6 strategies for adaptation and mitigation...6 strategies for adaptation and mitigation 6.1 summary...
TRANSCRIPT
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority34
6 Strategies for adaptation and mitigation
6.1 Summary of adaptation and mitigation strategiesStrategies and options to support adaptation and mitigation were identified through a series of workshops, together with additional regional consultation. Each of the strategies and options were assessed by stakeholders for their adaptation or mitigation benefit; social, technical and economic feasibility; potential for maladaptation and relevance over time (i.e. 2030, 2050, 2070 and 2090). These options are summarised in Table 2 below.
The options are described in detail in subsequent sections for each of the five planning areas, and where relevant for mitigation options the specific sequestration opportunities are highlighted. The rationale for the options and links to RCS objectives are set out in Section 7.1.
Table 2: Summary of adaptation and mitigation strategies
Adaptation and mitigation strategies
Planning area
Victorian Alps
Gippsland Lakes &
Hinterland
Strzelecki Ranges
Coastal Landscapes
Wilsons Promontory
Cultural heritage
Preservation of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.
Land and soil health
Support the adoption of land management practices that improve soil health and production outcomes on grazing land.
Support programs that assist private landholders to adapt or make a planned retreat as a result of drier and warmer average conditions, increased salinity, inundation and erosion.
Support private land managers along the coast to adapt or make a planned retreat in areas impacted by sea level rise and storm surge.
Native vegetation and habitat
Improve the adaptive capacity of vegetation communities through works to protect and improve their condition and connectivity.
Improve the adaptive capacity of remnant vegetation through works to increase connectivity, improve condition and protect high quality remnants.
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 35
Table 2: Summary of adaptation and mitigation strategies continued
Adaptation and mitigation strategies
Planning area
Victorian Alps
Gippsland Lakes &
Hinterland
Strzelecki Ranges
Coastal Landscapes
Wilsons Promontory
Support carbon sequestration through the establishment of targeted biodiverse plantings in areas that address priorities for biodiversity, land and waterway health.
Improve the condition of Alpine peatlands to mitigate future impacts from drying climate.
Waterways and environmental water
Investigate options to improve water security for domestic, industrial and agricultural uses while protecting flows for environmental outcomes.
Investigate options to improve security of environmental water for high value waterways and wetlands.
Identify priorities and develop plan of works to improve hydrological regime of floodplain wetlands and fringing wetlands.
Diversify approaches used for managing environmental water.
Consider climate change impacts in future estuary management activities.
Investigate options to lessen the offsite impacts to water quality following extreme events (e.g. flood, fire).
Managing threats and adapting NRM programs
Refine the approaches used by natural resource managers when planning and implementing fencing, weed control and revegetation programs to take account of changing climatic conditions.
Support fire management agencies to effectively control fires when they occur to reduce risk of fire to sensitive natural assets and support the recovery of communities from bushfire.
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority36
Table 2: Summary of adaptation and mitigation strategies continued
Adaptation and mitigation strategies
Planning area
Victorian Alps
Gippsland Lakes &
Hinterland
Strzelecki Ranges
Coastal Landscapes
Wilsons Promontory
Work with Local Government and State agencies to improve environmental outcomes.
Support coastal NRM agencies to plan for adaptation or retreat in areas impacted by sea level rise and storm surge.
Improve the adaptive capacity of ecosystems by actively managing existing threats.
Support research and investigation to address knowledge gaps.
Manage impacts to ecosystems from future pressures of increased recreational use.
Region wide strategies
• Refine monitoring and evaluation programs to inform adaptive management under climate change.
• Support increased community awareness and participation in climate change adaptation and mitigation programs.
• Continue to coordinate partnership approaches for the planning and delivery of climate change adaptation and mitigation programs.
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 37
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VictorianAlps
LAKE W ELLINGTON
THOM SONDAM
LAKEGLENMAGGIE
BLUE ROCKLAKE
LA TROBE RIVER
AV
ON RIVER
MACALISTERR
IVE
R
THOMSON RIVER
MERRIMAN CREEK
MO
RW
ELL
RIV
ER
JACK
R
IVER
FLY
NNS
CR
EEK
BRUTHE
NC
REE
K
PO W LETT RIVER
FISH CRE E K
FREESTONE
CR
EE
K
CARR CRE EK
SHAD
YC
REEKMONKEY CREEKM
IDDLE
C
R EEK
AGNES RIVER
NAR
RAC
ANCREEK
FO
STER
CREEK
BAR
KLY
RIVEREAST
BRANCH
BLA
CK
ALL
CR
EE
K
TARWIN RIV
ER
BEN
CR
UACHAN
CREEK
L
OCH
RIV
ER
TYERS RIVER
FIDDLERS CREEK
BA
RR
Y CR
EE
K
TH
OMSON R IVER
Moe
Sale
Erica
Noojee
Yarram
Foster
Heyfield
Walhalla
Sea View
Won Wron
Warragul
Meeniyan
Leongatha
Inverloch
Traralgon
Wonthaggi
Loch Sport
Korumburra
Briagolong
Tidal River
Mirboo North
Paradise Beach
Climate Change Planning AreasWGCMA BoundaryMain RoadsLakes & DamsRiversPublic Land
West Gippsland RCS Landscape PrioritiesVictorian Alps
±0 20 4010
Kilometres
6.2 Victorian Alps
Figure 10: Victorian Alps climate change planning area
The Victorian Alps climate change planning area is characterised by its largely contiguous vegetation and topography. It is valued for its National and State Parks and Wilderness Areas, which provide for a wide array of recreational opportunities. Whilst the snow fields have always been popular, there is a growing trend towards summer recreation. There has been an overall increase in recreational use (e.g. 4WD, cycling, camping, horse-riding and trail bikes) and consequently visitors’ desire better road access. Remote areas of the National Parks are now accessible and this will continue to increase. Recreational pressures are likely to increase in both intensity and geographic scope, placing increased pressures on vulnerable ecosystems.
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority38
There are relatively limited areas of forest utilisation in the planning area occurring within State forest, which encompass activities such as timber harvesting, licensed grazing and apiary.
Two key reservoirs are situated within the planning area: Blue Rock and Thomson. Blue Rock Reservoir supplies water for industrial, domestic and environmental purposes within the region. The Thomson Reservoir is an extremely important source of water for Melbourne, making up about 60% of Melbourne’s total storage capacity.29 Whilst the upper reaches of the rivers that flow through the landscape are currently in excellent to good condition,11 these high value waterway systems are vulnerable from exposure to reduced and more episodic rainfall, and higher evapotranspiration rates.
The landscape is underpinned by relatively stable soils and contains largely intact ecological vegetation communities and numerous rare and threatened species. The presence of vegetation cover across much of the area contributes to generally high adaptive capacity of native vegetation and soils in particular, although the impacts associated with a likely increase in the intensity and frequency of large fires is likely to pose a significant future challenge to the values of all natural assets within the planning area.
Wetlands listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands of Australia (DIWA), which are valued for their intact hydrology, geomorphologic significance and habitat provision are a key feature of this landscape.11 They include sensitive subalpine and alpine wetlands, such as Caledonia Fen and Tali Karng, and EPBC listed Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and associated Fens. Unique and restricted flora and fauna species are reliant upon these alpine peatlands and sphagnum bogs. Alpine Ash (Eucalyptus delegatensis) and Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) are iconic tree species within this landscape. As the alpine peatlands are fed by groundwater and Ash forests require high rainfall, they would be especially vulnerable to a warming, drying trend and an increase in fire frequency and intensity.
The historic sequence of fires, flood and drought has had a large impact on the landscape to date. The true impact of repeated burning on the make-up of vegetation communities is uncertain. The impact of fire will be felt in relation to natural assets within the planning area and more broadly in terms of increased soil loss and reduced water quality in downstream waterways and coastal ecosystems.
Threats that will be accelerated due to climate change in the Victorian Alps relate to the intensity and frequency of fire, new and emerging invasive plant and animal species, and changes in seasonal timing, which alter animal and plant phenology.
A major risk concerns the reduced extent of refugia for plants and animals that are adapted to (and limited by) the very specialised ecosystems of the Alps.30 Alpine plant and animal species have evolved to cope with environmental extremes, including low temperatures, high winds, snow cover for long periods and seasonal inundation. Subsequently many species are found only in alpine areas and include species at risk of extinction (e.g. the Baw Baw Frog). Alpine-adapted species are vulnerable to climate change impacts, such as changes in snow cover, stream flows and frequency of large scale wildfire.30
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 39
Tab
le 3
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Vic
tori
an A
lps
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
VA
1 –
Su
pp
ort
fire
m
anag
emen
t p
rog
ram
s th
at a
do
pt
app
rop
riat
e fi
re
reg
imes
to
man
age
sen
siti
ve
nat
ura
l ass
ets
and
ass
ist
the
reco
very
of
eco
log
ical
co
mm
un
itie
s fr
om
bu
shfi
re.
aEx
plo
re a
lter
nat
ive
fuel
man
agem
ent
tech
niq
ues
so
th
at
tole
rab
le fi
re in
terv
als
are
no
t ex
ceed
ed b
y p
lan
ned
bu
rns.
bIm
pro
ve fi
re p
lan
nin
g p
roce
sses
an
d o
n g
rou
nd
wild
fire
m
anag
emen
t ac
tivi
ties
to
pro
tect
sen
siti
ve n
atu
ral a
sset
s.
VA
2 –
Imp
rove
th
e ad
apti
ve
cap
acit
y o
f ec
osy
stem
s in
th
e V
icto
rian
Alp
s b
y ac
tive
ly
man
agin
g e
xist
ing
th
reat
s.
aA
ctiv
e m
anag
emen
t o
f in
vasi
ve p
lan
ts a
nd
an
imal
s in
th
e h
igh
est
valu
e ec
osy
stem
s in
th
e su
b-a
lpin
e an
d a
lpin
e ar
eas.
bFe
nce
an
d r
eveg
etat
e w
ide
rip
aria
n b
uff
ers
alo
ng
pri
ori
ty
wat
erw
ays
wh
ere
ther
e is
a p
riva
te la
nd
inte
rfac
e.
cU
nd
erta
ke la
rge
scal
e re
-see
din
g o
f ve
get
atio
n c
om
mu
nit
ies
follo
win
g w
ildfi
re (
for
exam
ple
Alp
ine
Ash
an
d M
ou
nta
in
Ash
).
VA
3 –
Imp
rove
th
e co
nd
itio
n
of
Alp
ine
pea
tlan
ds
to
mit
igat
e fu
ture
imp
acts
fro
m
dry
ing
clim
ate.
aC
on
sid
er o
pti
on
s to
ad
dre
ss t
hre
ats
to t
he
hyd
rolo
gic
al r
egim
e o
f p
eatl
and
s (i
ncl
ud
ing
en
gin
eeri
ng
op
tio
ns,
will
ow
co
ntr
ol,
clo
se, r
e-al
ign
or
reh
abili
tate
inap
pro
pri
ate
trac
ks, r
oad
s an
d
dra
inag
e lin
es a
nd
pre
ven
tin
g a
cces
s). *
Focu
s o
n B
aw B
aw
pea
tlan
ds
as t
he
hig
hes
t p
rio
rity
.
VA
4 –
Su
pp
ort
res
earc
h
and
inve
stig
atio
n t
o a
dd
ress
kn
ow
led
ge
gap
s.
aEx
plo
re im
plic
atio
ns
of
clim
ate
chan
ge
for
gro
un
dw
ater
d
epen
den
t ec
osy
stem
s, in
clu
din
g s
pri
ng
s.
bId
enti
fy a
nd
pro
tect
dro
ug
ht
refu
ges
acr
oss
th
e p
lan
nin
g a
rea.
cM
on
ito
r th
e re
spo
nse
s o
f h
igh
ly s
usc
epti
ble
eco
log
ical
co
mm
un
itie
s an
d k
eyst
on
e sp
ecie
s to
a c
han
gin
g c
limat
e.
dM
on
ito
rin
g o
f in
vasi
ve s
pec
ies
wit
h a
fo
cus
on
new
an
d
emer
gin
g s
pec
ies.
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority40
Tab
le 3
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Vic
tori
an A
lps
con
tin
ued
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
VA
5 –
Man
agin
g im
pac
ts
to a
lpin
e ec
osy
stem
s fr
om
fu
ture
pre
ssu
res
of
incr
ease
d
recr
eati
on
al u
se.
aC
on
tin
ue
to c
olle
ct in
form
atio
n o
n a
lpin
e p
eatl
and
co
nd
itio
n
to b
ette
r u
nd
erst
and
th
resh
old
s an
d r
esp
on
se t
o c
urr
ent
man
agem
ent
acti
viti
es.
bM
anag
e ac
cess
to
sen
siti
ve a
reas
th
rou
gh
zo
nin
g o
f p
ub
lic
lan
d t
o c
on
cen
trat
e p
eop
le in
des
ign
ated
are
as, i
mp
rovi
ng
fa
cilit
ies
thro
ug
h c
on
stru
ctio
n o
f b
oar
dw
alks
an
d f
orm
al
acce
ss t
rack
s, a
nd
pro
hib
itin
g a
cces
s in
so
me
pla
ces.
cR
aise
vis
ito
r aw
aren
ess
of
the
valu
es o
f th
e al
pin
e ar
eas,
th
eir
sen
siti
vity
to
hu
man
imp
acts
an
d t
he
rati
on
ale
for
par
ticu
lar
man
agem
ent
acti
viti
es.
VA
6 –
Div
ersi
fy a
pp
roac
hes
u
sed
fo
r m
anag
ing
en
viro
nm
enta
l wat
er.
aC
on
tin
ue
to r
aise
aw
aren
ess
of
the
pu
rpo
se a
nd
nee
d f
or
envi
ron
men
tal w
ater
in t
he
Gip
psl
and
reg
ion
.
bFa
cto
r th
e vu
lner
abili
ty o
f w
ater
way
s (i
ncl
ud
ing
wet
lan
ds)
to
cl
imat
e ch
ang
e in
to e
nvi
ron
men
tal w
ater
pla
nn
ing
.
cIn
vest
igat
e o
pti
on
s to
ad
dre
ss id
enti
fied
en
viro
nm
enta
l wat
er
sho
rtfa
lls.
VA
7 –
Inve
stig
ate
op
tio
ns
to le
ssen
th
e o
ffsi
te im
pac
ts
to w
ater
qu
alit
y fo
llow
ing
ex
trem
e ev
ents
(e.
g. fl
oo
d,
fire
).
aU
nd
erta
ke r
isk
man
agem
ent
pla
nn
ing
fo
r la
nd
use
m
anag
emen
t u
nd
er c
limat
e ch
ang
e.
VA
8 –
Pre
serv
atio
n o
f A
bo
rig
inal
cu
ltu
ral h
erit
age
site
s.
aEx
plo
re h
ow
to
bes
t in
corp
ora
te s
pec
ific
man
agem
ent
reco
mm
end
atio
ns
rela
tin
g t
o c
limat
e ch
ang
e im
pac
ts o
n
Ab
ori
gin
al s
ites
into
Cu
ltu
ral H
erit
age
Man
agem
ent
Plan
s (C
HM
Ps).
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 41
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Gippsland Lakesand Hinterland
LAKE W ELLINGTON
THOM SONDAM
LAKEGLENMAGGIE
BLUE ROCKLAKE
LA TROBE RIVER
AV
ON RIVER
MACALISTERR
IVE
R
THOMSON RIVER
MERRIMAN CREEK
MO
RW
ELL
RIV
ER
JACK
R
IVER
FLY
NNS
CR
EEK
BRUTHE
NC
REE
K
PO W LETT RIVER
FISH CRE E K
FREESTONE
CR
EE
K
CARR CRE EK
SHAD
YC
REEKMONKEY CREEK
ABERFELDYRIVER
MID
DLEC
R EEK
AGNES RIVER
NAR
RAC
ANCREEK
FO
STER
CREEK
BAR
KLY
RIVEREAST
BRANCH
BLA
CK
ALL
CR
EE
K
TARWIN RIV
ER
BEN
CR
UACHAN
CREEK
L
OCH
RIV
ER
TYERS RIVER
BA
RR
Y CR
EE
K
THOMSON
RIVE
R
Moe
Sale
Erica
Noojee
Yarram
Foster
Heyfield
Walhalla
Sea View
Won Wron
Warragul
Meeniyan
Leongatha
Inverloch
Traralgon
Wonthaggi
Loch Sport
Korumburra
Briagolong
Tidal River
Mirboo North
Paradise Beach
Climate Change Planning AreasWGCMA BoundaryMain RoadsLakes & DamsRiversPublic Land
West Gippsland RCS Landscape PrioritiesGippsland Lakes and Hinterland
±0 20 4010
Kilometres
6.3 Gippsland Lakes and Hinterland (including the Latrobe River system)
Figure 11: Gippsland Lakes and Hinterland climate change planning area
The Gippsland Lakes and Hinterland climate change planning area is characterised by the iconic Gippsland Lakes and wetlands Ramsar site. The Gippsland Lakes is of high social, economic, environmental and cultural value and is a major drawcard for tourists.
Ongoing protection of the values of significant natural assets within the planning area is of importance, as current threats (e.g. inappropriate fire regimes, invasive plants, flow stress, salinity) are likely to be amplified by climate change.
Natural grassy woodland ecosystems across the planning area have historically been cleared and converted to land used for pasture and cropping. The Gippsland Red Gum Grassy Woodland and associated Native Grassland ecological community is the focus of recent initiatives that are aimed at protecting the high quality areas of the EPBC Act listed community, which may increase their resilience to climate change impacts.
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority42
A number of major Gippsland rivers (Latrobe, Thomson, Macalister, Avon and Perry) all drain through floodplains to Lake Wellington and ultimately the Southern Ocean, with the Perry River being one of the few waterways in Victoria to have an intact chain of ponds geomorphology.11 Many landholders along the major waterways have been involved in programs to remove willows and fence and revegetate riparian areas. Floods have caused major damage to waterways within the planning area, and a program of flood recovery works has also been undertaken over the last 3 - 5 years.
Future climate projections indicate a decline in average rainfall in the upper catchment of the Gippsland Lakes. This is likely to reduce stream flows, posing challenges for the health of waterways flowing into the Gippsland Lakes, as well as exacerbating increasing salinity levels in the lower reaches.
Large areas of floodplain wetlands on the lower Thomson and Macalister Rivers have been fenced and vegetation restored. The management of water regimes in fringing wetlands has received increased attention in recent years, and along with complementary works at sites like the Heart Morass and Sale Common, the condition of these wetlands is improving.
There have been episodic changes in the fringing wetlands and main lakes as a result of increasing salinity of the lakes, changes to river flows and natural events such as drought, fire and flood. Land around Lake Wellington that has been subjected to increased salinisation is already seeing a transition from pasture to saltmarsh.
The predicted increase in sea level and associated impact of storm surges has the potential to profoundly change the values and function of important natural ecosystems of the Gippsland Lakes and hinterland. Changes are already being experienced in some areas as a result of rising sea levels and some values, such as those associated with the Lakes and their fringing wetlands are likely to be rapidly diminished by 2070. This will inevitably mean that difficult trade-off decisions will need to be considered regarding which assets are worthy of protection ‘at all costs’, or whether there needs to be an acceptance that their future values will be different.
Urban growth is increasing along the western end of the Princes Highway corridor, particularly in Yarragon, Trafalgar, Moe, Morwell and Traralgon. As a result rural drains are becoming formalised and constructed wetlands are being developed for stormwater management.
In addition to urban growth there has been an increase in the number of small lifestyle/hobby farms around the edges of large and small towns. Unlike the urban growth which is concentrated in the west of the planning area (Baw Baw Shire and Latrobe City Council) the increase of hobby farms is occurring across the planning area.
Within the Latrobe Valley the coal industry is a major presence and influence in the landscape. In addition to the land that is taken up by coal mines, the industry holds large water entitlements and discharges water through river systems. AGL have indicated in their Greenhouse Gas Policy released on 17 April 2015 that they will be closing all existing coal-fired power stations in its portfolio by 2050.31 This may possibly result in the eventual decommissioning of the Loy Yang A coal-fired power station. As noted in the 2011 Gippsland Region Sustainable Water Strategy, any Latrobe Valley open cut mine closure and restoration strategies will need to consider impacts on groundwater and surface water resources.32
There is a strong history of large scale commercial farming throughout the planning area, including the Macalister Irrigation District (MID), which is the largest irrigation area south of the Great Dividing Range. A mixture of agroforestry and commercial forestry plantations can be found in the Perry River area and to the south of the Latrobe River around Holey Plains.
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 43
Farmers continually adapt to climatic variability in the short and long term and look for opportunities to better use their land. Changes in land use and management practices have been observed throughout the area, particularly since the drought during the early 2000’s. Water availability has driven water use efficiency measures on farm and the nutrient reduction focus for the Gippsland Lakes has seen local businesses participating in farm planning and implementation of on farm measures such as reuse dams. In recent years the MID has undergone ‘modernisation’ with upgrades to irrigation infrastructure both on farm and within the delivery system.
In the MID, the Avon River floodplain and around Seaspray there has been a shift to horticulture from dairy and dryland grazing and cropping. The increase in horticulture includes farms moving from other areas of Australia which have become less reliable in terms of water availability and climate.
A shift from year round high levels of ground cover (pasture) to seasonal cultivation and harvesting practices (i.e. cropping and horticulture) can present an increased risk of sediment and nutrient loss following rainfall events. An increase in farm dams in the catchment (for stock and domestic use and irrigation) can have an impact on catchment yield and contribute to flow stress in rivers.
Fire in the catchment is a major threat to both agriculture and the natural assets. Both wildfire and planned burns are increasing in frequency and area. The impact of large fires on the health of the Gippsland Lakes and the condition and diversity of native vegetation is significant.
Further challenges will be experienced in the hinterland for soils, waterways and floodplain wetlands due to changes in agricultural land uses as a result of both market forces, water availability and a changing climate.
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority44
Tab
le 4
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Gip
psl
and
Lak
es a
nd
Hin
terl
and
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
GLH
1 –
Su
pp
ort
pro
gra
ms
that
ass
ist
pri
vate
lan
dh
old
ers
to a
dap
t o
r m
ake
a p
lan
ned
re
trea
t as
a r
esu
lt o
f d
rier
an
d
war
mer
ave
rag
e co
nd
itio
ns,
in
crea
sed
sal
init
y, in
un
dat
ion
an
d e
rosi
on
.
aEd
uca
tio
n a
nd
aw
aren
ess
pro
gra
ms
for
pri
vate
lan
dh
old
ers
abo
ut
the
imp
acts
an
d o
pti
on
s to
man
age
for
dri
er a
vera
ge
con
dit
ion
s, r
isin
g s
ea le
vel,
incr
ease
d e
rosi
on
an
d in
un
dat
ion
.
bPr
ovi
de
ince
nti
ves
to a
llow
fo
r n
atu
ral r
egen
erat
ion
of
veg
etat
ion
co
mm
un
itie
s th
at a
re w
ell a
dap
ted
to
incr
ease
d
salin
ity
and
inu
nd
atio
n (
such
as
salt
mar
sh a
nd
bra
ckis
h
wet
lan
d c
om
mu
nit
ies)
.
GLH
2 –
Wo
rk w
ith
Lo
cal
Go
vern
men
t an
d S
tate
ag
enci
es t
o im
pro
ve
envi
ron
men
tal o
utc
om
es.
aEx
plo
re la
nd
use
pla
nn
ing
mec
han
ism
s to
pro
tect
hig
h v
alu
e n
atu
ral a
sset
s o
n a
gri
cult
ura
l lan
d s
ub
ject
to
en
terp
rise
ch
ang
e.
bEx
plo
re o
pti
on
s to
pro
tect
hig
h v
alu
e fl
oo
dp
lain
an
d p
lain
s w
etla
nd
s o
f th
e La
tro
be
Riv
er v
alle
y, M
acal
iste
r Ir
rig
atio
n
Dis
tric
t an
d t
he
Avo
n a
nd
Per
ry R
iver
s.
GLH
3 –
Refi
ne
the
app
roac
hes
use
d b
y n
atu
ral
reso
urc
e m
anag
ers
wh
en
pla
nn
ing
an
d im
ple
men
tin
g
fen
cin
g, w
eed
co
ntr
ol a
nd
re
veg
etat
ion
pro
gra
ms
to
take
acc
ou
nt
of
chan
gin
g
clim
atic
co
nd
itio
ns.
aA
dju
st s
pec
ies
mix
es f
or
reve
get
atio
n a
ctiv
itie
s to
su
it c
han
ged
co
nd
itio
ns
(dri
er, w
arm
er, i
ncr
ease
d s
alin
ity,
incr
ease
d
inu
nd
atio
n).
bC
on
sid
er u
se o
f a
ran
ge
of
man
agem
ent
tech
niq
ues
to
m
ain
tain
div
ersi
ty w
ith
in g
rass
y ec
osy
stem
s.
cC
on
sid
er u
se o
f n
atu
ral r
egen
erat
ion
an
d d
irec
t se
edin
g t
o
ach
ieve
est
ablis
hm
ent
of
nat
ive
veg
etat
ion
.
dEn
cou
rag
e an
d p
rovi
de
ince
nti
ves
for
lan
dh
old
ers
to f
ence
an
d
reve
get
ate
wid
er r
ipar
ian
bu
ffer
s al
on
g p
rio
rity
wat
erw
ays.
eSu
pp
ort
pro
ject
s th
at im
pro
ve a
nd
pro
tect
th
e co
nd
itio
n,
div
ersi
ty a
nd
str
uct
ure
of
exis
tin
g h
abit
at (
par
ticu
larl
y G
ipp
slan
d G
rass
y W
oo
dla
nd
an
d S
easo
nal
Her
bac
eou
s W
etla
nd
s).
GLH
4 –
Imp
rove
th
e ad
apti
ve c
apac
ity
of
rem
nan
t ve
get
atio
n t
hro
ug
h w
ork
s to
in
crea
se c
on
nec
tivi
ty, i
mp
rove
co
nd
itio
n a
nd
pro
tect
hig
h
qu
alit
y re
mn
ants
aId
enti
fy a
pp
rop
riat
e d
eliv
ery
mec
han
ism
s to
ach
ieve
ou
tco
mes
(i
ncl
ud
ing
co
ven
ants
, pla
nn
ing
sch
eme
too
ls a
nd
ince
nti
ves)
.
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 45
Tab
le 4
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Gip
psl
and
Lak
es a
nd
Hin
terl
and
co
nti
nu
ed
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
GLH
5 –
Inve
stig
ate
op
tio
ns
to im
pro
ve s
ecu
rity
of
envi
ron
men
tal w
ater
fo
r h
igh
val
ue
wat
erw
ays
and
w
etla
nd
s.
aFa
cto
r th
e vu
lner
abili
ty o
f w
ater
way
s (i
ncl
ud
ing
wet
lan
ds)
to
cl
imat
e ch
ang
e in
to e
nvi
ron
men
tal w
ater
pla
nn
ing
.
bIn
vest
igat
e al
tern
ate
del
iver
y m
eth
od
s to
pro
vid
e en
viro
nm
enta
l wat
er t
o h
igh
val
ue
wat
erw
ays
and
wet
lan
ds
(e.g
. use
of
irri
gat
ion
infr
astr
uct
ure
).
cIn
vest
igat
e th
e fe
asib
ility
of
op
tio
ns
that
ad
dre
ss id
enti
fied
en
viro
nm
enta
l wat
er s
ho
rt f
alls
.
GLH
6 –
Iden
tify
pri
ori
ties
an
d d
evel
op
pla
n o
f w
ork
s to
im
pro
ve h
ydro
log
ical
reg
ime
of
flo
od
pla
in w
etla
nd
s an
d
frin
gin
g w
etla
nd
s.
aC
on
stru
ctio
n o
f tr
eatm
ent
wet
lan
ds
to c
aptu
re s
torm
wat
er
fro
m e
xist
ing
dev
elo
ped
are
as.
bIn
vest
igat
e p
arti
al r
e-en
gag
emen
t o
f o
ld r
iver
mea
nd
ers
to
incr
ease
riv
erin
e w
etla
nd
hab
itat
.
cPl
an o
f w
ork
s to
co
nsi
der
ear
thw
ork
s an
d w
ater
way
str
uct
ure
s an
d o
pti
on
s to
wo
rk w
ith
lan
dh
old
ers
to m
anag
e w
ater
fo
r m
ult
iple
ou
tco
mes
(e.
g. fl
oo
dp
lain
wet
lan
ds
up
stre
am o
f th
e Sw
ing
Bri
dg
e).
GLH
7 –
Su
pp
ort
fire
m
anag
emen
t p
rog
ram
s th
at a
do
pt
app
rop
riat
e fi
re
reg
imes
to
man
age
sen
siti
ve
nat
ura
l ass
ets
and
ass
ist
the
reco
very
of
eco
log
ical
co
mm
un
itie
s fr
om
bu
shfi
re.
aPo
ten
tial
are
as t
o f
ocu
s o
n in
clu
de
rain
fore
st, r
ipar
ian
an
d
wet
lan
d h
abit
ats.
GLH
8 –
Su
pp
ort
car
bo
n
seq
ues
trat
ion
th
rou
gh
th
e es
tab
lish
men
t o
f ta
rget
ed
bio
div
erse
pla
nti
ng
s in
ar
eas
that
ad
dre
ss p
rio
riti
es
for
bio
div
ersi
ty, l
and
an
d
wat
erw
ay h
ealt
h.
aEn
cou
rag
ing
lan
dh
old
ers
in p
eri-
urb
an a
reas
to
un
der
take
b
iod
iver
se p
lan
tin
gs
and
allo
w n
atu
ral r
egen
erat
ion
to
occ
ur
(wit
h c
on
sid
erat
ion
to
fire
ris
k).
bFe
nce
an
d r
eveg
etat
e w
ide
rip
aria
n b
uff
ers
alo
ng
pri
ori
ty
wat
erw
ays.
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority46
Tab
le 4
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Gip
psl
and
Lak
es a
nd
Hin
terl
and
co
nti
nu
ed
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
GLH
8 –
Su
pp
ort
car
bo
n
seq
ues
trat
ion
th
rou
gh
th
e es
tab
lish
men
t o
f ta
rget
ed
bio
div
erse
pla
nti
ng
s in
ar
eas
that
ad
dre
ss p
rio
riti
es
for
bio
div
ersi
ty, l
and
an
d
wat
erw
ay h
ealt
h c
on
tin
ued
cIm
pro
ve c
on
nec
tivi
ty a
nd
bu
ffer
rem
nan
t ec
osy
stem
s, w
ith
a
focu
s o
n r
are
or
un
iqu
e ty
pes
incl
ud
ing
ch
ain
of
po
nd
s sy
stem
s.
dIm
pro
ve c
on
nec
tivi
ty a
nd
bu
ffer
rem
nan
t ve
get
atio
n w
ith
a
focu
s o
n R
ed G
um
Gra
ssy
Wo
od
lan
d a
nd
Sea
son
al H
erb
aceo
us
Wet
lan
ds
of
the
tem
per
ate
pla
in.
GLH
9 –
Su
pp
ort
res
earc
h
and
inve
stig
atio
n t
o a
dd
ress
kn
ow
led
ge
gap
s.
aB
uild
on
rec
ent
kno
wle
dg
e th
at h
igh
ligh
ts t
he
po
ten
tial
fo
r b
lue
carb
on
seq
ues
trat
ion
in s
altm
arsh
, sea
gra
ss a
nd
m
ang
rove
hab
itat
s to
exp
lore
ho
w r
esto
rati
on
pro
gra
ms
mig
ht
be
des
ign
ed t
o c
apit
alis
e o
n o
pp
ort
un
itie
s.
bEx
plo
re im
plic
atio
ns
of
clim
ate
chan
ge
for
gro
un
dw
ater
d
epen
den
t ec
osy
stem
s, in
clu
din
g s
pri
ng
s.
cEx
plo
re r
isks
an
d o
pp
ort
un
itie
s fo
r w
ater
an
d w
ater
way
m
anag
emen
t in
th
e La
tro
be
Val
ley
that
may
ari
se a
s th
e re
sult
o
f an
y p
ote
nti
al d
eco
mm
issi
on
ing
of
the
Latr
ob
e V
alle
y co
al
min
es a
nd
ch
ang
es t
o t
he
po
wer
ind
ust
ry in
th
e lo
ng
-ter
m
futu
re.
dId
enti
fy a
nd
pro
tect
dro
ug
ht
refu
ges
acr
oss
th
e p
lan
nin
g a
rea.
eIm
pro
ve k
no
wle
dg
e o
f h
ow
wet
lan
d t
ype
and
fu
nct
ion
will
ch
ang
e as
a r
esu
lt o
f d
rier
, war
mer
an
d m
ore
var
iab
le c
limat
e to
info
rm f
utu
re m
anag
emen
t.
fIm
pro
ve k
no
wle
dg
e o
f re
spo
nse
of
Red
Gu
m G
rass
y W
oo
dla
nd
to
war
mer
, dri
er c
on
dit
ion
s to
info
rm f
utu
re m
anag
emen
t.
gM
od
el f
utu
re s
pre
ad o
f es
tab
lish
ed w
eed
s to
info
rm p
lan
nin
g
for
coo
rdin
ated
co
ntr
ol a
cro
ss la
nd
ten
ure
.
hM
on
ito
r th
e re
spo
nse
s o
f h
igh
ly s
usc
epti
ble
eco
log
ical
co
mm
un
itie
s an
d k
eyst
on
e sp
ecie
s to
a c
han
gin
g c
limat
e.
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 47
Tab
le 4
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Gip
psl
and
Lak
es a
nd
Hin
terl
and
co
nti
nu
ed
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
GLH
10
– Su
pp
ort
th
e ad
op
tio
n o
f la
nd
m
anag
emen
t p
ract
ices
th
at
imp
rove
so
il h
ealt
h a
nd
p
rod
uct
ion
ou
tco
mes
on
g
razi
ng
lan
d.
aEn
cou
rag
e la
nd
ho
lder
s to
ad
op
t p
ract
ices
th
at:
- Im
pro
ve g
rou
nd
co
ver,
mo
istu
re r
eten
tio
n, a
nd
red
uce
ru
no
ff f
ollo
win
g s
um
mer
rai
nfa
ll ev
ents
.
- O
pti
mis
e g
razi
ng
man
agem
ent
syst
ems
wit
h c
on
sid
erat
ion
to
sto
ckin
g r
ates
, nu
trie
nt
man
agem
ent,
her
d c
om
po
siti
on
, b
reed
ing
tim
es a
nd
des
tock
ing
.
- Fo
llow
bes
t m
anag
emen
t p
ract
ice
tech
niq
ues
(e.
g. fl
exib
le
gra
zin
g t
ech
niq
ues
, use
of
sum
mer
act
ive
per
enn
ials
in
pas
ture
sys
tem
s, c
han
gin
g c
ult
ivar
s to
th
ose
bet
ter
adap
ted
to
mai
nta
in g
rou
nd
co
ver
at a
ll lo
cati
on
s, m
inim
um
-till
, an
d c
on
tro
lled
tra
ffic
farm
ing
, etc
.).
GLH
11
– C
on
sid
er c
limat
e ch
ang
e im
pac
ts f
rom
sea
le
vel r
ise,
sto
rm s
urg
e an
d
catc
hm
ent
pro
cess
es in
fu
ture
m
anag
emen
t o
f es
tuar
ies.
aEs
tab
lish
lon
g t
erm
mo
nit
ori
ng
pro
gra
ms
for
estu
arie
s an
d
asso
ciat
ed h
abit
ats.
bEx
plic
itly
fac
tor
clim
ate
chan
ge
into
est
uar
y m
anag
emen
t.
GLH
12
– Su
pp
ort
co
asta
l N
RM
ag
enci
es t
o p
lan
fo
r ad
apta
tio
n o
r re
trea
t in
are
as
imp
acte
d b
y se
a le
vel r
ise
and
st
orm
su
rge.
aId
enti
fy lo
cati
on
an
d li
kely
imp
act
on
nat
ura
l ass
ets
fro
m
incr
ease
d s
alin
ity,
inu
nd
atio
n a
nd
co
asta
l ero
sio
n.
bIn
vest
igat
e o
pti
on
s to
ad
d la
nd
to
th
e n
atio
nal
res
erve
sys
tem
to
pro
vid
e fo
r m
igra
tio
n o
f h
abit
ats.
cR
elo
cate
infr
astr
uct
ure
imp
acte
d b
y st
orm
su
rge
and
sea
leve
l ri
se a
nd
reh
abili
tate
to
pre
ven
t fu
rth
er e
rosi
on
.
GLH
13
– In
vest
igat
e o
pti
on
s to
less
en t
he
off
site
imp
acts
to
wat
er q
ual
ity
follo
win
g
extr
eme
even
ts (e
.g. fl
ood,
fire
).
aU
nd
erta
ke r
isk
man
agem
ent
pla
nn
ing
fo
r la
nd
use
m
anag
emen
t u
nd
er c
limat
e ch
ang
e.
GLH
14
– Pr
eser
vati
on
of
Ab
ori
gin
al c
ult
ura
l her
itag
e si
tes.
aEx
plo
re h
ow
to
bes
t in
corp
ora
te s
pec
ific
man
agem
ent
reco
mm
enda
tions
rela
ting
to c
limat
e ch
ange
impa
cts o
n A
borig
inal
si
tes
into
Cu
ltu
ral H
erit
age
Man
agem
ent
Plan
s (C
HM
Ps).
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority48
#
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StrzeleckiRanges
LAKE W ELLINGTON
THOM SONDAM
LAKEGLENMAGGIE
BLUE ROCKLAKE
LA TROBE RIVER
AV
ON RIVER
MACALISTERR
IVE
R
THOMSON RIVER
MERRIMAN CREEK
MO
RW
ELL
RIV
ER
JACK
R
IVER
FLY
NNS
CR
EEK
BRUTHE
NC
REE
K
PO W LETT RIVER
FISH CRE E K
FREESTONE
CR
EE
K
CARR CRE EK
SHAD
YC
REEK
MONKEY CREEK
ABERFELDYRIVER
MID
DLEC
R EEK
AGNES RIVER
NAR
RAC
ANCREEK
BAR
KLY
RIVEREAST
BRANCH
BLA
CK
ALL
CR
EE
K
TARWIN RIV
ER
BEN
CR
UACHAN
CREEK
L
OCH
RIV
ER
TYERS RIVER
FIDDLERS CREEK
BA
RR
Y CR
EE
K
THOMSON
RIVE
R
Moe
Sale
Erica
Noojee
Yarram
Foster
Heyfield
Walhalla
Sea View
Won Wron
Warragul
Meeniyan
Leongatha
Inverloch
Traralgon
Wonthaggi
Loch Sport
Korumburra
Briagolong
Tidal River
Mirboo North
Paradise Beach
Climate Change Planning AreasWGCMA BoundaryMain RoadsLakes & DamsRivers
West Gippsland RCS Landscape PrioritiesStrzelecki RangesPublic Land
±0 20 4010
Kilometres
Figure 12: Strzelecki Ranges climate change planning area
The Strzelecki Ranges climate change planning area is characterised by its steep topography, high rainfall and fertile soils. It is a fragmented landscape, containing remnant native vegetation patches of varying sizes. The area is valued for its National Parks and reserves and contains native vegetation of high ecological value (including Cool Temperate and Warm Temperate Rainforests, Wet and Damp Forests), as well as supporting groundwater dependent ecosystems. Within the Strzelecki Ranges, the majestic Tarra Bulga National Park and upper Tarra River attract residents and visitors alike, while also providing habitat for threatened species.11
6.4 Strzelecki Ranges
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 49
Whilst native vegetation cover across the Strzelecki Ranges is observed to be increasing through revegetation activities (e.g. riparian, steep slopes, shelterbelts), the extent of remnant native vegetation (including mature scattered trees) is still generally declining. New trees planted will take many years to mature and develop habitat hollows which can replace the lost remnant scattered trees. Many invasive plant species have become naturalised across the Strzelecki Ranges. In some cases invasive plants are providing habitat for native fauna and have become novel ecosystems (e.g. hawthorn and blackberry are providing habitat for small birds and mammals within cleared landscapes).
The landscape supports intensive agricultural and forestry production.11 In general the climate conditions in the Strzelecki Ranges are not as extreme as other places. Deep soils together with reliable rainfall and a mild climate have driven productivity in the area. Mixed grazing, dairy, potatoes and other horticulture, along with an increasing number of lifestyle or small farms, make up the majority of the agricultural land uses.
In recent times there has been substantial change in the mix of enterprises in the Strzelecki Ranges. The area has seen an increase in the number of small producers, particularly in the western part of the Strzelecki Ranges (e.g. garlic, wine, vegetables, eggs); with dairy, beef and sheep still the dominant enterprises in the east. It is likely that the rich red soils (ferrosol) will be sought after for horticulture in the future, with snow peas and bean production having been observed to already be shifting to these areas. For enterprises reliant upon irrigation, there will be a need to alter and match irrigation methods to the soil type, crop type, landform and topography, to minimise water loss under a changing climate.
Steep slopes across the planning area are at risk from tunnel erosion and land slippage. The general trend for dairy is to move to areas lower in the landscape, due to the high costs and additional management issues associated with running enterprises on steep land. There are potential viability issues for potato farming, due to market forces and profitability concerns.
However, the steep slopes and areas of lower productivity across the planning area are suitable for the establishment of vegetation plantings for both carbon sequestration, soil stabilisation and biodiversity benefits.
Extensive willow control, revegetation works and fencing to exclude stock, has been undertaken on the major waterways in the planning area (Tarwin, Powlett, Agnes, Franklin, Albert, Jack, Tarra and Morwell Rivers, and Traralgon Creek). Vegetation quality along waterways in the headwater areas is often very good, including within forestry plantation areas. Water quality is generally poor in the cleared areas and is linked to slope, lack of ground cover, some farm practices, instream erosion and lack of a riparian buffer.
Whilst an increase in fire intensity and frequency, and invasive plants are major threats that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change, future projections of mild warmer winters are seen as being favourable for primary producers due to more pasture growth and less pugging.
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority50
Tab
le 5
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Str
zele
cki R
ang
es
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
SR 1
– S
up
po
rt t
he
ado
pti
on
o
f la
nd
man
agem
ent
pra
ctic
es
that
imp
rove
so
il h
ealt
h a
nd
p
rod
uct
ion
ou
tco
mes
on
gra
zin
g
lan
d.
aEn
cou
rag
e la
nd
ho
lder
s to
ad
op
t p
ract
ices
th
at:
- Im
pro
ve g
rou
nd
co
ver,
mo
istu
re r
eten
tio
n, a
nd
red
uce
ru
no
ff
follo
win
g s
um
mer
rai
nfa
ll ev
ents
.
- O
pti
mis
e g
razi
ng
man
agem
ent
syst
ems
wit
h c
on
sid
erat
ion
to
sto
ckin
g r
ates
, nu
trie
nt
man
agem
ent,
her
d c
om
po
siti
on
, b
reed
ing
tim
es a
nd
des
tock
ing
.
- Fo
llow
bes
t m
anag
emen
t p
ract
ice
tech
niq
ues
(e.
g. fl
exib
le
gra
zin
g t
ech
niq
ues
, use
of
sum
mer
act
ive
per
enn
ials
in
pas
ture
sys
tem
s, c
han
gin
g c
ult
ivar
s to
th
ose
bet
ter
adap
ted
to
mai
nta
in g
rou
nd
co
ver
at a
ll lo
cati
on
s, m
inim
um
-till
, an
d
con
tro
lled
tra
ffic
farm
ing
, etc
.).
SR 2
– S
up
po
rt fi
re m
anag
emen
t p
rog
ram
s th
at a
do
pt
app
rop
riat
e fi
re r
egim
es t
o
man
age
sen
siti
ve n
atu
ral a
sset
s an
d a
ssis
t th
e re
cove
ry o
f ec
olo
gic
al c
om
mu
nit
ies
fro
m
bu
shfi
re.
aEx
plo
re a
lter
nat
ive
fuel
man
agem
ent
tech
niq
ues
so
th
at
tole
rab
le fi
re in
terv
als
are
no
t ex
ceed
ed b
y p
lan
ned
bu
rns.
bIn
corp
ora
te fi
re p
reve
nti
on
are
as (
fire
bre
aks,
fu
el r
edu
ctio
n
zon
es, b
uff
ers,
act
ive
pat
rolli
ng
an
d p
rote
ctio
n)
to p
rote
ct fi
re
sen
siti
ve v
eget
atio
n c
om
mu
nit
ies.
SR 3
– Im
pro
ve t
he
adap
tive
ca
pac
ity
of
rem
nan
t ve
get
atio
n
thro
ug
h w
ork
s to
incr
ease
co
nn
ecti
vity
, im
pro
ve c
on
dit
ion
an
d p
rote
ct h
igh
qu
alit
y re
mn
ants
.
aEn
cou
rag
e la
nd
ho
lder
s to
pro
tect
sm
all p
atch
es o
f re
mn
ant
veg
etat
ion
an
d s
ing
le t
rees
on
pri
vate
lan
d.
bIn
crea
se a
war
enes
s o
f th
e im
po
rtan
ce a
nd
fu
nct
ion
of
smal
l p
atch
es o
f re
mn
ant
veg
etat
ion
in t
he
lan
dsc
ape.
SR 4
– Im
pro
ve t
he
adap
tive
ca
pac
ity
of
veg
etat
ion
co
mm
un
itie
s th
rou
gh
wo
rks
to p
rote
ct a
nd
imp
rove
th
eir
con
dit
ion
an
d c
on
nec
tivi
ty.
aId
enti
fy a
pp
rop
riat
e d
eliv
ery
mec
han
ism
s to
ach
ieve
ou
tco
mes
(i
ncl
ud
ing
co
ven
ants
, pla
nn
ing
sch
eme
too
ls a
nd
ince
nti
ves)
.
bIm
ple
men
t p
est
pla
nt
and
an
imal
co
ntr
ol p
rog
ram
s fo
r sp
ecie
s w
ith
a h
igh
imp
act
on
rev
eget
atio
n w
ork
s.
cPr
ovi
de
a b
uff
er a
rou
nd
sen
siti
ve v
eget
atio
n t
ypes
th
rou
gh
re
veg
etat
ion
of
the
targ
et o
r ad
jace
nt
veg
etat
ion
typ
e.
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 51
Tab
le 5
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Str
zele
cki R
ang
es c
on
tin
ued
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
SR 5
– In
vest
igat
e o
pti
on
s to
imp
rove
wat
er s
ecu
rity
fo
r d
om
esti
c, in
du
stri
al
and
ag
ricu
ltu
ral u
ses
wh
ile p
rote
ctin
g fl
ow
s fo
r en
viro
nm
enta
l ou
tco
mes
.
aIm
pro
ve o
n f
arm
wat
er s
ecu
rity
th
rou
gh
res
tru
ctu
rin
g o
f fa
rm
wat
er in
fras
tru
ctu
re.
bIn
vest
igat
e al
tern
ativ
e o
pti
on
s fo
r fa
rm d
ams
bas
ed o
n a
ud
it o
f u
se (
incl
ud
ing
dec
om
mis
sio
n a
nd
ad
din
g h
abit
at f
eatu
res)
.
cEn
cou
rag
e in
crea
sed
reu
se a
nd
rec
yclin
g o
f w
ater
by
agri
cult
ure
an
d in
du
stry
.
dSu
pp
ort
co
nn
ecti
on
of
urb
an w
ater
su
pp
ly t
o d
esal
inis
atio
n t
o
imp
rove
sec
uri
ty o
f d
om
esti
c an
d in
du
stri
al s
up
ply
an
d r
edu
ce
flo
w-r
elat
ed r
isks
to
th
e Ta
rwin
Riv
er a
nd
its
trib
uta
ries
in
dro
ug
ht
per
iod
s.
SR 6
– W
ork
wit
h L
oca
l G
ove
rnm
ent
and
Sta
te a
gen
cies
to
imp
rove
en
viro
nm
enta
l o
utc
om
es.
aId
enti
fy p
rod
uct
ive
lan
d a
nd
un
der
take
pri
ori
tisa
tio
n a
nd
p
lan
nin
g t
o e
nsu
re s
oil
and
lan
d h
ealt
h a
nd
pro
du
ctiv
ity
is
mai
nta
ined
.
bC
on
sid
er f
easi
bili
ty o
f p
lan
nin
g r
egu
lati
on
s to
allo
w f
or
ho
use
co
nst
ruct
ion
wit
h c
on
dit
ion
s fo
r en
viro
nm
enta
l man
agem
ent
in
the
un
pro
du
ctiv
e st
eep
are
as.
cEx
plo
re la
nd
use
pla
nn
ing
mec
han
ism
s to
pro
tect
hig
h v
alu
e n
atu
ral a
sset
s o
n a
gri
cult
ura
l lan
d s
ub
ject
to
en
terp
rise
ch
ang
e.
SR 7
– R
efin
e th
e ap
pro
ach
es
use
d b
y n
atu
ral r
eso
urc
e m
anag
ers
wh
en p
lan
nin
g a
nd
im
ple
men
tin
g f
enci
ng
, wee
d
con
tro
l an
d r
eveg
etat
ion
p
rog
ram
s to
tak
e ac
cou
nt
of
chan
gin
g c
limat
ic c
on
dit
ion
s.
aC
on
sid
er d
iffe
ren
t sp
ecie
s m
ixes
fro
m t
he
ran
ge
of
EVC
s ac
ross
th
e St
rzel
ecki
’s in
rev
eget
atio
n p
roje
cts
to im
pro
ve s
ucc
ess
rate
s to
ret
ain
fu
nct
ion
ing
eco
syst
ems.
SR 8
– S
up
po
rt c
arb
on
se
qu
estr
atio
n t
hro
ug
h t
he
esta
blis
hm
ent
of
targ
eted
b
iod
iver
se p
lan
tin
gs
in a
reas
th
at
add
ress
pri
ori
ties
fo
r b
iod
iver
sity
, la
nd
an
d w
ater
way
hea
lth
.
aC
on
sid
er a
ran
ge
of
op
tio
ns
to e
stab
lish
per
enn
ial v
eget
atio
n
(in
clu
din
g s
hel
ter
bel
ts, d
ecid
uo
us
tree
s, b
iod
iver
se p
lan
tin
gs,
tr
ee c
rop
s) a
cro
ss c
lear
ed p
rod
uct
ive
area
s o
n f
arm
s.
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority52
Tab
le 5
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Str
zele
cki R
ang
es c
on
tin
ued
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
SR 8
– S
up
po
rt c
arb
on
se
qu
estr
atio
n t
hro
ug
h t
he
esta
blis
hm
ent
of
targ
eted
b
iod
iver
se p
lan
tin
gs
in a
reas
th
at
add
ress
pri
ori
ties
fo
r b
iod
iver
sity
, la
nd
an
d w
ater
way
hea
lth
co
nti
nu
ed.
bEs
tab
lish
larg
e sc
ale
bio
div
erse
pla
nti
ng
s o
n s
teep
slo
pes
an
d
area
s o
f lo
wer
pro
du
ctiv
ity.
cFe
nce
an
d r
eveg
etat
e w
ide
rip
aria
n b
uff
ers
alo
ng
pri
ori
ty
wat
erw
ays
and
gu
llies
(30
-40m
wid
e). T
arg
et t
o a
reas
of
hig
h r
isk
of
ero
sio
n a
nd
sed
imen
t lo
ss.
dIm
ple
men
t o
n g
rou
nd
wo
rks
pro
gra
m t
o in
crea
se v
eget
atio
n
exte
nt
to 3
0% c
ove
r in
lan
dsc
ape
wh
ilst
reta
inin
g p
rod
uct
ive
agri
cult
ura
l lan
d.
eIn
vest
igat
e th
e p
ote
nti
al t
o e
stab
lish
nat
ive
veg
etat
ion
on
d
isu
sed
ro
ad r
eser
ve a
nd
cro
wn
wat
er f
ron
tag
e le
ases
.
fPr
ote
ct c
ore
hab
itat
are
as a
nd
incr
ease
th
e ex
ten
t o
f ve
get
atio
n
by
linki
ng
are
as o
f h
abit
at.
SR 9
– M
anag
e im
pac
ts t
o
Strz
elec
ki R
ang
es e
cosy
stem
s fr
om
fu
ture
pre
ssu
res
of
incr
ease
d r
ecre
atio
nal
use
.
aM
anag
e ac
cess
to
sen
siti
ve a
reas
th
rou
gh
zo
nin
g o
f p
ub
lic la
nd
to
co
nce
ntr
ate
peo
ple
in d
esig
nat
ed a
reas
, im
pro
vin
g f
acili
ties
th
rou
gh
co
nst
ruct
ion
of
bo
ard
wal
ks a
nd
fo
rmal
acc
ess
trac
ks, a
nd
p
roh
ibit
ing
acc
ess
in s
om
e p
lace
s.
bR
aise
vis
ito
r aw
aren
ess
of
the
valu
es o
f th
e St
rzel
ecki
Ran
ges
ec
osy
stem
s, t
hei
r se
nsi
tivi
ty t
o h
um
an im
pac
ts, a
nd
th
e ra
tio
nal
e fo
r p
arti
cula
r m
anag
emen
t ac
tivi
ties
.
SR 1
0 –
Sup
po
rt r
esea
rch
an
d in
vest
igat
ion
to
ad
dre
ss
kno
wle
dg
e g
aps.
aEx
plo
re im
plic
atio
ns
of
clim
ate
chan
ge
for
gro
un
dw
ater
d
epen
den
t ec
osy
stem
s, in
clu
din
g s
pri
ng
s.
bId
enti
fy a
nd
pro
tect
dro
ug
ht
refu
ges
acr
oss
th
e p
lan
nin
g a
rea.
cM
on
ito
r th
e re
spo
nse
s o
f h
igh
ly s
usc
epti
ble
eco
log
ical
co
mm
un
itie
s an
d k
eyst
on
e sp
ecie
s to
a c
han
gin
g c
limat
e.
SR 1
1 –
Inve
stig
ate
op
tio
ns
to
less
en t
he
off
site
imp
acts
to
w
ater
qu
alit
y fo
llow
ing
ext
rem
e ev
ents
(e.
g. fl
oo
d, fi
re).
aU
nd
erta
ke r
isk
man
agem
ent
pla
nn
ing
fo
r la
nd
use
man
agem
ent
un
der
clim
ate
chan
ge.
SR 1
2 –
Pres
erva
tio
n o
f A
bo
rig
inal
cu
ltu
ral h
erit
age
site
s.
aEx
plo
re h
ow
to
bes
t in
corp
ora
te s
pec
ific
man
agem
ent
reco
mm
end
atio
ns
rela
tin
g t
o c
limat
e ch
ang
e im
pac
ts o
n
Ab
ori
gin
al s
ites
into
Cu
ltu
ral H
erit
age
Man
agem
ent
Plan
s (C
HM
Ps).
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 53
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#
#
#
#
#
##
# #
Coast
LAKE W ELLINGTON
THOM SONDAM
LAKEGLENMAGGIE
BLUE ROCKLAKE
LA TROBE RIVER
AV
ON RIVER
MACALISTERR
IVE
R
THOMSON RIVER
MERRIMAN CREEK
MO
RW
ELL
RIV
ER
JACK
R
IVER
FLY
NNS
CR
EEK
BRUTHE
NC
REE
K
PO W LETT RIVER
FISH CRE E K
FREESTONE
CR
EE
K
CARR CRE EK
SHAD
YC
REEK
MONKEY CREEK
ABERFELDYRIVER
MID
DLEC
R EEK
AGNES RIVER
NAR
RAC
ANCREEK
FO
STER
CREEK
BAR
KLY
RIVEREAST
BRANCH
BLA
CK
ALL
CR
EE
K
TARWIN RIV
ER
BEN
CR
UACHAN
CREEK
L
OCH
RIV
ER
TYERS RIVERFIDDLERS CREEK
BA
RR
Y CR
EE
K
THOMSON
RIVE
R
Moe
Sale
Erica
Noojee
Yarram
Foster
Heyfield
Walhalla
Sea View
Won Wron
Warragul
Meeniyan
Leongatha
Inverloch
Traralgon
Wonthaggi
Loch Sport
Korumburra
Briagolong
Tidal River
Mirboo North
Paradise Beach
Climate Change Planning AreasWGCMA BoundaryMain RoadsLakes & DamsRivers
West Gippsland RCS Landscape PrioritiesBunurong CoastalCorner Inlet NooramungaMullungdungPublic Land
±0 20 4010
Kilometres
Figure 13: Coastal landscapes climate change planning area
The coastal landscapes climate change planning area encompasses three West Gippsland RCS Landscape Priority Areas (Bunurong Coastal, Corner Inlet Nooramunga and Mullungdung).
6.5 Coastal Landscapes (including Bunurong Coast, Corner Inlet Nooramunga and Mullungdung)
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority54
The Bunurong Coast is characterised by estuarine and coastal environments containing extensive intertidal rock platforms and sub-tidal rocky reefs, which are home to diverse ecological communities. It contains fossil sites of international and national significance and areas of cultural heritage sensitivity.11 The Powlett River estuary closes most years and depending on the conditions in summer and autumn it may open naturally or require an artificial opening if public assets and private land becomes impacted. WGCMA and Parks Victoria have been working together to manage estuary openings on the Powlett River and an estuary management plan is currently being developed to help guide overall management of the estuary.
Corner Inlet Nooramunga is characterised by short, dynamic and independent river systems, which drain from the Strzelecki Ranges to the internationally recognised Corner Inlet Ramsar site and Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park. Corner Inlet is listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands of Australia (DIWA) and is an East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Site, which provides a drought refuge for migratory and resident birds. Corner Inlet supports a commercial fishing industry, as well as recreational fishing and water based activities.11
The seagrass and saltmarsh communities found within both the Bunurong Coast and Corner Inlet Nooramunga areas provide habitat for migratory waders, resident birds and native fish. Corner Inlet, Shallow Inlet and Anderson Inlet have been the focus of a range of ongoing NRM programs, including control of Spartina, fencing of saltmarsh and foreshore areas, and pest animal control.
The extensive sandy beaches and marine waters of Ninety Mile Beach are a popular destination for local fishermen, holidaymakers and tourists and have Indigenous cultural heritage significance. Jack Smith Lake and its associated wetlands are listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands of Australia (DIWA) and are valued for the diversity of bird species they support.11
The coastal and marine parks and reserves situated along the planning area coastline are valued for their natural scenic values, the recreational opportunities they provide, the range of complex habitats and vegetation communities and numerous threatened species they support.11 However, storm surge is having an impact on the beaches and coastal vegetation in many places along the coast.
Largely fragmented remnant native vegetation across the entire planning area is of high biodiversity and natural value, though it is poorly connected to larger remnants located within State Parks and conservation reserves (such as the Mullungdung State Forest). Endangered, rare and vulnerable ecological vegetation classes, including the EPBC Act listed Gippsland Red Gum Grassy Woodland and associated Native Grassland ecological community are found within the planning area.11
The extent of native vegetation is believed to be increasing throughout the planning area due to NRM programs focused on revegetating waterways and gullies, and creating wildlife corridors and shelter belts. However, extreme events (e.g. fire) and climate conditions over recent years have impacted on the health of vegetation, with tree deaths from extreme heat, loss of coastal vegetation from storm surge, and inland migration of saline tolerant vegetation being observed.
There is an increasing demand for land and urban development along the coast (particularly in Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shires) and recreational use is on the increase due to the proximity to Melbourne. Recreational pressures are likely to increase in both intensity and geographic scope, placing increased pressures on vulnerable ecosystems.
The hinterland surrounding the coast is a largely cleared environment, with fertile and productive soils underpinning a vigorous and varied agricultural sector. In recent times there has been a change in the types of agricultural production with an increase in horticulture, and some intensive production systems (chickens and feedlot cattle operations) in the Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shires.
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 55
Further east the trend is different, with a shift from sheep and beef grazing and cropping to forestry (plantation forestry and agroforestry). In general dairy has moved out of the steeper areas to the flatter floodplain areas, while in the hillier areas beef and lifestyle properties dominate.
There is a growing recognition of Gippsland as a ‘food bowl’ due to a combination of reliable climate, productive soils and proximity to Melbourne. Across the agricultural industries there appears to be an increased awareness of threats to the natural environment from land management practices and an increase in application of best management practices.
Sea walls were built along the coastline to reclaim intertidal areas and these areas are now used for agriculture. Sea walls and their management continue to be a contentious issue for local government and private landholders along the coast.
As sea level rises and storm surge exacerbates coastal erosion, the coastal zone will be squeezed between the ocean and infrastructure. For many coastal ecosystems, the biggest obstacle to migrate naturally inland is the presence of roads, houses and other infrastructure, such as seawalls and levees.
Climate change is likely to increase the frequency, intensity and extent of existing coastal hazards (such as wildfire, flooding, acid sulfate soils, landslips and landslides, coastal erosion processes and inundation).
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority56
Tab
le 6
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Co
asta
l Lan
dsc
apes
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
CL
1 –
Sup
po
rt c
oas
tal
NR
M a
gen
cies
to
pla
n f
or
adap
tati
on
or
retr
eat
in a
reas
im
pac
ted
by
sea
leve
l ris
e an
d
sto
rm s
urg
e.
aId
enti
fy n
atu
ral a
sset
s an
d in
fras
tru
ctu
re im
pac
ted
by
incr
ease
d s
alin
ity,
inu
nd
atio
n a
nd
co
asta
l ero
sio
n.
bIn
vest
igat
e lo
ng
evit
y o
f se
a w
alls
in p
rovi
din
g p
rote
ctio
n
fro
m s
ea le
vel r
ise
and
co
nsi
der
alt
ern
ate
man
agem
ent
arra
ng
emen
ts.
cIn
vest
igat
e o
pti
on
s to
ad
d la
nd
to
th
e n
atio
nal
res
erve
sys
tem
to
pro
vid
e fo
r m
igra
tio
n o
f h
abit
ats.
CL
2 –
Sup
po
rt p
riva
te la
nd
m
anag
ers
alo
ng
th
e co
ast
to a
dap
t o
r m
ake
a p
lan
ned
re
trea
t in
are
as im
pac
ted
by
sea
leve
l ris
e an
d s
torm
su
rge.
aEd
uca
tio
n a
nd
aw
aren
ess
pro
gra
ms
for
pri
vate
lan
dh
old
ers
abo
ut
the
imp
acts
an
d o
pti
on
s to
man
age
for
risi
ng
sea
leve
l, in
crea
sed
ero
sio
n a
nd
inu
nd
atio
n.
bIn
vest
igat
e la
nd
use
pla
nn
ing
ap
pro
ach
es t
o p
rote
ct h
igh
va
lue
agri
cult
ura
l lan
d a
nd
pro
vid
e o
pp
ort
un
itie
s fo
r en
terp
rise
ch
ang
e.
cPr
ovi
de
ince
nti
ves
to a
llow
fo
r m
ang
rove
an
d s
altm
arsh
co
mm
un
itie
s to
ret
reat
as
a re
sult
of
sea
leve
l ris
e.
CL
3 –
Sup
po
rt c
arb
on
se
qu
estr
atio
n t
hro
ug
h t
he
esta
blis
hm
ent
of
targ
eted
b
iod
iver
se p
lan
tin
gs
in
area
s th
at a
dd
ress
pri
ori
ties
fo
r b
iod
iver
sity
, lan
d a
nd
w
ater
way
hea
lth
.
aEn
cou
rag
e la
nd
ho
lder
s to
use
loca
l nat
ive
spec
ies
in p
lan
tin
gs
for
shad
e an
d s
hel
ter.
bFe
nce
an
d r
eveg
etat
e w
ide
rip
aria
n b
uff
ers
alo
ng
pri
ori
ty
wat
erw
ays.
cIn
vest
igat
e th
e p
ote
nti
al t
o e
stab
lish
nat
ive
veg
etat
ion
on
d
isu
sed
ro
ad r
eser
ve a
nd
cro
wn
wat
er f
ron
tag
e le
ases
.
dPr
ote
ct r
etre
atin
g m
ang
rove
an
d s
altm
arsh
co
mm
un
itie
s th
rou
gh
fen
cin
g.
CL
4 –
Imp
rove
th
e ad
apti
ve
cap
acit
y o
f re
mn
ant
veg
etat
ion
th
rou
gh
wo
rks
to
incr
ease
co
nn
ecti
vity
, im
pro
ve
con
dit
ion
an
d p
rote
ct h
igh
q
ual
ity
rem
nan
ts.
aId
enti
fy a
pp
rop
riat
e d
eliv
ery
mec
han
ism
s to
ach
ieve
ou
tco
mes
(i
ncl
ud
ing
co
ven
ants
, pla
nn
ing
sch
eme
too
ls a
nd
ince
nti
ves)
.
bU
nd
erta
ke lo
cal l
evel
pla
nn
ing
dra
win
g o
n v
uln
erab
ility
as
sess
men
t re
sult
s, b
iod
iver
sity
pla
nn
ing
info
rmat
ion
to
id
enti
fy c
and
idat
e ar
eas.
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 57
Tab
le 6
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Co
asta
l Lan
dsc
apes
co
nti
nu
ed
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
CL
5 –
Refi
ne
the
app
roac
hes
u
sed
by
nat
ura
l res
ou
rce
man
ager
s w
hen
pla
nn
ing
an
d
imp
lem
enti
ng
fen
cin
g, w
eed
co
ntr
ol a
nd
rev
eget
atio
n
pro
gra
ms
to t
ake
acco
un
t o
f ch
ang
ing
clim
atic
co
nd
itio
ns.
aC
on
sid
er in
clu
sio
n o
f d
ry t
ole
ran
t sp
ecie
s an
d p
liab
le
veg
etat
ion
in r
eveg
etat
ion
pro
gra
ms.
CL
6 –
Sup
po
rt fi
re
man
agem
ent
pro
gra
ms
that
ad
op
t ap
pro
pri
ate
fire
re
gim
es t
o m
anag
e se
nsi
tive
n
atu
ral a
sset
s an
d a
ssis
t th
e re
cove
ry o
f ec
olo
gic
al
com
mu
nit
ies
fro
m b
ush
fire
.
aEx
plo
re a
lter
nat
ive
fuel
man
agem
ent
tech
niq
ues
so
th
at
tole
rab
le fi
re in
terv
als
are
no
t ex
ceed
ed b
y p
lan
ned
bu
rns.
bPo
ten
tial
are
as t
o f
ocu
s o
n in
clu
de
rain
fore
st, r
ipar
ian
an
d
wet
lan
d h
abit
ats
and
co
asta
l hea
thla
nd
.
CL
7 –
Sup
po
rt r
esea
rch
an
d
inve
stig
atio
n t
o a
dd
ress
kn
ow
led
ge
gap
s.
aB
uild
on
rec
ent
kno
wle
dg
e th
at h
igh
ligh
ts t
he
po
ten
tial
fo
r b
lue
carb
on
seq
ues
trat
ion
in s
altm
arsh
, sea
gra
ss a
nd
m
ang
rove
hab
itat
s to
exp
lore
ho
w r
esto
rati
on
pro
gra
ms
mig
ht
be
des
ign
ed t
o c
apit
alis
e o
n o
pp
ort
un
itie
s.
bEx
plo
re im
plic
atio
ns
of
clim
ate
chan
ge
for
gro
un
dw
ater
d
epen
den
t ec
osy
stem
s, in
clu
din
g s
pri
ng
s.
cId
enti
fy a
nd
ass
ess
imp
licat
ion
s o
f m
ain
tain
ing
no
vel h
abit
ats
in t
he
lan
dsc
ape.
dId
enti
fy a
nd
pro
tect
dro
ug
ht
refu
ges
acr
oss
th
e p
lan
nin
g a
rea.
eM
on
ito
r an
d d
ocu
men
t th
e ef
fect
s o
f w
arm
er a
nd
dri
er
aver
age
con
dit
ion
s o
n d
iffe
ren
t ve
get
atio
n a
nd
det
erm
ine
the
bes
t sp
ecie
s to
incl
ud
e in
rev
eget
atio
n p
rog
ram
s.
fM
on
ito
r th
e re
spo
nse
s o
f h
igh
ly s
usc
epti
ble
eco
log
ical
co
mm
un
itie
s an
d k
eyst
on
e sp
ecie
s to
a c
han
gin
g c
limat
e.
CL
8 –
Co
nsi
der
clim
ate
chan
ge
imp
acts
fro
m s
ea
leve
l ris
e, s
torm
su
rge
and
ca
tch
men
t p
roce
sses
in f
utu
re
man
agem
ent
of
estu
arie
s.
aEs
tab
lish
lon
g t
erm
mo
nit
ori
ng
pro
gra
ms
for
estu
arie
s an
d
asso
ciat
ed h
abit
ats.
bEx
plic
itly
fac
tor
clim
ate
chan
ge
into
est
uar
y m
anag
emen
t.
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority58
Tab
le 6
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Co
asta
l Lan
dsc
apes
co
nti
nu
ed
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
CL
9 –
Sup
po
rt t
he
ado
pti
on
o
f la
nd
man
agem
ent
pra
ctic
es t
hat
imp
rove
so
il h
ealt
h a
nd
pro
du
ctio
n
ou
tco
mes
on
gra
zin
g la
nd
.
aEn
cou
rag
e la
nd
ho
lder
s to
ad
op
t p
ract
ices
th
at:
- Im
pro
ve g
rou
nd
co
ver,
mo
istu
re r
eten
tio
n, a
nd
red
uce
ru
no
ff f
ollo
win
g s
um
mer
rai
nfa
ll ev
ents
.
-
Op
tim
ise
gra
zin
g m
anag
emen
t sy
stem
s w
ith
co
nsi
der
atio
n
to s
tock
ing
rat
es, n
utr
ien
t m
anag
emen
t, h
erd
co
mp
osi
tio
n,
bre
edin
g t
imes
an
d d
esto
ckin
g.
- Fo
llow
bes
t m
anag
emen
t p
ract
ice
tech
niq
ues
(e.
g. fl
exib
le
gra
zin
g t
ech
niq
ues
, use
of
sum
mer
act
ive
per
enn
ials
in
pas
ture
sys
tem
s, c
han
gin
g c
ult
ivar
s to
th
ose
bet
ter
adap
ted
to
mai
nta
in g
rou
nd
co
ver
at a
ll lo
cati
on
s, m
inim
um
-till
, an
d c
on
tro
lled
tra
ffic
farm
ing
, etc
.).
CL
10 –
Wo
rk w
ith
Lo
cal
Go
vern
men
t an
d S
tate
ag
enci
es t
o im
pro
ve
envi
ron
men
tal o
utc
om
es.
aEx
plo
re la
nd
use
pla
nn
ing
mec
han
ism
s to
pro
tect
hig
h v
alu
e n
atu
ral a
sset
s o
n a
gri
cult
ura
l lan
d s
ub
ject
to
en
terp
rise
ch
ang
e.
CL
11 –
Iden
tify
pri
ori
ties
an
d
dev
elo
p p
lan
of
wo
rks
to
imp
rove
hyd
rolo
gic
al r
egim
e o
f fl
oo
dp
lain
wet
lan
ds
and
fr
ing
ing
wet
lan
ds.
aC
on
stru
ctio
n o
f tr
eatm
ent
wet
lan
ds
to c
aptu
re s
torm
wat
er
fro
m e
xist
ing
dev
elo
ped
are
as.
bPl
an o
f w
ork
s to
co
nsi
der
ear
thw
ork
s an
d w
ater
way
str
uct
ure
s an
d o
pti
on
s to
wo
rk w
ith
lan
dh
old
ers
to m
anag
e w
ater
fo
r m
ult
iple
ou
tco
mes
.
CL
12 –
Man
agin
g im
pac
ts t
o
sen
siti
ve c
oas
tal e
cosy
stem
s fr
om
fu
ture
pre
ssu
res
of
incr
ease
d r
ecre
atio
nal
use
aM
anag
e ac
cess
to
sen
siti
ve a
reas
th
rou
gh
zo
nin
g o
f p
ub
lic
lan
d t
o c
on
cen
trat
e p
eop
le in
des
ign
ated
are
as, i
mp
rovi
ng
fa
cilit
ies
thro
ug
h c
on
stru
ctio
n o
f b
oar
dw
alks
an
d f
orm
al
acce
ss t
rack
s, a
nd
pro
hib
itin
g a
cces
s in
so
me
pla
ces.
CL 1
3 –
Inve
stig
ate
opti
ons
to
less
en t
he o
ffsi
te im
pact
s to
w
ater
qua
lity
follo
win
g ex
trem
e ev
ents
(e.g
. floo
d, fi
re).
aU
nd
erta
ke r
isk
man
agem
ent
pla
nn
ing
fo
r la
nd
use
m
anag
emen
t u
nd
er c
limat
e ch
ang
e.
CL
14 –
Pre
serv
atio
n o
f A
bo
rig
inal
cu
ltu
ral h
erit
age
site
s.
aEx
plo
re h
ow
to
bes
t in
corp
ora
te s
pec
ific
man
agem
ent
reco
mm
end
atio
ns
rela
tin
g t
o c
limat
e ch
ang
e im
pac
ts o
n
Ab
ori
gin
al s
ites
into
Cu
ltu
ral H
erit
age
Man
agem
ent
Plan
s (C
HM
Ps).
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 59
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WilsonsPromontory
LAKE W ELLINGTON
THOM SONDAM
LAKEGLENMAGGIE
BLUE ROCKLAKE
LA TROBE RIVER
AV
ON RIVER
MACALISTERR
IVE
R
THOMSON RIVER
MERRIMAN CREEK
MO
RW
ELL
RIV
ER
JACK
R
IVER
FLY
NNS
CR
EEK
BRUTHE
NC
REE
K
PO W LETT RIVER
FISH CRE E K
FREESTONE
CR
EE
K
CARR CRE EK
SHAD
YC
REEKMONKEY CREEK
ABERFELDYRIVER
MID
DLEC
R EEK
AGNES RIVER
NAR
RAC
ANCREEK
FO
STER
CREEK
BAR
KLY
RIVEREAST
BRANCH
BLA
CK
ALL
CR
EE
K
TARWIN RIV
ER
BEN
CR
UACHAN
CREEK
L
OCH
RIV
ER
TYERS RIVER
FIDDLERS CREEK
THOMSON
RIVE
RMoe
Sale
Erica
Noojee
Yarram
Foster
Heyfield
Walhalla
Sea View
Won Wron
Warragul
Meeniyan
Leongatha
Inverloch
Traralgon
Wonthaggi
Loch Sport
Korumburra
Briagolong
Tidal River
Mirboo North
Paradise Beach
Climate Change Planning AreasWGCMA BoundaryMain RoadsLakes & DamsRivers
West Gippsland RCS Landscape PrioritiesWilsons PromontoryPublic Land
±0 20 4010
Kilometres
6.6 Wilsons Promontory
Figure 14: Wilsons Promontory climate change planning area
The Wilsons Promontory climate change planning area is characterised by the largely contiguous native vegetation that is located within the iconic Wilsons Promontory National Park. It is further defined by its marine environment, which contains the Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park. It offers spectacular scenery of huge granite mountains, open forest, rainforest, sweeping beaches and coastlines.33
The National Parks are highly valued by both residents and tourists for their natural scenic values, educational and recreational opportunities and Indigenous cultural heritage significance.11
The landscape is underpinned by relatively stable soils and contains largely intact and diverse ecological vegetation communities and numerous rare and threatened species.11
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority60
Warm Temperate and Cool Temperate Rainforest, tall open forests, woodlands, heathlands, swamp and coastal communities are all found within Wilsons Promontory. The heathlands, influenced by the frequency and intensity of fire, are rich in species and provide habitats for a variety of fauna, including many threatened species. Over 30 species of native terrestrial mammals have been recorded in the National Park.33
The presence of vegetation cover across much of the area contributes to generally high adaptive capacity of native vegetation and soils in particular, although recent intense fires have had an impact on the landscape. Impacts associated with a likely increase in the intensity and frequency of large fires is likely to pose a significant future challenge to the values of natural assets within the planning area.
Coastal features include expansive intertidal mudflats, sandy beaches and sheltered coves interrupted by prominent headlands and plunging granite cliffs in the south, backed by coastal dunes and swamps. In the intertidal zone adjoining Corner Inlet, large areas of highly productive tidal mudflat are exposed at low tide. The coastal dunes are a near perfect example of coastal succession ranging from bare dunes to protected woodlands.33
Tidal River’s close proximity to the main day visitor, camping and overnight accommodation is a popular site for activities including walking, sightseeing, swimming, kayaking, boating and recreational fishing.11 There has been a growth in infrastructure to support visitation to Wilsons Promontory both within and outside the National Park in recent years. Recreational use is likely to increase, placing increased pressures on vulnerable ecosystems. An increase in invasive plant and animal species (e.g. Northern Pacific Seastars that have been found in Tidal River33) in response to changing climatic conditions may pose a major threat to the natural ecosystems within the planning area.
West Gippsland Regional NRM Climate Change Strategy | 61
Tab
le 7
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Wils
on
s Pr
om
on
tory
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
WP
1 –
Sup
po
rt c
oas
tal
NR
M a
gen
cies
to
pla
n f
or
adap
tati
on
or
retr
eat
in a
reas
im
pac
ted
by
sea
leve
l ris
e an
d
sto
rm s
urg
e.
aId
enti
fy lo
cati
on
an
d li
kely
imp
act
on
nat
ura
l ass
ets
fro
m
incr
ease
d s
alin
ity,
inu
nd
atio
n a
nd
co
asta
l ero
sio
n.
bIn
crea
se t
he
wid
th o
f ve
get
ated
rip
aria
n b
uff
ers
in t
he
Tid
al
Riv
er s
ettl
emen
t an
d a
llow
fo
r sa
lt t
ole
ran
t ve
get
atio
n t
o
esta
blis
h.
cR
elo
cate
infr
astr
uct
ure
imp
acte
d s
torm
su
rge
and
sea
leve
l ris
e an
d r
ehab
ilita
te t
o p
reve
nt
furt
her
ero
sio
n.
WP
2 –
Sup
po
rt fi
re
man
agem
ent
pro
gra
ms
that
ad
op
t ap
pro
pri
ate
fire
re
gim
es t
o m
anag
e se
nsi
tive
n
atu
ral a
sset
s an
d a
ssis
t th
e re
cove
ry o
f ec
olo
gic
al
com
mu
nit
ies
fro
m b
ush
fire
.
aEx
plo
re a
lter
nat
ive
fuel
man
agem
ent
tech
niq
ues
so
th
at
tole
rab
le fi
re in
terv
als
are
no
t ex
ceed
ed b
y p
lan
ned
bu
rns.
bIm
pro
ve fi
re p
lan
nin
g p
roce
sses
an
d o
n g
rou
nd
wild
fire
m
anag
emen
t ac
tivi
ties
to
pro
tect
sen
siti
ve n
atu
ral a
sset
s.
WP
3 –
Imp
rove
th
e ad
apti
ve
cap
acit
y o
f ec
osy
stem
s in
W
ilso
ns
Pro
mo
nto
ry b
y ac
tive
ly m
anag
ing
exi
stin
g
thre
ats.
aA
ctiv
e m
anag
emen
t o
f in
vasi
ve p
lan
ts a
nd
an
imal
s in
th
e h
igh
est
valu
e ec
osy
stem
s in
Wils
on
s Pr
om
on
tory
.
bU
nd
erta
ke la
rge
scal
e re
-see
din
g o
f ve
get
atio
n c
om
mu
nit
ies
follo
win
g w
ildfi
re.
WP
4 –
Sup
po
rt r
esea
rch
an
d in
vest
igat
ion
to
ad
dre
ss
kno
wle
dg
e g
aps.
aEx
plo
re im
plic
atio
ns
of
clim
ate
chan
ge
for
gro
un
dw
ater
d
epen
den
t ec
osy
stem
s, in
clu
din
g s
pri
ng
s.
bId
enti
fy a
nd
pro
tect
dro
ug
ht
refu
ges
acr
oss
th
e p
lan
nin
g a
rea.
cM
on
ito
r th
e re
spo
nse
s o
f h
igh
ly s
usc
epti
ble
eco
log
ical
co
mm
un
itie
s an
d k
eyst
on
e sp
ecie
s to
a c
han
gin
g c
limat
e.
dM
on
ito
rin
g o
f in
vasi
ve s
pec
ies
wit
h a
fo
cus
on
new
an
d
emer
gin
g s
pec
ies.
| West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority62
Tab
le 7
: Str
ateg
ies
for
clim
ate
chan
ge
adap
tati
on
an
d m
itig
atio
n –
Wils
on
s Pr
om
on
tory
co
nti
nu
ed
Stra
teg
ies
Op
tio
ns
for
stra
teg
y im
ple
men
tati
on
Ad
apta
tio
n
Car
bo
n m
itig
atio
n
Bio
div
erse
ca
rbo
n
pla
nti
ng
sB
lue
carb
on
Soil
carb
on
WP
5 –
Man
age
imp
acts
to
Wils
on
s Pr
om
on
tory
ec
osy
stem
s fr
om
fu
ture
p
ress
ure
s o
f in
crea
sed
re
crea
tio
nal
use
.
aM
anag
e ac
cess
to
sen
siti
ve a
reas
th
rou
gh
zo
nin
g o
f p
ub
lic
lan
d t
o c
on
cen
trat
e p
eop
le in
des
ign
ated
are
as, i
mp
rovi
ng
fa
cilit
ies
thro
ug
h c
on
stru
ctio
n o
f b
oar
dw
alks
an
d f
orm
al
acce
ss t
rack
s, a
nd
pro
hib
itin
g a
cces
s in
so
me
pla
ces.
bR
aise
vis
ito
r aw
aren
ess
of
the
valu
es o
f W
ilso
ns
Pro
mo
nto
ry,
thei
r se
nsi
tivi
ty t
o h
um
an im
pac
ts a
nd
th
e ra
tio
nal
e fo
r p
arti
cula
r m
anag
emen
t ac
tivi
ties
.
WP
6 –
Co
nsi
der
clim
ate
chan
ge
imp
acts
fro
m s
ea
leve
l ris
e, s
torm
su
rge
and
ca
tch
men
t p
roce
sses
in f
utu
re
man
agem
ent
of
estu
arie
s.
aEs
tab
lish
lon
g t
erm
mo
nit
ori
ng
pro
gra
ms
for
estu
arie
s an
d
asso
ciat
ed h
abit
ats.
bEx
plic
itly
fac
tor
clim
ate
chan
ge
into
est
uar
y m
anag
emen
t.
WP
7 –
Inve
stig
ate
op
tio
ns
to le
ssen
th
e o
ffsi
te im
pac
ts
to w
ater
qu
alit
y fo
llow
ing
ex
trem
e ev
ents
(e.
g. fl
oo
d,
fire
).
aU
nd
erta
ke r
isk
man
agem
ent
pla
nn
ing
fo
r la
nd
use
m
anag
emen
t u
nd
er c
limat
e ch
ang
e.
WP
8 –
Pres
erva
tio
n o
f A
bo
rig
inal
cu
ltu
ral h
erit
age
site
s.
aEx
plo
re h
ow
to
bes
t in
corp
ora
te s
pec
ific
man
agem
ent
reco
mm
end
atio
ns
rela
tin
g t
o c
limat
e ch
ang
e im
pac
ts o
n
Ab
ori
gin
al s
ites
into
Cu
ltu
ral H
erit
age
Man
agem
ent
Plan
s (C
HM
Ps).