Catchment Management Plan
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© Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, The University of Western Australia TITLE FITZROY RIVER CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN PRODUCED BY Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management The University of Western Australia Unit 10, Foreshore House, Proudlove Parade Albany WA 6332 Telephone: (08) 9842 0834 Email: [email protected] PRODUCED FOR RANGELANDS NRM - www.rangelandswa.com.au CONTACT JOHN SILVER FIONA TINGLE DATE MAY 2010 PUBLICATION DATA Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management (2010). Fitzroy River Catchment Management Plan. The University of Western Australia. May 2010. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was commissioned and funded by Rangelands NRM ( www.rangelandswa.com.au ). We would like to thank all those who participated in the study but especially to those Traditional Owners who allowed us access to their country; and also the many stakeholders who participated in the workshops. The Traditional Owner groups include Western Jaru, Gooniyandi, Kija, Walmajarri, Bunuba, Nyikina, Mangala, Worrowa, Andajin and Ngarinyin The maps in this report use a variety of data sets, where these are sourced from agencies or other organisations they are used with permission, and acknowledged as follows. Digital datasets supplied: Road Centrelines (DLI) Hydrography – Linear (DOW) Hydrographic Catchments (DOW) LGA boundaries (DLI) Kimberley Language Groups (Kimberley Language Resource Centre) Pastoral Productivity estimates from Land Systems Mapping (DAFWA) Some maps have been supplied by agencies for this report: DEC Priority Ecosystems (DEC) Land Tenure (DLI) Some maps have been created for this report from other published sources: Pastoral lease Exclusions Eco Fire Project areas Town locations The imagery used in the Kimberley Language Groups map is public domain imagery from http://services.arcgisonline.com/arcgis/services. DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared on behalf of and for the exclusive use of Rangelands NRM (the Client), and is subject to and issued in accordance with the agreement between the Client and the Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management (CENRM). CENRM accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for it in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report by any third party. In particular, it should be noted that this report is a professional assessment and opinion only, based on the scope of the services defined by the Client. Copying of this report or parts of this report is not permitted without explicit authorization of the Client and CENRM. Cover photograph: A section of the Fitzroy River 2 Contents Background ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Preamble ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 FitzCAM’S VISION ...................................................................................................................................... 8 How the CMP will help to achieve the FitzCAM vision ............................................................................. 9 The Desired Outcomes: ............................................................................................................................. 9 Indigenous Concerns in relation to NRM over traditional lands. ........................................................... 10 The Pastoral Industry and NRM in the Fitzroy Catchment. .................................................................... 11 Description of the Catchment. .................................................................................................................... 12 Physical and biological profile ............................................................................................................. 12 Economic and social profile ................................................................................................................ 15 Cultural profile .................................................................................................................................... 18 Existing NRM capacity in the Fitzroy Catchment ................................................................................ 20 Development of the Fitzroy River CMP ...................................................................................................... 24 The Identified assets ................................................................................................................................... 37 Theme 1 - Big, over-arching assets ............................................................................................................. 38 Theme 2 - Water ......................................................................................................................................... 39 Priority Investment Strategy – water (PIS1) ....................................................................................... 43 Theme 3 - Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................ 43 Priority Investment Strategy – biodiversity (PIS2) .............................................................................. 53 Theme 4 – Agricultural Resources .............................................................................................................. 54 Priority Investment Strategy – agriculture (PIS3) ............................................................................... 57 Theme 5 – Cultural, recreational and tourism assets ................................................................................. 58 Priority Investment Strategy – cultural, historical and linguistic (PIS4) .............................................. 61 Priority Investment Strategy – tourism (PIS5) .................................................................................... 62 References .................................................................................................................................................. 66 3 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................. 73 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Projects or initiatives of relevance to NRM in the Fitzroy. ........................................................... 22 Table 2 - Priority Investment Strategies - Summary ................................................................................... 64 Table 3 - Appendix 4a – INFFER asset table – Big over-arching assets ......................................... 80 Table 4 - Appendix 4b – INFFER asset table – Water Resources ................................................... 82 Table 5 - Appendix 4c – INFFER asset table - Biodiversity ............................................................... 83 Table 6 - Appendix 4d – INFFER asset table – Agricultural assets ................................................. 85 Table 7 - Appendix 4e – INFFER asset table – Cultural, recreational and tourism ....................... 86 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Location map .................................................................................................................................. 7 Figure 2. Fitzroy Catchment ....................................................................................................................... 13 Figure 3. Kimberley Language Groups ....................................................................................................... 17 Figure 4. Participants at the INFFER stakeholder workshop in Broome .................................................... 24 Figure 5. A charred landscape after a late, dry-season fire ....................................................................... 27 Figure 6. Ecofire areas ................................................................................................................................ 28 Figure 7. Burning a firebreak on Mornington from aerially dropped incendiaries .................................... 29 Figure 8. Land Tenure ................................................................................................................................ 47 Figure 9. Priority / threatened species / conservation areas ..................................................................... 48 Figure 10. Geikie Gorge .............................................................................................................................. 52 Figure 11. Agricultural land systems .......................................................................................................... 56 Figure 12. Sunset over Geikie Gorge .......................................................................................................... 63 4 Background The Fitzroy River Catchment is home to a diverse range of residents who derive their livelihoods, spiritual, cultural and historic character from its country and waters. It has been identified as a priority catchment by Rangelands NRM, and by several State and Federal government agencies as it has high environmental, social/cultural and economic values. Developing a broad scale management plan builds on the fundamental concepts expressed in the 2005 Rangelands Natural Resource Management (NRM) Strategy and the 2004 Kimberley Natural Resource Management Plan, and is supported by a range of stakeholders