Landscape Board Business Plan 2020/21 - Landscape SA
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NORTHERN AND YORKE
Landscape Board Business Plan
2020/21
An initial business plan under the
Landscape South Australia Act 2019
Acknowledgement of Country
The Narungga, Nukunu, Kaurna, Ngadjuri and Peramangk people are
the Traditional Custodians of the Northern and Yorke region and have
been for thousands of years. The Board acknowledges and respects the
Traditional Owners of Northern and Yorke. We acknowledge elders past
and present, and we respect the relationship Aboriginal people have to
Country. The Board is committed to partnering with Traditional Owners,
Aboriginal people and Aboriginal organisations in the management
of lands, seas and waters. This includes recognising the relationship
between Aboriginal culture and natural resources and incorporating
Aboriginal knowledge of natural resources into decision making.
30 APRIL 2020
This plan has been prepared by the Northern and Yorke Landscape
Board and is not a policy of the South Australian Government.
Foreword
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDING MEMBER
It is my pleasure to be appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Northern and Yorke Landscape
Board. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and support our region’s environmental and
economic sustainability.
Six new Board Members and I will lead the region through the transition from the existing
Northern and Yorke Regional NRM Plan to delivering the Landscape SA Act 2019 objectives.
2020/21 will be an important year for the Board, with priorities including:
• Developing a new Regional Landscape Plan and annual Business Plan together with
the community.
• Continuing to deliver priority projects through the National Landcare program.
• Working with our many partners; local government, farming groups, community groups,
Aboriginal communities and volunteers to achieve significant outcomes for our natural
resources and landscapes.
• Establishing a new Grassroots Grants Program.
• Working collaboratively with other Landscape Boards to achieve coordinated outcomes
across our landscapes.
With approximately 80% of our region used for cropping, grazing, food and wine production,
the social and economic stability of our region is closely linked to economically sustainable
agricultural industries. I look forward to engaging with our partners and communities to ensure
the important coastal and marine resources, rugged landscapes, remnant native ecosystems,
water resources and productive soils which constitute this region, continue to thrive, for the
benefit of the environment and the region’s people.
The 2020-2021 Business Plan outlines our intent to deliver a back-to-basics approach, focussed
on five priority areas; pest plant and animal control, sustainable agriculture, water management,
biodiversity and community. This new Act provides additional accountability and reporting on
Board activities, including greater community engagement and simplified processes.
With the implementation of the new Act, the Northern and Yorke regional boundaries have been
revised, and a new region formed. I take this opportunity to welcome those councils, community
groups, landowners, businesses and residents who now form part of the Northern and Yorke
region. On behalf of the incoming board, I look forward to working with you.
I commend this Business Plan to you and I urge you to join us in contributing to its successful
implementation.
Caroline Schaefer
Chair, Northern and Yorke Landscape Board
1
Introduction I, David Speirs, Minister for
Environment and Water,
The management of the state’s natural resources is
undergoing significant reform with the introduction after taking into account
of the Landscape SA Act 2019. There are a number of and in accordance with the
changes to the way we plan and implement sustainable
management of our landscapes across the state and requirements of section
within the Northern and Yorke region. 51(1)&(3), and Schedule 5
These changes include new regional boundaries (shown in the map on page 3), Part 30, under clause 95, of
which incorporate The Barossa Council, Town of Gawler, Light Regional Council,
Adelaide Plains Council and Goyder Regional Council. These councils previously the Landscape South Australia
formed part of the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges and SA Murray-Darling Basin Act 2019 hereby approve the
regions. Port Augusta and the Flinders Ranges council areas will now form part of
the SA Arid Lands region. initial 2020-2021 Business
The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board has been formed under the Act by the Plan for the Northern and
Minister for the Environment and Water through the appointment of community Yorke Landscape Board.
members within the Northern and Yorke Landscape region. The Board has the
responsibility to ensure the region’s natural resources are managed sustainably
and appropriately through the Landscape SA Act 2019.
The 2020-2021 financial year will be a transitional year as the delivery of existing
commitments under the NRM Regional Plans are fulfilled, and new priorities are
established. A new Regional Landscape Plan for the Northern and Yorke region will
be developed that incorporates the additional areas entering the region and their
management requirements with a clear focus on a Back-to-Basics agenda and Hon. David Speirs
alignment to community expectations. The Regional Landscape Plan will outline MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT
the region’s five priorities and key focus areas that guide sustainable management AND WATER
of the region’s natural resources.
Date: 22/6/2020
The 2020-2021 Business Plan outlines how the Board will invest funds raised
via the Landscape levies and other sources for this transitional year while
providing improved line of site through reporting on levy expenditure. Both the
Regional Landscape Plan and this Business Plan are requirements of the new
Landscape SA Act 2019.
2
Northern and Yorke Region
3
Landscape SA Reform
BOARD The South Australian Government is reforming how our landscapes are managed, putting
community at the heart of sustainably managing the state’s soil, water, pest plants and animals
MEMBERS and biodiversity. From 1 July 2020, the new Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (the Act) will
replace the Natural Resources Management Act 2004.
Eight new regional landscape boards and a new metropolitan board, Green Adelaide, will
administer the Act and partner with government and regional communities to deliver a
stronger, back-to-basics system with greater autonomy and flexibility to respond to local issues.
Peter
Angus Landscape Boards will support local communities and land managers to be directly responsible
for sustainably managing their region’s natural resources. They will deliver practical, on-ground
programs that manage our water, land and soil, pests and biodiversity through a range of
partnerships, for example with farming systems groups, environmental non-government
organisations, Aboriginal communities and local councils.
In 2020/21, landscape boards will work alongside community members and stakeholders to
Sarah develop a simple and accessible five-year regional landscape plan with five priorities (seven for
Barrett Green Adelaide). Boards will need to report their spending against the levy simply and clearly.
The Act also introduces a number of other benefits, including a cap on landscape and water
levies, new regional Grassroots Grants programs that will provide support for community
groups, not for profit organisations and volunteers to address environmental issues at a local
level, and the creation of a new Landscape Priorities Fund that will support large scale projects
Anna such as bushfire recovery and landscape restoration work. From 2022, communities will have
Baum the opportunity to elect three out of seven board members.
These reforms have been informed by the people who are well placed to sustain our
environment – those who work, live and care for our landscapes. This input has been invaluable
to ensure the reforms meet the needs of local communities and landholders.
Business Plans for 2020/21 are transitional. The land and water levy amounts that are set
Jane out in the business plans for 2020/21 reflect the levy amounts collected in NRM regions in
Greenslade 2019/20, adjusted by CPI (1.9%), This will provide for broad consistency in the levy rates paid
by levy payers in this transitional year while planning is undertaken by the landscape boards.
Phillip
Heaslip
Geoffrey
White
4
Regional Priorities
Pest Plant and Animal Control and Focus Areas
Coordinated control of priority weeds
Coordinated control of exotic predators Five priorities have been identified for
Active management of total grazing pressure the Northern and Yorke region to guide
investment and project delivery. The priorities
align with the Back to Basics fundamentals,
acknowledging the need for clear focus on
water, soil management, pest plant and
animal control, and biodiversity. The Board
Sustainable Agriculture continues to have a role in the delivery of
nature education to SA schools and the
Improve livestock grazing practices
wider community, and to undertake effective
Promote land management practices to reduce soil acidification
compliance in accordance with the Act as
Maintain surface cover on pastures and cultivated lands
necessary. Community engagement has been
Improve soil structure and water infiltration rates
elevated in the Act, and in this plan, as a key
priority to ensure that local landholders and
community members are at the centre of
managing the region’s landscapes.
Key focus areas have been assigned to each
Water management priority to define the core areas of importance
to address over the next five years. These
Review region’s water management framework focus areas echo the views of the community
Manage land run-off and impacts to watercourse integrity as captured through the N&Y Community
Improve the efficiency of water retention and use across catchments Action Planning (CAP) process and subsequent
inclusion in the Regional NRM Plan. *
During 2020/2021 the Board will work
alongside community members and
stakeholders to develop a simple and
accessible five-year Regional Landscape Plan
Biodiversity which incorporates all areas within the new
Improve management of existing native vegetation regional boundary. The Regional Landscape
Undertake revegetation and regeneration in priority areas Plan will guide investment, project design
Plan and implement cross-tenure fire management and implementation, and will outline how
successes will be measured and reported.
* Northern and Yorke Regional Plan, Adelaide and Mount
Lofty Ranges Regional Plan as pertains to the Northern Hills,
Coasts and Plains District, and the SA Murray-Darling Basin
Regional Plan as it pertains to the Rangelands district.
Communities
Engage effectively with community, agriculture sector and stakeholders
Involve Aboriginal communities in planning and delivery
Consult, collaborate and partner
5
Delivery
This Business Plan sets out how the Board will fund and deliver practical on-ground programs
against these priorities. The plan seeks to deliver programs where outcomes can be measured
for their economic, social or environmental impact. The Board also seeks to achieve outcomes
which consider and contribute to incorporation of Aboriginal culture.
The programs outlined involve resource assessment, planning, on-ground works and
capacity building. Importantly, these programs will improve the way our landscapes and
natural resources are managed by building on existing achievements and are intended to be
undertaken in collaboration with landowners, primary producers, Traditional Owners, and the
broader community.
Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the achievements against the priorities is essential
to providing a line of site between expenditure and on-ground actions and outcomes, whilst
guiding improvements for the on-going management of landscapes. The Board will review
and report on achievements against the priorities and their impact on the sustainability of the
natural resources in the region.
Board Responsibilities
The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board is a statutory authority of the Crown, formed under
the Landscape SA Act 2019 and accountable to the Minister for Environment and Water.
The Board is responsible for facilitating the management of landscapes in partnership with
stakeholders and the community, and will provide strategic oversight of activities within the
region that align with the objectives of the Act. The Act provides that the Board will adopt
good governance practices to ensure transparency and accountability in decision making and
reporting.
Under the Landscape SA Act, the Board will have a General Manager and staff who deliver
programs and services on behalf of the Board. In 2020/21, it is anticipated that the Board,
through the General Manager will staff 39 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, with funding
sources split between levy funds, project (Australian Government) funding and corporate
services charges. These staff will be public sector employees but will no longer be employed by
a Government Department.
In 2020/21, the Board will continue to receive Corporate Services (including finance, human
resources and information technology) support through the Department for Environment and
Water (DEW), however the services accessed through DEW may be subject to review.
6
Income 2020 - 2021
The Business Plan outlines the total expected income for the Northern and Yorke
Landscape Board. In the 2018/2019 financial year, the Board was successful in obtaining
funding through the Australian Government’s Regional Land Partnerships Program, with
funding through this program continuing until June 2023.
The Board also aims to secure funding from State and Australian Government contestable
grant programs, including the Landscape Priorities Fund and as opportunities arise. Other
income sources include fees and charges, contributions, investment interest and re-
imbursements. The Board continues to seek additional funding from industry, community
and government, where the opportunity for complementary activity arises to address
regional and state priorities.
SOURCES OF INCOME BUSINESS PLAN 2020-2021
Landscape Levy $5,523,002
Water Levy $365,621
Total Levy Income $5,888,623
Interest $20,000
Sales of other goods / services $30,000
Total Other Income $50,000
National Landcare Program ‘Regional Land Partnerships’ $426,415
National Landcare Program ‘Great Southern Ark’
National Landcare Program ‘Living Flinders’
$570,378
$400,000
Levy Transition
WWF Australia $85,000 Scheme
Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife $16,000
Total Income Externally Funded $1,497,793 The effect of boundary changes
Total $7,436,416 on land levies is being managed
through a levy transition scheme
approved and gazetted by the
Minister for Environment and
Water. The aim is to ensure
residents do not pay higher levies
Landscape and Water Levies as a result of boundary changes.
For 2020/2021, the transition
The primary income source is the Landscape Levy, previously known as the NRM Levy. The scheme provides for council
Landscape Levy will continue to be raised and collected by local councils in the same way contributions to be set consistently
the NRM Levy has been collected previously. Councils will pay quarterly contributions to with 2019/2020 adjusted by CPI.
the landscape board and gazette a levy rate to reimburse themselves the cost of the levy. This will provide for consistency in
the levy rates paid by ratepayers,
Water levies will still be collected by the Department for Environment and Water on behalf noting that changes to land
of the Minister and will be paid to the relevant landscape board. Where a prescribed water values and the number of rateable
resource is in more than one landscape management region, water levies will be shared properties also influence council
between the two boards. contributions and levy rates.
7
Regional Landscape Levy
Estimated Landscape Levy contribution and estimated Levy collection cost by each constituent
council for 2020-2021.
COUNCIL COUNCIL PROPOSED
CONTRIBUTION COLLECTION FEE
2020/21 ($) based on standard rates ($)
Adelaide Plains Council 190,159 3,855
Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council 496,596 4,380
District Council of Barunga West 226,839 3,280
District Council of Copper Coast 636,387 5,649
District Council of Mount Remarkable 132,265 3,449
District Council of Orroroo Carrieton 43,270 2,954
District Council of Peterborough 33,741 3,014
District Council of Yorke Peninsula 1,153,202 6,344
Goyder Regional Council 282,723 2,831
Light Regional Council 337,288 4,614
Northern Areas Council 274,490 3,724
Port Pirie Regional Council 420,945 5,343
The Barossa Council 541,424 5,711
Town of Gawler 365,144 5,513
Wakefield Regional Council 388,529 4,027
Total 5,523,002 64,685
Regional Water Levy
Some parts of the Northern and Yorke region are irrigated. However, with the boundary realignment for the Northern and Yorke region, the
prescribed water resource areas (PWRA) of the Clare Valley and Barossa Valley and sections of the Marne Saunders, Northern Adelaide Plains
and the Western Mount Lofty PWRAs fall within the region’s boundaries.
The water levies collected in these shared PWRAs will be split between the relevant Landscape Boards and agreements established with the
Green Adelaide Region and the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board to establish how they will work together to effectively manage the resources,
including how they will be consistent in approach and where specific responsibilities lie for planning and implementation.
PRESCRIBED RESOURCES RATES AND BASIS PROPORTION EXPECTED AMOUNT
2020-21 OF THE PWRA* TO BE RAISED IN 2019-20
Clare Valley Prescribed Water Resources Area (PWRA) $101.90 as a fixed amount per water 100%
license, and 3.636 c/kL of water allocated
Barossa Prescribed Water Resources Area 0.628 c/kL of water allocated 100%
Marne Saunders Prescribed Water Resources Area 0.675 c/kL of water allocated or a levy of 40%
$200, whichever greater $365,621
Northern Adelaide Plains Prescribed Wells Area 0.628 c/kL of water allocated 33%
Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA (including water levy on 0.628 c/kL of water allocated 3%
persons authorised under section 105 to take water from a
water resources within the Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA)
Water levy on persons authorised under section 105 - to take 0.628 c/kL of water allocated
water from a water resource within the Barossa and Northern
Adelaide Plains PWRA
In 2020-21, the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board will raise water levies in accordance with the existing levy bases:
• For the Marne Saunders prescribed water resources (formerly in the SAMDB NRM region), levies will continue to be charged based on a rate per ML of water allocated, with a minimum charge of $200.
• For the Western Mt Lofty Ranges (formerly in the AMLR NRM region), levies will continue to be charged based on a rate per ML of water.
*
Proportion of the PWRA allocated water within Northern and Yorke 8
Expenditure 2020 - 2021
The funds which the Board collects through Landscape levies are invested into the region’s five
priorities and their key focus areas. The following tables provide the anticipated expenditure
against each priority and focus area.
Program Investment Landscape and Water Levies External Funding Total
Pest Plant and Animal Control $1,629,828 $614,268 $2,244,097
Sustainable Agriculture $605,868 $130,000 $735,868
Water Management $1,231,647 $0 $1,231,647
Biodiversity $812,558 $445,367 $1,257,925
Communities $1,779,638 $221,958 $2,001,596
Total Expenditure $6,059,539 $1,411,593 $7,471,133
Priorities and Focus Areas Landscape and Water Levy External Funding Total
PEST PLANT AND ANIMAL CONTROL
Coordinated control of priority weeds $588,503 $20,000 $608,503
Coordinated control of exotic predators $373,248 $311,069 $684,317
Active management of total grazing pressure $170,641 $283,200 $453,840
Program Support $497,437 $0 $497,437
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Improve livestock grazing practices $169,357 $32,500 $201,857
Reduce soil acidification rate $52,763 $32,500 $85,263
Maintain surface cover on pastures and cultivated lands $112,118 $32,500 $144,618
Improve soil stability and water infiltration rates $69,484 $32,500 $101,984
Program Support $202,146 $0 $202,146
WATER MANAGEMENT
Review region’s water management framework $346,549 $0 $346,549
Manage land run-off and impacts to watercourse integrity $234,355 $0 $234,355
Improve the efficiency of water use across catchments $38,206 $0 $38,206
Program Support $162,766 $0 $162,766
Water Planning Management Fee $449,771 $0 $449,771
BIODIVERSITY
Increase the area of native vegetation managed $231,652 $316,430 $548,082
Revegetate and support regeneration in high priority areas $228,375 $0 $228,375
Plan and implement cross-tenure fire management $88,540 $0 $88,540
Monitoring and Evaluation $0 $128,937 $128,937
Program Support $263,992 $0 $263,992
COMMUNITIES
Community engagement $610,144 $145,873 $756,017
Aboriginal engagement $100,852 $76,085 $176,937
Collaboration and partnerships $398,275 $0 $398,275
Grassroots Grant Program $170,770 $0 $170,770
Program Support $499,597 $0 $499,597
* Included in the Program Support by the Total $6,059,539 $1,411,593 $7,471,133
priorities are Board, Group and Committees fees
of $160,500 which includes sitting fees, training
and development, travel and meeting costs.Landscape Priorities for
Northern and Yorke
Biodiversity
15%
Communities
29%
Pests and Weeds
29%
Water
16%
Soils
11%
Copyright
This publication is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright
Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior permission
of the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. Requests and enquiries concerning
reproduction and rights should be directed to the Northern and Yorke Landscape
Board, 155 Main North Road, Clare SA 5453 or ny.landscapeboard@sa.gov.au.
Disclaimer
The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and the Government of South Australia,
their employees and their servants do not warrant or make any representation
regarding the use or results of use of the information contained herein as to its
correctness, accuracy, currency, or otherwise. The Northern and Yorke Landscape FURTHER INFORMATION:
Board and the Government of South Australia, their employees and their servants
expressly disclaim all liability or responsibility to any person using the information Northern and Yorke Landscape Board
or advice contained herein. 155 Main North Road Clare SA 5453
Telephone: +61 (8) 8841 3400
Facsimile: +61 (8) 8841 3411
Email: ny.landscapeboard@sa.gov.au
Website: https://landscape.sa.gov.au/Appendix
Projects that will be undertaken by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board in 2020-2021:
PEST PLANT AND ANIMAL CONTROL • Continue to monitor the region’s bushland and native species,
to ensure sustainable development and use.
• Implementation of three District Weed Management Plans
to control priority weeds and promote improvements in
COMMUNITIES
agricultural productivity.
• Provide support for community groups in the Mid North to • Development of the new Regional Landscape Plan.
implement feral Deer control - Clare Valley, Washpool Range. • New Grassroots Grants program to provide volunteers and
• Continued participation and support for the state-wide Buffel community groups with the opportunity to participate in the
Grass Taskforce, to limit the economic effects of this weed management of our landscape.
species along the Port Augusta Highway, and roadsides • Expand our engagement with the region’s Aboriginal
between Crystal Brook and Mambray Creek. communities, through Healthy Country Planning with the
• Continuation of the Connecting Landscapes project – Narungga and Nukunu Nations.
undertaking landscape-scale control of goats and other pest • Continue our engagement with the community through the
animals in the Burra rangelands. Community Action Planning process to ensure their aspirations
• Trial control of African Boxthorn through the aerial application of are captured and incorporated into the landscape programs
herbicides, across 3,000 hectares in the southern Flinders Ranges. being delivered - southern Yorke Peninsula, upper Yorke
Peninsula, Mid North, southern Flinders Ranges and the
• Undertake Opuntoid Cactus control on public lands, in
Adelaide Plains.
combination with voluntary participation by landholders in the
southern Flinders Ranges. • Incorporate citizen science into the development of the new
Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE • Provide support to the Yorke District Fire Recovery project.
• Monitor House Mouse abundance on southern Yorke Peninsula
Marna Banggara landscape management program
to develop an understanding of their impact on crop production.
(Southern Yorke Peninsula)
• Provide advice and support services to farming systems groups
across the region, to assist them in the development and • Undertake targeted control of Weeds of National Significance
adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. (African Boxthorn, Boneseed) across 2,000 hectares on
southern Yorke Peninsula.
• Deliver the Federal Government’s Sustainable Agriculture Program.
• Support the community on Yorke Peninsula to control Rabbit
WATER MANAGEMENT populations and improve pastures.
• Continuation of the Healthy Flows project to deliver • Undertake fox and feral cat control across 140,000 hectares on
improvements in water quality along the Broughton River southern Yorke Peninsula to conserve native species and boost
system through stock exclusion, woody weed control and native agricultural production.
revegetation.
• Reintroduction of Brush-tailed Bettongs to southern Yorke
• Initiate review and revision of Clare Valley Water Allocation Plan Peninsula to reinstate soil processes and contribute towards the
- canvas community and industry opinion on the adequacy of maintenance of the district’s unique native vegetation.
water supply and the need to achieve a balance between water
use and environmental needs into the future. • Establish a captive colony of Brush-tailed Bettongs at Monarto
Safari Park to provide additional animals for reintroduction to
• Finalise revision of Barossa Water Allocation Plan.
southern Yorke Peninsula.
BIODIVERSITY • Monitoring of threatened orchid, shorebird and Malleefowl
populations to evaluate the success of predator control.
• In collaboration with local councils, undertake priority actions
identified in the region’s new Coastal Management Action Plan to • Development of Marna Bangarra project website.
reduce weed abundance and damage from recreational vehicles.
• Community awareness program to improve the management of Living Flinders landscape management program
native shorebirds and waders. (Southern Flinders ranges)
• Provide support the Wildlife for Wine programs in the Barossa and • Support landholders to manage fox and wild dogs across
Clare Valleys to increase the abundance of native animal species to 145,000 hectares in the southern Flinders Ranges, to reduce
enhance crop pollination and reduce crop damage by insect. predation on sheep flocks.You can also read
