it is fully established, the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary will provide an extensive natural green space on the fringes of the northern Adelaide Plains that will offer a wide range of benefits for the environment and community wellbeing. This is particularly relevant to sustainable development in the northern areas of Adelaide, designated as growth areas in the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide.

Some of the former salt ponds could be rehabilitated to tidal wetlands by breaching their surrounding levee banks. The ponds would then naturally begin to recolonise with saltmarsh and mangrove communities. When fully established, these communities would play an important role in establishing the sanctuary’s significant green infrastructure, offering a wide range of benefits for sustainable development including:

• Treating stormwater

Tidal wetlands will provide natural filters for treating stormwater and wastewater and allow for the dissipation of floodwaters over a wide area, preventing upstream ‘backing up’.

• Increasing resilience to climate change

The sanctuary would create areas for saltmarsh to retreat as sea levels rise. These communities are threatened by the combined impacts of sea level rise (currently in excess of 4 millimetres per year in South Australia), land subsidence and the levees that currently separate the ponds from the coast.

• Protecting against sea level rise and storm events

Tidal wetlands will protect the coastline from the impact of storms thus minimising the need for costly coastal protection works. Wetlands are internationally acknowledged as critical for buffering the coast against the impacts of storms, and will provide a storm surge buffer for both current and projected sea levels.

• Acting as a carbon sink

Tidal wetlands, particularly saltmarsh, are among the highest known carbon sequestration habitats.

• Stabilising potential acid sulphate soils

Tidal wetlands will help avoid the formation of acid sulphate soils by keeping the ground saturated.

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Figure 2. Proposed sanctuary area

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Offering exclusive eco-tourism experiencesThe international significance of the proposed sanctuary site as habitat for migratory shorebirds makes this location one of South Australia’s best bird watching spots. When the saltfields were in operation, access was administered on behalf of the operators by Birds SA.

There is already a niche tourism market for bird watching in South Australia including along the River Murray, in the Murray Mallee, in the Coorong, which is listed as a wetland of international significance, and on Kangaroo Island.

The Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary will provide an opportunity to build on South Australia’s existing reputation as a place that offers exciting bird watching experiences to both national and international visitors, with a focus on high-end ecotourism, providing an additional tourism boost for the state.

Facilitating Indigenous involvementThis proposal presents the opportunity for Aboriginal people to be involved in both the ongoing management and promotion of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary and to engage with visitors and school groups on the cultural and environmental values of the site through education and awareness programs. Traditional knowledge will inform the selection of suitable rehabilitation

and restoration measures to deliver significant benefits.

This opportunity could best be delivered by developing joint management arrangements over the proposed conservation park.

There are also potential connections with the Kaurna

people’s Tiljbruke Trail on the northern Adelaide Plains, which will be investigated further as the proposal matures.

This initiative will complement and contribute to national and state policies and targets to increase the participation of Aboriginal people in the economy. In particular, it provides important strategic linkages with the Australian Government’s Invest Action Plan, which aims to increase the participation of Indigenous people in natural resource management.

Traditional knowledge will inform the selection of

suitable rehabilitation and restoration measures

20 Saltfields

Next steps

A number of matters need to be addressed to successfully transform the saltfields into a stable, diverse habitat in its own right. The key regulatory agencies – the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (DMITRE) and the EPA – are working closely with the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) to ensure that all matters are managed and mitigated in the best interests of the government, stakeholders and the South Australian community.

Critical aspects associated with closure of the saltfields and its subsequent rehabilitation will be undertaken in accordance with the regulatory requirements of DMITRE and the EPA. Both agencies will have regard to DEWNR as the administrator

of Crown land and the primary environment agency and will engage with stakeholders such as SA Water, the cities of Playford and Salisbury and Mallala District Council, and key non-government organisations including BirdLife Australia.

Detailed scientific investigations will be needed to develop on-ground strategies for managing the ponds into the future. Any changes will require a transitioned and cautious approach to minimise disturbance to the birds. The issue of whether any impacts will be significant on migratory shorebirds will be a matter for Australian Government determination under the EPBC Act.

Saltfields 21

THE SALTFIELDS SUPPORT

25000 WATERBIRDS ANNUALLY, INCLUDING 15,000 SHOREBIRDS, WITH A TOTAL OF 52 DIFFERENT SPECIES

29 OF THESE SPECIES ARE PROTECTED 17 SPECIES ARE LISTED AS RARE AND TWO SPECIES ARE LISTED AS VULNERABLE

,

Since THE SALTFIELDS HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE THE 1930s & STRETCH FOR 35 KMS

THE SALTFIELDS SUPPORT

25000 WATERBIRDS ANNUALLY, INCLUDING 15,000 SHOREBIRDS, WITH A TOTAL OF 52 DIFFERENT SPECIES

29 OF THESE SPECIES ARE PROTECTED 17 SPECIES ARE LISTED AS RARE AND TWO SPECIES ARE LISTED AS VULNERABLE

Since THE SALTFIELDS HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE THE 1930s & STRETCH FOR 35 KMS

THE SALTFIELDS SUPPORT

25000 WATERBIRDS ANNUALLY, INCLUDING 15,000 SHOREBIRDS, WITH A TOTAL OF 52 DIFFERENT SPECIES

29 OF THESE SPECIES ARE PROTECTED 17 SPECIES ARE LISTED AS RARE AND TWO SPECIES ARE LISTED AS VULNERABLE

SALTMARSH IS NOT ONLY ECOLOGICALLY VALUABLE HABITAT BUT IS ALSO ONE OF THE HIGHEST

CARBON SEQUESTRATION HABITATS KNOWN

SALTMARSH IS NOT ONLY ECOLOGICALLY VALUABLE HABITAT BUT IS ALSO ONE OF THE HIGHEST

CARBON SEQUESTRATION HABITATS KNOWN

50YEARS

THE DRY CREEK SALTFIELDS HAVE BEEN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED AS A SIGNIFICANT WATERBIRD

HABITAT FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS

TIDAL WETLANDS ARE CRITICAL FOR BUFFERING THE COAST AGAINST THE IMPACTS OF STORMS REDUCING COSTLY COAST PROTECTION WORKS

22 Saltfields

ReferencesBamford M, Watkins D, Bancroft W, Tischler G & Wahl J. (2008). Migratory shorebirds of the East Asian - Australasian Flyway: population estimates and Internationally Important sites. Wetlands International - Oceania, Canberra.

Coleman P & Cook F. (2009). Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board: shorebird management and conservation. AMLR NRM Board, Adelaide.

Department for Environment and Heritage & Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation. (2003). Wetlands Strategy for South Australia. Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide.

Department of the Environment and Heritage. (2006). Wildlife conservation plan for migratory shorebirds, February 2006.

Ely M & Pitman S. (2012). Green infrastructure –life support for human habitats: the compelling evidence for incorporat-ing nature into urban environments, a review of research and literature, prepared for the Green Infrastructure Project, Botanic Gardens of Adelaide. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Adelaide.

Environment Protection Authority (EPA). (2008). Adelaide coast-al waters study overview: a summary of the study, outcomes and recommendations. Environment Protection Authority, Adelaide.

Environment Protection Authority (EPA). (2013). Adelaide coast-al water quality improvement plan. Environment Protection Authority, Adelaide.

Gosbell K & Clemens R. (2006). Population monitoring in Aus-tralia: some insights after 25 years and future directions, Stilt 50: 162-175.

International Wader Study Group (IWSG). (2003). Are waders world-wide in decline? Reviewing the evidence, Wader Study Group Bulletin 101/102: 8-12.

Nebel S, Porter JL & Kingsford RT. (2008). Long-term trends in shorebird populations in eastern Australia and impacts of fresh-water extraction, Biological Conservation 141: 971- 980.

Purnell C, Peter J, Clemens R & Herman K. (2012). Shorebird population monitoring within Gulf St Vincent: July 2011 to June 2012 annual report, BirdLife Australia report for the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board and the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Adelaide and Canberra.

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) (2013). Loss and degradation of natural habitats threaten migratory birds, push-ing species towards extinction. World migratory bird day 2013 highlights importance of ecological networks for migratory birds – need for a greater international response. Bonn/Nairobi 10 May 2013. www.awsg.org.au/pdfs/WorldMigratoryBird-Day_2013.pdf

THE EAST ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN FLYWAY ROUTE FOR MILLIONS OF MIGRATORY WADERS AND SHOREBIRDS PASSES THROUGH 22 COUNTRIES APPROXIMATELY 55 MIGRATORY SPECIES 5 MILLION BIRDS

NEXT 60km

THE SALTFIELDS BIRD SANCTUARY WOULD BE SECOND ONLY TO THE COORONG AS THE LONGEST CONTINUAL COASTAL RESERVE IN THE STATE

NEXT 60km

THE SALTFIELDS BIRD SANCTUARY WOULD BE SECOND ONLY TO THE COORONG AS THE LONGEST CONTINUAL COASTAL RESERVE IN THE STATE

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