PORT PHILLIP AND WESTERNPORT CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY PO Box 48 Frankston Vic 3199 Phone: (03) 9785 0183 Fax: 9773 6521 Website: www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au Table of Contents Foreword 3 Water Target WT1 - Water Consumption 4 Water Target WT2 - Recycled Water 6 Water Target WT3 - Diversions from Waterways 8 Water Target WT11 - Groundwater Extractions 11 Water Target WT20 - Beaches 13 Land Target LT2 - Salinity 17 Land Target LT4 - Weeds 20 Land Target LT5 - Rabbits 23 Land Target LT10 - Parks 28 Biodiversity Targets BT1 - Extent of Native Vegetation 32 Biodiversty Target BT5 - Threatened Species 35 Biodiverstiy Target BT8 - Seagrass and Marine Habitats 37 People and Organisations Target PT3 - Links with Local Government 41 People and Organisations Target PT5 - Community Groups 45 People and Organisations Target PT6 - Community Awareness 49 Some other Activities around the region 51 Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Condition Report 2005/06 1 Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority 2005/06 Catchment Condition Report October 2006 ISBN 0 9757375 4 6 This publication may be of assistance to you but the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA), its Board and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without fl aw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes. The PPWCMA therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence, which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Acknowledgments The PPWCMA gratefully acknowledges the work of its Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Coordinator, Janty Taylor, in preparing this Catchment Condition Report. The PPWCMA would like to express its appreciation to the state government agencies, water authorities, local governments, non-government organisations and community groups who contributed data and analysis to this Catchment Condition Report. Photographic credits: Cover image courtesy Bayside City Council Frankston beach, Frankston Swim and Frankston Sea Festival photographs courtesy Frankston City Council Clean Beach Challenge and Balnarring beach photographs courtesy by Keep Australia Beautiful Salinity images courtesy Department of Primary Industries Rabbit images courtesy Department of Primary Industries. Helmeted Honeyeater images courtesy Iain Stych, Wildlife Project Supervisor with Healesville Sanctuary. Seagrass and mangrove images courtesy the Department of Primary Industries, Guy Werner, and Dr Tim Ealey, Westernport Seagrass Partnership Park survey photos courtesy Victorian National Parks Association Groundwater drill photos courtesy Glenn Berry, Atma Environmental Designed and Printed by: Docklands Group This document, the related 2005/06 Annual Report and the Port Phillip and Western Port Regional Catchment Strategy can be obtained by contacting the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, Tel: 03 9785 0183. They are also available for electronic download on the PPWCMA website – www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au 2 Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Condition Report 2005/06 Forward One of the principal responsibilities of the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA) is to report annually to Government and the community on the condition of the catchment assets in the region. Previously, in the absence of an agreed statewide standard reporting framework, the PPWCMA used a broad set of indicators and interim targets for reporting against each year. These indicators and targets were related to the major issues of concern in the region, such as salinity, native vegetation, water quality, pest species, etc. With the accreditation and launch of the Port Phillip and Western Port Regional Catchment Strategy in December 2004, the PPWCMA is now able to report on catchment condition in a more structured manner. The strategy has established a series of 55 Targets. Changes to the condition of catchment resources can be assessed against these Targets, and the progress of implementation of the strategy can be measured and reported. It has not been possible to report against each of the strategy’s 55 Targets this year due in part to the lack of suffi cient data available for many Targets at this time. Therefore a detailed assessment of actions and programs contributing to implementation of the strategy has been carried out for a selection of 15 Targets. These Targets were taken from across the four distinct but inter-related catchment asset classes identifi ed in the strategy: ● Water (covering quality, health and protection of surface waters, groundwater, wetlands, coastal environments and estuaries, bays and seas) ● Land (incorporating urban spread, rural productivity and health, and public land use and health) ● Biodiversity (focussing on terrestrial and aquatic fl ora and fauna protection and enhancement) ● People and Organisations (dealing with investment by and engagement of organisations and the community). It is important to recognise that change in the condition of natural assets is often a slow process. The PPWCMA is attempting to assess these changes in a highly complex region, where the impacts from expanding populations and increasingly intensive agriculture and horticulture will continue to infl uence catchment condition. The following “Port Phillip and Western Port 2005/06 Catchment Condition Report” is the second in an annual series designed to review progress towards achieving the Targets of the Regional Catchment Strategy. The information presented illustrates a selection of the many programs and activities undertaken by natural resource management organisations in the Port Phillip and Western Port region. Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Condition Report 2005/06 3 PPWCMA assessment of PPWCMA assessment of Target current condition trend WT1 Average potable water consumption per person reduced by 15% by 2010 Moderate Relatively Stable Condition and trend Water Consumption - Water Target WT1 Melbourne Water and the fi ve retail water authorities; Western Water, City West Water, Yarra Valley Water, South East Water and Westernport Water, are responsible for supplying and monitoring potable water use in the region. The draft Water Supply-Demand Strategy for Melbourne 2006–2055 has reported that the majority of water used in Melbourne (59 per cent) is for domestic purposes. Industry and agriculture accounted for 30 per cent of total use, 7 per cent was lost due to leakage and the remaining 4 per cent covered factors such as fi refi ghting, theft and meter inaccuracies. Melburnians used signifi cantly less water in 2005/06 than in the 1990s. However, in 2005/06 Western Water, Yarra Valley Water and Westernport Water reported small increases in potable water consumption per person compared to the previous year. An increase in drinking water consumption by Western Water customers appeared to be due to the lift of Stage 2 restrictions across the region during the later part of the previous year. City West Water and South-East Water reported declining per-capita water use. % change Water Authority 2004/05 2005/06 In the Drink Western Water 262 274 4.6% increase # City West Water 202 200 0.8% decrease Potable (drinking-quality) water is one of the world’s most Yarra Valley Water 202 208 3% increase valuable resources. Melbourne is fortunate to enjoy high quality South East Water 310 304 2% decrease potable water sourced from several closed catchments located Westernport Water 242 272 12% increase in the Upper Yarra ranges and open catchments located in the Table 1: Average potable water use (litres per person per day) north of the region. # - includes commercial and domestic water usage However the pressure on our potable water resources is Example of trend needed to achieve target Western Water increasing. Growing urban populations combined with low City West Water Yarra Valley Water rainfalls over recent years have reduced the region’s water South East Water Westernport Water storages to record low levels. Melbourne could experience a 500 water supply shortfall within the next 15 years if measures to reduce water usage are not taken immediately. 400 300 The Port Phillip and Westernport Regional Catchment Strategy recognises the need for water conservation to meet future needs 200 and to maintain the health of the region’s rivers, wetlands and 100 estuaries. Achieving the target of reducing the per capita use of potable water by 15 per cent will be pursued through a range of 0 Average litres per person per day per person litres Average water conservation programs under the Victorian Government’s 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2008/09 2009/10 Our Water Our Future initiative. Figure 1: Average potable water use 4 Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Condition Report 2005/06 Actions in 2005/06 Permanent Water Saving Rules A series of fi ve permanent water saving rules were introduced in 2005 by the Victorian Government. Designed to achieve long-term water savings, the rules are mainly aimed at moderating water use in activities outside the home, such as watering gardens and fi lling swimming pools. Tips on saving water Water authorities provide information on water saving tips and conservation methods for domestic water use on their websites and in pamphlets. In addition, they outline the permanent water saving rules, rebate information and a range of water saving products available for purchase. Water Smart Gardens and Homes Rebate Scheme The Victorian Government has committed $10 million over the next four years to provide