DNR - Interim Draft Natural Resource and Conservation Strategy SEQ

Department Of Natural Resources Qld

INTERIM
Natural Resource
Management
and
Conservation Strategy
for
South East Queensland

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Understanding and involvement (U)

3. Caring for Biodiversity (B)

4. Caring for our Water (W)

5. Caring for our Land (L)

6. Caring for our coast and seas (C)

7. Integrated planning and coordination (P)

Introduction

Purpose of the Interim Draft Strategy

The key purpose of this document is to act as a guide for Natural Heritage Trust Funds for 1999-2000. However the information presented here is not limited to actions that are eligible for NHT funds, but covers all the key issues identified by the SEQ community. Some of the strategies and actions described may be more appropriately funded from other government and non government sources. Another purpose of this document is to seek further input and endorsement from key stakeholders to progress the development of the Regional Strategy. It is intended that the completed strategy will compliment and be consistent with other regional and local area planning documents, including the Regional Framework for Growth Management, local government planning documents and individual catchment plans. For this reason, it is important to gain endorsement for the strategy from the various resource managengement and conservation agencies throughout the SEQ region. During the early months of 1999, this document will be used to stimulate discussion with those key stakeholders.

Any comments on this document are welcome. Please direct your comments and queries to the coordinator -

Mary Jane Weld
Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 864 IPSWICH Q 4305
Ph 07-38845327
Mobile - 0412 585 614
Fax - 07 38845322 or
Email -mary-jane.weld@dnr.qld.gov.au

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Key regional issues

The use of natural resources in the South East Queensland Region must be ecologically, socially and economically sustainable; treating the land, flora and fauna, fresh water, ocean and air as one interdependent system. However, the issues are so numerous and complex that there is a need for some division to allow them to be treated in a coherent fashion. For the purposes of this strategy, they have been divided into the major topics of:

U Understanding and involvement

B Caring for biodiversity

W Caring for our water resources

L Caring for our land

C Caring for our coast and seas

P Integrated planning and coordination

Under each major topic, you will find:

A brief description of the background issues to the topic

A goal describing the desired state or condition of the topic

A series of strategic objectives stating the key directions for actions to achieve the goal

Under each strategic objective, a number of strategies and actions are described. Required actions with their relative priorities are listed, together with some currently occurring actions which address the identified strategies.

Understanding and involvement (U)

Issues

Achieving sustainable natural resource management within the region presently depends on the wisdom and voluntary action of natural resource users together with support and action from the local community. An important element of this process is an understanding of natural resource management issues which results from the sharing of information within and between stakeholder groups.

State and local government agencies, educational institutions, industry bodies, cultural groups, community groups and individuals all play a role in capturing, processing and communicating information such as: the condition of natural resources; trends in natural resource condition; natural processes and the impact of human activity on these processes; and best management practices related to natural resource management. The incorporation of such information at all levels of decision making and the acknowledgment of present levels of understanding amongst various sectors is essential.

Activities relevant to the promotion of understanding and involvement in natural resource management and biodiversity protection include:

regional information collation, analysis and dissemination

development of tools, methods and understanding to improve natural resource planning and management and biodiversity protection

identification of best management practices

promotion and transfer of best management practices, tools, methods, information and understanding

regional reporting and evaluation

community education aimed at generating understanding, support and involvement in various natural resource management and biodiversity protection programs

consultation with aboriginal groups and raising of cross-cultural awareness.

Providing communities with the opportunity to develop, learn, interact and become involved in natural resource management and biodiversity protection issues is critical to the successful implementation of this strategy.

Goal

We need a well-informed and motivated community which actively promotes and practices sustainable natural resource management.

Strategic objectives

Four strategic objectives have been identified to enable us to improve our understanding of, and involvement with natural resource management in South East Queensland. They are:

U1	Resources and information are readily accessible to all members of the community.
U2	Educative components are integrated into the use and management of natural resources.
U3	Understanding and involvement is fostered through cooperation and partnerships between stakeholders
U4	Opportunities are provided for building and improving the capacity of the community to understand and become involved in natural resource management.

Each objective and its associated strategies and actions are detailed below.

Objective U1:

Understandable information is readily accessible to all members of the community

Strategy U1.1:

Identify information and resource requirements to meet the needs of SEQ communities

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
U1.1.1	Undertake information and resource audit and develop work program to fill gaps	Essential
U1.1.2	Collate and produce information in user friendly formats	Highly desirable
U1.1.3	Ensure adequate resources for all NRM managers and groups to access and disseminate information	Highly desirable

Strategy U1.2

Recognise existing sources of information.

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
U1.2.1	Recognise and capture local knowledge and expertise.	Essential
U1.2.2	Ensure processes for identification of cultural places in partnership with traditional owners.	Highly desirable

Objective U2:

Educative components are integrated into the use and management of natural resources

Strategy U2.1:		Facilitate the development of South East Queensland specific education resources targeted at local needs

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
U2.1.1	Develop government & non-government extension activities for practical, on the ground programs, eg pest management, farm forestry, fire management.		Essential
U2.1.2	Develop action-based programs that can be implemented at a local level		Highly desirable
U2.1.3	Develop an accredited ecotourism training program.		Highly desirable
U2.1.4	Ensure NRM & C information appropriate to the SEQ region is integrated into curricula at all levels of the formal education system.		Desirable
U2.1.5	Provide teacher support for the delivery of NRM topics through the school curriculum.		Desirable
U2.1.6	Ensure use of a range of media types and consultative methods appropriate to all SEQ communities		Desirable

Strategy U2.2

Ensure educative component incorporated in all natural resource management and conservation activities

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
U2.2.1	Promote adoption of Best Management Practice	Essential	These Codes of Practice: An Environmental Code of Practice for Agriculture Sustainable cane growing in Queensland Farmcare Guidelines (Qld Fruit & Vegetable Growers)
U2.2.2	Develop participatory monitoring and evaluation components in all education programs	Desirable
U2.2.3	Ensure promotion of economic and social benefits of improved NRM is incorporated in programs.	Desirable

Objective U3:		Understanding and involvement is fostered through cooperation and partnerships between stakeholders

Strategy U3.1:		Ensure coordination between technical, legislative, social and educative aspects of NRM

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
U3.1.1	Ensure coordination and linkages between NRM & C and associated processes		Essential	WAMPs, ICM, RFGM
U3.1.2	Promote interchange of ideas to avoid duplication		Highly desirable

Strategy U3.2:

Facilitate and resource the development of effective partnerships between community, industry and government in decision-making and management

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
U3.2.1	Develop cross cultural awareness programs for enhanced NRM	Highly desirable
U3.2.2	Through partnerships and networks, access traditional and historic NRM practices and integrate them with current NRM & C.	Highly desirable
U3.2.3	Facilitate and resource cross cultural partnerships between stakeholders (eg industry groups, conservation groups) for enhanced NRM & C.	Highly desirable
U3.2.4	Use effective partnerships and networks to address resource, support and information sharing deficiencies	Desirable

Objective U4:	Opportunities are provided for building and improving the capacity of the community to understand and become involved in natural resource management and conservation.

Strategy U4.1:	Enhance the skills base of stakeholders

Code	Actions Required	Priority & locality	Current Actions
U4.1.1	Develop monitoring and feedback programs for the improvement of existing NRM & C processes	Essential
U4.1.2	Develop specific programs to enhance the skills base of NRM stakeholders, including professional development programs.	Highly desirable
U4.1.3	Use partnerships and networks to enhance the involvement and skills base of the community	Desirable

Strategy U4.2:

Facilitate the effective participation of stakeholders in natural resource management and conservation.

Code	Actions Required	Priority & locality	Current Actions
U4.2.1	Adequately resource stakeholders to enable effective participation in NRM & C.	Essential
U4.2.2	Develop incentive, motivation and recognition programs	Highly desirable	Landcare awards

Caring for Biodiversity (B)

Issues

Diversity of nature is expressed in various ways. The number of different vegetation types, and plant and animal species are obvious measures. Combinations of landform, geology, climate, and vegetation have been used to describe and map ecosystems that are another means of assessing biodiversity.

South East Queensland has a wide and diverse range of natural resources and biosystems. The area contains a number of significant nature conservation values, including:

endangered, vulnerable, rare or special interest species of plants and animals, and their habitats;

endangered, of concern, or inadequately protected regional ecosystems;

sites listed under international treaties or conventions (eg. Ramsar wetlands, World Heritage properties);

international migratory birds and their habitats;

sites of special biological importance such as areas of high endemism, species diversity or key breeding/ feeding sites;

ecosystems which have important ecological functions, such as mangroves, riparian areas, floodplains, saltmarshes and other tidal and non-tidal wetlands.

There is clear evidence that the above values, other nature conservation values, and the region’s land, vegetation and water resources are under threat of degradation. Emerging issues that threaten biodiversity include:

loss of bushland and fauna habitat

fragmentation and isolation of remaining bushland

increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems

changes in the natural biodiversity from invasive plants and pests

changes in catchment hydrology from changing land use

deterioration in water quality from diffuse and point source pollution discharges

changes in predation patterns on native animals.

In particular, the threatening activities operating in South East Queensland include inappropriate land clearing and fire management, subdivision, mining, road and rail construction, and urban development. The principal factor in biodiversity protection in South East Queensland is the sustainable management of habitat.

Goal

We need to protect, restore and sustainable manage native plant and animal communities to ensure their survival and maintain biodiversity.

Strategic Objectives

Three strategic objectives have been identified to enable us to care for our biodiversity in South East Queensland. They are:

B1	Our environment is managed so that plant and animal communities are protected and biodiversity is maintained.
B2	Riparian zones and streams are conserved and protected as part of an integrated land management system.
B3	Ecosystems, species and remnant vegetation are protected and conserved.

Each objective and its associated strategies and actions are detailed below.

Objective B1:

Our environment is managed so that plant and animal communities are protected and biodiversity is maintained.

Strategy B1.1:

Promote the incorporation of biodiversity conservation into land management practices.

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
B1.1.1	Protect, restore and sustainably manage remnant vegetation in multiple land use situations.	Essential
B1.1.2	Develop strategic vegetation plans for terrestrial, freshwater and marine areas and implement these plans on a local and regional basis.	Essential
B1.1.3	Assess and address threats to the region’s natural biodiversity from invasive pest species by: Assessing habitat values of exotic flora Developing and promoting weed and feral animal control strategies using an ecosystem approach Promoting and implementing local government pest management plans Developing management mechanisms to target existing and potential environmental weeds	Essential
B1.1.4	Develop & implement fire management plans based on ecological principles.	Highly desirable
B1.1.5	Ensure environmental values are identified and protected before the adoption of recreational plans which allow for specific and multiple uses, and minimise the adverse impacts of recreational use on the region’s biodiversity, land and water resources.	Highly desirable

Strategy B1.2:		Support the acquisition of key biodiversity areas.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
B1.2.1	Refine, conserve and rehabilitate areas of critical and broad biodiversity through better forward planning.		Essential
B1.2.2	Identify, protect and manage key areas by a range of land management and tenure mechanisms.		Essential

Objective B2:

Riparian zones and streams are conserved and protected as part of an integrated land management system.

Strategy B2.1:		Define, protect and rehabilitate riparian areas.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
B2.1.1	Develop guidelines and implement riverine strategies for the protection and management of riparian areas.		Essential	DNR River Facts Management of River and Creek Bank Plantings in Sub-tropical Coastal Riparian Rainforest
B2.1.2	Identify, retain, revegetate and manage important riparian areas, riverine aquatic habitat and wetlands.		Essential	The Condition of River Catchments in Queensland
B2.1.3	Resolve management and control issues in relation to ownership of high and low banks.		Essential
B2.1.4	Identify areas of streambank erosion and instream sedimentation, and implement remedial and protective actions.		Highly desirable

Strategy B2.2:		Improve the environmental and hydrological values of waterways.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
B2.2.1	Improve and maintain the integrity of instream biota, wetland habitats and related terrestrial biota.		Essential
B2.2.2	Identify barriers to fish movement and provide appropriate fishways where necessary.		Highly desirable
B2.2.3	Implement mechanisms to prevent the translocation and stocking of inappropriate species.		Highly desirable

Objective B3:

Ecosystems, species, and remnant vegetation are protected and conserved.

Strategy B3.1:		Promote the protection and conservation of ecosystems, species and remnant vegetation.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
B3.1.1	Identify ecosystems and species under current threat of degradation and/or already degraded in South East Queensland.		Essential
B3.1.2	Identify native vegetation at a scale appropriate for regional planning and action.		Essential
B3.1.3	Develop appropriate legislation at a whole-of-government level for vegetation management.		Essential
B3.1.4	Introduce mechanisms for protecting vegetation through statutory planning processes.		Essential
B3.1.5	Incorporate identified corridors, core areas and ecosystems into planning schemes across local authority areas.		Essential
B3.1.6	Develop and implement management and recovery plans and other programs for the efficient and cost-effective protection, restoration and rehabilitation of identified priority ecosystems to improve their conservation status.		Essential
B3.1.7	Monitor the rate of vegetation change in the SEQ Region and compare to established benchmarks.		Highly desirable	Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (DNR)
B3.1.8	Develop and promote vegetation management plans at a catchment level.		Highly desirable

Strategy B3.2:		Illustrate the economic and social benefits of improved vegetation management.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
B3.2.1	Introduce incentive schemes for the protection of vegetation and water supply catchments.		Essential
B3.2.2	Encourage activities that increase the coverage and improve the status of native flora and fauna in SEQ.		Highly desirable
B3.2.3	Promote the concept and practice of responsible stewardship over private land.		Highly desirable	Landcare movement

Caring for our Water (W)

Issues

Emerging issues that threaten our water resources include:

Loss of water quality
Sustainable management of water availability and use
Protecting instream values and resources

Goal

We need an adequate, sustainable supply of clean water to maintain ecological systems and support human needs.

Strategic Objectives

Four strategic objectives have been identified to enable us to care for our water in South East Queensland. They are:

W1	Water quality is sustainably managed for the mutual benefit of people, flora and fauna.
W2	Water availability and use are sustainably managed for the mutual benefit of people, flora and fauna.
W3	Instream values and resources are managed and protected.
W4	Cultural and social values are an integral component of water care and water management.

Each objective and their associated strategies and actions are detailed below.

Objective W1:

Water quality is sustainably managed for the mutual benefit of people, flora and fauna.

Strategy W1.1		Promote the formulation and implementation of water quality guidelines and standards.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
W1.1.1	Identify, develop and use catchment health indicators.		Essential
W1.1.2	Determine requirements for environmental allocations.		Highly desirable
W1.1.3	Continue to assess freshwater quality and habitat against ANZECC guidelines.		Highly desirable
W1.1.4	Protect, restore and manage freshwater habitat values (including biotic and abiotic elements), both instream and at specific water bodies.		Highly desirable

Strategy W1.2:		Foster risk assessment, and the management and mitigation of erosion and sedimentation and other contaminants.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
W1.2.1	Research, develop and implement blue green algae mitigation plans.		Essential
W1.2.2	Identify livestock needs for water access and implement environmentally appropriate guidelines.		Highly desirable
W1.2.3	Identify and minimise point source pollutant discharges.		Highly desirable
W1.2.4	Identify and minimise non-point source pollutant discharges.		Highly desirable
W1.2.5	Develop and implement stormwater management plans.		Highly desirable	In progress in several local govt areas.

Objective W2:

Water availability and use are sustainably managed for the mutual benefit of people, flora and fauna.

Strategy W2.1:		Develop a whole of catchment collaborative approach to water availability and use with recognition of local and regional needs.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
W2.1.1	Define and measure the sustainable yields of water.		Essential
W2.1.2	Implement environmental flow management plans.		Highly desirable
W2.1.3	Identify groundwater recharge and discharge points, monitor their condition, and implement incentives for clean water production.		Highly desirable
W2.1.4	Ensure that use of the region’s groundwater is sustainable and its availability monitored.		Highly desirable
W2.1.5	Develop processes to minimise the adverse impacts of inter-catchment transfers.		Highly desirable
W2.1.6	Conduct flood management activities including the development of risk assessment plans, the identification of social issues, research into water harvesting, the determination of environmental flooding regimes, and the review of regulatory tools.		Highly desirable
W2.1.7	Develop guidelines for, promote and implement the safe re-use of water.		Desirable for region. Essential for Lockyer Valley

StrategyW2.2:		Foster and encourage community involvement in water resource management.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
W2.2.1	Facilitate community participation in the planning, decision making and implementation of management plans for the Region’s water resources.		Essential
W2.2.2	Develop and implement incentives for clean water production and efficient use.		Highly desirable
W2.2.3	Identify and promote water conservation opportunities.		Highly desirable

Objective W3:	Cultural and social values are an integral component of water care and water management.

Strategy W3.1:	Facilitate and promote the value of local input into water resource management.

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
W3.1.1	Facilitate and implement integrated catchment management by community-based committees.	Essential
W3.1.2	Identify, acknowledge and involve stakeholders with an interest in the use of water bodies.	Highly desirable
W3.1.3	Identify local social and cultural values in regard to flood management.	Desirable Highly desirable: Bremer, Lockyer, Metropolitan Brisbane
W3.1.4	Promote the adoption of a freshwater protection ethic.	Desirable

Strategy W3.2:		Promote networking opportunities between water resource managers, users and educators.

	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
W3.2.1	Establish appropriate forums between water resource managers, users and educators.		Essential
W3.2.2	Develop and maintain a skills and learning opportunities register.		Desirable

Caring for our Land (L)

Issues

Emerging issues that threaten our land resources include:

Encroaching urbanisation, and industrial and agricultural development
Land and soil degradation including soil erosion, declining soil structure and loss of soil fertility
Historic farm management practices that do not balance economic and environmental concerns
Lack of management of riparian areas, particularly fencing to control human and stock impact
Rising levels of soil salinity
Disposal of waste
Impact of weeds and pest animals

Goal

We need to protect and restore the healthy condition of our land to provide for the needs of all human and non-human residents of the region and to be kept in a healthy condition.

Strategic Objectives

Three strategic objectives have been identified to enable us to care for our land in South East Queensland. They are:

L1	Best practice land use planning is encouraged and implemented.
L2	Best practice land management is encouraged and implemented.
L3	Waste is managed in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Each objective and their associated strategies are detailed below.

Objective L1:

Best practice land use planning is encouraged and implemented.

Strategy L1.1:		Promote and adopt sustainable land use planning practices.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
	Identify and protect significant wetlands		Essential
	Identify and protect good quality agricultural lands (and develop criteria for classifying this land use)		Essential: Redlands Highly desirable: coastal hinterland
L1.1.3	Adopt catchment-based flood plain management planning processes to reduce flood damage and potential loss of life, while maximising ecological values.		Essential
L1.1.5	Ensure residential development is located in appropriate, well-serviced locations with minimal encroachment on areas of natural, agricultural and extractive resource significance.		Essential
	Identify and protect water catchment areas		Highly desirable

Objective L2:

Best practice land management is encouraged and implemented.

Strategy L2.1:		Promote the sustainable use and best practice management of the region’s land resource

Code	Actions Required		Priority & Locality	Current Actions
L2.1.1	Research, develop and implement best practice management for natural and modified systems.		Essential	Codes of Practice for agriculture
L2.1.2	Make use of traditional land use knowledge and practices through involvement of traditional owners.		Essential
L2.1.3	Develop and implement risk management strategies in regard to acid sulfate soils.		Essential
L2.1.4	Research, develop and implement best management practices for soil husbandry		Essential
L2.1.5	Research, develop and implement best management practices for contaminated land (make the contaminated lands register accessible)		Essential
L2.1.6	Research, develop and implement best management practices for chemical and fertiliser use		Essential
L2.1.7	Develop and implement risk management strategies in regard to soil salinity		Essential
L2.1.8	Develop and implement risk management strategies in regard to soil acidity		Highly desirable
L2.1.9	Develop and implement risk management strategies in regard to climatic variations		Desirable
L2.1.10	Develop and implement risk management strategies in regard to resource accounting		Desirable
L2.1.11	Investigate various techniques of monitoring land changes over the long-term including traditional, cultural and scientific methods.		Desirable

Strategy L2.2:		Promote sustainable native forest management on public and private lands.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & locality	Current Actions
L2.2.1	Research, develop and implement best management practices for forest management		Essential
L2.2.2	Promote farm forestry, protect the right to harvest and identify suitable areas and species for farm forestry use.		Highly desirable
L2.2.3	Identify and assess areas for sustainable native forestry.		Highly desirable	Regional Forest Agreement
L2.2.4	Identify and protect old growth forest values		Highly desirable	Regional Forest Agreement

Strategy L2.3:		Enhance the involvement of the urban community, rural residential community and industry in sustainable land management.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & locality	Current Actions
L2.3.3	Promote whole farm planning based on the sustainability of a property’s natural resources Develop and adopt sustainable grazing practices Maintain natural drainage lines Minimise impact of man-made structures Construct farm dams in accordance with good land and water planning principles		Essential
L2.3.1	Demonstrate the economic and social benefits of improved land management.		Highly desirable
L2.3.4	Ensure the involvement of mining and extractive industries in integrated catchment management.		Highly desirable
L2.3.6	Promote and provide incentives for sustainable land use practices		Highly desirable
L2.3.2	Develop procedures and incentives for minimising costs to the community of managing green space.		Desirable

Objective L3:

Waste is managed in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Strategy L3.1:		Promote alternative, efficient and environmentally sensitive waste management systems.

Code	Actions Required		Priority & locality	Current Actions
L3.1.1	Adopt best practice for waste management.		Essential
L3.1.2	Identify and manage suitable sites for land fill		Essential
L3.1.3	Review poorly sited and managed landfills and where necessary, rehabilitate closed sites.		Highly desirable
L3.1.4	Investigate and implement opportunities for re-use of wastewater and waste product.		Highly desirable

Caring for our coast and seas (C)

Issues

The coastal zone of South East Queensland is one of the most heavily impacted areas of the state but it contains some of the most diverse natural habitats in Queensland. These include major sand islands with a variety of land uses including urban development, sandmining and nature conservation. A variety of smaller islands range from near pristine to heavily developed.

Moreton Bay has a variety of unique habitat values that include wetlands and foreshores listed under the internationally significant Ramsar agreement, and limited banks of corals characteristic of inshore reefs. The Bay also supports large populations of dugong and turtle which is unusual for an area in such close proximity to a major urban centre such as Brisbane (QFMA, 1997).

Moreton Bay is one of Queensland’s most important coastal resources. In addition to its natural attributes, the Bay contributes significantly to the economy of the region and the State through a wide range of commercial and recreational uses. These include shipping, extractive industries, commercial and recreational fishing, tourism and a variety of recreation activities.

As well as the major river catchments in South East Queensland, there are a large number of small streams flowing directly to the sea. Many of these are in urban areas and have a separate range of issues to larger catchments, as well as many issues in common. Some of the important issues in these catchments are: storm floods; urban weeds; loss of biodiversity; disruption of riparian corridors; runoff from domestic chemicals and fertilizers, roads and shopping centres; and, acid leachate from acid sulfate soil disturbance.

Studies of the ecological health of coastal waters, particularly Moreton Bay, have flagged a number of environmental warning signs, including:

gradual decline of water quality and habitats of western and southern Moreton Bay and adjacent shores, particularly in terms of sediment (turbidity) and nitrogen accumulation;

algal blooms in Deception Bay, Bramble Bay and Hayes Inlet;

the lower Brisbane River estuary does not meet national guidelines for primary contact recreation;

loss of biological diversity;

loss of seagrass in Bramble Bay, Deception Bay and near the mouth of the Logan River;

reports of fewer fish in Moreton Bay;

loss of, and impacts on, fish spawning grounds through human activities such as boating and jet-skiing in areas such as Maroochy, Mooloolah and Pumicestone;

excessive pollution in Pumicestone Passage caused by changed land use and management practices

effects of fishing activities on habitats and water quality.

These signs indicate that the marine environment will need careful monitoring and intervention if sustainability is to be maintained and highlight the integral link between freshwater and coastal marine environments. A number of high impact areas with respect to the above environmental warning signs in Moreton Bay include:

western Moreton Bay (Bramble Bay, Hayes Inlet and Deception Bay);

southern Bay areas; and

tidal Bremer River to lower Brisbane River estuary (Abal et al, 1998).

Moreton Bay and Pumicestone Passage are recognised on a global scale for their unique aquatic environs that cover a range from seagrass meadows to coral beds, for fish and crustaceans, turtles and dugongs. Increased exploitation of the area by all users and interaction between these users will inevitably result in a range of conflicts. Appropriate management strategies are required to ensure the effects and implications of this conflict are minimised.

Goal

We need to maintain, rehabilitate and protect our coastal and marine ecosystems.

Strategic objectives

Four strategic objectives have been identified to enable us to maintain, rehabilitate and protect our coastal and marine ecosystems. They are:

C1	The quality of coastal waters continually improves.
C2	Human activity is managed to allow equitable access and minimise impact on coastal resources.
C3	Protection and enhancement of the resources of our coast and seas.
C4	The community is well educated and informed about our coast and seas.

Each objective and its associated strategies and actions are detailed below.

Objective C1:

The quality of coastal waters continually improves.

Strategy C1.1:

Manage the improvement of marine and estuarine water quality.

Code	Actions Required	Priority & locality	Current Actions
C1.1.1	Establish benchmarks for coastal water quality assessment.	Essential
C1.1.2	Implement and enforce existing pollution control mechanisms.	Highly desirable
C1.1.3	Formulate and implement best management practices for sewage disposal and re-use.	Highly desirable

Strategy C1.2:

Manage and control development and land use on acid sulfate soils.

Code	Actions Required	Priority & locality	Current Actions
C1.2.1	Develop and enforce appropriate strategies for development on acid sulfate soils	Essential
C1.2.2	Determine extent of acid sulfate soils at an appropriate level.	Highly desirable

Objective C2:

Human activity is managed to allow equitable access and minimise impact on coastal resources.

Strategy C2.1:

Implement appropriate strategies to manage environmental flows

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
C2.1.1	Improve understanding of environmental flows	Highly desirable
C2.1.2	Develop appropriate guidelines for resource usage based on sustainable environmental flows	Highly desirable
C2.1.3	Assess the impact of extractive resource usage on environmental flows	Highly desirable
C2.1.4	Develop appropriate indicators to assess environmental flow.	Desirable

Strategy C2.2

Develop and implement best management practice for the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources.

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
C2.2.1	Improve information and understanding of the impact of commercial and recreational fishing as a foundation for developing appropriate strategies to manage these activities.	Essential
C2.2.2	Develop strategies to assess, manage and regulate the input and extraction of marine material, and explore innovative alternatives.	Highly desirable
C2.2.3	Collect historical and current information and build understanding of the extent and impact of mangrove destruction and re-distribution	Highly desirable
C2.2.4	Develop and implement rigorous management of port operations.	Desirable regionally Essential in Brisbane
C2.2.5	Revise, implement and enforce existing development control mechanisms for canal and marina development	Desirable
C2.2.6	Develop indicators for threshold information to guide ecotourism and recreational activities.	Desirable

Objective C3:

Protection and enhancement of the resources of our coast and seas.

Strategy C3.1:

Enhance biodiversity in coastal ecosystems

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
C3.1.1	Protect vulnerable coastal ecosystems	Essential	Coastal Management Plan being developed by DEH
C3.1.2	Assess the implications of recreational fishing in conservation reserves.	Essential
C3.1.3	Develop and implement freshwater habitat rehabilitation plans	Essential
C3.1.4	Assess the impact of upstream and downstream activities on fish breeding	Highly desirable
C3.1.5	Identify critical barriers to fish movement and remove, or provide fishways.	Highly desirable
C3.1.6	Control the impacts of non-indigenous species on our coasts and seas.	Desirable
C3.1.7	Encourage the re-introduction of native fish stock to regional waterways.	Desirable
C3.1.8	Monitor and research the distribution, population and migration of marine flora and fauna and formulate mechanisms to protect the biodiversity of this resource.	Desirable

Strategy C3.2:

Protect dynamic coastal landforms

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
C3.2.1	Protect and manage our beaches and dunes	Essential
C3.2.2	Improve understanding and minimise the influence of human activity on dynamic coastal landforms and natural coastal erosive processes.	Highly desirable
C3.2.3	Promote effective use of environmental levies to protect our coasts and seas.	Desirable

Objective C4:	A community that is well educated and informed about our coast and seas.

StrategyC4.1	Build community ownership and responsibility for our coast and seas.

Code	Actions Required	Priority & Locality	Current Actions
C4.1.1	Communicate the importance of management strategies for our coasts and seas to the community.	Essential
C4.1.2	Build recognition and understanding of indigenous issues and contributions in the community.	Essential
C4.1.3	Involve the community in a coordinated approach to coastal water resource management	Essential
C4.1.4	Foster community understanding of the impacts of pollution on our coasts and seas.	Desirable
C4.1.5	Improve community understanding of environmental flows and encourage participation in monitoring programs.	Desirable

Integrated planning and coordination (P)

Issues

Until recently, the basic approach to planning and development had changed little since the 1930s. However, in recent years, community consciousness of a broader range of environmental and social considerations has increased. This has been coupled with greater demands for public accountability and public involvement in the decision making process. Corresponding pressure on Governments has resulted in layer upon layer of State and local government regulation being added to deal with each new issue, with little thought given to the impact on the system as a whole. As a result, more than 400 separate approval processes in 60 different Acts of Parliament related to development alone. (Draft Integrated Planning Bill — Fact Sheet 1; August 1997; Queensland Department of Local Government and Planning). There was clearly a need for streamlining and integration of the development approval process.

Consequently, in March 1998, a new Integrated Planning Act (IPA) was passed, the purpose of which is to achieve ecological sustainability by:

coordinating and integrating planning at the local, regional and State levels;

managing the process by which development occurs; and

managing the effects of development on the environment.

(Integrated Planning Act 1997)

The implications of IPA from a natural resource management perspective are monumental and complement NRM strategy development in that it seeks to:

ensure decision-making processes are accountable, coordinated and efficient; take account of short and long term environmental effects of development; and seek to provide equity between present and future generations.

encourage a seamless connection between local, regional and state planning strategies;

ensure the sustainable use of renewable natural resources and the prudent use of non-renewable natural resources;

avoid, if practicable, adverse environmental effects of development;

supply infrastructure in a coordinated, efficient and orderly way;

apply standards of amenity, conservation, energy, health and safety in the built environment that are cost effective and of public benefit; and

provide opportunities for community involvement in decision making.

The Act states that core matters to be dealt with in a local government’s planning scheme include ‘valuable features’ which are described as:

resources or areas that are of ecological significance (such as habitats, wildlife corridors, buffer zones, places supporting biological diversity or resilience, and features contributing to the quality of air, water (including catchments or recharge areas) and soil);

areas contributing significantly to amenity ….

areas or places of cultural heritage significance ….

resources or areas of economic value (such as extractive deposits, forestry resources, water resource, sources of renewable and non-renewable energy and good quality agricultural land).

(Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel, 1997; 268-269)

The need to consider these valuable features increases the responsibilities of local governments with regard to the protection and sustainable management of those features. It will be important to coordinate and integrate regional and catchment level natural resource management strategies with local government planing schemes and associated documents. This presents opportunities for state and local government and community groups to coordinate the implementation of their various strategic and management plans.

Goal

We need an integrated and coordinated approach to plan for appropriate and equitable protection, allocation and sustainable use and management of natural resources to meet the region’s ecological, economic and social needs.

Strategic objectives

Four strategic objectives have been identified to enable us to sustainably manage our natural resources to meet our needs. They are:

P1	Resources are allocated equitably, to cater for human and non-human needs.
P2	Information regarding sustainability of resources is readily available to the community.
P3	Resource sustainability is achieved through appropriate planning and regulation.
P4	Management strategies and techniques are designed to achieve resource sustainability.

Each objective and its associated strategies and