Working together Our achievements 2009 – 2016 Photo and logos needed 1 2016© Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources ISBN: 978-1-921595-24-0 This document may be reproduced in whole or part for the purpose of study or training, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and to its not being used for commercial purposes or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those given above requires the prior written permission of the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board. All images within this document are credited to Natural Resources Kangaroo Island unless stated otherwise. Front cover image: Travis Bell and Grant Flanagan inspecting crop health as part of the AgKI Potential Project. Work outline in this document is funded by: 2 2 Message from the Presiding Member 4 Message from the Regional Director 5 Socio-economic Snapshot 6 Culture & Heritage Snapshot 8 Flora Snapshot 10 Fauna Snapshot 14 Marine & Coastal Snapshot 18 Freshwater Snapshot 22 Land Condition Snapshot 26 Biosecurity & Pests Snapshot 30 Climate Change Snapshot 34 Community Engagement & Capacity Building Snapshot 38 A New NRM Plan for KI 42 3 3 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDING MEMBER The inaugural Kangaroo Island Natural Resources 2009, fencing off native vegetation, installing creek crossings Management (NRM) Plan 2009–2019 was prepared when and liming acid soils. Kangaroo Island was declared one of eight South Australian However, some systems are out of balance, particularly where NRM regions under the Natural Resources Management Act human activities have tipped the scales, and many plant 2004, and while Kangaroo Island may be the smallest region and animal species continue to decline in numbers on the geographically, it is certainly one of the most precious! island, including top order predators such as the Rosenberg’s The Kangaroo Island community is deeply connected to goanna and osprey. place. Many people have lived here for generations, some Of further concern is that the application of lime sand descendants of the original pioneers that landed on the on the island is simply not keeping up with the natural Island, others descendants of the men and women who rate of acidification for land under production. This has settled here after World War II. As word of the Island’s wild implications for the long term productivity of agricultural beauty has spread, people have come from near and far to land as well as for the environment. And while some of our make Kangaroo Island their home. NRM management programs have been highly successful, The community knows well that the Island’s outstanding others have yielded mixed results and we need to review our natural environment supports our wellbeing, our way of life learnings and improve our approach. and our economy. Kangaroo Island’s spectacular beaches, The Kangaroo Island community have always supported productive farms, extensive reserves and bountiful seas are each other when the chips are down. We are united by way essential to the Island’s primary production and tourism of a seawater moat but more than that, we are united in industries. Many people know too that the Island’s dynamic our vision for a healthy, happy and prosperous future, for natural environment needs to be cared for and protected to ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. We desire to sustain these industries and our way of life. live in a place where we can see the stars and hear the call of the night birds, where we can catch our dinner in a deep blue The state of the region snapshots presented in this document ocean, and where we can enjoy a delicious glass of Island red tell the story of how Kangaroo Island has fared in the life of around a warm fire on a cold and wet winter’s night. the inaugural NRM plan, from 2009 to 2016. The snapshots provide some insight into the condition and trend of the We need to continue to work together to protect the things region’s environment, community and economy, as well as that make Kangaroo Island what it is. As opportunities the hard work and key achievements of Natural Resources present, we need to be ready to assess their worth and Kangaroo Island and the Kangaroo Island community towards make the most of those that work in our collective, long- maintaining and improving these. term favour. There are challenges that we face and that we may be able to overcome through our innovation and There is good news and there is not such good news. For creativity, and the sharing of knowledge and ideas, but we example, glossy black-cockatoos have made an ongoing need to remember that there are no quick fixes. There may recovery to 373 birds counted in the 2016 census; and in be challenges that we cannot overcome, but that we can 2015, breeding was recorded on the Dudley Peninsula for weather through being frugal, resourceful and resilient. We the first time since the 1970s. Through improvements to the need to be willing to change and adapt what is needed, quality of surface water runoff, seagrass meadows in Nepean while maintaining our core values, including caring for each Bay have turned around and are slowly expanding in size other and this beautiful Island we call home. again and will continue to serve as a nursery and habitat for many fish species (including commercially important species such as King George whiting) and crustacean species. Many Richard Trethewey landholders are actively caring for their patch and about 80% Presiding Member have been involved in the On-ground Works Program since Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board Credit: Quentin Chester 4 MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR What helps a community to thrive in an island context where Resources Kangaroo Island is the local name given to both you have a balancing act between environmental, social and the DEWNR regional staff and the Board in the delivery of economic priorities and issues, with the current and future the regional NRM Plan and the DEWNR Group Business Plan impacts of climate change as an additional concern? This is (which includes the management of parks and public lands). an ongoing challenge, and one which personally brought me The Presiding Member has highlighted some examples here in early 2015. of project successes and lessons learned. One thing that In the role of Regional Director I have the privilege of we know for sure is that achieving our natural resource delivering the Department of Environment, Water and management objectives takes time and requires consistent Natural Resources’ (DEWNR) operations, including delivering financial and social capital for us to see the long-term on the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management benefits of the investment. Natural Resources Kangaroo Board (the Board) commitments; and at the same time, Island must demonstrate to the community the value of acting as the Executive Officer to the Board and supporting its NRM levy in supporting the delivery of essential pest that local voice. plant and animal control and water resources management activities. DEWNR recently released its updated Corporate Plan 2016- 2019. The plan captures DEWNR’s role as a respected We at Natural Resources Kangaroo Island need to continually steward of the State’s natural resources, while also driving improve how we are sharing the Island’s stories, especially opportunities for investment and economic growth. our successes, with elected members of government and the broader Australian community. A significant challenge is This is not always an easy task on Kangaroo Island but it the uncertainty of future Australian Government funding for can also be considered an opportunity. A close working regional NRM bodies and as they are a major financial and partnership between the Board, the Commissioner policy contributor, we must plan for all scenarios. for Kangaroo Island, the Kangaroo Island Council, the community and other stakeholders ensures these matters can I am confident though that with the efforts of our Board be robustly discussed and progressed, and for a small place in providing the necessary NRM leadership, strengthening like Kangaroo Island, these good relationships are critical. local partnerships and the hard work of our staff and the Kangaroo Island community, we will together be able DEWNR’s Corporate Plan 2016-2019 prioritises four high to achieve the necessary balance between different and level goals: responding to climate change; sustaining South sometimes competing needs to ensure the long-term Australia’s natural resources; connecting people to nature, wellbeing of the Island and its people. parks and places; and managing water for the future. A key success factor in all of this is the ongoing relationship DEWNR has with the NRM boards, partner organisations, industry, Damian Miley communities and of course our volunteers. Regional Director Our brand name is reflective of this partnership. Natural Natural Resources Kangaroo Island Credit: Quentin Chester 5 5 SOCIO-ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT Physical description Employment Kangaroo Island covers an area of 440,000 ha, is In June 2011, the labour force on Kangaroo Island was 155 km long and up to 55 km wide and at its highest estimated at 2,700 persons. Only 48.2% of these people are point is about 300 m above sea level. employed on a full-time basis, with 39.6% being employed on a part-time basis. In 2011, 4.4% of the labour force remained unemployed, though this is likely to have increased. In 2010/11, the average wage on KI was $33,592 (Rural Institute of Australia 2015), significantly lower than the 300m state average. In 2009/10, the top four contributors to jobs were agriculture, forestry and fishing (22%), retail trade and 55km accommodation (14%), restaurants and cafes (14%) and 155km health and community services (8%).