Achievement Report FINAL!!!!!!!
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Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board Caring for our Hills, Plains & Seas … together we can 2008/09 Achievements Our vision: ON BEHALF of my Board, I have much pleasure in presenting this > Thriving communities caring for report, which details a long list of & achievements by our team of dedicated our Hills, Plains Seas staff, Board members, NRM Groups and volunteers during the first year of the Regional Natural Resources Management (NRM) Plan in 2008-09. We are making good progress in reaching the targets set out in the The plan, which maps out the future Other targets cover water sustainability plan and this report details how we protection and management of natural and quality, maintaining current levels are achieving them. The Board has resources in the region, received of agricultural production, improving an obligation to invest well in order national recognition during the year ecosystem health, conserving native to protect and restore our natural when it won the Environment plants and animals, reducing assets – and it is also important that Planning and Conservation section in land-based impacts on the marine we are accountable to the community the prestigious Planning Institute of environment and improving soil health for these investments. Australia National Awards for and vegetation cover. 2 Planning Excellence. It was also a Our region is the largest in the State South Australian winner of the 2008 We are working in a much more by population and is regarded as South Landcare Awards. integrated way to achieve what we Australia’s most biologically diverse call landscape scale change – taking NRM region. It’s a fantastic mosaic of In addition to setting out goals, the a science-based, big-picture approach unique remnant bushland supporting a plan outlines the Board’s proposed rather than looking at different diverse range of wildlife, native plants, investment over a three-year period elements such as pest control, water rivers, swamps, wetlands, marine and also provides strategic direction and soil issues in isolation. environment and fertile primary for all NRM partners who support the Board’s goals and invest in the region. Partnerships and collaborations are production land. vital to the successful operation of It stretches from the Barossa Valley to More than 170 years of European the Board. settlement has resulted in many Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula, We are committed to providing from the ridge of the Mount Lofty challenges for natural resources management. These challenges include opportunities for individuals, Ranges to 35 kilometres into Gulf St community groups, schools, industry, Vincent. The Board manages the ecological impacts on our soils, water, native plants, animals and the marine and federal, state and local natural resources of an area that governments to be active partners supports 1.2 million people, or and coastal environments. Our Board recognises that there has been a in the management of the region’s 80 per cent of the State’s population. precious natural resources. I look Our region has eight reservoirs which concerted effort by governments and communities to make significant forward to working together as we supply 60 per cent of the water needs push towards our vision of thriving of metropolitan Adelaide. improvements to protect our biodiversity, improve water resources communities caring for our hills, and conserve our coastlines. With the plains and seas. advent of climate change however, Yvonne Sneddon we all recognise that there is more to Presiding Member be done. Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges To address the range of demanding Natural Resources Management Board challenges, the Board has set key targets over the next 20 years including reusing more wastewater and recycling more stormwater. Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board > www.amlrnrm.sa.gov.au 2008/09 Achievements Report on the first year of the Regional NRM Plan Delivering for the environment A healthy environment supports a healthy economy as well as a healthy community. Integrated action across the landscape The first year has seen many major These include: Monthly Board and NRM Group is required to protect and build on the achievements including increased Land and Biodiversity (Page 4) meetings are open to the public, and environment we want our children to protection for natural vegetation, Coast and Marine (Page 6) community and industry groups are enjoy. Natural resources management more stormwater harvesting projects Water Management (Page 8) also invited to annual forums to give (NRM) is about caring for our land, and protection of more than Community Action (Page 10) detailed input into the delivery of the water, plants and animals – balancing 440 kilometres of coastline through Policy, Planning, Research and regional NRM Plan. Each year, the 3 people’s needs with those of nature. Coastal Action Plans. Monitoring (Page 12) Board will produce special report cards 3 about our collective progress towards At the cornerstone of the Board’s Charged with the responsibility Also included in this report are details regional targets. efforts to better manage the region’s of overseeing the implementation of about Board members, NRM Groups valuable assets, is the Regional NRM the plan is the Board which is made and committees (Page 14), and The Board looks forward to working Plan which has been developed to up of nine community members information about financial with industry and community groups provide leadership, encourage appointed for their skills, knowledge performance and the NRM over the next year. Together, we can community action and foster valuable and experience to make decisions Performance Excellence Framework make a difference. partnerships. Regional plans are linked about local investment in NRM. (Page 15). to both the State NRM Plan and South Australia’s Strategic Plan, to provide The Board is supported by advisory Feedback is very important to us, and direction for all NRM partners who committees and community-based contact details for all our offices, NRM invest in the region. NRM Groups that maintain local Groups and committees can be found connections and identify local priorities. on the back cover of this report. The first regional plan for Adelaide and The Board has 78 staff and project Members of the public are also invited the Mount Lofty Ranges was adopted officers based throughout the region to provide input into the annual review by the Minister for Environment and to deliver on-ground projects and of the plan which takes place from Conservation in May 2008 and services, and provide technical advice December to February each year. implemented from 1 July 2008. Based to landholders. on sound science, the plan outlines the Board’s investment priorities over a To implement the plan, the Board three-year period. This includes the initiates a wide range of programs establishment of long-term goals and and services that are delivered in an clearly defined targets. integrated way and targeted to areas natural resources of greatest priority. The focus is on > a whole-of-region approach. management is Described in this document are the programs and services that have delivered the plan in 2008-09. caring for > balancing our land, people’s needs water, plants with those & animals of nature 20-year Maintain productive Improve land condition Recover the condition and capacity of agriculture for primary production function of ecosystems T5 T6 T7 Regional Targets at current levels by 15% from current levels Land and Biodiversity This program seeks to ensure that natural resources The partner programs are focused MANAGEMENT ACTION TARGETS are managed sustainably by fostering rural behaviour largely on the conservation of 08/09 TARGET biodiversity, either through the recovery 08/09 ACHIEVEMENT change through work with individual landholders, of threatened species or by improving THREE YEAR TARGET community groups and industry. the quality of existing habitat. Its specific focus is The internal Board programs use A particular challenge faced by this ECOSYSTEMS RECONSTRUCTION > the conservation of biodiversity awareness raising, training, technical service, is reaching the large number (HECTARES) > improvements in water quality advice and incentives to foster of individuals and groups across the 147 ha > ensuring land is managed within voluntary improvement in the region. This results from the small size 400 ha its capability management of natural resources. of most land holdings and the rapid 440 ha In addition, the internal programs rate of change in their ownership – The program is delivered through have a legal compliance role, with on average, a property changes hands internal Board programs and by NATIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT intervention in situations where every seven years. This has required the (HECTARES) financially supporting complementary inappropriate management practices ongoing involvement of landholders, 2,333 ha programs hosted by external partners. are having a negative impact on fostered through publications such as A breakdown of these programs is 13,008 ha natural resources. Small Talk, a Board newsletter focused presented in the table below. 7000 ha on practical land management issues 4 and events. More than 26,500 WATERCOURSE REHABILITATION landholders receive the newsletter. (KILOMETRES) 12 km DELIVERY NATURE OF SERVICE ASSOCIATED HUMAN RESOURCES NATURE OF ACTIVITIES 57 km ARRANGEMENTS 40 km Fostering voluntary Network