Restoration Plan

Action Plan

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SECTION C ACTION PLAN

C4.0 Capacity for Implementation

Implementing the Torbay Catchment Restoration Plan is dependent upon the effectiveness of partnership arrangements between the community, government agencies, nongovernment organisations, research institutions and industry bodies. The Torbay Catchment Group provides the appropriate forum for development of partnership arrangements.

C4.1 Leadership through the Torbay Catchment Group

The Torbay Catchment Group (TCG) is the lead organisation for implementation of the Torbay Catchment Restoration Plan. The community-based group formed out of concern for the effect of changing land use within the catchment, with particular concern for the degraded condition of waterways and wetlands. The TCG has provided the basis for development of the Watershed Torbay project with sub-committee structures contributing over a four year period to preparation of the catchment restoration plan . The Executive Committee of the TCG is responsible for implementation of the actions according to the targets in the Restoration Plan.

For implementation of the plan, the TCG will require a revised structure with increased focus on project management, community engagement and communication. It is proposed that this occur through a single Implementation Steering Committee to provide skillsbased support for implementation of the Catchment Restoration Plan. The Implementation Steering Committee should report to the TCG Executive Committee.

Membership to the Implementation Steering Committee should include people with the appropriate skills from community and partner organisations. The key roles of the proposed Implementation Steering Committee are to:

  • Review priorities for implementation of actions
  • Prepare a three year Investment Plan
  • Arrange investment funding for implementation
  • Develop project management arrangements for implementing high priority actions
  • Arrange appropriate service providers for implementation of actions
  • Development of 'best practice' information
  • Develop processes for information sharing and management
  • Engagement of community and landholders
  • Initiation of community involvement projects.

It is proposed that the roles of the Implementation Steering Committee are supported by a full-time employed coordinator. This position would report to the Implementation Steering Committee. A cost allocation for this position in included with Action 1 for T7MAT1.

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C4.2 Partnership Arrangements

The key partner organisations required for effective implementation of the Torbay Catchment Restoration Plan are listed in Table C8. Formal arrangements for each of these organisations with the TCG are required. These arrangements are to clarify the roles and responsibilities and provide commitment for provision of resources for implementation. The resources required are to be identified in the proposed Investment Plan.

The lead roles for organisations are shown in Table C8. The table also shows the organisations that are recommended for member representation on the Implementation Steering Committee.

Partner OrganisationKey Roles
Department of Environment
  • Water resource protection
  • Project management
  • Communications
  • Community engagement
  • Monitoring and evaluation
    		•
    Western Australian Department of Agriculture
  • Diffuse source nutrient management
  • Farming systems development
    		•
    Water Corporation
  • Operation of the drainage system
    		•
    Department of Conservation and Land Management
  • Management of conservation reserves
  • Developing opportunities for increased biodiversity values
    		•
    City of Albany
  • Development and application of appropriate policy and planning mechanisms
    		•
    South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team
  • Provision of resources for regional priority actions
  • Monitoring resource condition change
    		•
    Centre of Excellence for Natural Resource Management
  • Research and information support
    		•
    Department of Planning and Infrastructure
  • Regional policy and planning initiatives
    		•
    Forest Products Commission
  • Development of appropriate commercial farm forestry options
    		•

    Table C8 - Partner Organisations for implementation of the Restoration Plan

    Note: the partner organisations identified in bold are recommended for member representation on the Implementation Steering Committee.

    C4.3 Investment Planning

    The Torbay Catchment Restoration Plan provides a long term strategic direction with medium term targets for achievement of actions, and a three year Implementation Program of prioritised actions. An Investment Plan is required to arrange funding from partner organisations and external sources.

    Table C9 provides budget estimates for external source funding for the proposed set of actions for the three year Implementation Program. The Investment Plan will identify the respective partner organisation contributions to these actions (staff time and other resources).

    The total budget estimates for external funding for all three year Implementation Program actions are listed in Appendix 6.

    Torbay Catchment Restoration Plan ThemeCost
    Theme One: Algal Blooms and Water Quality$478,000
    Theme Two: Water Quantity$95,000
    Theme Three: Drainage Management$315,000
    Theme Four: Habitation and Biodiversity Management$244,000
    Theme Five: Farming Systems$181,000
    Theme Six: Land Use Planning$41,000
    Theme Seven: Community Education and Information$255,000
    TOTAL 3 Year External Fund Budget Estimate$1,609,000

    Table C9 - Estimated costs of implementation of catchment restoration plan

    C4.4 Direction for Research and Development

    There are key areas where additional information is required for management decisions. The research requirements for these areas are outlined below.

      1. Groundwater interactions as a source of nutrients to Lake Powell, Lake Manarup and Torbay Inlet.
      Analysis of groundwater from 26 piezometers around the three water bodies has identified the potential for fluctuating groundwater tables to be a source of nutrients within areas of acid sulphate soils. The extent to which this is a contributor to nutrient enrichment requires further investigation.

      2. Nutrient discharge from potato farms to Lake Powell via flooding and or surface drainage.
      There is an ongoing requirement to determine the interaction between potato farms and Lake Powell to assess the potential source of nutrient through both inundation due to Lake flooding, or localised surface water drainage to the Lake. Surface water flows to Lake Powell, or flood water receding into Lake Powell could be potential nutrient pathways.

      3. Sources of Nitrogen to Lake Powell and Torbay Inlet.
      Analysis of aquatic plants is required to determine if the most significant source of nutrients in plants (algae) is from sewage, agricultural fertilisers or through nitrogen fixation. The outcome from this research will also help clarify community perceptions about the impact of the WWTP on Lake Powell.

      4. Sediment - Water Interactions and nutrient release.
      Understand the interaction between sediments and the water column in Lake Powell and Torbay Inlet is critical to understand the overall nutrient balance, and role of sediments in providing nutrients to support algal blooms in summer. Lake Powell does not become anoxic due to its shallow depth (there is limited stratification of the water body due to mixing by wind). Some areas of Torbay Inlet do experience anoxic conditions on a seasonal basis.

      There is a further requirement to determine the N potential contained in the sediments within Lake Powell and Torbay Inlet. Sediments are to be collected, incubated under anaerobic conditions to release ammonia, and then analysed. This provides information on the potential for N release from sediments should anaerobic conditions prevail. While low oxygen is not an issue for Lake Powell at the water interface, anaerobic sediments may be contributing to high pore water values and may be contributing significantly to nutrient cycling in Lake Powell.

      5. Environmental Criteria for Lake Powell, Lake Manarup and Torbay Inlet.
      Research is required to enable further development of the decision criteria for assessment of drainage scheme options for management. This will require refinement of water level criteria to sustain viable aquatic ecosystems and to minimise algal bloom frequency and other impacts. Specific hydro-period and water level criteria required are to:

      • protect and aid recruitment of fringing vegetation, provide water-bird habitat, and protect other values (fish, invertebrates etc).
      • aid nutrient cycling (e.g. is bed drying required to aid denitrification?)
      • manage Typha spp. invasion in Lake Powell.