2003–2004annual report DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT Contents MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT CONTENTS In accordance with Section 62 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985, I submit for your information and presentation to Parliament the annual report of the Department of Conservation and Land Management. Keiran McNamara EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 31 August 2004 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 2 ABOUT US Our commitment ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Our organisation ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Our people...............................................................................................................................................11 CALM-managed lands and waters ....................................................................................................15 Estate map ..........................................................................................................................................18 Fire management services ...................................................................................................................21 THE YEAR IN SUMMARY Highlights of 2003–2004 ......................................................................................................................30 Strategic Planning Framework..................................................................................................................... 36 WHAT WE DO Nature Conservation – Output 1 ....................................................................................................38 Sustainable Forest Management – Output 2 .................................................................................68 Performance of Statutory Functions by the Conservation Commission of WA – Output 3 (reported in Performance Indicators Section) Parks and Visitor Services – Output 4 ............................................................................................76 Astronomical Services – Output 5................................................................................................ 106 OBLIGATORY COMPLIANCES Public Sector Standards and Code of Conduct ........................................................................ 110 Legislation.............................................................................................................................................. 111 Disability services ............................................................................................................................... 114 EEO and diversity management...................................................................................................... 116 Electoral Act 1907 .............................................................................................................................. 116 Energy Smart ........................................................................................................................................ 117 External funding, grants and sponsorships .................................................................................. 118 Occupational safety and health ...................................................................................................... 120 Record keeping .................................................................................................................................... 120 Waste paper recycling ....................................................................................................................... 120 Publications produced in 2003–2004 ........................................................................................... 121 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ............................................................................................................ 135 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ..................................................................................................................... 157 THE OPINIONS OF THE A UDITOR GENERAL APPEAR AFTER THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Department is committed to developing a range of services that meet the needs of our many customers, and at the same time are consistent with our responsibilities for conservation and land management in WA. Page 1 Annual Report 2003–2004 Contents Executive Director’s review A key priority for the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) to conserve the nature of Western Australia (WA) is the development and management of WA’s conservation reserve system. Currently, the existing publicly-owned terrestrial conservation reserve system includes just over 6.6 per cent of the State’s land area. Proposed extensions include nearly five million ha of former pastoral lease, and around 660,000 ha of State forest as national parks and other conservation reserves. The Department has identified a further 1.4 million ha under the 2015 pastoral lease renewal process for incorporation OR’S REVIEW into the conservation reserve system. When these various processes are complete, WA’s terrestrial conservation reserve network will extend over nine per cent of the land mass. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas in 1992 identified that 10 per cent of each biogeographic region should be preserved in formal protected areas. Subsequently, this benchmark has been increased in Australia through various reviews including the February 2004 draft position statement released by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, entitled Directions for the National Reserve System: A Partnership Approach. In reality we have a long way to go. The proportion of the individual biogeographic regions – and their subregions – that is reserved varies considerably across the State. Consequently, a major focus has been identifying those biogeographic regions and vegetation types that are under- reserved (or, in some cases, not reserved at all) and working towards ensuring WA has a reserve system that truly reflects the State’s biodiversity. EXECUTIVE DIRECT A Biodiversity Audit of WA’s 53 Biogeographic Subregions and a summary for the 22 biogeographical regions that lie entirely within the State, was completed in 2003–2004 and has subsequently been released to stakeholders. Both volumes are an important contribution to the development of a comprehensive, adequate and representative conservation reserve system. They also will contribute to the development of a State Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and provide significant references for a wide range of individuals and organisations including Government agencies, other research institutions, landowners, natural resource management groups and others generally interested in conserving the State’s natural biodiversity. However, while WA’s terrestrial environment is biologically diverse – we have Australia’s only world-ranked biodiversity hotspot (WA’s south-west) and eight of Australia’s 15 recognised national biodiversity hotspots – so, too, is our marine environment. The coastal waters between North West Cape and Rottnest Island also are an internationally-recognised biodiversity hotspot, ranking seventh in terms of total diversity richness and second in terms of the number of species found in a limited range. Page 2 Annual Report 2003–2004 Contents As with the terrestrial conservation reserve system, the establishment and management of a marine reserve network including marine parks, marine nature reserves and marine management areas, is an essential part of conserving the State’s marine environment for present and future generations. The dedication of Jurien Bay Marine Park in August 2003 brought to seven the number of marine parks off the WA coast. Planning also is well under way for further marine parks and reserves. When implemented, these will assist in extending the conservation reserve network as part of the State’s longer-term objective to have a world-class comprehensive, adequate and representative marine reserve system. A key part of the conservation reserve planning process – for both terrestrial and marine environments – is the involvement of the community through consultation and participation. Consequently, engagement with the community is a major focus for CALM in the development of the public conservation reserve system, and in the conservation of the State’s biodiversity. The 2003–2004 year has also seen the continued growth of use of our parks, reserves and forests for nature-based recreation and tourism. Indeed our national and marine parks in particular house many of WA’s natural tourism attractions and make a significant contribution to local and regional economies. One of the milestone achievements for 2003–2004 was the completion of a new forest management plan which came into operation in January 2004. The plan protects old-growth forests, identifies areas to be set aside as national parks and other conservation reserves, and sets standards for the management of State forests in an ecologically sustainable manner. I would like to thank CALM’s staff and volunteers for their unstinting efforts, dedication and contribution to the Department’s work during the year. CALM also acknowledges the contributions of the members and staff of the Conservation Commission