Wilson Inlet Management Strategy 2013 - 2022 A Management Strategy to maintain and where possible, enhance the ecological health of the Wilson Inlet Acknowledgements this document was developed by the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee through lotterywest funding. the Wilson Inlet Management Strategy was prepared by the steering group, comprised of representatives from the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee, Department of Water, South Coast nrM, Department of Agriculture and Food, Water Corporation, City of Albany, Shire of Denmark, Shire of plantagenet and individual community members. Many individuals were involved in providing technical expertise and input along the way. Special thanks extend to: David Weaver, Miriam lang and ronald Master, Department of Agriculture and Food WA Kirsty Alexander, tracy Calvert and Karen Mckeough, Department of Water Bill Hollingworth, george ebbett, Joe van Vlijmen, Brad Kneebone, Melissa Howe, Arthur patterson and yvette Caruso, local community members. Wendy Bradshaw and Matt Kennewell, South Coast natural resource Management the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee paul Close, Centre of excellence in natural resource Management lynn Heppell and elissa Stewart, Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee Craig Baru and gemma Maling, Shire of Denmark Dawn pedro, Councillor representative, Shire of Denmark Mark Ford, City of Albany John Dibble, Water Corporation Jackie Manning, Department of environment and Conversation comments invited Comments on the strategy are invited. Comments or further enquiries should be directed to: Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee postal address: po Box 142, Denmark WA 6333 telephone: 0427198038 email: [email protected] An addendum to this Management Strategy includes the community comment submissions. See contact details to request addendum. AbbreviAtions Abbreviations used in this document: AHD Australian Height Datum AnZeCC Australian and new Zealand environment Conservation Council CenrM Centre of excellence in natural resource Management DAFWA Department of Agriculture and Food WA DeC Department of environment and Conservation DIA Department of Indigenous Affairs DoF Department of Fisheries DoH Department of Health Dop Department of planning DoW Department of Water DpCWg Denmark phytophthora cinnamomi Working group. DWAg Denmark Weed Action group lgA Local government Authority ngo non government organisations SCnrM South Coast natural resource Management WICC Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee WC Water Corporation pAge 2 WIlSon Inlet MAnAgeMent StrAtegy 2013 - 2022 Figure 1: Wilson Inlet Catchment WIlSon Inlet MAnAgeMent StrAtegy 2013 - 2022 pAge 3 collAborAtive support the following groups and agencies endorse this Management Strategy and will continue to work cooperatively to implement its actions as a means of improving the condition of the Wilson Inlet. John rodgers David Hughes-owen Chairperson regional Manager Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee Water Corporation Bill Hollingworth Cr Kenneth Clements Chairperson Shire president South Coast natural resource Management Shire of plantagenet Government of Western Australia Department of Water Dale Stewart Brett Ward Chief executive officer Acting regional Manager, South Coast region Shire of Denmark Department of Water Department of Environment and Conservation Department of Fisheries Kevin Donohue peter Keppel regional Manager, Southern region Manager, Warren region Department of Fisheries Department of environment and Conservation Steve porritt graham Foster regional Director, Southern region Acting Ceo Department of Agriculture and Food WA City of Albany pAge 4 WIlSon Inlet MAnAgeMent StrAtegy 2013 - 2022 Table of contents 1 ExeCutIVe SuMMAry ..................................................................................................................................................6 2 ABout tHe MAnAgeMent StrAtegy ...........................................................................................................................7 2.1 Background and Development of the Management Strategy ............................................................................7 2.2 Community Involvement ...................................................................................................................................8 Vision .............................................................................................................................................................8 Community values ..........................................................................................................................................8 2.3 Scope of the Management Strategy ..................................................................................................................9 2.4 objectives of the Management Strategy..........................................................................................................10 2.5 Implementing the Management Strategy ........................................................................................................10 3 BackgrounD tHe WIlSon Inlet AnD SurrounDIng lAndscape ..........................................................................11 3.1 Location, tenure and physical Characteristics ...............................................................................................11 3.2 Climate ........................................................................................................................................................11 3.3 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................................... 12 3.4 Geology, landforms and Soils ...................................................................................................................... 12 3.5 Flora and Fauna ........................................................................................................................................... 12 3.6 Culture and Heritage .....................................................................................................................................13 4 Key valueS ...............................................................................................................................................................15 4.1 Healthy fauna and flora. ................................................................................................................................15 4.2 Natural beauty of Inlet ..................................................................................................................................16 4.3 Recreation; walking, boating, fishing, bird watching ......................................................................................16 4.4 Commercial; fishing, aquaculture, tourism ....................................................................................................16 4.5 Sustainable balance of agriculture, healthy bushland and waterways in the surrounding landscape ...............17 4.6 Protecting Culture and Heritage; indigenous and non-indigenous ..................................................................17 5 Key ISSueS ................................................................................................................................................................18 5.1 Nutrient levels and nutrient cycling within the Inlet ........................................................................................18 5.2 Climate change ............................................................................................................................................19 5.3 Development and infrastructure around the Inlet foreshore and surrounding areas ........................................ 20 5.4 Changing land use in the catchment ............................................................................................................. 20 5.5 Water competition ........................................................................................................................................21 5.6 Soil acidity ................................................................................................................................................... 22 5.7 Introduced invasive species ......................................................................................................................... 22 5.8 Diseases and pathogens .............................................................................................................................. 23 5.9 Fire ...............................................................................................................................................................24 6 TargetS ................................................................................................................................................................... 25 7 StrAtegIeS AnD ACtIonS ........................................................................................................................................ 26 7.1 Reducing threats from the catchment ........................................................................................................... 26 7.1.1 rural catchment management ............................................................................................................. 26 7.1.2 Intensive rural land uses ......................................................................................................................31 7.1.3