SEQ Natural Resource Management Plan SEQ Atlas Update
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SEQ Natural Resource Management Plan SEQ Atlas Update Version 5, June 2015 SEQ Natural Resource Management Plan Technical Paper No.2 Atlas v.2.0 - SEQ Natural Resource Management Plan Acknowledgements The SEQ NRM Plan Reference Group acknowledges the prior work of the SEQ Regional Coordination Group and organizations and agencies that have provided data through a series of data sharing agreements that have made this work possible. Special thanks to SEQ Catchments Mapping Team Shannon Mooney, Mik Petter, Melissa Walker and Andrew Davidson; editorial and research support from Corey Groves, Caitlin Hadford and Fiona Sinnet Smith and all others who have provided ongoing support. © Copyright protects this publication. The reproduction of textual material, whole or part, in any form is authorised, provided appropriate acknowledgement is given. This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government policy. Photos are copyright of SEQ Catchments unless otherwise attributed. Please reference as follows: SEQC (2015) SEQ Natural Resource Management Plan Part Three: State of the Assets Atlas, South East Queensland Catchments Ltd., Brisbane. 2 Jan 2015 Introduction Table of Contents Atlas Update for the South East Queensland Natural Resource Management Plan 2009– 2031 .......... ii Atlas Update Overview .......................................................................................................................... iv A1 – Greenhouse Gases .......................................................................................................................... 1 A2 – Air Quality ....................................................................................................................................... 3 A3 – Thermal Pollution .......................................................................................................................... ..8 A4 – Noise Pollution .............................................................................................................................. 11 A5 – Light Pollution ............................................................................................................................... 12 CM1 – Seagrass and Mangroves ........................................................................................................... 15 CM2 – Coral ........................................................................................................................................... 19 CM3 – Beaches ...................................................................................................................................... 24 CM4 – Fish Stocks .................................................................................................................................. 26 CM5 – Key Marine Species .................................................................................................................... 28 CM6 – Coastal Algal Blooms .................................................................................................................. 31 CM7 – Coastal Wetlands ....................................................................................................................... 34 C1 – Community Engagement and Partner Projects ............................................................................. 37 L1 – Salinity ........................................................................................................................................... 40 L2 – Agricultural Land ............................................................................................................................ 44 L3 – Soil Acidity ..................................................................................................................................... 48 L4 – Soil Organic Matter ........................................................................................................................ 50 L5 – Acid Sulfate Soils ............................................................................................................................ 51 L6 – Soil Erosion .................................................................................................................................... 54 L7 – Grazing Land Condition ................................................................................................................. 57 L8 – Land Contamination ...................................................................................................................... 58 L9 – Extractive Resources ...................................................................................................................... 59 NC1 – Remnant and Woody Vegetation ............................................................................................... 62 NC2 – Vegetation Fragmentation ......................................................................................................... 65 NC3 – Wetlands ..................................................................................................................................... 69 NC4 – Vulnerable Ecosystems ............................................................................................................... 72 NC5 – Threatened Species .................................................................................................................... 75 NC6 – Habitat for Priority, Endangered, Vulnerable and Near Threatened Species ............................ 77 RLA1 – Landscape Heritage ................................................................................................................... 80 RLA2 – Outdoor Recreation Settings ..................................................................................................... 83 RLA3 – Outdoor Recreation Demand .................................................................................................... 87 RLA4 – Regionally High Scenic Amenity ................................................................................................ 90 RLA5 – Locally Important Scenic Amenity ............................................................................................. 90 W1 – Environmental Flows ................................................................................................................... 93 W2 – Groundwater Levels ..................................................................................................................... 94 W3 – Groundwater Quality ................................................................................................................... 99 W4 – Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems ....................................................................................... 100 W5 – High Ecological Value Waterways .............................................................................................. 103 W6 – Waterways Maintenance and Enhancement ............................................................................ 104 W7 – Waterway Restoration ............................................................................................................... 109 Appendix A .......................................................................................................................................... 111 i Atlas v.2.0 - SEQ Natural Resource Management Plan Atlas Update for the South East Queensland Natural Resource Management Plan 2009– 2031 The South East Queensland Natural Resource Management Plan 2009 – 2031 (the NRM Plan) lists measurable targets for the extent and condition of our natural assets and is aligned to state and regional interests for the community and industry in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009–2031. The NRM Plan has been prepared to coordinate the efforts of people working in environment and natural resource management and to guide sustainable development. To assist with this, all maps are aligned to catchment boundaries as well as Local Government planning areas. Unless otherwise stated, statistics are based on the SEQ Planning Boundary, including eleven Local Government Areas and the Toowoomba Urban Footprint (see Map 1: SEQ Planning Region). The NRM Plan provides regional targets to address key pressures on the region, including: rapid urban population growth, climate change, and increasing demand for infrastructure, housing, essential services and consumables. It also aims to promote and manage the natural assets that the region supports and ensure the long term liveability of SEQ. Implementation of the NRM Plan will ensure that we continue to work towards achieving good quality water, air and soil, as well as healthy farmland, waterways, wetlands, rainforests, woodlands and coastal environments. Map 1: Planning Region and Catchment Boundary ii Jan 2015 Introduction The Atlas describes the data which supports the NRM Plan and is currently in two parts: Part One – The Benchmark Atlas (2010) The Benchmark Atlas contains regional benchmark maps which have been generated using the best available data to provide a spatial representation or picture of the region as it was at the time the data was collected. This allows the calculation of a benchmark or baseline (e.g. number of