The Limestone Coast and Coorong Coastal Action Plan and Conservation Priority Study

A report into coastal habitat between the Murray River Mouth and the Victorian border, including a coastal action plan to inform future management practices, is now available.

The Limestone Coast and Coorong Coastal Action Plan (LCCCAP) documents the findings of a detailed conservation assessment for South Australia’s south-east coastal region.

The SE NRM Board commissioned the then Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to carry out the study. It was funded by the Commonwealth’s Caring for our Country initiative.

The LCCCAP draws on the knowledge and expertise of government agencies, community organisations, five local governments, the board and various experts in natural resource management and ecology. Numerous local conservation enthusiasts also contributed valuable information to the study.

The project is a first for the SE region, bringing together numerous data sources and local community expertise to develop a better understanding of the conservation assets and natural value of the SE coast. It aims to facilitate the conservation, protection and maintenance of the region’s natural coastal resources and establish conservation priorities.

The board commissioned the coastal focused report based on a recognised need for:

A detailed review of the region’s natural and cultural resources and the need to identify any threats to these.
Opportunities for more effective local management and specific management priorities.
A detailed knowledge of local scale conservation assets in order to guide targeted action.
A broad action framework to guide the regional community in coastal conservation.

In order to analyse, describe and map significant areas, 17 coastal cells have been defined for the Limestone Coast and Coorong region.

For each cell a list of plants, animals and weeds was compiled and conservation values and threats were identified.

A detailed weed survey of the region was also under taken to determine what high priority threats exist for natural areas.

The study utilised Geographic Information Systems software (ArcMap) to collate, analyse and present information retrieved from numerous government and external databases, together with information from community groups and local experts.

Project Manager and one of the authors of the report, Jason Quinn of DEWNR said "The project will help to raise awareness of coastal issues and increase the profile of natural flora and fauna values that the community share this spectacular coast with. The interactive mapping tool can be used for education and training purposes by schools, the community and government. It brings together a wide array of data layers in a readily useable GIS interface for the coast. The information is current and can be added to and improved into the future. In terms of a conservation mapping tool, it is invaluable."

The final report of the project is now available from the natural resources centre in hard copy and on DVD, which includes the digital maps and data layers.

The report can be accessed via the pdfs below. It has been broken down into workable sections to assist download.

Preliminaries (Table of Contents, Acknowledgements, Regional Recommendations)

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Chapter 2 - Description of Themes and Databases

Section 3.1 Conservation Themes - Flora

Section 3.2 Conservation Themes - Fauna

Sections 3.2-3.3 Conservation Themes - Heritage; Geology and Geomorphology

Chapter 4 - Threatening Processes

Chapter 5 - Conservation and Threat Summary

Chapter 6 - Cell Descriptions

Bibliography & Glossary

List of Figures & Tables