COASTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY SHIRE OF NORTHAMPTON Coastal Management Strategy Prepared for the Shire of Northampton Document History: Summary of Document Date Document Name Document Manager Client Delivered Revision Mar 17 100-01 – Ver 0a SR Initial Draft n/a Apr 17 1005-01 (CMS) Ver0e_Apr17 SR Preliminary Draft Jun 17 R.1005-01 (CMS) Rev1a SR Draft for Advertising June 17 Sep 17 R.1005-01 (CMS) Rev2 SR Final September 17 Prepared by Land Insights PO Box 289, Mt Lawley WA 6929 Phone (08) 9271 8506 [email protected] www.landinsights.com.au Document details Job: 1005 Revision: 2 Date: September 2017 Author: SR Approved: MT Important Note: “The information contained in this report has been prepared with care by the author(s), or it has been supplied to the author(s) by apparently reliable sources. In either case, the author(s) have no reason to doubt its completeness or accuracy. However, neither the author(s) company nor its employees guarantee the information, nor does it or is it intended to form part of any contract. Accordingly, all interested parties should make their own inquiries to verify the information, as well as any additional or supporting information supplied, and it is the responsibility of interested parties to satisfy themselves in all respects. This report is for the use only of the party to whom it is addressed. Land Insights disclaims responsibility to any third party acting upon or using the whole or part of its contents.” 2 Coastal Management Strategy | Prepared by: LAND INSIGHTS for Shire of NORTHAMPTON | September 2017 executive summary This document presents the Coastal Management Strategy • Addressing climate variability and the potential for (CMS) for the Shire of Northampton. The purpose of the impacts resulting from climate change in the medium report is to identify current land uses, values and issues to longer term along the Shire’s coast and to make recommendations for future management. • Appropriate management of recreational land uses to reduce and mitigate environmental degradation The Shire’s coastal areas have been planned over many • Intensifying usage of the coast due to population and years. An original Coastal Management Strategy was urban growth and the need to cater for this but at the prepared and adopted by the Shire in 2006. Subsequently same time maintain the area’s unique ‘tranquillity and Coastal Management Strategies have been prepared in isolation’ the last 2-3 years for the coastal nodes of Kalbarri and Horrocks. These node-specific documents are still current • Appropriate management of issues associated and guiding coastal management in these locations. with coastal land use such as rubbish, anti- social behaviour, environmental degradation and uncontrolled access The Study Area for this Coastal Management Strategy covers the remaining areas of the Shire, extending from • The need for more policing to help manage land use Wagoe (north) to Oakabella Creek (south). It excludes the coastal areas included in the Horrocks Coastal • Consideration of heritage assets and values within Management Strategy (Little Bay to Bowes River Mouth). It the area updates the earlier Coastal Management Strategy prepared • The need to continue and enhance community by Landvision and the Shire in 2006. involvement in coastal management, particularly coastal landowners and traditional landowners as Planning for coastal areas is about balancing often well as user groups and community groups with an competing needs and desires in a way that takes into interest in coastal management issues. account the values of the coastal zone, which include its scenic, aesthetic and ecological qualities; recreational The strategic vision of the Strategy is: opportunities; and social, indigenous, cultural and economic importance. In addition, consideration also needs to be To manage the unique social, environmental and given to coastal hazards relating to marine safety and long- economic resources of the study area taking into term climate change. The overall trend is seeing growing account risk from coastal hazards and sea level rise. and ongoing pressure on coastal resources as the State’s population increases, coastal-based industries expand and This vision was developed through consideration of existing technological changes make remote areas more accessible. and emerging issues as well as recent planning reports and new State and local government policy guidance. The overall effect of these values contributes to the psychological well-being and health of the local and To achieve the vision several objectives are identified within regional community. Successful coastal planning today will the document including: ensure that current and future generations can benefit from the opportunities presented by the values and resources of • Objective 1 – To manage the environmental and the coast. recreational values of the coastline in order to retain the broad range of recreational opportunities, In recognition of these values and resources the Shire environmental values and sense of isolation unique of Northampton identified the need to update the 2006 to the area Coastal Strategy to guide future coastal uses along the • Objective 2 – To achieve cohesive and effective coast. To ensure its continuing relevance to land use coastal land management considering the planning objectives it was recommended that this report be fragmented nature of land ownership reviewed within a 10 year timeframe. • Objective 3 – To ensure management and protection Through development of this new strategy, a number of of the coast is undertaken in a sustainable manner issues have been identified. These issues include: • Objective 4 – To ensure adequate consideration of coastal hazards is given and ensure management is • The fragmented nature of land tenure of this section undertaken in accordance with State Planning Policy of coast which can result in difficulties in achieving 2.6 coastal management objectives and actions, including how to manage large areas of Unallocated • Objective 5 – To adequately consider future urban Crown Land growth and tourism and the effects this may have on recreational use of the study area 3 Coastal Management Strategy | Prepared by: LAND INSIGHTS for Shire of NORTHAMPTON | September 2017 • Objective 6 – To retain, protect and enhance areas of historic value and places of cultural heritage significance within the study area • Objective 7 – To increase community awareness and participation in coastal management and maintain successful relationships between stakeholders and coastal landowners. This Coastal Management Strategy identifies the specific actions needed, as well as their timing (priority) and responsibilities, to ensure the assets and values identified by the community and stakeholders of this highly valued coastline are secured for the long term, whilst avoiding actions that might conflict with long term strategic State planning directions. The implementation section of this report (Chapter 6) provides further detail regarding responsibilities, monitoring, timeframes and funding options. The study area has been divided into three coastal management sectors. The coastline was divided into these sectors from north to south in order to focus management recommendations. The sectors are as follows (refer Figure 1.2): • Sector 1 – From the southern boundary of Kalbarri National Park to the northern end of Hutt Lagoon (includes the coastal sites of Wagoe, Lucky Bay, Halfway Bay and Sandalwood Bay) • Sector 2 – From the northern end of Hutt Lagoon to south of White Cliffs (includes Port Gregory, Hutt River Mouth and White Cliffs). • Sector 3 – From south of Bowes River Mouth to the southern boundary of the Shire (includes Woolawar Gully and Oakabella Creek). 4 Coastal Management Strategy | Prepared by: LAND INSIGHTS for Shire of NORTHAMPTON | September 2017 table of contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION 10 6.1 INTRODUCTION 66 1.1 BACKGROUND & PURPOSE 11 6.2 PRIORITIES 66 1.2 STUDY AREA 12 6.3 RESPONSIBILITIES 66 1.3 STRATEGIC VISION AND OBJECTIVES 12 6.4 MONITORING 66 1.4 DOCUMENT STRUCTURE 12 6.5 FUNDING SOURCES 67 1.5 KEY ISSUES 12 7.0 BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS 69 1.6 IMPLEMENTATION 15 7.1 INTRODUCTION 69 2.0 SECTOR 1 – WAGOE TO SANDALWOOD BAY 20 7.2 FEDERAL 69 2.1 DESCRIPTION 21 7.3 STATE 70 2.2 SECTOR 1 – COMMUNITY CONSULTATION 7.4 LOCAL 73 FEEDBACK 26 8.0 CONSULTATION 81 2.3 ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 26 8.1 INTRODUCTION 81 2.4 SECTOR 1 – RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 30 8.2 PAST CONSULTATION 81 3.0 SECTOR 2 – HUTT LAGOON TO WHITE CLIFFS 37 8.3 STEERING GROUP CONSULTATION 81 3.1 DESCRIPTION 38 8.4 LANDOWNER CONSULTATION 81 3.2 SECTOR 2 – CONSULTATION FEEDBACK 43 8.5 COMMUNITY SURVEY 81 3.3 SECTOR 2 – ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 43 8.6 COMMUNITY MEETINGS 84 3.4 SECTOR 2 – RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 47 8.7 GOVERNMENT AND STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION 4.0 SECTOR 3 – WOOLAWAR GULLY TO 85 OAKABELLA CREEK 54 9.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS 88 4.1 DESCRIPTION 55 9.1 INTRODUCTION 88 4.2 SECTOR 3 – COMMUNITY CONSULTATION FEEDBACK 55 9.2 CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE 88 4.3 SECTOR 3 – ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES 56 9.3 COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY AND SEDIMENT CELLS 88 4.4 SECTOR 3 – RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 57 9.4 COASTAL PROCESSES 90 5.0 GENERAL RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 61 9.5 VEGETATION AND FLORA 99 5.1 INTRODUCTION 62 9.6 WEEDS 101 5.2 ACTIONS 62 9.7 FAUNA AND HABITAT 101 6.0 IMPLEMENTATION 65 9.8 DIEBACK 102 5 Coastal Management Strategy | Prepared by: LAND INSIGHTS for Shire of NORTHAMPTON | September 2017 9.9 WATER RESOURCES 103 FIGURE 4.1 – SECTOR 3 OPPORTUNITIES