With only 2% of permanent wetlands remaining in the South East region, protecting them is an important part of the current review of the region's Water Allocation Plans (WAPs).
The South East Natural Resources Management (SE NRM) Board has adopted the following principle relating to Groundwater Depdendent Ecosystems (GDEs):
To maintain and enhance biodiversity, and protect local and regional ecological processes dependent on water from degradation as a result of the taking and use of underground water or other water affecting activities.
Background
Prior to European settlement, the South East of SA had a natural landscape that supported a large proportion of the State's plants and animals. The large wetland systems sometimes covered more than half the region with water. Since then, the South East has been progressively cleared and drained. There has been a corresponding decrease in temporary and permanent wetlands. Part of this diverse landscape include Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs). They comprise of karsts, streams, wetlands or vegetation that rely on groundwater to survive.
The SE NRM Board is developing policy that reflects the requirements of the community, the needs of the unique ecosystems in our area and the desire of businesses to utilise the South East's natural resources in a sustainable way. To ensure community input, the Board has undertaken community consultations to discuss the proposed environmental policy (including Environmental Protection Zones) for a list of complexes. To obtain feedback across the region on the proposed environmental policy, four public meetings were held in November 2007.
The meetings were located at:
Robe
Penola
Mount Gambier - two public meetings (day and evening sessions)
Information materials included an information sheet (please see below under the heading “Ground Water Dependent Ecosystems - November 2007”). A total of 76 people attended the meetings, with an average attendance of approximately 19 people per meeting.
In addition to the environmental policy meetings, eight Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan consultation meetings as well as three information forums were held across the region to provide further opportunity for members of the public to ask questions about the proposed changes to the WAP’s .
Written submissions were also invited during the consultation phase. A total of 21 written submissions were received on the environmental policy (Environmental Protection Zones).
The information collected from the public meetings is summarised in a report. This information, plus the written submissions, is assisting the SE NRM Board as they continue to develop the WAP to ensure it will protect the long-term sustainability of the resource for both the environment and the communities that rely on the resource.
A summary of the written submissions is available below. Please contact the SE NRM Board on 8724 6000 for a complete copy of all submissions.
Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems proposed for protection are (click on green underlined hyperlinks in table below to view individual complex maps):
|
Ecosystem Complex
|
Number
|
Management Area
|
M
|
|
Hog Lake Complex
|
1
|
Mount Benson
|
1751
|
|
Robe to Beachport Coastal Lakes Complex
|
2
|
Waterhours and Lake George
|
1410
|
|
Lake Hawdon Complex
|
3
|
Bray, Waterhouse, Ross
|
1410
|
|
Mary Seymour Complex
|
4a
|
Moyhall
|
2330
|
|
Bool Lagoon Wetland Complex
|
4b
|
Bool
|
1977
|
|
Deadmans Swamp Complex
|
5
|
Joanna
|
1961
|
|
Green Swamp Complex
|
6
|
Monbulla
|
1853
|
|
Topperwein Complex
|
7a
|
Zone 2A
|
1640
|
|
Trail Waterhole Complex
|
7b
|
Zone 2A
|
1640
|
|
Whennan Complex
|
8
|
Riddoch
|
1098
|
|
Overland Track Complex
|
9a
|
Riddoch
|
1098
|
|
The Marshes Complex
|
9b
|
Hindmarsh
|
1684
|
|
Kangaroo Flat Complex
|
10a
|
Young
|
1439
|
|
Honan Complex
|
10b
|
Young
|
1439
|
|
Lower SE Rising Springs West Complex (Winterfield Creek, Middle Point Swamp)
|
11
|
MacDonnell, Kongorong
|
1211
|
|
Lower SE Rising Springs Central Complex (Cress Creek Spring, Jerusalem Creek Spring, The Woolwash, Ewens Ponds Complex, Stratman Pond)
|
12
|
Donovans
|
1169
|
|
Lower SE Rising Springs East Complex (Picaninnie Ponds, Green Point, Pic Swamp)
|
13
|
Donovans
|
1169
|
For further information on EPZs and/or GDEs contact Katrin Springer at the SE NRM Board on 08 8724 6000.