Companion Document Australia’s National Report to the Eighth Conference of Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) 18-26 November 2002 Valencia Spain • A cooperative project between the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments of Australia, community and non-government organisations to document Australia’s policy and on-ground achievements in the last triennium. April 2002 Companion Document to Australia’s National Report to the Eighth Conference of Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) 18-26 November 2002, Valencia, Spain A cooperative project between the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, community and non-government organisations, coordinated by Environment Australia and involving: • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission • Australian Agency for International Development • Australian Wetlands Alliance, The (representing a broad range of more than 30 non-government wetland interest groups) • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation • Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Australia • Commonwealth Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts • Commonwealth Department of Defence • Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade • Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services • Environment ACT • Environment Australia (Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage) • Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist • Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority • Murray-Darling Basin Commission • New South Wales Department of Land and Water Conservation • New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service • Queensland Environmental Protection Agency • Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service • South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage • Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry, Water and Environment • Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment • Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management Companion Document to Australia’s National Report to CoP8, 18-26 November 2002 ii The information in this publication was provided by various Commonwealth, State and Territory government agencies and several community and non-government organisations. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Commonwealth Government or the Minister for Environment and Heritage. The Companion Document is online at: http://www.ea.gov.au/water/wetlands/index.html Also available from: Community Information Unit Environment Australia GPO Box 787 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Ph: 1800 803 772 Email: [email protected] Editors Amy Mosig Cathy Francis Kathy Eyles Sarah Young Wetlands Section – Environment Australia Front Cover Photograph Lake Clifton stromatolites, Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar site, Western Australia. Photo by Mark Butz, Environment Australia. iii Companion Document to Australia’s National Report to CoP8, 18-26 November 2002 Introduction Over the past Ramsar triennium (1999 – 2002), there have been many successful and interesting projects taking place across Australia that have contributed to the fulfilment of Australia’s obligations under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971). In this Companion Document to Australia’s National Report to the eighth Conference of Contracting Parties to the Convention of Wetlands, Valencia, Spain (November 2002), we present case studies to highlight some of Australia’s achievements and to allow Australians and the international community alike to learn about specific projects, which may have relevance their own situations. These case studies are designed to complement the information provided in the National Report. The case studies focus on a range of sites, including sites of international importance listed under the Ramsar convention, local streams, creeks and wetlands. The studies were undertaken by a variety of groups, including government, industry and community organisations. The case studies also cover a range of issues, including wise use, awareness raising, and conservation and have been organised and presented according to the General Objectives of the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan 1997- 2002. In addition to on-ground works, there is also a considerable body of policy and legislation relating to wetlands in Australia. Appendix One presents an extensive, though not exhaustive, list of current Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, which affords protection to wetlands. Similarly Appendix Two provides an extensive, though not exhaustive, list of current Commonwealth and State/Territory policies relating to wetlands. Australia also has substantial resource information covering wetland management, and this is presented in Appendix Three. I hope you find the case studies presented in this document an informative and useful catalogue of Australia’s continuing wetland conservation and management efforts. Stephen Hunter Deputy Secretary Environment Australia April 2002 Companion Document to Australia’s National Report to CoP8, 18-26 November 2002 iv Australia’s Ramsar Sites and Jurisdictions It is useful to keep in mind when reading the Companion Document that the Commonwealth of Australia is a federation of six self-governing States - New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, and two self-governing Territories - the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. In addition, Australia has two external territories with Ramsar sites – Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island, both in the Indian Ocean. As at April 2002 Australia has 57 Ramsar sites, which are shown below and listed overleaf. Hosnie’s Springs Pulu Keeling National Park Northern Territory Queensland Western Australia South Australia New South Wales Australian Capital Territory Victoria Tasmania v Companion Document to Australia’s National Report to CoP8, 18-26 November 2002 Australia’s Ramsar Sites 1. Cobourg Peninsula Aboriginal Land and Wildlife 29. “Riverland” Sanctuary 30. Kakadu National Park (Stage II) 2. Kakadu National Park (Stage 1) including wetland 31. Ord River Floodplain components of Stage III 32. Lakes Argyle and Kununurra 3. Moulting Lagoon Game Reserve 33. Roebuck Bay 4. Logan Lagoon Conservation Area 34. Eighty-mile Beach 5. Lavinia Nature Reserve 35. Forrestdale and Thomsons Lakes 6. Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon 36. Peel-Yalgorup System 7. Apsley Marshes 37. Lake Toolibin 8. East Coast Cape Barren Island Lagoons 38. Vasse-Wonnerup System 9. Flood Plain Lower Ringarooma River 39. Lake Warden System 10. Jocks Lagoon 40. Hosnie’s Springs (Christmas Island) 11. Interlaken Lakeside Reserve (Lake Crescent) 41. Moreton Bay 12. Little Waterhouse Lake 42. Bowling Green Bay 13. Corner Inlet 43. Currawinya Lakes (Currawinya 14. Barmah Forest National Park) 15. Gunbower Forest 44. Shoalwater and Corio Bays 16. Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes 45. Ginini Flats Wetland Complex 17. Kerang Wetlands 46. Pulu Keeling National Park 18. Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) (North Keeling Island) and Bellarine Peninsula 47. Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve 19. Western Port 48. Blue Lake 20. Western District Lakes 49. Lake Pinaroo (Fort Grey Basin) 21. Gippsland Lakes 50. Gwydir Wetlands 22. Lake Albacutya 51. Great Sandy Strait 23. Towra Point Nature Reserve 52. Myall Lakes 24. Kooragang Nature Reserve 53. Narran Lake Nature Reserve 25. Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert 54. Becher Point Wetlands 26. Bool and Hacks Lagoons 55. Lake Gore 27. Coongie Lakes 56. Muir-Byenup System 28. The Macquarie Marshes 57. Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Companion Document to Australia’s National Report to CoP8, 18-26 November 2002 vi Contents INTRODUCTION IV AUSTRALIA’S RAMSAR SITES AND JURISDICTIONS V OBJECTIVE ONE: UNIVERSAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE CONVENTION 4 Case Study – Promoting the Ramsar Convention 4 1. Pacific Islands Ramsar Liaison Officer Project 4 OBJECTIVE TWO: WISE USE OF ALL WETLANDS 6 Case Studies – Reviews and Changes to Legislation and Institutions to Better Protect Wetlands 6 1. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999 6 2. New Marine Protected Areas in Victoria 8 Case Studies – Reviews and Changes to Wetlands Policies 10 1. South Australian Wetlands Strategy 10 2. Exotic Invasive Marine Species in Victoria 10 Case Studies – New Policies to Ensure the Wise-Use of Wetlands 12 1. River Murray Environmental Water Allocations 12 2. Victoria’s Biodiversity Strategy 14 Case Studies – Participation by the Local Community 18 1. Apex Park Waterwatch Program, South Australia 18 2. Corner Inlet Ramsar Site, Victoria 19 3. Lower Hunter River and Estuary, encompassing Kooragang Nature Reserve Ramsar Site, New South Wales 20 4. Phillips Brook Catchment, Western Australia 24 Case Studies – Participation by the Indigenous Community 25 1. Kakadu National Park Board of Management, Northern Territory 25 2. Paruku Indigenous Protected Area, Western Australia 26 3. Ngan-Girra (Mungabareena), New South Wales 28 4. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Queensland 30 5. Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory 33 6. Joint Fire Management – South Alligator Wetlands, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory 33 Case Studies – Participation by the Private Sector 36 1. Banrock Station - Australian Conservation Projects 36 2. Revive Our Wetlands 37 1. The Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site, Victoria 40 2. Intertidal wetlands in South Australia 42 Case Study – Wetland Rehabilitation 43 1. Bicentennial