Integrated estuary management
Linking catchments to the sea
Worshop 22 November 2005, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, East Melbourne
Presentation Outline
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Background
Why are we here
What can you expect?
What is going to
happen
 Where to next
 Presentation summary
Background
 Estuaries are ecosystems of considerable
environmental, social and economic value:
• support a diverse range of species many unique
• play significant role in regional economies (shipping)
• great importance to local communities (catch)
 Increasing demands resulting from human activities
have the potential to result in the degradation of
estuaries and threaten their sustainability
Estuaries - Linking catchments to the sea
NAP/NHT project to minimise pressures on Victorias estuaries
1. Whole of ecosystem scale - upstream/downstream effects
2. Combined (synergistic) affect of human activities
3. Links to potential management intervention
- pragmatic approach
4. Turning research outputs into outcomes
1
2
4
3
5
Management of
Cudgen plateau
Returns to
vegetable farmers
People
accessing
creek
Swimming
Fishing
Creek salinity
Entrance
management
Sea level rise
Management of
agricultural
drains
Mangroves
Creek flushing
Creek input
a -TN
b -TSS
c - Pathogens
d -TP
Flood frequency
Returns to
cane
farmers
Urban development
in creek catchment
only
Seagrass
beds
Creek ANZECC
Salt marsh
Aquatic
habitat
Creek
a -TN
b -TSS
c - Pathogens
d -TP
Lake water
quality
a - TN
b - Pathogens
c - Acid
d - TP
e - salinity
f- TSS
Flood risk
Social acceptability
Lake reeds
Aquatic
Fauna
Lake
ANZECC
Disaster cost to
council
Algal
blooms
Direct wetland
habitat
Bush area
Aboriginal
Values
Wetland
Fauna
Threatened Flora
Unplanned fire
Total wetland habitat
Maintenance cost
to council
Hazard reduction
Urban
development
(lake catchment)
Weeds
Costs to NPWS
Terrestrial habitat
Wildlife injury
Domestic pets
Forest Fauna
Cudgen Lake Case Study
Management of vegetable crop land:
buffer strips, fertiliser application
2
1
Seaside
City
3
4
Salt
3
Cudgen
Lake
5
Possible new urban development:
1: Cudgen heights (1)
2: Cudgen heights (2)
3: Kings Forest,
4: Duranbah,
5: Hansen
6: Tanglewood)
House density, stormwater management,
sewerage management, riparian buffers
fire buffers, weed restrictions
Casuarina
Cabarita
Potential for new rural residential
development:
sewerage management, riparian buffers
Fire buffers, weed restrictions
6
Bogangar
Changes to current urban settlements:
Increase density, retrofit stormwater
management systems
Management of sugar cane for acid
runoff:
Percentage of catchment adopting
these measures
What is the purpose of today
1. Information sharing
Questionnaire
2. Integrated management
Case scenario
3. Communication strategy
reference group
I don’t know how it started either
All I know is its corporate culture
What can you expect?
1. Report on the outcomes of the workshop
2. Ongoing communication of research outputs
3. Ongoing communication with respect to
estuary management
4. Web page - information portal on Vic estuaries
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrencm.nsf/childdocs/
-2594CB2F087CB6D84A2567CA0081791F-CB8C3B1FB
196F9DE4A256B660015733C?open
Estuary management and indicators
10:30 - Developing the methodology for assessing estuary pressures:
relationships with catchment condition
Prof Gerry Quinn, Deakin University
10: 50 - 10 minutes for questions
11:00 - Are there such things as indicators of estuarine health?
Jan Barton, Deakin University
11:20 - 10 minutes for questions
11:30 - Fill in questions questionnaire (3 purposes)
All workshop participants
12:00 - LUNCH
Integrated management
13:00 - Legislation relating to estuary management
Ingrid Holliday, DSE
13: 30 - Development of the estuary CAP in Gippsland
Brett Millington, Gippsland Coastal Board
14:00 - Group Case scenarios - 20 minutes for 4 questions
14:30 - Presentation of group scenarios (4 groups)
10 minutes each
15: 00 – Summary comments (Don Hough)
15: 20 - BREAK
Matter for Targets
15:30 - Matters for targets
Rob Thorman, National Land and Water Audit
Ingrid Holliday, DSE
16:00 – 16:55 – Selection of matters for targets
17:00 - Close of workshop and thanks