Ecological Character Description Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands Ramsar Site South-West Western Australia
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Ecological Character Description Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands Ramsar Site South-west Western Australia prepared on behalf of Department of Environment and Conservation by ____ ____ Wetland Research & Management Ecological Character Description Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands Ramsar Site in South-west Western Australia prepared on behalf of: Department of Environment and Conservation 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Western Precinct Technology Park, Kensington WA 6151 Ph: (61 8) 9334 0333, Fax: (61 8) 9334 0466, e-mail: [email protected] and Geographe Catchment Council Inc. (GeoCatch) Unit 1A, 72 Duchess Street, Busselton WA 6280 Ph: (61 8) 9781 0111, Fax: (61 8) 9754 4335, e-mail: [email protected] by: Wetland Research & Management 28 William Street, Glen Forrest WA 6071 Ph (61 8) 9298 9807, Fax (61 8) 9380 1029, e-mail: [email protected] September 2007 Frontispiece: Aerial photograph of Vasse Estuary, looking north-west toward the Port Geographe development on the coast. In the foreground, the Abba River can be seen entering to the left of the broad Malbup Creek (photo: Martin Pritchard, GeoCatch). __________ __________ ii Wetland Research & Management Ecological Character Description for the Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands Ramsar Site Wetland Research & Management Study Team Ms Sue Creagh – report writing and preparation Dr Andrew Storey – project management and internal review Ms Lisa Chandler – conceptual model graphics Expert Support Mr Jim Lane (Department of Environment and Conservation, Busselton) – waterbirds, Site history and management Ms Kirrily White (Geographe Catchment Council, Busselton) – background and advice Mr Michael Coote (Department of Environment and Conservation, Kensington) – contract management Contributors Ms Kath Lynch and Mr Brendan Oversby (GeoCatch, Busselton) Ms Joanna Hugues-dit-Ciles (South-West Catchments Council, Bunbury) Mr Will Oldfield (Shire of Bussselton) Mssrs Kev Johnson, Gilbert Stokman and Mike Burgess (Dept. of Fisheries, Busselton) Mssrs Christian Zammit, Joel Hall and Ms Innes Zagoui (Dept. of Water, Perth) Dr Jane Chambers and Ms Celeste Wilson (Murdoch University, Murdoch) Dr Ryan Vogwill (Dept. of Environment and Conservation, Kensington) Dr Bill Phillips (MainStream Environmental Consulting Pty Ltd, Canberra, ACT) Local and indigenous community members (in alphabetical order) – Ron Assan, Jeni Jones, Bernie Masters, Frank Mouritz, Phillip Moore, John and Kate Plant, Michael Scott, Dick Shore, Bev Sykes, Vilma Webb, Don and Mavis West. Acknowledgements This project was undertaken by Wetland Research & Management (WRM) on behalf of the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the Geographe Catchment Council Inc (GeoCatch). The project received funding from the Natural Heritage Trust and the South West Catchment Council via the Vasse- Geographe Coastal Catchments Initiative. Funding was delivered under a partnership agreement between DEC and GeoCatch, who together with the Department of Water also provided in kind support. Our thanks go to Robert Reynolds (DIA) and Stephen Corsini (Consultant Archaeologist) for additional information on Noongar ethnographic and archaeological sites, to Richard Pickett (DoW, Bunbury) for advice on Yarragadee groundwater developments and to Dr Shirley Slack-Smith (Curator Malacology, WA Museum) for information on marine/estuarine molluscs inventories. Glenn Shiell (UWA) and Lisa Wright (DEC, Woodvale) assisted with sourcing reference material, and Martin Pritchard and Katie Biggs (both GeoCatch, Busselton) kindly supplied photographs. We wish to acknowledge the various people at DoW (Busselton), GeoCatch and the Australian Government Department of Environment and Water Resources who provided advice and comment on draft versions of the report. Finally, our especial thanks go to Jim Lane for substantial technical input, assistance with writing and for revision of the final draft. Recommended Reference Format WRM (2007) Ecological Character Description for the Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands Ramsar Site in South-west Western Australia. Unpublished report to the Department of Environment and Conservation and Geographe Catchment Council Inc. by Wetland Research & Management. September 2007. __________ __________ Wetland Research & Management iii Ecological Character Description for the Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands Ramsar Site Disclaimer This document was based on the best information available at the time of writing. While Wetland Research & Management (WRM) has attempted to ensure that all information contained within this document is accurate, WRM does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility to any third party for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information supplied. The views and opinions expressed within are those of WRM and do not necessarily represent Department of Environment and Conservation or GeoCatch policy. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment or the Administrative Authority for Ramsar in Australia. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. Guidance on the development of Ecological Character Descriptions, including Limits of Acceptable change, are areas of active policy development. Accordingly there may be differences in the type of information contained in this Ecological Character Description, to those of other Ramsar wetlands. This information does not create a policy position to be applied in statutory decision making. Further it does not provide assessment of any particular action within the meaning of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, nor replace the role of the Minister or his delegate in making an informed decision on any action. This report is not a substitute for professional advice rather it is intended to inform professional opinion by providing the authors' assessment of available evidence on change in ecological character. This information is provided without prejudice to any final decision by the Administrative Authority for Ramsar in Australia on change in ecological character in accordance with the requirements of Article 3.2 of the Ramsar Convention. Users should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances. __________ __________ iv Wetland Research & Management Ecological Character Description for the Vasse-Wonnerup Wetlands Ramsar Site CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................................................................... ix EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................. xi PART I BACKGROUND 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 1.1 RAMSAR AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS .......................................................................................... 3 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS........................................................................................ 3 1.2.1 General Aims .................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Objectives of the Current Study ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.3 THE VASSE-WONNERUP WETLANDS RAMSAR SITE .................................................................................................. 5 1.4 LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................................................................... 7 1.4.1 International Treaties/Agreements ................................................................................................................... 7 1.4.2 National Policy ................................................................................................................................................. 9 1.4.3 Western Australia State Policy ....................................................................................................................... 10 1.4.4 Site Management ............................................................................................................................................ 13 1.5 APPROACH TAKEN FOR THE CURRENT STUDY ......................................................................................................... 14 1.5.1 Framework ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 1.5.2 Terminology ................................................................................................................................................... 15 1.5.3 Change in Ecological Character .................................................................................................................... 15 1.5.4 Limits of Acceptable