premier’s annual report 2001/02 · meeting the challenge nsw salinity strategy annual report...

NSW Salinity Strategy

New South Wales

Government

M e e t i n g t h e c h a l l e n g e

Premier’s Annual Report 2001/02

1

New South Wales

Government

Meeting the Challenge

NSW Salinity Strategy

Premier�s

Annual Report

2001/02

Foreword

Meeting the challenge NSW Salinity Strategy Annual Report 2001-022

Two years ago, we took on the challenge of salinity in New South Wales. A Salinity Summit was held in Dubbo in March 2000. Then, the NSW Government released the NSW Salinity Strategy, which set out practical steps that the Government could take with communities and business to deal with salinity.

This year, we increased our commitment to the Strategy to over $200 million for projects to be undertaken between now and 2007.

I am pleased to report that good progress is being made in addressing the salt problem.

The Government has significantly advanced its land and water reforms, which will go some way towards addressing the influences on salinity.

Communities have developed Catchment Blueprints to guide work on the ground.I am very impressed by the effort that has gone into these plans.

Research and pilot projects are starting to give us information about the extent of salinity and the type of actions which may be successful in reducing it.

Our combined efforts are being rewarded. Although reversing the decline is a long term challenge, more landowners, business people and community groups are becoming involved.

Salinity is one of the most difficult and important issues confronting New South Wales. It has developed over generations and the solution will also take time to be effective.

We have made progress, but there is so much more to be done.

I thank those involved in making the NSW Salinity Strategy become a reality on the ground. I look forward to our continuing efforts together in meeting the salinity challenge.

Bob CarrPremier

Contents

Meeting the challenge NSW Salinity Strategy Annual Report 2001-02 3

Introduction 4

What has been achieved so far? 5

Where the money is being spent 7

Working with the community 8

Planning and managing change 11

Targets for change 13

Incentives for change 14

Improving our knowledge 17

Creating business opportunities 22

Smarter regulation 27

Facts on salinity 28

Glossary 29

Introduction


The NSW Salinity Strategy was announced in August 2000 as the NSW Government�s response to the Salinity Summit in Dubbo.

The Strategy delivers an integrated framework for salinity management across the whole of NSW. It represents a long term commitment by this Government to work with land holders, conservationists, Aboriginal communities, scientists, business and all levels of government to combat one of Australia�s greatest environmental threats.

The NSW Salinity Strategy outlines our key policy directions:

• planning systems at the appropriate geographical scale to achieve change;

• targets that reflect the salinity levels we are prepared to live with and can afford;

• market based incentives for land holders to manage their properties so that specific environmental outcomes are achieved;

• creation of business opportunities for salt affected land;

• enhanced capacity of frontline staff to provide salinity advice to land holders;

• better information, advice and scientific research for land holders and communities; and

• consideration of salinity in existing regulation.

The NSW Government recognises that salinity is not restricted to State borders and therefore requires a national commitment. In May 2002, a bilateral agreement was signed with the Commonwealth Government to implement the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (the National Action Plan) in NSW.

This agreement will allow the NSW Salinity Strategy to continue until 2007.It will fund new initiatives in nine inland catchments and provide additional funding for some of the existing initiatives in the NSW Salinity Strategy.

The NSW Salinity Strategy and the National Action Plan will secure a joint investment of over $400 million for salinity initiatives.

Note: Definitions of key terms are in the Glossary.

What has been achieved so far?


It is now two years since the launch of the NSW Salinity Strategy. Many innovative actions and projects are well advanced. Practical solutions for land holders to tackle salinity are emerging, as implementation of actions andprojects now moves into top gear.

Catchment targets and salt-reducing management actions have been finalised

• The Catchment Management Boards have finalised their Catchment Blueprints which, for the first time, provide NSW with a comprehensive set of strategic natural resource plans at the catchment level, with targets and management actions to steer land use change and landscape improvement over the next ten years.

• The Catchment Management Boards have incorporated the salinity targets of the NSW Salinity Strategyin their Catchment Blueprints.

• Monitoring stations have been established at end of valley sites and salinity monitoring has commenced.Gauging stations are also being established at 44 within valley sites across NSW, to measure progress in meeting the targets.

The Environmental Services Scheme has been launched

• Expressions of interest have been called from landholders who would like to participate in the Environmental Services Scheme.

• The purpose of the Scheme is to establish working examples ofproperties where environmental services are identified and to establish monetary values for these services.

• The Scheme will help to:

Ø quantify the full value of environmental services, such as reducing the mobilisation of salt;

Ø build knowledge of the mosteffective approach to manage environmental services; and

Ø examine how markets could be developed for environmental services.

Support for landholders has been increased

• The six Salt Action Teams are now fully operational and are proving to be a vital link between our frontline staff and the latest salinity research.Negotiations are underway with the Commonwealth to enhance the resources of the Salt Action Teams under the National Action Plan.

• The Teams are providing training and advice to frontline extensionstaff to enable them to help land holders deal with salinity. Over one hundred officers across NSW have attended the salinity training courses.

• In addition, practical products like a Glove-Box guide will soon be available to provide land holders with readily accessible salinity information.

Tools are being developed to assist councils with urban salinity

• Building the capacity of local government to manage salinity in the urban environment is an important component of the Strategy.

• One of the six Salt Action Teams is specifically focusing on urban salinity problems, and is developing products and information packs for

What has been achieved so far?


councils. The first of these products, Urban Indicators of Salinity has been finalised. The booklets are being distributed to councils across NSW.

• Government frontline staff are being trained to recognise and advise councils about urban salinity problems.

• Planning tools are being developed to assist in appropriate development controls so that urban salinity problems are ameliorated orprevented.

Pilot projects are providing important information for managing salinity

• Three pilot projects in the Murray-Darling Basin are now in their second year. The projects are trialing a number of initiatives designed to help farmers manage important land use change decisions affecting their enterprises:

Ø The Heartlands Project, near Albury, is measuring the effectiveness of revegetation works, to help target further action to reduce salinity.

Ø The TARGET project in the Central West is examining the social and economic barriers faced by farmers seeking to implement land and water management changes.

Ø The Liverpool Plains project is trialing incentives for land use changes and payments for environmental services.

New technologies and salt-basedindustries have been developed

• Encouraging businesses to take advantage of opportunities arising from productive uses of salt affected land and water is another important component of the Strategy.

• The Salinity Business Development Program is promoting the development of new technologies to extract salt for commercial purposes, commercial crops for salt affected land and the commercial use of saline water:

Ø Saltbush is helping to reduce salinity and is providing a fodder reserve during drought.

Ø An Inland Saline AquacultureCentre has been established.

Where the money is being spent


The NSW Government has committed over $200 million to addressing salinity, from now until June 2007. This includes the $52 million allocated to the NSW Salinity Strategy in 2000. Another $198 million is being provided by the Commonwealth Government under the National Action Plan.

This report focuses on expenditure of the original $52 million and related work by State agencies. A separate annual report on expenditure under the National Action Plan will be produced jointly by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments next year. That report will include activities by catchment management boards.

Key expenditure:

Key expenditure under the National Action Plan has not been finalised, but additional money for some NSW SalinityStrategy activities has been agreed.

Current budgeting in the salinity program provides for -

• $21 million over four years to develop and implement market based solutions to salinity, through the Environmental Services Investment Fund. Another $10 million will be spent nationally on market based solutions under the National Action Plan.

• $15.4 million over four years to integrate data collection, modelling, analysis and information dissemination to support decision making.

• $4.8 million to finalise end of valley targets and assess progress against salinity targets.

• $4.5 million over four years for six Salt Action Teams, to provide advice and training for extension officers. This includes $1.2 million over two years under the National Action Plan

for economists to work with the Teams.

• $2.1 million to trial plantation forestry in salinity areas and quantify the impact on salt mobilisation, deep drainage rates and surface water flows. This includes $152,530 under the National Action Plan.

• $1.8 million to research and demonstrate land management practices for farms that will control and prevent dryland salinity.

• $1.2 million to raise awareness of salinity issues within the community.

• $680,000 to increase our understanding of socio-economicissues associated with salinity management at a property and catchment scale.

• $510,000 to work with producers and industry to establish environmentally accredited farms within priority salinity hazard landscapes.

• $700,000 to benchmark biodiversity values in major ecologicalcommunities (woodlands, rangelands, and forests). This includes $400,000 under the National Action Plan.

• $250,000 to undertake an audit of major salt affected NSW catchments outside the Murray-Darling Basin, to allow interim end of valley targets tobe developed for the Hunter, and for North and South Coast catchments.

• $720,000 over four years for the Salinity Action Unit within The Cabinet Office to monitor the progress and effectiveness of the NSW Salinity Strategy projects.Further funding will be provided for program administration under the National Action Plan.

Working with the community


Meeting the challenge of salinity requires productive and successful partnerships between the Government and community.

Farmers tell us that extension workers, providing one-on-one advice and assistance, is one of the most valuable services that the Government can provide. Salt Action Teams have been established to help extension workers provide a superior service.

Salt Action Teams

• The six Salt Action Teams provide the link between the best available science and research into salinity and the practical tools that farmers need to tackle the problem.

• The Teams, a collaborative effort by NSW Agriculture and the Department of Land and Water Conservation, are based in Tamworth, Orange, Wellington, Wagga Wagga, Muswellbrook and Penrith.

• The teams are helping farmers identify salt affected areas and provide advice on suitable land management practices.

• The Urban Salt Action Team has developed a network of officers throughout NSW who are beingtrained in urban salinity recognition, to work with local government.

• The Urban Salt Action Team is also developing information, education and technical packages to enhance local government capability in salinity management.

• Inland Salt Action Teams are trainingadvisory staff within NSW Agriculture to ensure consistent and accurate information is provided to stakeholders.

Training and skills development

Improving the ability of frontline staff to provide salinity advice to land holders is a key outcome for the NSW Salinity Strategy. This will help landholders identify and tackle salinity problems on their properties.

• A training program for frontline staff has been developed, with regional seminars, workshops, resource material and accessible resources. Workshops have been organised for Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Maitland, Gunnedah and Goulburn.

• Training programs and suitable materials have also been developed for private agricultural advisers. The training programs are based on competencies specified in the National Agricultural and Horticultural training packages.

Salt Action Teams will provide advice on cost-effective solutions

In recognition of the vital role of Salt Action Teams in providing capability to deal with salinity, extra funding for the Teams has been allocated under the National Action Plan.

Five economists will work with Catchment Management Boards and others, to provide catchment communities with better access to economic information and advice to make the adoption of salinity solutions more cost-effective.

The availability of economists to assess the financial benefits of land use changes is likely to assist in the adoption of salinity solutions by farmers.



• A pilot tertiary-level course on salinity management will be delivered through Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga during 2003.

• A draft Environmental Education Plan has been completed, to provide direction for education and training providers to incorporate salinity and its management in their courses.

• NSW Agriculture and NSW TAFE are jointly developing education programs on salinity. The courses are aimed at TAFE students undertaking vocational education and training, including agricultural college students, farmers and landholders.

Local Government Salinity Initiative

Salinity is causing substantial damage to urban development and infrastructure in many areas of NSW. The cost of this damage is high.

The NSW Government is working with councils and their communities to better understand and manage the causes and symptoms of urban salinity.

• The Local Government Salinity Initiative is a collaborative effort between the Department of Land and Water Conservation, NSW Agriculture, PlanningNSW and Lgov NSW (previously known as the Local Government and Shires Associations).

• Practical tools and awareness raising products are being developed for councils. The first of the booklets, Urban Indicators of Salinity, has been distributed to councils across NSW. Two additional booklets, Broad Scale Resources for Urban Salinity Assessment and Site

Investigations for Urban Salinity, will be distributed later this year.

• Local councils throughout NSW will benefit from the development of planning tools to assist in development controls so that urban salinity problems are ameliorated or prevented.

• PlanningNSW has appointed an expert environmental planner to develop models of strategic planning and policy for urban salinity management. The draft planning provisions for a Model Salinity Local Environmental Plan are being prepared in close consultation with the Urban Salt Action Team and Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils� (WSROC) Salinity Working Party.

• Current Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) provisions relating to urban salinity are being reviewed, alongwith salinity hazard maps and existing local government policies, to fully inform the development of the model planning provisions. The experience of local government is being sought to develop the provisions and to report on other planning options. Risk management approaches which may be appropriate, and comparisons with existing natural hazard risk management approaches, are being investigated.

• Research into new building methods and materials, and guidelines for best practice in building codes for salinity, are being developed with Lgov NSW.

• Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) studies are to be developed by local water utilities when they are considering future augmentations. The utilities will assess the impacts



of their proposed actions within the context of upstream and downstream users, with the aim of minimising impacts on the water resource. Twelve pilot studies are planned between 2001 and 2003, as part of the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program. A framework document is beingprepared to assist local water utilities in preparing their studies.

Information exchange using rural networks

The NSW Salinity Strategy committed the NSW Government to work with the NSW Farmers Association and the Rural Lands Protection Boards to utiliseexisting networks to exchange information between land holders on salinity issues.

• Fact sheets have been provided to Landcare groups for distribution in their newsletters and training courses have been piloted with Wesfarmers.

• A Glove Box Guide will be availablein December 2002. This will provide a readily accessible summary of salinity information for rural land holders.

Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) Draft Code of Practice

The NSW Salinity Strategy supports councils taking a proactive role to address the impacts of salinity in their communities.

The Urban Salt Action Team is working closely with the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils to develop a Salinity Code of Practice for councils, with the assistance of the Department of Land and Water Conservation.

The Code of Practice provides a guide to the options which are available to local government to address salinity problems. It is intended that each Council will use the Code to identify and develop those aspects that best suit their individual needs, and the particular salinity problems and hazards that occur in their area.

The draft Code of Practice is currently available for use by councils in Greater Western Sydney, as part of a trial to be conducted until the end of the year.

The NSW Government is also working with WSROC on the development and delivery of the training for the Code of Practice.

Planning and managing change


Catchment Blueprints

The establishment of the Catchment Management Boards and the development of Catchment Blueprintshas been an important milestone for the NSW Government in its drive for more sustainable land use systems for NSW.With careful planning, healthy ecosystems are achievable, complementing profitable farming enterprises and viable rural communities.

• There are now 21 Catchment Management Boards and committees in NSW, together with the Hunter Catchment Management Trust. The achievement of the Boards in finalising integrated catchment management plans demonstrates the value of the community-government partnership approach to natural resource management.

• The plans, referred to as �Catchment Blueprints�, are the primary integrating mechanism for natural resource planning at the catchment level.

• Nineteen Catchment Blueprints have been finalised after extensive review and public exhibition. Two other draft Blueprints prepared by the two Sydney metropolitan Catchment Management Boards are undergoing review prior to finalisation.

• The Catchment Blueprints contain:

Ø A vision for the catchment;

Ø First order objectives provide statements of community aspirations for the natural resources of the catchment;

Ø Catchment targets that represent an acceptable condition of natural resources at a specified point of time, which provide broad indicators of catchment

health and is specific, measurable, achievable and relevant;

Ø Management targets refer to actions needed to achieve a catchment target within a specified time, being actions that are specific, measurable, achievable and relevant; and

Ø Management actions refer to specific actions to be taken to address one or more management targets, including an indication of responsibility, timing, costing and priority.

• The Catchment Blueprints provide the basis for regional investment under the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the second phase of the Natural Heritage Trust. They also guide relevant State Government and local government programs, and investment by industry and the community.

• Now that the Catchment Blueprints have been finalised, investment strategies are being developed to implement the management actions.

Irrigation Land and Water Management Plans

• The NSW Salinity Strategy pledged continued support for Land and Water Management Plans developed for privatised irrigation districts and areas.

• Plans have now been developed in irrigation areas across inland NSW to deal with salinity, rising watertables, water quality and vegetation health, while maintaining or increasing farm production.

• Irrigators outside NSW Land and Water Management Plan areas are

Planning and managing change


developing Irrigation and Drainage Management Plans with financial assistance through the NSW Irrigated Agricultural Water Use Efficiency Incentive Scheme.

Supporting Landcare

The Government supports Landcare groups with funding of $880,000 for Landcare coordinators and extension staff each year.

Almost one in every three farmers in NSW is a member of a Landcare group, which continue to be pivotal as change agents for new land use management ideas. Although the NSW Government

supports the broader community in the fight against salinity, Landcare groups are already well placed to implement actions to address salinity.

• There are currently 1650 Landcare Groups in NSW. There are also many Aboriginal community organisations currently working on Landcare projects.

• The Salt Action Teams are working with the Landcare Facilitators and Indigenous Facilitators to provide training in salinity issues.

The Border Rivers Draft Catchment Blueprint

The Border Rivers Draft Catchment Blueprint aims to minimise the threat and reduce the occurrence of salinity.

The Blueprint contains the following key targets:

• by 2012, median salinity levels in the Macintyre River at Mungindi should not exceed 230µs/cm EC and salinity levels should not exceed 630µs/cm EC more than 20% of the time.

• The median salt loads should remain constant at 68,000 tonnes/year and the salt load should not exceed 171,000 tonnes/year more than 20% of the time.

To meet the salinity targets, the Blueprint proposes to:

• maintain appropriate deep-rooted perennial vegetation in recharge areas, the area of which is to be quantified;

• establish at least 15,000 hectares of appropriate deep-rooted perennial vegetation in recharge areas to intercept groundwater, by 2012;

• use engineering solutions where appropriate to reduce the salt load from significant point sources, such as high flow artesian bores and effluent treatment plants;

• manage 1,400 hectares of saline discharge areas; and

• ensure no net increase in river salinity as a result of new developments requiring a development application.

Targets for change


Salinity targets are a key tool in the fight against salinity.

Salinity targets published in the NSW Salinity Strategy have been included in the inland Catchment Blueprints.Salinity targets have also been included in the Hunter Catchment Blueprint.Other coastal catchments have recommended management actions to tackle salinity.

What will targets tell us?

Salinity targets are underpinned by the best available information and scientific modelling. As the community implements the management actions in the Catchment Blueprints, they will be able to monitor how well the actions are working to reduce salinity. Although it may take many years before the effects of remediation are evident, progress towards meeting the targets can be monitored.

Setting salinity targets

Salinity targets represent a significant advance in the way we undertake planning in natural resource management.

Setting targets is a complicated process.A range of landscape features, surface and groundwater quality and quantity, salinity condition, community values, predicted future catchment condition and desired catchment condition must be considered.

• In protecting our environment and managing our natural resources to halt degradation like salinity, we must also consider the social and economic impacts. The salinity targets therefore represent a balanced assessment of how much salinity in the landscape the community is prepared to accept.

• End of valley salinity targets have been adopted for the Macintyre,

Bogan, Gwydir, Namoi, Barwon-Darling, Castlereagh, Macquarie, Lachlan and Murrumbidgee rivers.

• Some of the inland Catchment Management Boards have also set within valley targets.

• The Hunter Salinity Audit is the first detailed assessment of salinity for the Hunter. The Hunter Catchment Management Trust has used the audit to set its salinity targets and management priorities. The audit shows that the rate of increase in salinity in the Hunter is similar to the inland catchments.

• Salinity audits for other coastal regions are currently in progress. These audits will inform us about how and where we need to tackle salinity on the coast and complements work already undertaken in Western Sydney by the Office of Western Sydney.

Monitoring salinity targets

• The Murray-Darling Basin Commission undertook an audit of the end of valley station monitoring protocols in all States to ensure that salinity monitoring reflects agreed standards and integrated with other States� processes. For NSW, this includes the nine gauging stations.

• End of valley monitoring stations have been installed and are now operating. Forty-four within valley monitoring stations are being installed during 2002.

• Salinity monitoring information is available to the community at http://waterinfo.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/riis/riis.html This web site also includes other valuable data such as river heights and flows.

Incentives for change


Market based mechanisms that will raise the level of private investment in activities to avoid or repair damage to natural resources are becomingincreasingly important in the fight against salinity.

Environmental Services Investment Fund � strategic investment in solutions

• The Environmental Services Scheme is the first step in developing markets for environmental services.

• Environmental services include:

Ø reducing the mobilisation of salt;

Ø reducing the export of products from acid sulfate soils;

Ø reducing soil loss;

Ø improving water quality;

Ø reducing greenhouse gases; and

Ø enhancing biodiversity.

• The NSW Government has committed an initial $2 million from the Environmental Services Investment Fund for the Scheme, which was launched in June 2002.

• The NSW Government will pay selected land holders to manage part of their properties to deliver a particular environmental benefit.

• The Scheme will work with a these land holders to identify how activities that provide environmental services can be included as part of the operations of farm businesses, alongside existing production activities.

• The Scheme will test the basic arrangements required to establishmarkets for environmental services in real life situations.

An example of changes in land use to provide additional environmental services:

A grazier may decide to introduce deep-rooted perennial pastures. This increased use of perennial pastures would assist in:

• revegetating recharge areas; and

• reintroducing native grasses, where appropriate.

The environmental services resulting from these activities include:

• increased biodiversity where predominantly native grasses and appropriate grazing regimes are used;

• reduced salinity in the river through better water table management;and

• locking up carbon in the plants and soil, instead of releasing CO2 (the major greenhouse gas) to the atmosphere.

Farm benchmarking and certification

NSW Agriculture is working with industry groups and individual farmers to find sustainable salinity solutions through the use of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in managing NSW farms.The aim is to harness the environmental and commercial benefits from using EMS.

EMS is a voluntary on-farm management system that allows farmers to assess the environmental conditions of their farm, field operations and natural resources and develop management practices that lead to continual improvement in environmental performance.



• Seven EMS training courses have been conducted to raise awareness in farming communities and natural resource management bodies of the potential benefits from EMS. Over 200 people attended.

• Guidelines for EMS for agriculture have been developed.

• Baseline data have been collected from 27 case studies conducted by NSW Agriculture and in collaboration with the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.

One of the important benefits requiring further analysis is the opportunities for market support.

• A report has been prepared exploring ways of developing markets for agricultural produce from properties operating under an accredited EMS standards such as ISO 14001.

• NSW Agriculture chairs a national working group that has released a framework for EMS in Australian agriculture for public comment.

Case study: TARGET project

The TARGET Project in the Central West is investigating the processes for providing incentives for land use change by landholders. Approximately 130 people are currently involved and applications from a further 223 landholders are being considered.

In investigating incentives for land use change, it was important to recognise the social and economic barriers and impediments to achieving land use change at the small and medium sized catchment scales. Landholder surveys were undertaken in the catchments being investigated through the TARGET Project to identify these barriers and impediments. Further surveys are now also being undertaken on a whole of catchment scale to determine if there are differences between the different catchment scales.

The preliminary results of the surveys have been utilised to develop new and innovative investment strategies for the second year of the project. These incentives, which will be trialed with the cooperation of landholders, will include a tender based approach, variable cost sharing ratios based on environment values and investing in longer term results over a five year period.

The socio-economic results will be incorporated along with biophysical data into a catchment based regional information system. This will allow assessments to be made on the impact of land use change on biophysical attributes such as water quantity and quality, and on social and economic aspects such as the viability of landholders in undertaking the change.

The results from the TARGET Project will have major implications on the policy required at the Commonwealth, State and catchment levels for the delivery of land use change through instruments such as the Catchment Blueprints.



Case study: Liverpool Plains

The Liverpool Plains catchment is a highly productive agricultural region generating an average of $280 million per year from irrigated and dryland cropping and grazing enterprises.

It has been predicted that over the next 25 years, without intervention, the gross value of production will fall by around $100 million due to problems associated with dryland and river salinity.

Landholders, industry and agency representatives have joined forces to tackle concerns about dryland salinity and other natural resource issues through the Liverpool Plains Land Management Committee.

The Committee runs workshops for landholders to explain biodiversity and salinity and how addressing these issues will ensure our future. The Committee provides on-farmsupport for farmers making difficult decisions about their farm businesses. When the participants understand the issues that affect them, they submit a business case, or tender for incentive funding based on the environmental services they can provide.Approximately 100 tenders have been received and are being assessed.

This project has resulted in 3,267 hectares of land use and land management change for biodiversity and salinity benefits.


Accurate information about salinity and catchment processes is essential for developing effective solutions. The focus of the past year has been on quantifying the relative benefits of various management options, so that decisions can be made about which actions the community and the Government want to pursue.

Promoting salinity research

• A major action of the NSW Salinity Strategy was the establishment of a Salinity Research and Development Coordinating Committee to coordinate and provide advice on salinity research and development.

• The Committee produced A Strategic Framework for Salinity Research and Development in NSW in February 2002. The Framework identifies the key questions that need to be answered for effective salinity management in NSW and criteria that could be used to evaluate the potential for research proposals to answer those research questions.

• The Strategic Framework will be a valuable tool to coordinate and prioritise research activities.

• Together with an inventory of existing research, the Strategic Framework is being distributed toRural Industry Research and Development Corporations, Universities, Catchment Management Boards and other Research and Development providers and purchasers.

• It is also being used nationally to inform national research priorities for natural resource managementgenerally.

• The framework and inventory is available to the community at http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/13076 or through CANRI (Community Access to Natural

Resource Inventory) at http://www.canri.nsw.gov.au.

• The Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Plant Based Solutions to Dryland Salinity was established in 2001, in a partnership arrangement between all State and Federal Governments and industry.Research is focusing on the use of perennial plant based farming systems and the social and economic impacts of changed farming practices.

• NSW Agriculture is a major participant in the CRC, contributing $13.4 million in research, education and extension work. During the last year, NSW Agriculture contributed the equivalent of 11.8 full time staff (with a value of $2.86 million) for a range of research and extension activities. The CRC�s NSW base is located at Wagga Wagga.

• The CRC has contributed to projectsthat are investigating high water use farming systems, farm level economic assessment of salinity management systems, use of native perennial pastures in agriculture, and integrating woody and herbaceous perennials with annual cropping systems.

• Further collaborative research is under negotiation with major funding bodies, NSW Agriculture and the CRC, for field evaluation and selection of new pasture plants and for grazing systems on saline land.

• Research from the CRC is being passed on to land holders through the Salt Action Teams. Salt Action Teams are also participating in joint research activities with the CRC, such as the development of the Little River research site near Wellington.

Improving our knowledge


Salinity information

• The NSW Government has allocated $3.8 million per annum for four years for the development of salinity information, decision support tools and scientific knowledge programs.Led by the Department of Land and Water Conservation, the purpose of these programs is to provide strategic information and the types of decision making support tools needed by land holders.

• Information needs can be categorised by the following themes:

Ø identifying the extent and impacts of salinity now and in the future;

Ø identifying appropriate management options to deal with salinity;

Ø how to implement appropriate salinity management on the ground; and

Ø how to address the socio-economic impacts resulting from land use change.

• The Government is identifying opportunities for joint research projects to deliver on salinity targets and outcomes. Catchment Management Boards are also identifying their salinity research and development needs to deliver on their Catchment Blueprints.

Data collection

• Data quality assurance and management standards are being developed to improve confidence in the data. Work has commenced on a scoping study to implement the quality assurance process for managing salinity data.

• Improved business systems are being developed to improve access to vegetation clearing information

and enable property based onlineprocessing of applications.

Information products

New salinity information products are being developed which will allow a greater certainty in planning and implementing solutions to salinity in the landscape.

• The latest satellite and remote sensing technologies are being used to develop salinity mapping.

• Maps have been completed for an area of approximately 2 million hectares. Initial mapping of dryland salinity outbreaks from aerial photographs has been completed for the Northern Tablelands and the Central West region.

• Salinity outbreak maps are being prepared in the Barwon, Murray, Hunter and Sydney South Coast regions, where rising groundwater is the cause of outbreaks. These maps will be delivered progressively through to 2005.

Data analysis and decisionsupport tools

• A computer-based Strategic Landscape Investment Tool is being developed to help identify the best mix of management actions and land use changes to achieve salinity control and biodiversity targets. The Tool will enable the evaluation ofcosts and benefits of actions such as revegetation and salt interception schemes, so that the most cost-effective investment opportunities can be determined.

• Targets Tool Software has been developed and trialed in the Murray and Murrumbidgee regions to identify management actions to achieve natural resource management targets. A draft user manual has been completed and workshops are underway to support



regions in developing implementation plans for the Catchment Blueprints.

• Salt balance modelling is underwayin 43 catchments. These analyses will measure the pathways of water and salt movement from the catchments and identify catchments where land use change will have the greatest impacts on stream saltloads.

Dissemination

Knowledge about salinity will be made widely available in a variety of use-friendly forms, so that the whole community is able to respond to the salinity challenge.

• Linkages to the Community Access to Natural Resources Information (CANRI) Program are being established. Inclusion of salinity data and salinity products in the CANRI program will ensure that they are integrated with other natural resource datasets and are easily accessible to the community via the CANRI web site.

Land Use Options Simulator

Integrated modelling - combining spatial information with models of processes -offers the best opportunity to predict the behaviour of a catchment under different conditions. For example, the impact of various land use changes or tree planting scenarios on run off and stream salinity can be examined to choose the most sustainable mix of land uses.

The Department of Land and Water Conservation is developing decision support tools to determine the effects of land use change on run off and salt load export at the property scale, salinityimpacts at the end of catchment and end of valley scale and groundwater response times. The biophysical components will link to economic modules to quantify the economic impacts of land use change.

A prototype of the Land Use Options Simulator was developed in late 2001 and populated with CATSALT data for Mandagery Creek in the Central West region as a proof-of-concept. The prototype has been demonstrated at Albury, Wagga Wagga and Armidale.Positive feedback has been received.The Simulator will be trialed with landholders in August/September 2002.

This project also provides the resources to undertake a preliminary assessment of the impact of land use change on salt and water pathways for the 35 catchments identified as priority catchments by the EnvironmentalServices Scheme.



Benchmarking biodiversity values

• The National Parks and Wildlife Service, in collaboration with State Forests, is developing an accountable and transparent means for measuring biodiversity, including gains in biodiversity from proposed actions such as vegetation management or revegetation for salinity control.

• A draft framework for scoring biodiversity has been completed and planning for field testing has commenced, with some data already collected.

• Three teams are undertakingfieldwork in the Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and Macquarie catchments.Fieldwork will extend to the Murray catchment in Spring. The project will be completed in June 2003.

• NSW and the Commonwealth have agreed to fund a project under the National Action Plan to develop a toolkit to enable a rapid assessment of the biodiversity benefits that are likely to accrue from protection of remnant vegetation or revegetation.This project will provide the information and process necessary to implement many of the targets in the NSW Catchment Blueprints.

Major research projects

• Landholders in the Billabong Creek and Kyeamba Valley are working with researchers in CSIRO and the Holbrook Landcare Group to work out the best plantation species that will have the greatest salinity impact.

• Extensive clearing and grazing has resulted in the loss of many summer native plants that are instrumental in reducing groundwater recharge and dryland salinity. Researchers are now working to develop new native grass cultivars that are salt tolerant.

• NSW Agriculture has established two research sites in the Namoi and Macquarie catchments. The research sites are investigating the hydrological impacts of native pastures, perennial pastures, crops and trees. This information will be used to �redesign� catchments in order to reduce deep drainage.

• Scientists from NSW Agriculture have held meetings in Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga to determine experimental designs for farms to demonstrate the use of salt-solutionfarming. Priority areas for thesefarms are being determined.

• Work has commenced on the development of farming system models for catchment in the Mid Macquarie. These models will help determine the profitability of perennial plant species and identify priority areas of research for theCooperative Research Centre for Plant Based Solutions to Dryland Salinity.

• An extensive review of the profitability of farming practices that may have benefits in reducing salinity has been completed as part of a national Grains Research and Development Corporation project.The final report is due in November 2002.

• NSW Agriculture is undertaking research to develop a framework for consideration of the long term socio-economic impacts associated with changes in land management to achieve improved salinity outcomes.Information for the farm and catchment level models is being collected through research and community networks that were established over the past year.



Heartlands � a Riverina partnership

The Heartlands Pilot Project is providing critical research to guide landscape change and implementation of Catchment Blueprints.

Heartlands will provide the scientific knowledge to guide both the nature and location of actions such as increasing vegetation cover to address salinity and biodiversity.

Investigations in NSW focus on the Billabong Creek catchment (Murray Catchment Management Board) and Kyeamba Valley (Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Board).

Heartlands combines a research program directly with the implementation of on-groundworks such as tree planting, protection of remnant vegetation, establishment of perennial pastures and erosion protection measures.

The Heartlands team will measure the effectiveness of revegetation options to ensure their success and support local communities in implementing improved management of their farms and catchments.

Two farm forestry species trials have also been established for the Billabong Creek catchment. The first sites for stream monitoring in the catchment have been selected and equipment installation has commenced. A socio-economic study, reporting on social values, attitudes and likely responses to landscape change, was completed in September 2001. A further report on factors that influence decisions about farming practices and enterprise change is due in September 2002.

In Kyeamba Valley, eleven sites for on-ground works have been selected to trial native vegetation regeneration at the paddock scale. Increased native vegetation cover, density and vegetation health will directly reduce groundwater recharge and salinity discharge and provide biodiversity benefits.


Creating business opportunities


Salt is a natural resource, which can provide a commercial return for salt affected land and water. The NSW Government is assisting the development of businesses which make productive use of this resource.

• Examples of marketable by-productsof salt include:

Ø Fertilisers and high value salt such as table salt;

Ø Materials for manufacture of magnesium metal and alloys;

Ø Lightweight, high-strengthplaster boards and building products; and

Ø Compounds used in water and waste water treatment.

The NSW Government is helping to develop the potential of saline-basedindustries through business development, information programs and research.

By promoting saline-based industry, the Government is helping to direct private capital towards the cost of addressing salinity. It is also a way of returning the benefits of industry growth and innovation, such as employment, to regional areas.

Salinity Business Development Program

The Salinity Business Development Program was established in 2001 to encourage businesses to take advantage of opportunities arising from productive uses of salt affected land and water.

• Eleven new technologies have been exhibited in the Australian Technology Showcase. They include:

Ø three saline soil mapping methods;

Ø two innovations to remove salt from water;

Ø a product to seal pipes that leak salty water; and

Ø two products made from ground motor tyres to treat salt affected land.

• Up to 280 people have attended a series of salinity business opportunity forums that have highlighted salinity technologies.Forums have been held in Deniliquin, Sydney, Paterson, Dubbo and Tamworth.

• A web site has been developed to promote salinity based business opportunities. The web site is designed to be a comprehensivesupport tool for those seeking to both identify and develop salinity-related business opportunities. Its address is http://www.salinitybiz.nsw.gov.au

Saltbush Trial- Suntop

In 1992, 28,000 old man saltbush plants ( Atriplex numularia) were established on a severely affected saline site to determine how effective this species could be in reducing salinity. At this time, it was one of the largest salinity saltbush plantings in NSW.

Ten years on, the groundwater level has dropped and other more useful grazing plants have been able to colonise the site.

The site still has saline water discharging to the site and the saltbush readily �mine this free water� to grow.

The area has become both a valuable grazing resource and a fodder reserve during drought. The area has routinely been grazed three times per year at high stocking rates (50 sheep per hectare).



The area is used for salinity grazing research to determine the length of time and stock numbers applied to a saltbush stand. This provides information for other saltbush grazing enterprises throughout the region.

The area is routinely used as a demonstration site for local and visiting farmer groups (about 350 last year). The site has influenced many farmers in the Central West to plant similar stands for salinity control.

In the last six months, the site has also become the focus of a salinity education package developed for school students to use as an aid in salinity studies. This package is CD based and is being made available for large numbers of schools who will visit the site physically or visit it by use of visual training material.

New enterprises

• Native grasses play an important role in both recharge areas and in salt affected land. The grasses grow all year round, persisting when other pasture species are dormant or have died off.

• Using native grasses in areas where soils are shallow and infertile, and where currently used species persist poorly, helps arrest problems including soil erosion andacidification. These perennial grasses use water during the warmer summer months, reducing groundwater recharge and helping reduce salinity.

• Growers in Holbrook and Tamworth have sown a range of varieties for seed harvesting.

• Seed production guidelines for a number of native species have been produced and are available on from http://www.dlwc.nsw.gov.au/care/veg/nativeseed.html

• Discussions have been undertaken with a number of major pastoral houses regarding the growing of old man saltbush for livestockproduction. Saltbush lowers saline water tables and, if skilfully managed, is a highly productive stock feed.

• A Wagga Wagga based business is proposing to produce and market a new salt tolerant turf cultivar. There appears to be a growing market for this product as rising water tables in urban areas impact on parks, gardens and golf courses.

• State Forests has established about 50 two-hectare sites throughout the 500 to 700mm rainfall zone in NSW.Saltgrow hybrids were used in selected locations as part of these trials and they are proving to be very effective, with a high rate of successful establishment and rapid growth rates.

• The NSW Government is working with Arthur Yates & Co Ltd to assess the extent to which Saltgrow can be used in larger scale tree plantingprograms in the dryland salinity area.

Using saline aquaculture to offset the costs of salinity control

The NSW Government, through the NSW Aquaculture Initiative, has funded a million dollar project in partnership with Murray Irrigation Limited todevelop the Inland Saline Aquaculture Research Centre.

The Centre is located on the banks of the largest saline groundwater interception scheme in Australia, near Wakool, NSW. It was opened in May 2002.

The Centre is using saline water from the interception scheme to grow



snapper and mulloway. Other species, such as prawns and salt tolerant freshwater fish like silver perch, also have potential for culture using saline groundwater.

Results from the project suggest that aquaculture ponds could be constructedalongside interception schemes, providing an opportunity for scheme operators to sell their salt water to offset costs.

If aquaculture was incorporated into the planning for new groundwater interception schemes, the aquaculture ponds could supply a large proportion of the surface area needed for evaporation.

Productive partnerships

• In May 2002, the Minister for Mineral Resources and Fisheries opened the Inland Centre for Saline Aquaculture Research and Development in south western NSW. The Centre is asuccessful partnership between NSW Fisheries, Murray Irrigation Ltd, the Department of State and Regional

Development and the Department of Land and Water Conservation.

• The Centre is investigating opportunities for new salt water fisheries using groundwater pumped from the Wakool/Tullakool Sub-Surface Drainage System.

• The Department of State and Regional Development, NSW Fisheries and Moree Plains Shire Council are investigating the potential for an aquaculture business venture to utilise saline water effluent from hot water spas located in Moree.

• NSW Fisheries has trialed Silver Perch in spa water transported to their research centre in Grafton.Researchers have reached a preliminary conclusion that this species is likely to grow successfully in effluent spa water.

Removal and marketing of salts from saline groundwaterThe Department of State and Regional Development has provided funds through its Regional Business Development Scheme to SunSalt Larmon Pty Ltd to extract salts from an evaporation pond at Mourquong, near Buronga.

The evaporation pond is a government salt interception scheme, designed to stop salt water from entering the Murray. This project has the potential to increase the life of the interception scheme by several decades.

This is NSW�s first business venture to harvest salts from inland saline water. The project will create 12 full time jobs.

Established markets for the salt are in stock feed manufacture, foodstuffs, the gourmet food industry, abattoirs, the chemical industry, swimming pools and metal recycling.Market locations include Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Goulburn, Dubbo, Mudgee, Harden and the Riverina. Additional markets are being developed.

SunSalt Larmon is now gearing up to produce magnesium sulfate from the saline waterat Mourquong. There is a domestic market for this chemical as a fertiliser and as a supplement in animal feeds. It is currently imported from USA and China.



CSIRO scientists have worked closely with SunSalt Larmon to develop an efficient method of extracting magnesium sulfate from saline water.

Commercial extraction of salt from under salt affected urban centres.

The Department of State and Regional Development, Wagga Wagga Council and Dubbo Council are testing an innovative approach to addressing urban salinity. Funding has also been received from the Commonwealth Government.

The project is trialing technologies to harvest salts from pumped groundwater and to produce �clean water�. It is also investigating markets for these products and assessing the degree to which the profits derived from sales offset the costs of providing the environmental service. A range of business models are being examined to put into practise this method of addressing urban salinity.

A final report on the project will be released in October 2002.

Plantation forestry for salinity benefits

• A major research site has been set up near Pine Ridge in the Liverpool Plains, to benchmark salinity control and carbon sequestration in low rainfall areas.

• Tree water use, transpiration ratesand soil moisture are being measured to assist in quantifying the effectiveness of plantation forestry in reducing recharge. A further site near Murrumbateman has also been instrumented for the monitoring of tree water use.

• Eucalyptus trees have beenharvested from Deniliquin and Pine Ridge to determine water use and to estimate carbon sequestration.

A trial plantation was established in the Gunnedah area under the NSW Salinity Strategy.

Over 200 hectares of hardwood forest has been planted. Early survival of the trees was good and some exceptional growth rates have been recorded.Completion of the remainder of the plantings was postponed due to unsuitable, dry conditions in Autumn 2002. Depending on satisfactory

rainfall, another 200 hectares will beplanted by Autumn 2003.

The aims of the trial are to:

Ø help determine the most appropriate ways of establishing and managing trees in low rainfall areas to reduce salinity; and

Ø stimulate markets for non-traditional wood products and for environmental benefits including carbon sequestration and biodiversity enhancement as well as salinity control.

The areas selected for plantations are in critical recharge areas, across twelve private properties that are used predominantly for pasture and cropping.Each land owner has completed a Forestry Right Agreement and Transfer to secure the establishment of the plantation.

The NSW Government is now proposing to plant another 33,800 hectares of forest. This would be the biggest program of its type in Australia, costingup to $100 million. Funds are being sought from the Commonwealth under the National Action Plan to match the NSW Government contribution.



These trees would prevent about 11,300 tonnes of salt from rising to the surface and entering rivers each year. They'deffectively remove 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over the next two decades.

Smarter regulation


Regulatory controls help to ensure that salinity problems are not made worse through the loss of native vegetation, inappropriate land use practices or poor urban planning decisions.

A sound regulatory framework can also provide incentives for land use practices that deliver environmental benefits.

Salinity impacts in clearing assessments

• To help farmers with the fight against salinity, the Department of Land and Water Conservation has drafted new guidelines for assessing the salinity impacts of a clearing application using a risk assessment methodology. This will help to better quantify the impacts from individual applications.

Review of exemptions under NativeVegetation Conservation Act 1997

• A revised system of exemptions under the Native Vegetation Conservation Act will give farmers greater certainty about what they can clear. Consultation and negotiation with key stakeholders is continuing.

• The Private Native Forestry Reference Group, established earlier this year, is finalising its recommendations on a revised private native forestry exemption. A revised system of exemptions would provide greater flexibility and simplicity for farmers when undertaking routine agricultural activities, and at the same time provide for better outcomes for our landscape.

Plantations Code

• In December 2001, the Plantations Code under the Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999 was introduced to streamline the processfor farmers investing in planted forests.

• The new Act has replaced the need for more than 10 licences and permits previously required for a plantation. The new single code now allows for the establishment of plantations for purely environmental purposes, to address land degradation and salinity, and streamline the establishment of markets for environmental services.

Facts on salinity


• Salt occurs naturally in the Australian landscape.

• Salinity refers to the presence of excess salt in soil or water. It can lead to vegetation loss, weed invasion, soil structure decline, soil erosion, damage to infrastructure and loss of water quality.

• Although NSW has only five percent of the land currently affected by dryland salinity in Australia, it has almost 50 percent of the potentiallyaffected land.

• Estimations of the area of land currently affected by dryland salinity in NSW vary 120,000 and 174,000 hectares.

• If no remediating actions are taken, it is estimated that up to 20,000 hectares could be lost every year as a result of salinity and/or waterlogging.

• Based on recent studies in the Upper Macquarie Catchment and the Murray-Darling Basin Salinity Audit, the total annual cost of dryland salinity to NSW is estimated at $24 million each year.

• These costs will increase significantlyin the future. Murray-Darling Basin Salinity Audit predictions of two million hectares of salinity-affectedland by 2050 would lead to an annual cost of $400 million for the Basin alone.

• On-farm salinity and rising watertables have resulted in lost

production, salinisation and siltation of dams, and damage to buildings, access tracks, fences and irrigation systems.

• Off-farm (including urban areas) salinity and rising watertables have caused damage to roads, buildings, water, gas and sewerage pipes, concrete structures and recreation areas.

• It is believed that high watertables affect about 34 percent of State roads and 21 percent of national highways in south-western NSW. Repair costs are estimated at $9 million per year.

• Increasing salt concentrations in streams and rivers has a significant impact on a wide range of established uses, including decline in its suitability for drinking by humans and livestock. Costs for water treatment generally increase with increasing salinity.

• Without intervention, water quality in many of our inland rivers will markedly decline over the coming years. For example, within 20 years, the Macquarie, Namoi and Bogan Rivers will exceed the 800 EC threshold for desirable drinking water.

Glossary


Carbon sequestration The removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere by plants, soils or technological measures.

Electrical conductivity (EC)

The most widely used and convenient method of measuring the salinity of water is by electrical conductivity. One unit of measure of electrical conductivity is �micro-Siemens per centimetre�. The shorthand expression for this is the �electrical conductivity unit�, �EC unit� or just �EC�.

End of valley salinity target

A �big picture� target or goal that is an overall indication of our desired salinity conditions and also how much salt we are aiming for at the end of major catchments.

Environmental Services Benefits to the environment, such as:• reducing the mobilisation of salt;• reducing the export of products from acid sulfate soils;• reducing soil loss;• improving water quality;• reducing greenhouse gases; and• enhancing biodiversity.

Environmental Services Investment Fund (ESIF)

Developed to finance the management actions necessary to manage salinity and other environmental issues, which have high public good environmental services benefits, and for which commercial options are not available.

Lgov NSW Previously known as the Local Government and Shires Associations.

National Action Plan The National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.

Natural Heritage Trust A joint Commonwealth and State Government grants program that funds community projects to improve sustainable agriculture and environmental management.

Priority salinity hazard landscape

An area that has been identified as needing initial attentionfor salinity management, due to a variety of biophysical, social and economic factors.

Recharge The portion of rainfall or river flow that percolates down through the soil and rock formations to reach the groundwater system.

Glossary


Salinity Strategy categorises salinity as irrigation, dryland, urban and industrial. Salinity types differ according to how and when the salt has been mobilised and what the impacts are.

Salt interception scheme

Usually works comprising a system of pumps and drainage that reduce the level of the groundwater by pumping it into evaporation basins or elsewhere, thereby intercepting salt before it enters a river or reaches the soil surface.

Salt load The amount of salt carried in water flow in rivers, groundwater or off the soil surface, in a given time period.

Salt scald A bare patch of earth where the surface soil has been removed by erosion or damaged by salinity, making it hard to revegetate. Salt may form crystals on the surface.

Watertable The level below which the ground is saturated with water.

Waterlogging Where the surface soil is saturated with water from rising groundwater or surface run-off collecting in low areas.

Within valley target A water or land-based target within a catchment, that expresses the salinity level to aim for at a location or for an area.

Salinity The presence of salt in the land surface, in soil or rocks, or dissolved in water in our rivers or groundwater. The NSW

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