NORTHERN AND YORKE COASTAL MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN 2019 DRAFT FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION 1 January 2020 The authors of this Plan acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land which is described herein, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We honour the deep continuing connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples share with Country, and give respect to the Nukunu, Narungga and Kaurna people. We would also like to thank all community members, traditional owners and individuals who took the time to come to meetings or provided valuable input over the phone. Professional Acknowledgements: Andy Sharp (1), Max Barr (1), Simon Millcock (2), Brian Hales (2), Sharie Detmar (3), Caroline Taylor (4), Fabienne Dee (5), Deni Russell (5), Kate Pearce (5), Kane Smith (5), Stephen Goldsworthy (6), Deborah Furbank (6), Doug Fotheringham (7), Doug Riley (7), Adrian Shackley (7), Ron Sandercock (7), Anita Crisp (8), Jeff Groves (9), Andrew Black (9), Matt Turner (10). 1. Department for Environment and Water (also project Steering Group and Technical Review Panel) 2. Legatus Group 3. Department for Environment and Water Coast Management Branch 4. Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges 5. Department for Environment and Water (regional staff) 6. Yorke Peninsula Council 7. Individuals providing invaluable technical knowledge and expertise 8. Upper Spencer Gulf Councils, SA Coastal Councils Alliance 9. Birds SA 10. Department for Environment and Water (Aboriginal Partnerships Officer) The Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board allocated funding to progress this study and Natural Resources Northern and Yorke (NRNY) allocated staff time and resources to support it. The Coast Protection Board and regional Councils also supported this project with time and resources. This document may be cited as: Durant M., Ling H., and Hope F. 2019, Northern and Yorke Coastal Management Action Plan, Legatus Group and Greening Australia, report to Natural Resources Board, Northern and Yorke, Clare. Front Cover Photos: Clockwise from top left; Narungga sign at Buthera Rocks on the west coast of Point Pearce peninsula; recreational vehicle impacts at Cape Elizabeth; Formby Bay dunes from Daly Head; Osprey at Pine Point; Coast Spider Orchid (Caladenia conferta). All photos (M.Durant), 2 Table of Contents 1. BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Coastal Action Planning Context ......................................................................................... 4 1.3 Aims ................................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Scope ................................................................................................................................. 6 1.5 Using this Document .......................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Implementation ................................................................................................................. 7 1.7 Planning Area ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.8 Management Units ............................................................................................................ 7 1.9 Consultation....................................................................................................................... 9 2. COASTAL MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION ......................................................................... 10 2.1 Coastal Management Arrangements in SA ........................................................................ 10 2.2 Resources and further information on the Northern and Yorke Region ............................ 11 3. CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE COAST .......................................................................................... 13 3.1 Latest Climate Assessments.............................................................................................. 13 3.2 Impacts on the NY Coast .................................................................................................. 14 3.3 Managing Climate Impacts ............................................................................................... 17 4. REGIONAL MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND PROPOSED ACTIONS ................................................... 20 4.1 Aboriginal Management of the Coast ............................................................................... 20 4.2 Foundational Environmental Data .................................................................................... 20 4.3 Compliance and the Law Regarding Off Road Vehicles (ORV) ............................................ 21 4.4 Inter-agency Coordination and Collaboration ................................................................... 22 4.5 Weed Strategies ............................................................................................................... 23 4.6 Feral animals .................................................................................................................... 23 4.7 Support and Develop New Funding .................................................................................. 24 5. MANAGEMENT UNIT DESCRIPTIONS ........................................................................................ 26 6. PRIORITIES FOR INVESTMENT AND FUNDING ......................................................................... 259 6.1 Prioritising Future Investment ........................................................................................ 259 6.2 Conservation Action Planning Priority Projects ............................................................... 262 7. BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................... 266 3 1. BACKGROUND 1.1 Introduction People value the South Australian coastline for a broad range of reasons from the recreational opportunities it provides, the towns and communities it supports, the economic activities such as farming, fishing and tourism that depend upon it, the heritage and cultural values it preserves, and for the simple pleasure of experiencing spectacular natural environments. People are connected to coastal environments through Aboriginal culture and heritage, European settlement history and through social and family networks. The coastline also supports a diverse and unique assemblage of ecosystems, flora and fauna. The Northern and Yorke coastline contains many plants and animals are threatened and declining either within the region or elsewhere in the country, and some species that occur nowhere else. Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent are also globally significant for the conservation of migratory shorebirds which visit this coast from the northern hemisphere via the East Asia Flyway. The gulfs and sheltered bays are also critical environments for South Australia’s marine diversity. Hence there are good reasons to look after what we have, and to plan for the management and enhancement of our coastline in the future. This is particularly important given the climate is changing and the coast of South Australia is already experiencing the impacts of increasing temperatures, reduced rainfall, increasing frequency of storm surge events and rising sea level. Maximising the health and integrity of coastal ecosystems and reducing local and regional threats is a practical response to climate change which will help maintain its natural character into the future. Decisions will also need to be made in the coming decades regarding where and how we accommodate the landward migration of coastal ecosystems, how we adequately fund its management and how we balance the competing interests and pressures on the coastline. New funding sources and models will need to be explored including emerging environmental markets such as carbon sequestration (e.g. Blue Carbon projects (50)) and biodiversity and carbon offsetting. 1.2 Coastal Action Planning Context This Action Plan is an extension of the Conservation Assessment of the Northern and Yorke Coast (1) which was produced in 2006 and was well regarded as a comprehensive approach to determine coastal management priorities. The study used a Geographic Information System (GIS) to collate, analyse and present information collated from government, non-government, community groups and experts. The coastal zone was divided into 131 landform units (cells) of varying size and shape depending on the landform and the natural vegetation extent. 4 Using this information, the conservation values and threats were assessed in each cell, and then combined to derive overall conservation priorities. 43 cells were assessed as High priority and were described in detail, including some broad management comments and recommendations. The conservation value assessment was based on variables such as: Threatened and endemic vegetation communities Vegetation patch size, shape, connectivity, condition and diversity Threatened and endemic flora and fauna Human heritage Geological heritage The threat analysis included variables such as: Presence of potential acid sulphate soils Recreation impacts; access and facilities,