NORTHERN AND YORKE Landscape Board Business Plan 2020/21

An initial business plan under the Landscape Act 2019

Acknowledgement of Country

The Narungga, Nukunu, Kaurna, Ngadjuri and Peramangk people are the Traditional Custodians of the Northern and Yorke region and have been for thousands of years. The Board acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of Northern and Yorke. We acknowledge elders past and present, and we respect the relationship Aboriginal people have to Country. The Board is committed to partnering with Traditional Owners, Aboriginal people and Aboriginal organisations in the management of lands, seas and waters. This includes recognising the relationship between Aboriginal culture and natural resources and incorporating Aboriginal knowledge of natural resources into decision making.

30 APRIL 2020 This plan has been prepared by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and is not a policy of the South Australian Government. Foreword

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDING MEMBER

It is my pleasure to be appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and support our region’s environmental and economic sustainability. Six new Board Members and I will lead the region through the transition from the existing Northern and Yorke Regional NRM Plan to delivering the Landscape SA Act 2019 objectives. 2020/21 will be an important year for the Board, with priorities including: • Developing a new Regional Landscape Plan and annual Business Plan together with the community. • Continuing to deliver priority projects through the National Landcare program. • Working with our many partners; local government, farming groups, community groups, Aboriginal communities and volunteers to achieve significant outcomes for our natural resources and landscapes. • Establishing a new Grassroots Grants Program. • Working collaboratively with other Landscape Boards to achieve coordinated outcomes across our landscapes. With approximately 80% of our region used for cropping, grazing, food and wine production, the social and economic stability of our region is closely linked to economically sustainable agricultural industries. I look forward to engaging with our partners and communities to ensure the important coastal and marine resources, rugged landscapes, remnant native ecosystems, water resources and productive soils which constitute this region, continue to thrive, for the benefit of the environment and the region’s people. The 2020-2021 Business Plan outlines our intent to deliver a back-to-basics approach, focussed on five priority areas; pest plant and animal control, sustainable agriculture, water management, biodiversity and community. This new Act provides additional accountability and reporting on Board activities, including greater community engagement and simplified processes. With the implementation of the new Act, the Northern and Yorke regional boundaries have been revised, and a new region formed. I take this opportunity to welcome those councils, community groups, landowners, businesses and residents who now form part of the Northern and Yorke region. On behalf of the incoming board, I look forward to working with you. I commend this Business Plan to you and I urge you to join us in contributing to its successful implementation.

Caroline Schaefer Chair, Northern and Yorke Landscape Board

1 Introduction I, David Speirs, Minister for Environment and Water, The management of the state’s natural resources is undergoing significant reform with the introduction after taking into account of the Landscape SA Act 2019. There are a number of and in accordance with the changes to the way we plan and implement sustainable management of our landscapes across the state and requirements of section within the Northern and Yorke region. 51(1)&(3), and Schedule 5 These changes include new regional boundaries (shown in the map on page 3), Part 30, under clause 95, of which incorporate The , Town of Gawler, , Plains Council and Goyder Regional Council. These councils previously the Landscape South Australia formed part of the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges and SA Murray-Darling Basin Act 2019 hereby approve the regions. Port Augusta and the areas will now form part of the SA Arid Lands region. initial 2020-2021 Business The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board has been formed under the Act by the Plan for the Northern and Minister for the Environment and Water through the appointment of community Yorke Landscape Board. members within the Northern and Yorke Landscape region. The Board has the responsibility to ensure the region’s natural resources are managed sustainably and appropriately through the Landscape SA Act 2019. The 2020-2021 financial year will be a transitional year as the delivery of existing commitments under the NRM Regional Plans are fulfilled, and new priorities are established. A new Regional Landscape Plan for the Northern and Yorke region will be developed that incorporates the additional areas entering the region and their management requirements with a clear focus on a Back-to-Basics agenda and Hon. David Speirs alignment to community expectations. The Regional Landscape Plan will outline MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT the region’s five priorities and key focus areas that guide sustainable management AND WATER of the region’s natural resources. Date: 22/6/2020 The 2020-2021 Business Plan outlines how the Board will invest funds raised via the Landscape levies and other sources for this transitional year while providing improved line of site through reporting on levy expenditure. Both the Regional Landscape Plan and this Business Plan are requirements of the new Landscape SA Act 2019.

2 Northern and Yorke Region

3 Landscape SA Reform

BOARD The South Australian Government is reforming how our landscapes are managed, putting community at the heart of sustainably managing the state’s soil, water, pest plants and animals MEMBERS and biodiversity. From 1 July 2020, the new Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (the Act) will replace the Natural Resources Management Act 2004.

Eight new regional landscape boards and a new metropolitan board, Green Adelaide, will administer the Act and partner with government and regional communities to deliver a stronger, back-to-basics system with greater autonomy and flexibility to respond to local issues. Peter Angus Landscape Boards will support local communities and land managers to be directly responsible for sustainably managing their region’s natural resources. They will deliver practical, on-ground programs that manage our water, land and soil, pests and biodiversity through a range of partnerships, for example with farming systems groups, environmental non-government organisations, Aboriginal communities and local councils.

In 2020/21, landscape boards will work alongside community members and stakeholders to Sarah develop a simple and accessible five-year regional landscape plan with five priorities (seven for Barrett Green Adelaide). Boards will need to report their spending against the levy simply and clearly.

The Act also introduces a number of other benefits, including a cap on landscape and water levies, new regional Grassroots Grants programs that will provide support for community groups, not for profit organisations and volunteers to address environmental issues at a local level, and the creation of a new Landscape Priorities Fund that will support large scale projects Anna such as bushfire recovery and landscape restoration work. From 2022, communities will have Baum the opportunity to elect three out of seven board members. These reforms have been informed by the people who are well placed to sustain our environment – those who work, live and care for our landscapes. This input has been invaluable to ensure the reforms meet the needs of local communities and landholders.

Business Plans for 2020/21 are transitional. The land and water levy amounts that are set Jane out in the business plans for 2020/21 reflect the levy amounts collected in NRM regions in Greenslade 2019/20, adjusted by CPI (1.9%), This will provide for broad consistency in the levy rates paid by levy payers in this transitional year while planning is undertaken by the landscape boards.

Phillip Heaslip

Geoffrey White

4 Regional Priorities Pest Plant and Animal Control and Focus Areas Coordinated control of priority weeds Coordinated control of exotic predators Five priorities have been identified for Active management of total grazing pressure the Northern and Yorke region to guide investment and project delivery. The priorities align with the Back to Basics fundamentals, acknowledging the need for clear focus on water, soil management, pest plant and animal control, and biodiversity. The Board Sustainable Agriculture continues to have a role in the delivery of nature education to SA schools and the Improve livestock grazing practices wider community, and to undertake effective Promote land management practices to reduce soil acidification compliance in accordance with the Act as Maintain surface cover on pastures and cultivated lands necessary. Community engagement has been Improve soil structure and water infiltration rates elevated in the Act, and in this plan, as a key priority to ensure that local landholders and community members are at the centre of managing the region’s landscapes. Key focus areas have been assigned to each Water management priority to define the core areas of importance to address over the next five years. These Review region’s water management framework focus areas echo the views of the community Manage land run-off and impacts to watercourse integrity as captured through the N&Y Community Improve the efficiency of water retention and use across catchments Action Planning (CAP) process and subsequent inclusion in the Regional NRM Plan. * During 2020/2021 the Board will work alongside community members and stakeholders to develop a simple and accessible five-year Regional Landscape Plan Biodiversity which incorporates all areas within the new Improve management of existing native vegetation regional boundary. The Regional Landscape Undertake revegetation and regeneration in priority areas Plan will guide investment, project design Plan and implement cross-tenure fire management and implementation, and will outline how successes will be measured and reported.

* Northern and Yorke Regional Plan, Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Plan as pertains to the Northern Hills, Coasts and Plains District, and the SA Murray-Darling Basin Communities Regional Plan as it pertains to the Rangelands district. Engage effectively with community, agriculture sector and stakeholders Involve Aboriginal communities in planning and delivery Consult, collaborate and partner

5 Delivery

This Business Plan sets out how the Board will fund and deliver practical on-ground programs against these priorities. The plan seeks to deliver programs where outcomes can be measured for their economic, social or environmental impact. The Board also seeks to achieve outcomes which consider and contribute to incorporation of Aboriginal culture. The programs outlined involve resource assessment, planning, on-ground works and capacity building. Importantly, these programs will improve the way our landscapes and natural resources are managed by building on existing achievements and are intended to be undertaken in collaboration with landowners, primary producers, Traditional Owners, and the broader community. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the achievements against the priorities is essential to providing a line of site between expenditure and on-ground actions and outcomes, whilst guiding improvements for the on-going management of landscapes. The Board will review and report on achievements against the priorities and their impact on the sustainability of the natural resources in the region.

Board Responsibilities

The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board is a statutory authority of the Crown, formed under the Landscape SA Act 2019 and accountable to the Minister for Environment and Water. The Board is responsible for facilitating the management of landscapes in partnership with stakeholders and the community, and will provide strategic oversight of activities within the region that align with the objectives of the Act. The Act provides that the Board will adopt good governance practices to ensure transparency and accountability in decision making and reporting.

Under the Landscape SA Act, the Board will have a General Manager and staff who deliver programs and services on behalf of the Board. In 2020/21, it is anticipated that the Board, through the General Manager will staff 39 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, with funding sources split between levy funds, project (Australian Government) funding and corporate services charges. These staff will be public sector employees but will no longer be employed by a Government Department.

In 2020/21, the Board will continue to receive Corporate Services (including finance, human resources and information technology) support through the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), however the services accessed through DEW may be subject to review.

6 Income 2020 - 2021

The Business Plan outlines the total expected income for the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. In the 2018/2019 financial year, the Board was successful in obtaining funding through the Australian Government’s Regional Land Partnerships Program, with funding through this program continuing until June 2023.

The Board also aims to secure funding from State and Australian Government contestable grant programs, including the Landscape Priorities Fund and as opportunities arise. Other income sources include fees and charges, contributions, investment interest and re- imbursements. The Board continues to seek additional funding from industry, community and government, where the opportunity for complementary activity arises to address regional and state priorities.

SOURCES OF INCOME BUSINESS PLAN 2020-2021 Landscape Levy $5,523,002 Water Levy $365,621 Total Levy Income $5,888,623 Interest $20,000 Sales of other goods / services $30,000 Total Other Income $50,000 National Landcare Program ‘Regional Land Partnerships’ $426,415 National Landcare Program ‘Great Southern Ark’ $570,378 National Landcare Program ‘Living Flinders’ $400,000 Levy Transition WWF Australia $85,000 Scheme Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife $16,000 Total Income Externally Funded $1,497,793 The effect of boundary changes Total $7,436,416 on land levies is being managed through a levy transition scheme approved and gazetted by the Minister for Environment and Water. The aim is to ensure residents do not pay higher levies Landscape and Water Levies as a result of boundary changes. For 2020/2021, the transition The primary income source is the Landscape Levy, previously known as the NRM Levy. The scheme provides for council Landscape Levy will continue to be raised and collected by local councils in the same way contributions to be set consistently the NRM Levy has been collected previously. Councils will pay quarterly contributions to with 2019/2020 adjusted by CPI. the landscape board and gazette a levy rate to reimburse themselves the cost of the levy. This will provide for consistency in the levy rates paid by ratepayers, Water levies will still be collected by the Department for Environment and Water on behalf noting that changes to land of the Minister and will be paid to the relevant landscape board. Where a prescribed water values and the number of rateable resource is in more than one landscape management region, water levies will be shared properties also influence council between the two boards. contributions and levy rates.

7 Regional Landscape Levy

Estimated Landscape Levy contribution and estimated Levy collection cost by each constituent council for 2020-2021.

COUNCIL COUNCIL PROPOSED CONTRIBUTION COLLECTION FEE 2020/21 ($) based on standard rates ($) 190,159 3,855 Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council 496,596 4,380 District Council of Barunga West 226,839 3,280 District Council of Copper Coast 636,387 5,649 District Council of Mount Remarkable 132,265 3,449 District Council of Orroroo Carrieton 43,270 2,954 District Council of Peterborough 33,741 3,014 District Council of Yorke Peninsula 1,153,202 6,344 Goyder Regional Council 282,723 2,831 Light Regional Council 337,288 4,614 274,490 3,724 Port Pirie Regional Council 420,945 5,343 The Barossa Council 541,424 5,711 Town of Gawler 365,144 5,513 Wakefield Regional Council 388,529 4,027 Total 5,523,002 64,685

Regional Water Levy

Some parts of the Northern and Yorke region are irrigated. However, with the boundary realignment for the Northern and Yorke region, the prescribed water resource areas (PWRA) of the Clare Valley and Barossa Valley and sections of the Marne Saunders, Northern Adelaide Plains and the Western Mount Lofty PWRAs fall within the region’s boundaries. The water levies collected in these shared PWRAs will be split between the relevant Landscape Boards and agreements established with the Green Adelaide Region and the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board to establish how they will work together to effectively manage the resources, including how they will be consistent in approach and where specific responsibilities lie for planning and implementation.

PRESCRIBED RESOURCES RATES AND BASIS PROPORTION EXPECTED AMOUNT 2020-21 OF THE PWRA* TO BE RAISED IN 2019-20 Clare Valley Prescribed Water Resources Area (PWRA) $101.90 as a fixed amount per water 100% license, and 3.636 c/kL of water allocated Barossa Prescribed Water Resources Area 0.628 c/kL of water allocated 100% Marne Saunders Prescribed Water Resources Area 0.675 c/kL of water allocated or a levy of 40% $200, whichever greater $365,621 Northern Adelaide Plains Prescribed Wells Area 0.628 c/kL of water allocated 33% Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA (including water levy on 0.628 c/kL of water allocated 3% persons authorised under section 105 to take water from a water resources within the Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA) Water levy on persons authorised under section 105 - to take 0.628 c/kL of water allocated water from a water resource within the Barossa and Northern Adelaide Plains PWRA

In 2020-21, the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board will raise water levies in accordance with the existing levy bases: • For the Marne Saunders prescribed water resources (formerly in the SAMDB NRM region), levies will continue to be charged based on a rate per ML of water allocated, with a minimum charge of $200. • For the Western Mt Lofty Ranges (formerly in the AMLR NRM region), levies will continue to be charged based on a rate per ML of water.

* Proportion of the PWRA allocated water within Northern and Yorke 8 Expenditure 2020 - 2021

The funds which the Board collects through Landscape levies are invested into the region’s five priorities and their key focus areas. The following tables provide the anticipated expenditure against each priority and focus area.

Program Investment Landscape and Water Levies External Funding Total Pest Plant and Animal Control $1,629,828 $614,268 $2,244,097 Sustainable Agriculture $605,868 $130,000 $735,868 Water Management $1,231,647 $0 $1,231,647 Biodiversity $812,558 $445,367 $1,257,925 Communities $1,779,638 $221,958 $2,001,596 Total Expenditure $6,059,539 $1,411,593 $7,471,133

Priorities and Focus Areas Landscape and Water Levy External Funding Total PEST PLANT AND ANIMAL CONTROL Coordinated control of priority weeds $588,503 $20,000 $608,503 Coordinated control of exotic predators $373,248 $311,069 $684,317 Active management of total grazing pressure $170,641 $283,200 $453,840 Program Support $497,437 $0 $497,437

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Improve livestock grazing practices $169,357 $32,500 $201,857 Reduce soil acidification rate $52,763 $32,500 $85,263 Maintain surface cover on pastures and cultivated lands $112,118 $32,500 $144,618 Improve soil stability and water infiltration rates $69,484 $32,500 $101,984 Program Support $202,146 $0 $202,146

WATER MANAGEMENT Review region’s water management framework $346,549 $0 $346,549 Manage land run-off and impacts to watercourse integrity $234,355 $0 $234,355 Improve the efficiency of water use across catchments $38,206 $0 $38,206 Program Support $162,766 $0 $162,766 Water Planning Management Fee $449,771 $0 $449,771

BIODIVERSITY Increase the area of native vegetation managed $231,652 $316,430 $548,082 Revegetate and support regeneration in high priority areas $228,375 $0 $228,375 Plan and implement cross-tenure fire management $88,540 $0 $88,540 Monitoring and Evaluation $0 $128,937 $128,937 Program Support $263,992 $0 $263,992

COMMUNITIES Community engagement $610,144 $145,873 $756,017 Aboriginal engagement $100,852 $76,085 $176,937 Collaboration and partnerships $398,275 $0 $398,275 Grassroots Grant Program $170,770 $0 $170,770 Program Support $499,597 $0 $499,597 * Included in the Program Support by the Total $6,059,539 $1,411,593 $7,471,133 priorities are Board, Group and Committees fees of $160,500 which includes sitting fees, training and development, travel and meeting costs. Landscape Priorities for Northern and Yorke

Biodiversity 15% Communities 29%

Pests and Weeds 29% Water 16%

Soils 11%

Copyright

This publication is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior permission of the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, 155 , Clare SA 5453 or [email protected].

Disclaimer

The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and the Government of South Australia, their employees and their servants do not warrant or make any representation regarding the use or results of use of the information contained herein as to its correctness, accuracy, currency, or otherwise. The Northern and Yorke Landscape FURTHER INFORMATION: Board and the Government of South Australia, their employees and their servants expressly disclaim all liability or responsibility to any person using the information Northern and Yorke Landscape Board or advice contained herein. 155 Main North Road Clare SA 5453 Telephone: +61 (8) 8841 3400 Facsimile: +61 (8) 8841 3411 Email: [email protected] Website: https://landscape.sa.gov.au/ Appendix

Projects that will be undertaken by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board in 2020-2021:

PEST PLANT AND ANIMAL CONTROL • Continue to monitor the region’s bushland and native species, to ensure sustainable development and use. • Implementation of three District Weed Management Plans to control priority weeds and promote improvements in agricultural productivity. COMMUNITIES • Provide support for community groups in the Mid North to • Development of the new Regional Landscape Plan. implement feral Deer control - Clare Valley, Washpool Range. • New Grassroots Grants program to provide volunteers and • Continued participation and support for the state-wide Buffel community groups with the opportunity to participate in the Grass Taskforce, to limit the economic effects of this weed management of our landscape. species along the Port Augusta Highway, and roadsides • Expand our engagement with the region’s Aboriginal between Crystal Brook and Mambray Creek. communities, through Healthy Country Planning with the • Continuation of the Connecting Landscapes project – Narungga and Nukunu Nations. undertaking landscape-scale control of goats and other pest • Continue our engagement with the community through the animals in the Burra rangelands. Community Action Planning process to ensure their aspirations • Trial control of African Boxthorn through the aerial application of are captured and incorporated into the landscape programs herbicides, across 3,000 hectares in the southern Flinders Ranges. being delivered - southern Yorke Peninsula, upper Yorke • Undertake Opuntoid Cactus control on public lands, in Peninsula, Mid North, southern Flinders Ranges and the combination with voluntary participation by landholders in the Adelaide Plains. southern Flinders Ranges. • Incorporate citizen science into the development of the new Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE • Provide support to the Yorke District Fire Recovery project. • Monitor House Mouse abundance on southern Yorke Peninsula to develop an understanding of their impact on crop production. Marna Banggara landscape management program (Southern Yorke Peninsula) • Provide advice and support services to farming systems groups across the region, to assist them in the development and • Undertake targeted control of Weeds of National Significance adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. (African Boxthorn, Boneseed) across 2,000 hectares on • Deliver the Federal Government’s Sustainable Agriculture Program. southern Yorke Peninsula. • Support the community on Yorke Peninsula to control Rabbit WATER MANAGEMENT populations and improve pastures. • Continuation of the Healthy Flows project to deliver • Undertake fox and feral cat control across 140,000 hectares on improvements in water quality along the Broughton River southern Yorke Peninsula to conserve native species and boost system through stock exclusion, woody weed control and native agricultural production. revegetation. • Reintroduction of Brush-tailed Bettongs to southern Yorke • Initiate review and revision of Clare Valley Water Allocation Plan Peninsula to reinstate soil processes and contribute towards the - canvas community and industry opinion on the adequacy of maintenance of the district’s unique native vegetation. water supply and the need to achieve a balance between water use and environmental needs into the future. • Establish a captive colony of Brush-tailed Bettongs at Monarto Safari Park to provide additional animals for reintroduction to • Finalise revision of Barossa Water Allocation Plan. southern Yorke Peninsula. BIODIVERSITY • Monitoring of threatened orchid, shorebird and Malleefowl populations to evaluate the success of predator control. • In collaboration with local councils, undertake priority actions identified in the region’s new Coastal Management Action Plan to • Development of Marna Bangarra project website. reduce weed abundance and damage from recreational vehicles. • Community awareness program to improve the management of Living Flinders landscape management program native shorebirds and waders. (Southern Flinders ranges) • Provide support the Wildlife for Wine programs in the Barossa and • Support landholders to manage fox and wild dogs across Clare Valleys to increase the abundance of native animal species to 145,000 hectares in the southern Flinders Ranges, to reduce enhance crop pollination and reduce crop damage by insect. predation on sheep flocks.