The work of the Department of Environment, Water and ...€¦ · • sustaining the state’s natural resources. By delivering on these goals we will achieve our purpose, which is

The work of the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

The Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) plays a critical role in shaping the future of South Australia.

We deliver programs and services which ensure our environment stays healthy and our natural resources continue to deliver wealth and wellbeing.

We work with business, individuals and across all levels of government to deliver growth while securing our natural resource base, underpinning the viability of industries including agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining and energy, manufacturing, and tourism.

This document provides a snapshot of some of our work, arranged under our four high level goals:

• managing water for the future

• responding to climate change

• connecting people to nature, parks and places

• sustaining the state’s natural resources.

By delivering on these goals we will achieve our purpose, which is to help South Australians conserve, sustain and prosper.

Helping South Australians to conserve, sustain and prosper

Sandy PitcherChief Executive Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

Contents

1. Taking action on climate change

Creating a carbon neutral city ..................... 4

Leading the way to a low carbon future .... 6

Greening our buildings ............................. 7

Adapting to climate change ...................... 8

Storing carbon .......................................... 9

Protecting our coasts .................................10

2. Sustaining the natural resources of our state

Producing premium food and wine from our clean environment .....................12

Conserving native species ..........................14

Living with wildlife ..................................15

Protecting and improving native vegetation ......................................... 16

Protecting the state from fire and flood .....18

3. Connecting people to nature, parks and places

Managing our national parks ................... 20

Co-management with Aboriginal people.. 22

Improving parks on Adelaide’s doorstep ....24

Activating nature-based tourism ................26

Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary ....... 28

Managing iconic tourism sites .................. 30

A world-class walking trail .........................32

Healthy parks, healthy people .................. 34

Nature Play SA ......................................... 36

Botanic gardens in the city and hills ......... 38

Sharing our heritage ................................. 40

4. Managing water for the future

Water for the economy ............................ 42

Water for our communities ...................... 44

Water for the environment ....................... 46

Using the best water science .................... 48

A healthy, working River Murray .............. 50

Hon Ian Hunter MLCMinister for Sustainability, Environment and ConservationMinister for Water and the River MurrayMinister for Climate Change

We are collaborating with the Adelaide City Council to make Adelaide the world’s first carbon neutral city – a showcase for innovation in renewables and clean technology, and demonstrating leadership in climate change action.

In pursuing this ambitious goal we will seize the economic opportunities of responding to climate change and help make Adelaide vibrant, green, liveable and sustainable for those that visit, live and work in the city.

This initiative will drive emissions reductions by increasing demand for renewable energy and storage, improving resource efficiency in the built environment, transitioning to

zero carbon transport, improving waste management, and building the state’s clean-tech industries.

Our Carbon Neutral Adelaide Partnerships program will encourage entrepreneurs, businesses, research organisations and the broader community to help rapidly lower the city’s greenhouse gas emissions while harnessing the opportunities presented.

Creating a carbon neutral city

1. TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

4 54

Commercial and apartment buildings energy use 48%

City of Adelaide emissions profile

Residential energy use 3%

Electricity transmission loss 9%

Transport 35%

Waste and water 5%

South Australia is an internationally recognised leader in climate change action, and our abundant renewable resources mean we are well placed to set a global example for transitioning to a low carbon economy.

We are leading the implementation of the state government’s climate change strategy to transition to a low carbon economy, and achieve our target of net zero emissions by 2050.

We have already shown it is possible to decouple economic growth from carbon emissions – since 1990 we have reduced greenhouse gas emissions in South Australia by 9% while our economy has grown by 60%.

Leading the way to a low carbon future

The energy used in commercial buildings is responsible for a fifth of Adelaide’s greenhouse gas emissions.

To improve the environmental performance of existing commercial buildings we have introduced an innovative new way of accessing private finance for energy and environmental upgrades of commercial buildings.

The scheme will stimulate investment and jobs in South Australia, while also helping the City of Adelaide to become the world’s first carbon neutral city.

Greening our buildings

1. TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE 1. TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

homes in SA already have rooftop solar. The highest in the nation.

1 in 49%

Since 1990, South Australian carbon emissions have reduced by

while the state’s economy has grown by over

60%

in carbon emissions from commercial buildings in Adelaide City since 2007

23%reduction

76

Across South Australia, we support communities to come together and develop regional climate change adaptation plans.

By identifying local vulnerabilities to climate change and setting local priorities for action, this world leading approach has paved the way for well informed, community-driven adaptation plans, ensuring communities are well-placed to respond to the impacts of climate change.

Adapting to climate change

We are fostering a carbon sequestration industry in South Australia.

Building on our management of existing natural systems, we are developing a strategy to capture and store carbon long-term, deliver biodiversity outcomes, and offset greenhouse gas emissions.

This will drive investment in regional South Australia to supply carbon offsets. Additional benefits will include enhanced resilience of our natural systems, productivity gains in our agricultural sector, and jobs for regional South Australians.

Storing carbon

1. TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE 1. TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

tonnes of CO2 per year

Each hectare of native revegetation stores between

3-18Each South Australian emits the equivalent of

tonnes of CO2 per year17

average annual maximum temperatures increase by

1.8-3.4oC

average annual rainfall decline by

7.8-17.4%

It is projected that by 2090, the Adelaide and Mount Lofty region will see:

98

Protecting our coasts1. TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

We protect coastal infrastructure and keep sand on Adelaide’s beaches

Adelaide’s coastline was originally a natural sand dune system. By building on top of these dunes we interrupted the natural erosion of this coast, and sand became ‘locked up’ beneath coastal development.

A strategy of transferring beach sand from where it builds up to eroding areas, supplemented by protection works including seawalls and offshore breakwaters, is keeping the sand on Adelaide’s beaches. This provides recreation and tourism benefits, as well as protecting coastal infrastructure.

A major storm that hit Adelaide in 1953 caused an estimated $34 million damage to coastal infrastructure

(adjusted to 2017 dollars). A more severe series of storms in 2016 caused $3.5 million of damage to infrastructure and extra coastal management costs along the metropolitan coast. The difference is largely due to the protection extra sand provides during storm events.

In light of rising sea levels and changing climate patterns, there will be new challenges to achieving our goal of sustainably using, developing and conserving our precious coast. We’ll do this by looking at how we can adapt existing development, carefully considering new development, and building resilience in our coastal ecosystems.

300,000

3.6

Every year, around

This is the equivalent of more thanis collected from areas

where it builds up and used to replenish areas of erosion

cubic meters of sand

millionwheelbarrows

10 11

The growing global demand for premium food and beverage products has created immense new opportunities for Australian primary producers.

The food and wine sector is currently worth $18.2 billion per year to the South Australian economy, and employs more than 140,000 people.

Our state’s primary production is reliant on a healthy landscape providing a range of natural support systems, such as pollination services, soil processes, nutrient cycling, water cycling, pest management, and climate moderation.

We partner with natural resources management boards to support landholders, communities and agricultural industry groups to maintain landscape health by building skills, and encouraging practices that effectively manage pest plants and animals, monitor and manage soil health, conserve remnant ecosystems, and use water sustainably.

Together we will ensure our natural resources remain healthy and sustainable into the future.

Producing premium food and wine from our clean environment

2. SUSTAINING THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF OUR STATE

costs and lost production

cost SA farmers more than

$650 million every year in direct

Pest animals and plants The food and wine sector is worth

per year to the SA economy, and employs more than

$18.2 billion

140,000 people

12 13

We support the conservation of natural systems at a whole-of-landscape scale through collaboration between primary producers, land managers, conservationists, communities, and all levels of government.

Our approach includes managing threats to our native species, protecting and repairing habitat for threatened species, reintroducing species into safe habitats, and introducing some species into areas outside of their historic range to help them persist in a changing climate.

One example of this is the Bounceback program, where we have partnered with land-managers and Aboriginal communities to achieve landscape scale restoration across the spectacular Flinders, Olary and Gawler Ranges.

By dramatically reducing fox numbers and managing feral goats and rabbits in the region, native vegetation has regenerated and the threatened yellow-footed rock wallabies are making a comeback. The success of this approach has meant we have now been able to expand and trial the reintroduction of western quolls and brushtail possums to the region.

Conserving native species


In South Australia we are never far from the opportunity to appreciate our unique native wildlife up close.

While these experiences are often rewarding and positive, interaction between wildlife and human activities can sometimes be problematic.

Many native species now live permanently in close proximity to us – in our homes, streets, towns, farms and bushland. They employ a range of behaviours to help them adapt and survive, and competing for food, water and space can bring them into conflict with people, industry and agriculture.

We undertake research into the ecology, distribution and impacts of certain species, and work with impacted communities to guide effective and humane wildlife management activities. Understanding the needs and behaviours of our wildlife is the key to living harmoniously with them.

Living with wildlife


1514

Protecting and improving native vegetation

We have put in place a practical framework that strikes a balance between competing pressures on our native vegetation – one of our most valuable assets.

Following European settlement there was widespread clearance of native vegetation for agriculture and other purposes. It is now widely recognised that our native vegetation – from ground covers and native grasses, to towering redgums and the seaweed on our coasts – is vital to the health of our environment, our wellbeing and our prosperity.

It helps protect our land and water against problems such as erosion, salinity and climate change. It provides essential habitat for our native animal species. It improves agricultural productivity by providing windbreaks

and shelter for stock, and helps tackle climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Equally important is the sense of place we experience when we have the chance to immerse ourselves in the special beauty of our native ‘bush’.

With an overall focus on no net loss of native vegetation, we are getting the basics right with effective legislation and policy, clear and simple processes, a flexible biodiversity credit market, and on-ground projects to offset clearances.

hectares by the national park system

1.7 million =+1 millionhectares through heritage agreements an area the equivalent to six

Kangaroo Islands

6x


Native vegetation protected

in SA

16 17

Protecting the state from fire and flood


Bushfires and floods are a real threat to many South Australians and to our environment. They can happen quickly, destroying land, property and lives without warning.

We work with private landholders and others in the community to reduce their fire risk and ensure they are able to prepare for, respond to, and recover from bushfires on public land.

We use the latest technology and science to plan and carry out a prescribed burns program ahead of fire danger season to reduce fire hazards, manage native vegetation and protect biodiversity in our parks and reserves.

Dedicated fire management staff work with local communities to carry out the prescribed burning program. In the event

of a bushfire, we also have more than 500 highly-trained brigade members on hand to help the SA Country Fire Service in their firefighting efforts.

We support the SA State Emergency Service in warning the public about potential or impending floods, or the need for emergency evacuation.

We also work to manage the impacts of these natural hazards on our communities and their livelihoods, while also protecting our land and maintaining biodiversity.

planned burns hectares

Since 2004, we’ve undertaken to reduce fire risk over

701 90,49518 19

In addition to being critical for the conservation of our native species, national parks and reserves are places of adventure and challenge, exercise, peace and quiet, recreation, congregation and relaxation.

We strive to continually to improve our network of parks so that we can further protect South Australia’s unique environment, and provide our park visitors with the best possible experience. Many people already enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of walking, sightseeing, cycling and socialising in our parks, but we want more people to use these wonderful assets.

Our 356 parks already cover 21.1 million hectares, or approximately 21 per cent of the state’s land—about the size of Victoria—and recent additions include the proclamation of the Kinchina Conservation Park and Monarto Woodlands Conservation Park near Monarto, and adding to Kaiserstuhl Conservation Park in the Barossa Valley.

We have also created a network of 19 multi-use marine parks, which play a similar conservation role to land-based national parks. The 84 sanctuary zones within these marine parks further protect our underwater life and provide a safe place for species to reproduce.

With 85 per cent of South Australia’s marine life found nowhere else on earth, protecting and conserving these species and their habitats is critical. Along with the benefits to marine life, we are experiencing an increase in international tourists eager to experience our pristine and diverse underwater wonders for themselves, and local businesses are harnessing the commercial opportunities.

Managing our national parks

3. CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE, PARKS AND PLACES

visited a national park

7 in 10South Australians have

in the last 12 months

of our marine species are found nowhere else in the world.

85%

of SA’s marine waters44%

are marine parks, and 6%are within sanctuary zones

20 21

Co-management with Aboriginal people

Internationally, the involvement of indigenous people in park management and ownership is considered one of the most important elements of contemporary parks, and is essential for their ongoing relevance.

We have developed a unique approach in South Australia that brings together conservation goals and Aboriginal aspirations to achieve the best for both our land and our communities – a model that has received national and international recognition. It is a partnership between the state government and Aboriginal groups that fosters a shared desire to manage land in a way that combines traditional knowledge with contemporary park management.

Since establishing co-management in 2002, 12 co-management arrangements have been put in place covering 35 of South Australia’s parks and reserves. This represents 13.5 million hectares or 64 per cent of the state’s reserve system and provides a platform for pursuing cultural tourism and other economic benefits.


covering

co-managementarrangements

of the state’sreserve system64%

SA has

12

22 23

Improving parks on Adelaide’s doorstep

Within 50 kilometres of the Adelaide CBD there are 50 national parks and reserves covering more than 13,000 hectares, helping to make our capital one of the most liveable cities in the world.

Over the last two years more than 11,000 people have participated in a project to co-design improvements in these national parks and reserves. The process highlighted the importance of rangers for the community, as well as improvements like camping and picnic grounds, walking and cycling trails, information hubs, natural play spaces, and scenic lookouts.

As a result, five new rangers and eight seasonal trail maintenance positions were created, and nearly 40 infrastructure projects were initiated. These include $5 million of works to the northern parks of Para Wirra, Anstey Hill, Morialta, Black Hill and Cobbler Creek, and a further $2.2 million of works to the southern parks of Onkaparinga River, O’Halloran Hill and Hallett Cove.

The first of these projects to be completed was the ‘bird of prey’

themed playground, picnic area and carpark, and new mountain bike trails at Cobbler Creek Recreation Park. Visitor numbers to the park have risen by 700 per cent since opening.

Major car park and trail construction have been completed in Anstey Hill Recreation Park, and people have flocked to the park to enjoy the new trail network. Local businesses have noticed the increase in visitation, with an enterprising mobile coffee vendor setting up just outside the main park gates.

Work on a nature playground in Morialta Conservation Park is now underway. Campgrounds, lookouts, carparks, toilets, picnic facilities and kayak/canoe launches in Onkaparinga River National Park, and camping and natural play facilities in Para Wirra Conservation Park, will be coming soon.


24 25

Activating nature-based tourism

Tourism currently employs 32,000 South Australians and generates around $5.3 billion per annum for the South Australian economy. The state government is working to grow this to $8 billion and 41,000 jobs by 2020.

Nature-based tourism will be an important part of this. By 2020 nature-based tourism businesses will have created 1,000 new jobs and inject $350 million into the state economy every year. To achieve this we will need to ensure that we make wise use of our world-class network of national parks, pristine marine parks, and magnificent wildlife. In global terms, our wildlife and wild places are as good as it gets.

We will activate industry growth by driving tourism demand, co-investing to create experiences like nowhere else, and creating an environment where nature-based tourism businesses can flourish.

We are collaborating with Traditional Owners, local government, tourism businesses, regional tourism organisations and local communities to develop experiences including:

• standout walking journeys across the landscape

• unrivalled native wildlife experiences in Adelaide

• marine wildlife experiences without equal

• extraordinary sensory experiences that leave a lasting impression.

We are ready to support ambitious ideas that further develop the unique appeal of South Australia.


SA tourism is currently worth$5.3 billion

SA plans to grow

$8 billion41,000 jobsan

d

this by 2020 to

and 32,000 jobs

26 27

Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary


Imag

e: M

arti

n St

oke

s

Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary

We have recently established the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary—a 60 km stretch of coastline north of Adelaide, in partnership with local councils, the Kaurna Aboriginal community, Vietnamese farming communities, businesses, the tourism sector and several not-for-profits.

A section of the sanctuary was recently declared a national park, and co-named Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park – Winaityinaityi Pangkara, which means ‘a country for all birds’ and reflects our ongoing partnership and commitment to the land’s traditional owners.

Within close proximity to Adelaide, the sanctuary boasts a diversity of resident and migratory shorebirds, waterbirds and bush birds. The sanctuary also provides coastal protection from storm surges, is an important carbon sink, filters storm water, and is a place for locals and visitors to connect with nature and enjoy the environment.

At the peak of the summer migration season, more than 27,000 migratory shorebirds gather across the sanctuary, with many species travelling along the East Asia-Australasian Flyway, through more than 22 countries and arriving from as far away as northern Asia and Alaska. More than 200 species have been recorded, several of these endangered and in need of protection, globally.

The sanctuary is being highlighted internationally as an example of how to work with community leaders to strengthen communities and enhance the protection of nature.

protects more than

of migratory shorebirds23 species

The sanctuary

28 29

Managing iconic tourism sites

We manage a number of the state’s iconic tourism sites including Cleland Wildlife Park, Seal Bay, Kelly Hill Caves, Naracoorte Caves, Tantanoola Caves, Mt Lofty Summit and the state heritage-listed Adelaide Gaol. With the exception of the gaol, all of these sites are situated in our national parks.

In 2016, the global travel authority TripAdvisor awarded us Certificates of Excellence for these seven iconic commercial tourism sites. This award was based on feedback from domestic and international visitors, and helps position South Australia as a top nature-based tourism destination.

Cleland is one of the only places in the world where you can hold a koala, learn from expert keepers and get up close to Australian birds and animals in a natural setting.

Naracoorte Caves is South Australia’s only World Heritage Site, and home to a spectacular cave system, 500,000-year-old fossils, mega fauna skeletons, cutting edge paleontological research, and expert tour experiences.

Seal Bay is where you can see endangered Australian Sea lions in their remote native habitat – the only beach accessible colony in the world.


TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence7x

More than

330,000 visitorsto our iconic tourism sites

in 2015-16

30 31

A world-class walking trail

In 2016 we finalised construction and launched the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail – an unforgettable five-day experience.

The trail connects walkers to all of the must-see destinations of Kangaroo Island—Rocky River, Weirs Cove, Admirals Arch, Remarkable Rocks, Hanson Bay, Grassdale and Kelly Hill Caves—via spectacular cliffs, wild rivers, lagoons, woodlands and remote beaches, many only accessible to those hiking the trail.

The world’s number one guidebook publisher and international travel authority, Lonely Planet, has listed the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail as number three on its 2017 new destination list, highlighting the trail to millions of potential travellers around the world.

In addition to attracting more tourists to South Australia, we are confident that this high quality tourism asset will provide the foundation for private sector tourism operators to offer complementary and related services such as eco-accommodation, guided tours, and premium food and wine experiences.


32 33

Healthy parks, healthy people

The scientific evidence unequivocally shows that spending time in nature is good for us – it improves our physical and mental health, it has positive effects on our ability to concentrate and learn, solve problems, think critically, and be creative.

So we believe that South Australia’s parks are a vital part of the solution to a number of social and health issues we face as a state.

Through the Healthy Parks Healthy People framework we are working with health, primary industries, Aboriginal affairs, social inclusion, education and urban planning sectors to maximise the benefits of nature-based public health interventions.

By providing better opportunities for people to interact with nature through activities such as play, exercise, relaxation and socialising, South Australians will be able to take advantage of the health benefits of being outdoors.


Another study found that

people immersed in nature for 4 days boosted their performance

on a creative problem-solving test by 50%

A study of 108,630 women

spanning an 8 year period,

showed those that lived in

a green, natural environment

lower rate of mortality

had a

12%

34 35

Nature Play SA Making unstructured play in nature an everyday part of children’s lives is the essence of the Nature Play SA philosophy.

Originally a not-for-profit organisation funded by DEWNR and other South Australian government agencies, it is now a stand-alone enterprise with a huge presence—and a huge following—in connecting children with the great outdoors.

We continue to work closely with Nature Play, to share the wonder of our stunning landscapes and historically significant sites, the stories of our local flora and fauna, and the expertise of the passionate people who care for these special places. Nature Play weaves its magic – bringing nature even more to life and fostering children’s natural fascination.

In just a few short years, the organisation has given more than 150,000 children nature ‘passports’ filled with ideas of things to see and do outdoors, attracted in excess of 10,000 children to events like cubby-house building or fishing days in our natural places, and built a strong social media following.

It’s in the longer-term that the biggest benefits will come. Encouraging children to spend more time outdoors and less time in front of a screen will make a dramatic difference to their overall development and wellbeing, and fostering their interest in the natural world around them will help build the next generation of environmental advocates.


36 37

The average Australian child spends less time outdoors than a

maximum security prisioner

Nature Play Passports issued

150,000So far more than

Botanic gardens in the city and hills

We are the proud custodians of the Botanic Gardens of South Australia. Located in Adelaide’s central business district, at Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills, and at Wittunga in the foothills of Blackwood, together the three sites attracted more than 2.67 million visitors in the 2015-16 financial year, making it the state’s most popular cultural institution.

For Adelaide residents, the gardens offer an escape from the urban environment, providing space and opportunities for relaxation, recreation and entertainment. About 65 per cent of all South Australian households visit at least one of the gardens each year, not to mention visits to Botanic Park, adjacent to the Adelaide Botanic Garden, which hosts a number of festivals and social events throughout the year.

More than 20,000 students and teachers make use of the gardens and its educational resources every

year, and the Little Sprouts Kitchen Garden Learning Program is one of the key attractions. Established at the Adelaide Garden in 2015, the program teaches children where food comes from and how to grow it, to encourage healthy habits from a young age.

The tireless work of volunteers continues to be vital to the success and presentation of all three gardens. The team of passionate helpers contributes upwards of 46,000 hours of voluntary work each year, a testament to their strong connection to this iconic place.


Over

visitors each year

million 2.6 20,000

students from

over 100 schools participate in our education programs

38 39

Sharing our heritage We work with the community to manage our heritage, an essential part of our social, economic and environmental wellbeing.

Heritage provides a sense of continuity and belonging. It connects us with our past and reflects the mix of community attitudes and values that have shaped our environment.

The heritage appeal of a particular site, area or region attracts visitors and underpins cultural tourism, which in turn supports growth and regional development.

Iconic landscapes, buildings, ruins, wrecks, sites and artefacts are valued for their economic, aesthetic, educational and recreational qualities.

Our built heritage also contributes to an ecologically sustainable environment. By reusing buildings, we can help to lower the level of construction waste and minimise the energy that goes into making new building materials.

We work with the community to conserve our heritage and to find new ways to activate heritage places, so they can continue to bring enjoyment and value.


In SA, we protect more than

2,280State Heritage Places

800 and more than

historic shipwrecks

40 41

Water for the economy

4. MANAGING WATER FOR THE FUTURE

A healthy economy is vital to South Australia’s future and can only be achieved by ensuring industries have access to a reliable water supply.

We give water users the confidence to make long term investment decisions by determining sustainable water allocations across 27 water resource areas and managing a system of tradeable water licences.

There is around $2.8 billion worth of water managed across 14,000 active, tradeable licences in South Australia. These licences allow equitable and controlled access to water for industries including irrigated agriculture, manufacturing, mining and petroleum as well as stock and domestic use.

The value of irrigated agricultural production in SA was

$1.8 billion

in 2014-15for the SA economy

$7 billion

In 2013 mining companies generated

Irrigation 80%

Urban domestic supply 9%

Industrial 6%

Dryland farming and rural living 4%Mining and petroleum 1%

Wat

er u

se in

SA

42 43

Water for our communities


A secure water supply is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of our communities.

We have improved assessment of regional water demand and supply, and modernised our water industry.

Our water sources have been diversified to include stormwater and treated wastewater for non-drinking uses, and desalination as a climate-independent source of drinking water.

Supporting South Australia’s transition to a water sensitive state has involved the introduction of raingardens, wetlands, stormwater recycling, permeable paving and other ‘green infrastructure’ into the urban environment.

South Australia leads the nation in stormwater harvesting, wastewater recycling and the proportion of households that use rainwater tanks.

This approach will increase the value of urban infrastructure, reduce the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades (for example, stormwater drains) and reduce the risk and consequences of flooding.

Collectively this work will help ensure that our water supplies are secure, safe, diverse, reliable and able to sustain growing populations and economies in a changing climate.

wastewater recycled per person

stormwater reuse

households using rainwater tanks

SA ranks first in the nation for:

billion litres

SA now recycles more than

of treated wastewater per year

344 45

Water for the environment


We protect the water supplies on which South Australia’s plants, animals and ecosystems depend.

The unique mound springs in the South Australian portion of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) are home to more than 80 species of plants and animals that occur nowhere else in the world. We monitor and manage water pressure levels in the GAB to help maintain the water supply that these special ecosystems need.

In 2015-16, South Australia secured the delivery of 797 GL of environmental water in the River Murray that was used to improve the health of the riverine environment, floodplain wetlands and Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth.

In the Mount Lofty Ranges, we have identified the importance of maintaining low stream flows to the survival of the region’s aquatic ecosystem. Work to secure these low flows will help maintain permanent pools, encourage recolonisation of water dependent plants, improve the stability of watercourses and support healthier native fish populations.

170,000 The site supports

vulnerable or endangered 8 bird speciesvisit the Coorong

and Lower lakes each year

shorebirds

46 47

Using the best water science


As part of our effort to sustain South Australia’s water resources, we undertake extensive water science and monitoring.

Our science focuses on understanding and managing our ground and surface water resources to support productive communities and healthy ecosystems, while our water monitoring efforts provide the data we need to determine trends in water quality and quantity.

Our work helps find and sustainably develop new sources of underground water to support communities, mining, agriculture and other industries.

Sources of water used

in SAsurface water monitoring stations, and

We have

24562%

38% 3,645groundwater quantity and quality observation wells.

groundwater

surface water

48 49

A healthy, working River Murray


85%Up to

drinking water comes from the River Murray

of the state’s

The River Murray is essential to the economic, social, cultural and environmental future of our state.

Not only does the river supply water for industries, urban and town water use across the state, it also supports high-value ecological communities, including nationally and internationally important wetlands, and a range of cultural and social needs.

To address historic overuse of the river, we are working with the Australian Government and upstream states to implement the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The plan aims to restore health to the river by rebalancing the competing demands on this precious resource.

Work includes constructing regulators to deliver environmental water to the floodplain and helping

irrigators to modernise their on-farm irrigation infrastructure which will help them manage climate change impacts while freeing up more water for the environment.

In 2015-16, environmental benefits resulting from the additional water secured under the Basin Plan included a significant colonial waterbird breeding event in the Coorong and Lower Lakes region. Environmental water also supported the upstream migration of the rare and primitive eel-like pouched lamprey from the estuary through barrage fishways into the River Murray.

$1.8 billionSA irrigated agriculture is worth

More than half of this is from the Murray-Darling basin

50 51

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The work of the Department of Environment, Water and ...€¦ · • sustaining the state’s natural resources. By delivering on these goals we will achieve our purpose, which is