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rivers and water quality arteries of the Australian environment Mii dtiTiAl id Managing rivers and streams in Tasmania: A woolgrowers guide rivers and water quality Managing rivers and streams in Tasmania: A woolgrowers guide RIVERS AND WATER QUALITY Managing rivers and streams in Tasmania: A woolgrowers guide Published by: Land & Water Australia Postal address: GPO Box 2182, Canberra ACT 2601 Office location: Level 1, Phoenix Building, 86 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon ACT Telephone: 02 6263 6000 Facsimile: 02 6263 6099 E-mail: Land&[email protected] Internet: www.landwaterwool.gov.au and www.rivers.gov.au COPYRIGHT Copyright of this publication, and all of the information it contains, jointly vests in the Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation, with its brand name being Land & Water Australia, and Australian Wool Innovation Limited. Both Corporations grant permission for the general use of any or all of this information provided due acknowledgement is given to its source. Land, Water & Wool is a research partnership between Australian Wool Innovation Limited and Land & Water Australia. DISCLAIMER The information contained in this publication is intended for general use, to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the sustainable management of land, water and vegetation. The information should not be relied upon for the purpose of a particular matter. Legal advice should be obtained before any action or decision is taken on the basis of any material in this document. The Commonwealth of Australia, Land & Water Australia, the authors, and Land, Water & Wool and its partners do not assume liability of any kind whatsoever resulting from any person’s use or reliance upon the content of this document. Written and prepared by: Amy Jansen, Biz Nicolson, Michael Askey-Doran, Siwan Lovett, Phil Price and Jo Dean. Citation: Lovett, S. & Price, P. (eds) 2007, Managing rivers and streams in Tasmania: A woolgrowers guide, Land & Water Australia. Print ISBN: 1 921253 49 5 Electronic ISBN: 1 921253 50 9 Product code: PX071295 Photographs: Front cover, Robyn Watts. Back cover, left to right and shears copyright Laura Eves. Design and production: Angel Ink Printed by: Paragon Printers June 2007 Contents Acknowledgements iv Introduction 1 People — valuing woolgrower experiences 3 Place — understanding ‘sense of place’ 7 Profit — matching environmental action with economic sustainability 11 Proof — understanding, managing and rehabilitating riparian areas 17 What makes up river systems? 25 How healthy is my river? 41 Managing rivers — how can we do it? 51 Bringing it all together — rivercare planning 69 Further information 75 Publications for woolgrowers 75 Tasmanian publications 77 Tasmanian contacts 78 References 78 Appendix 1: Plant species found on some rivers in the wool growing areas of Tasmania 79 Appendix 2: Tasmanian birds (excluding seabirds) and their habitat requirements 112 RIVERS AND WATER QUALITY Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge all of those The Department of Primary Industries and involved in the Land,Water & Wool – Rivers Water (DPIW) provided the resources to deliver project and the publication of this Guide. the project. The historical survey maps were These include the landowners who opened their provided by the Department’s Information properties to the project team; Henry and Simon and Land Services Division with the help Foster, Lindsay and Rae Young, Alan and John of Robert Higgins and Peter Devine. Cameron, Julian von Bibra, Bill Webster and Bob Graham and Helen Gee.Valerie Le Maitre Australian Wool Innovation provided the provided a house to rent for project staff and funding for the project that was delivered by participated in the landowner interviews and Land & Water Australia through the national various project forums. Other landowners who Land, Water & Wool program. also provided their time to be interviewed were Rae Young, Amy Jansen, Siwan Lovett, Sue Rapley, Sam Riggle, Emma Haswell and Phil Price and Jo Dean were responsible for Ricky Watson. delivering different aspects of the project in Steve Leonard, Bonnie Wintle and Leanne Tasmania and in compiling this Guide for Sherriff, Sarah Joyce and Bronwyn Tilyard woolgrowers. Portions of the text in the Proof contributed to fieldwork and other aspects section are based on unpublished work by of the project and the results of that work is Sharon Cunial (DPIW). reflected in different sections of this Guide. Special thanks to Rae Young (nee Glazik) who Eric Hutchinson from Roberts Ltd and worked on this project for three years before Andrew Johnson, Executive Officer for succumbing to the lure of wool growing and Tasmanian Quality Wool contributed to both marrying Lindsay Young. of the Tasmanian Land,Water & Wool projects, participating in various forums and field days, Michael Askey-Doran and in sharing their extensive knowledge of and Biz Nicolson the Tasmanian wool industry. Photo Laura Eves. Introduction oby Biz Nicolson and Siwan Lovett Australian Wool Innovation and Land & Water In recognition of this, the Five Ps of People, Australia have developed a unique sub-program Place, Profit, Proof, and Promise were used to combining the skills of researchers and the highlight the many different ways rivers and knowledge of woolgrowers to develop ways riparian areas are thought about, valued and to measure and remind us that every stream managed by woolgrowers. The Five Ps are: is special, distinctive and worth appreciating. – People — investing in people and This sub-program is called Land, Water & communities is important so that their Wool – Rivers & Water Quality. experience is recognised and valued, and Whilst the focus of projects of this kind is people can share ideas, stories and knowledge. generally on practical outcomes such as the – Place — we need to appreciate that the land kilometres of fencing completed, amount of where experimental or demonstration sites are trees planted or the success of revegetation located is also someone’s farm and home and treatments, the people working on the Land, therefore special to them and to their identity. Water & Wool program believe that the real These ‘places’ are also important because they success of any natural resource project is when have environmental and social values for the the mind or hearts of the farmers involved wider community. have been changed, and they have a long- – Profit — the outcomes from the research term commitment to their project outcomes. into river and riparian management needs A key element of this program is the to consider economic implications of recognition that landowners have a rich management decisions as well as the knowledge of their landscape and that it environmental implications. Landowners expresses itself as a “knowing” which has have a greater capacity to implement change more to do with sight, sound, touch and feeling if it contributes to the overall profitability of the place. The “knowing” and the science of the farm business. Profit is also used to are talking about the same issues; but separated express the environmental and social gains by a different language — a bridge we need that can be made from improving river to cross together. and riparian management. – Proof — excellent science is needed with Through the Land, Water & Wool – Rivers credible researchers investigating how river & Water Quality sub-program, scientists and and riparian areas will respond to different woolgrowers have worked together to look at management approaches. Woolgrowers need ways rivers and riparian areas can be managed good science to have confidence to act. within the farming system to meet a range of different objectives. What became clear during – Promise — a promise to give something this work was that river and riparian areas are back to wool growing communities we far more than a source of drinking water for work with so that they can benefit from the stock, and that woolgrowers have many reasons research and implement the recommended for wanting to care for these parts of the farm. management approaches that are developed. 1 RIVERS AND WATER QUALITY connection with the landscape. The full collection of stories entitled ‘Reflections of Tasmanian woolgrowers’, is on the CD-ROM in the sleeve at the back of this publication. In section two, Cynthia Dunbabin, a woolgrower from the Tasman Peninsula and Ross, writes about the importance of ‘sense of Place’, and reminds us that it is fundamental to a person’s identity and, as such, must be respected and cared for when working together to ‘improve’ river management on farms. Sections three and four focus on the practical realities of managing rivers and waterways within the context of a commercial wool growing farm. We look at the ‘Profit’ that can be gained, in so many ways, from managing rivers to achieve multiple objectives. The section on ‘Proof’ explains how river systems work and provides a range of recommended management practices to get the most out of the waterways on your farm. These two sections have been prepared Andrew Cameron, Marathon. Photo Laura Eves. by Amy Jansen and Michael Askey-Doran from the Tasmanian Department of Primary This Guide summarises the work of the Rivers Industries and Water. & Water Quality sub-program in Tasmania and is divided into sections based on the Five Ps. This Guide delivers on the promise we made at the outset of this project which was to listen The first of these is ‘People’, and Jo Dean to woolgrowers, work with them to develop introduces the work she has done in compiling joint solutions, and leave them with the skills and a number of stories from woolgrowers around resources to enable them to continue working Tasmania.The woolgrowers in these stories for improved river and riparian management. reflect the very essence of their social and We hope that you will dip in and out of the biophysical landscape with lightness and sections and find something inspirational, honesty, reminding us that wool growing useful and relevant to assist you to manage is not just a business, it’s also an emotional rivers, streams and creeks on your farm.

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