Integrated estuary management Linking catchments to the sea Worshop 22 November 2005, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, East Melbourne

Presentation Outline  Background  Why are we here  What can you expect?  What is going to happen  Where to next  Presentation summary

Background  Estuaries are ecosystems of considerable environmental, social and economic value: support a diverse range of species many unique play significant role in regional economies (shipping) great importance to local communities (catch)  Increasing demands resulting from human activities have the potential to result in the degradation of estuaries and threaten their sustainability

Estuaries - Linking catchments to the sea NAP/NHT project to minimise pressures on Victorias estuaries 1. Whole of ecosystem scale - upstream/downstream effects 2. Combined (synergistic) affect of human activities 3. Links to potential management intervention - pragmatic approach 4. Turning research outputs into outcomes

Aquatic habitat Terrestrial habitat Forest Fauna Lake reeds Aquatic Fauna Wetland Fauna Total wetland habitat Unplanned fire Weeds Domestic pets Wildlife injury Threatened Flora Hazard reduction Direct wetland habitat Bush area Total wetland habitat Threatened Flora Seagrass beds Salt marsh Mangroves Flood risk People accessing creek Social acceptability Fishing Aboriginal Values Swimming Management of agricultural drains Management of Cudgen plateau Sea level rise Urban development (lake catchment) Urban development in creek catchment only Entrance management Creek ANZECC Algal blooms Flood frequency Creek a -TN b -TSS c - Pathogens d -TP Lake water quality a - TN b - Pathogens c - Acid d - TP e - salinity f- TSS Creek flushing Lake ANZECC Creek input a -TN b -TSS c - Pathogens d -TP Creek salinity Disaster cost to council Returns to cane farmers Returns to vegetable farmers Costs to NPWS Maintenance cost to council

Cudgen Lake Case Study Clothiers Creek Reserves Creek Cudgen Lake Cabarita Casuarina Salt Seaside City Bogangar Management of vegetable crop land: buffer strips, fertiliser application Potential for new rural residential development: sewerage management, riparian buffers Fire buffers, weed restrictions Management of sugar cane for acid runoff: Percentage of catchment adopting these measures Changes to current urban settlements: Increase density, retrofit stormwater management systems Possible new urban development: 1: Cudgen heights (1) 2: Cudgen heights (2) 3: Kings Forest, 4: Duranbah, 5: Hansen 6: Tanglewood) House density, stormwater management, sewerage management, riparian buffers fire buffers, weed restrictions

What is the purpose of today 1. Information sharing Questionnaire 2. Integrated management Case scenario 3. Communication strategy reference group I don’t know how it started either All I know is its corporate culture

What can you expect? 1. Report on the outcomes of the workshop 2. Ongoing communication of research outputs 3. Ongoing communication with respect to estuary management 4. Web page - information portal on Vic estuaries CB2F087CB6D84A2567CA F-CB8C3B1FB 196F9DE4A256B C?open

10:30 - Developing the methodology for assessing estuary pressures: relationships with catchment condition Prof Gerry Quinn, Deakin University 10: minutes for questions 11:00 - Are there such things as indicators of estuarine health? Jan Barton, Deakin University 11: minutes for questions 11:30 - Fill in questions questionnaire (3 purposes) All workshop participants 12:00 - LUNCH Estuary management and indicators

Integrated management 13:00 - Legislation relating to estuary management Ingrid Holliday, DSE 13: 30 - Development of the estuary CAP in Gippsland Brett Millington, Gippsland Coastal Board 14:00 - Group Case scenarios - 20 minutes for 4 questions 14:30 - Presentation of group scenarios (4 groups) 10 minutes each 15: 00 – Summary comments (Don Hough) 15: 20 - BREAK

Matter for Targets 15:30 - Matters for targets Rob Thorman, National Land and Water Audit Ingrid Holliday, DSE 16:00 – 16:55 – Selection of matters for targets 17:00 - Close of workshop and thanks