Introduction

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PREFACE

The Restoration Plan is based on a partnership approach linking community interest with government, industry and research organisations. Documentation of the plan that follows here is presented in a strategic format that is intended to be used by the partner organisations to set priorities, attract funding and implement the actions of the plan.

Section A provides background information about the catchment, the community and the range of issues to be addressed to improve the health of the catchment.

Section B provides the strategic framework for targeted investment in resource condition change. Analysis of relevant research information links the aspirational goals and objectives identified by the community with Resource Condition Targets (RCTs) for seven Management Themes. The RCTs provide a measure of what may reasonable be expected to be achieved within approximately 20 years through investment into the proposed actions.

Section C identifies the actions required to achieve Management Action Targets (MATs). The MATs are set for approximately 5 years and are intended to focus the proposed actions on achievement of resource condition change.

Section D provides a framework and set of indicators for monitoring and evaluation of the Restoration Plan. The framework is focused on processes of adaptive management.

The Torbay Catchment Group will lead in implementation of the Watershed Torbay Catchment Management Plan through arrangements with its partner organisations.

FOREWORD

We must recognise that some of our past and current practices are impacting on the quality of the environment. There are problems with poor water quality in our creeks, wetlands, lakes and inlets leading to increasing algal blooms; damage from recreational use especially on the fragile coastal hills, erosion in drains and creeks, acidity and water logging of soils and salinity in the upper catchment.

There are additional pressures likely in the near future. The Marbellup Brook has been identified as the preferred next major source of public water supply for the City of Albany. The Albany irrigated tree farm, located in the upper catchment, is reaching its capacity to treat the City of Albany's wastewater. Increasing numbers of people are moving into the area, putting more pressure on resources, which demands good planning. In addition, there are increasing sources of nutrients from agriculture and urban development.

It is important to recognise the valuable assets in the catchment, the resources we use, the aspects we treasure and our historical links. If we truly value these assets, we need to work out how to protect them and to urgently start to repair the often unforeseen damage that has occurred in the past, before things get any worse.

This Torbay Catchment Restoration Plan is an attempt to do just that. It has been the result of the work of a dedicated group of local residents and agency representatives working together over the past four years, with significant input from many of you. Thanks go to the Watershed Torbay project steering committee, the technical advisory group, the drainage management sub-committee, the Torbay Catchment Group and the support team who had to carry out most of the tasks.

A plan is good: implementing the plan is far better! Now is the time for each one of us to start making things happen, and I am pleased that key organisations have pledged their ongoing support. This plan is for everyone and I really encourage all in the community to come on board and help restore the catchment to a healthier condition. We can then be really proud of where we live and satisfied in the knowledge that we are passing on a better environment to future generations. After all, commitment from each one of us, and just an hour or so out of our often hectic lifestyle, would all mount up to making a huge difference!

Andrew Marshall
Torbay Catchment Group Chair
Watershed Torbay Project Steering Committee Chair

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

After many conversations, competition from other catchments, and almost a year of planning, the Torbay catchment was eventually nominated by the Water and Rivers Commission to the Consortium.

The Water and Rivers Commission had been working with the Torbay Catchment Group for several years trying to help facilitate resolution of communication issues about the Torbay bar management and algal blooms. The Torbay Catchment Group enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity to participate in the project, with their enthusiasm being reinforced through an early visit by Phil Price, former CEO of Land and Water Australia, and myself to the Torbay Catchment Group.

Julie Pech, Luke Pen and myself prepared the formal project submission, and eventually the project was signed off and formalised through a contract agreement in mid 2001. The entire Watershed Torbay project owes its success to very many people, not least of which is David Weaver from the Department of Agriculture who suggested the great name for the project.

The project was undertaken through extensive discussion and consultation with community members and agencies. A project steering committee comprising community members, representatives of the Torbay Catchment Group and State and Local government agencies, was the key overseeing group. The Torbay Catchment Group was the major driver of on-ground works and community consultation. Without the motivation and commitment of these groups, the project would not have been successful.

I sincerely thank all members of the Torbay Catchment Group, members of the Watershed Torbay project steering committee, members of the drainage management sub-committee, and other community participants who have been involved in all aspects of the project over the past 4 years. A particularly thank you to John Simpson, first Chairman of the project steering committee, and Andrew Marshall, Chairman of the Torbay Catchment Group, who also chaired the project steering committee after John resigned due to ill health.

There are two amazing people who have contributed strongly to the ethic, approach and outcomes of the project, Julie Pech and Louise Duxbury. Julie provided the project and catchment support role, and her supreme organisational skills, knowledge of the catchment and community links were vital to the project. Louise was the community participation and communications coordinator, studying her PhD while working part time in this role. Louise's insights on best practice community change and her wonderful open and participatory approach were very welcomed by the community, scientists and project team.

There has been strong input from a range of agency personnel, science and research staff throughout the project, both through the technical advisory group and individual project components. Their cooperative and partnership style and support was essentially in achieving good outcomes for the project and catchment, and I really appreciate the pivotal role in establishing monitoring, supporting a range of research projects, and modelling drainage scenarios. The project contribution, cooperation, and advice from both the Department of Agriculture and Water Corporation staff was also very important. Finally a thank you to Viv Read, our patient and very competent consultant who prepared both the drainage report and the final draft of the restoration plan.

Naomi Arrowsmith
Principle Investigator and Project Manager,
Watershed Torbay

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

"an environmentally clean, balanced ecology supporting a prosperous community in which people respect each other's use of the catchment and waterways."

This vision provides the lead for research and management planning in the catchment. Watershed Torbay was initiated in June 2001 as an integrated whole of catchment waterways restoration project. The project aimed to undertake research, community and stakeholder consultation, and preparation of a restoration plan order to achieve a balance of environmental, social and economic outcomes for the catchment. The National Rivers Consortium invested in research and planning for catchment restoration through Land and Water Australia (LWA), with State funding contributions from the Department of Environment (DoE), Department of Agriculture (DAWA) and the Water Corporation (WC).

The Torbay Catchment Restoration Plan provides strategic direction for long term resource condition change through targeted investment into prioritised actions set within a 3-year Implementation Program. The Restoration Plan provides a whole of catchment approach to management based on the integration of research information, local knowledge and the values held by the community. Community input has been critical in the decision making process, with the community as the `driver' of restoration priorities and actions, with a strong science underpinning.

The key environmental issues in the catchment are related to the condition of the waterways and wetlands. The natural drainage system has been significantly altered and is now dependent upon manual operation to control wetland water levels and the potential for flooding. Lake Manarup has been managed for flood mitigation purposes rather than as a wetland. Lake Powell and Torbay Inlet are now the two wetlands with the highest occurrence of algal blooms in Western Australia. Nutrients from a small number of point sources are a part of the cause, but the extensive sandy soils indicate that diffuse sources of nutrient are the most significant cause. There is recent concern about the extent of impacts caused by acid sulfate soils.

While farming is the dominant land use in the catchment, almost 80% of landholders earn most of their income off-farm. Many properties are small with non-viable farming enterprises. There are some commercial tree plantations although the community is resistant to an increase in this land use. Treated wastewater, sourced from Albany, is discharged to a tree farm in the catchment. Water resources for public supply are sought from the Marbellup Brook sub-catchment. Nature conservation values are significant in wetland, bush and coastal habitats.

Through processes of community consultation, seven Management Themes were identified:

1. Algal blooms and water quality
2. Water quantity
3. Drainage management
4. Habitat and biodiversity management
5. Farming systems
6. Land use planning
7. Community education and communication

These themes provide the basis to development of the Restoration Plan. Broad goals and objectives are identified for each Management Theme.

Natural assets in the catchment are identified for land, water resources, biodiversity and infrastructure, as well as cultural and heritage values. These provide a specific focus for targeted investment in catchment management.

The primary expected outcome from the Restoration Plan is improvement in the condition of natural resources. Targets for Resource Condition Change are set for the Management Themes considering a period of approximately 20 years.

To achieve resource condition change, targeted actions are proposed for a shorter time period. Management Action Targets are set for medium term achievement.

The Restoration Plan has 19 targets for resource condition change and 33 Management Action Targets. The 3 year Action Plan (Section C) provides the actions, priorities, estimated costs and roles and responsibilities for achieving these targets. While partner organisation contributions are to be arranged through an Investment Plan, the estimate of external funding required for implementation of the 3 year Implementation Plan actions is approximately $1.6m.

The community recognises that full restoration of environmental values in the catchment may not be possible without considerable loss of social and economic values. It is also understood that significant change may take a long time. There is good understanding that management of the natural systems of the catchment involves considerable uncertainty and that many factors may change with time. An Adaptive Management framework is significant to the Restoration Plan to ensure that decisions are based on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) results. Section D outlines the processes linking M&E to adaptive decision-making and provides a set of indicators to measure change.

Review of the Restoration Plan is required within 3 years for re-investment through a second-phase 3-year Implementation Program.

Purpose of Restoration Plan

The Restoration Plan also provides a `blueprint' for change. A key demonstration value of the project is recognition of the need for change in management practices. The goals, targets and actions of the Restoration Plan are focused on the changes that are feasible and acceptable.

Structure of the Restoration Plan

The Project Description section provides:
• An outline of the demonstration program and the restoration planning team;
• A vision for the future of the catchment;
• A description of the catchment and communities; and
• An assessment of the land use and natural resource management issues.

The Assets, Goals and Targets section provides:

• Identification of valued catchment assets and community values;
• Goals and objectives identified through community processes; and
• Targets for resource condition change.

The Action Plan provides:

• Management Action Targets and proposed actions;
• Estimated costs allocation for a 3-year implementation program;
• Identification of key roles and lead responsibilities; and
• Feasibility assessment for achievement of targets;

The Monitoring and Evaluation Plan provides:

• Current monitoring, analysis and trends;
• An "Adaptive Management' framework; and
• Indicators of change for goals, objectives and targets.


Figure A1 - Sections of the Torbay Catchment Restoration Plan

The Torbay Catchment Restoration Plan is supported by this Compendium, in which all supporting information is compiled. Associated information is also available on the Watershed Torbay website (www.torbay.scric.org).