NORTHERN AND YORKE

Landscape Board Business Plan 2020/21

An initial business plan under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019

The Narungga, Nukunu, Kaurna, Ngadjuri and Peramangk people are the Traditional Custodians of the Northern and Yorke region and have

been for thousands of years. The Board acknowledges and respects the Traditional Owners of Northern and Yorke. We acknowledge elders past and present, and we respect the relationship Aboriginal people have to Country. The Board is committed to partnering with Traditional Owners,

Aboriginal people and Aboriginal organisations in the management of lands, seas and waters. This includes recognising the relationship between Aboriginal culture and natural resources and incorporating

Aboriginal knowledge of natural resources into decision making.

Acknowledgement of Country

30 APRIL 2020

This plan has been prepared by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and is not a policy of the South Australian Government.

ForewordMESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDING MEMBER

It is my pleasure to be appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and support our region’s environmental and economic sustainability.

Six new Board Members and I will lead the region through the transition from the existing Northern and Yorke Regional NRM Plan to delivering the Landscape SA Act 2019 objectives.

2020/21 will be an important year for the Board, with priorities including:

• Developing a new Regional Landscape Plan and annual Business Plan together with the community.

• Continuing to deliver priority projects through the National Landcare program.

• Working with our many partners; local government, farming groups, community groups, Aboriginal communities and volunteers to achieve significant outcomes for our natural resources and landscapes.

• Establishing a new Grassroots Grants Program.

• Working collaboratively with other Landscape Boards to achieve coordinated outcomes across our landscapes.

With approximately 80% of our region used for cropping, grazing, food and wine production, the social and economic stability of our region is closely linked to economically sustainable agricultural industries. I look forward to engaging with our partners and communities to ensure the important coastal and marine resources, rugged landscapes, remnant native ecosystems, water resources and productive soils which constitute this region, continue to thrive, for the benefit of the environment and the region’s people.

The 2020-2021 Business Plan outlines our intent to deliver a back-to-basics approach, focussed on five priority areas; pest plant and animal control, sustainable agriculture, water management, biodiversity and community. This new Act provides additional accountability and reporting on Board activities, including greater community engagement and simplified processes.

With the implementation of the new Act, the Northern and Yorke regional boundaries have been revised, and a new region formed. I take this opportunity to welcome those councils, community groups, landowners, businesses and residents who now form part of the Northern and Yorke region. On behalf of the incoming board, I look forward to working with you.

I commend this Business Plan to you and I urge you to join us in contributing to its successful implementation.

Caroline SchaeferChair, Northern and Yorke Landscape Board

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I, David Speirs, Minister for Environment and Water, after taking into account and in accordance with the requirements of section 51(1)&(3), and Schedule 5 Part 30, under clause 95, of the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 hereby approve the initial 2020-2021 Business Plan for the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board.

Hon. David SpeirsMINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT AND WATERDate: 22/6/2020

IntroductionThe management of the state’s natural resources is undergoing significant reform with the introduction of the Landscape SA Act 2019. There are a number of changes to the way we plan and implement sustainable management of our landscapes across the state and within the Northern and Yorke region.

These changes include new regional boundaries (shown in the map on page 3), which incorporate The Barossa Council, Town of Gawler, Light Regional Council, Adelaide Plains Council and Goyder Regional Council. These councils previously formed part of the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges and SA Murray-Darling Basin regions. Port Augusta and the Flinders Ranges council areas will now form part of the SA Arid Lands region.

The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board has been formed under the Act by the Minister for the Environment and Water through the appointment of community members within the Northern and Yorke Landscape region. The Board has the responsibility to ensure the region’s natural resources are managed sustainably and appropriately through the Landscape SA Act 2019.

The 2020-2021 financial year will be a transitional year as the delivery of existing commitments under the NRM Regional Plans are fulfilled, and new priorities are established. A new Regional Landscape Plan for the Northern and Yorke region will be developed that incorporates the additional areas entering the region and their management requirements with a clear focus on a Back-to-Basics agenda and alignment to community expectations. The Regional Landscape Plan will outline the region’s five priorities and key focus areas that guide sustainable management of the region’s natural resources.

The 2020-2021 Business Plan outlines how the Board will invest funds raised via the Landscape levies and other sources for this transitional year while providing improved line of site through reporting on levy expenditure. Both the Regional Landscape Plan and this Business Plan are requirements of the new Landscape SA Act 2019.

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Northern and Yorke Region

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Landscape SA Reform

The South Australian Government is reforming how our landscapes are managed, putting community at the heart of sustainably managing the state’s soil, water, pest plants and animals and biodiversity. From 1 July 2020, the new Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (the Act) will replace the Natural Resources Management Act 2004.

Eight new regional landscape boards and a new metropolitan board, Green Adelaide, will administer the Act and partner with government and regional communities to deliver a stronger, back-to-basics system with greater autonomy and flexibility to respond to local issues.

Landscape Boards will support local communities and land managers to be directly responsible for sustainably managing their region’s natural resources. They will deliver practical, on-ground programs that manage our water, land and soil, pests and biodiversity through a range of partnerships, for example with farming systems groups, environmental non-government organisations, Aboriginal communities and local councils.

In 2020/21, landscape boards will work alongside community members and stakeholders to develop a simple and accessible five-year regional landscape plan with five priorities (seven for Green Adelaide). Boards will need to report their spending against the levy simply and clearly.

The Act also introduces a number of other benefits, including a cap on landscape and water levies, new regional Grassroots Grants programs that will provide support for community groups, not for profit organisations and volunteers to address environmental issues at a local level, and the creation of a new Landscape Priorities Fund that will support large scale projects such as bushfire recovery and landscape restoration work. From 2022, communities will have the opportunity to elect three out of seven board members.

These reforms have been informed by the people who are well placed to sustain our environment – those who work, live and care for our landscapes. This input has been invaluable to ensure the reforms meet the needs of local communities and landholders.

Business Plans for 2020/21 are transitional. The land and water levy amounts that are set out in the business plans for 2020/21 reflect the levy amounts collected in NRM regions in 2019/20, adjusted by CPI (1.9%), This will provide for broad consistency in the levy rates paid by levy payers in this transitional year while planning is undertaken by the landscape boards.

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Peter Angus

Sarah Barrett

Anna Baum

Jane Greenslade

Phillip Heaslip

Geoffrey White

BOARD MEMBERS

Regional Priorities and Focus AreasFive priorities have been identified for the Northern and Yorke region to guide investment and project delivery. The priorities align with the Back to Basics fundamentals, acknowledging the need for clear focus on water, soil management, pest plant and animal control, and biodiversity. The Board continues to have a role in the delivery of nature education to SA schools and the wider community, and to undertake effective compliance in accordance with the Act as necessary. Community engagement has been elevated in the Act, and in this plan, as a key priority to ensure that local landholders and community members are at the centre of managing the region’s landscapes.

Key focus areas have been assigned to each priority to define the core areas of importance to address over the next five years. These focus areas echo the views of the community as captured through the N&Y Community Action Planning (CAP) process and subsequent inclusion in the Regional NRM Plan. *

During 2020/2021 the Board will work alongside community members and stakeholders to develop a simple and accessible five-year Regional Landscape Plan which incorporates all areas within the new regional boundary. The Regional Landscape Plan will guide investment, project design and implementation, and will outline how successes will be measured and reported.

Pest Plant and Animal Control

Coordinated control of priority weedsCoordinated control of exotic predators

Active management of total grazing pressure

Sustainable Agriculture

Improve livestock grazing practicesPromote land management practices to reduce soil acidification

Maintain surface cover on pastures and cultivated landsImprove soil structure and water infiltration rates

Water management

Review region’s water management frameworkManage land run-off and impacts to watercourse integrity

Improve the efficiency of water retention and use across catchments

Biodiversity

Improve management of existing native vegetationUndertake revegetation and regeneration in priority areas

Plan and implement cross-tenure fire management

Communities

Engage effectively with community, agriculture sector and stakeholdersInvolve Aboriginal communities in planning and delivery

Consult, collaborate and partner

* Northern and Yorke Regional Plan, Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Regional Plan as pertains to the Northern Hills, Coasts and Plains District, and the SA Murray-Darling Basin Regional Plan as it pertains to the Rangelands district.

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DeliveryThis Business Plan sets out how the Board will fund and deliver practical on-ground programs against these priorities. The plan seeks to deliver programs where outcomes can be measured for their economic, social or environmental impact. The Board also seeks to achieve outcomes which consider and contribute to incorporation of Aboriginal culture.

The programs outlined involve resource assessment, planning, on-ground works and capacity building. Importantly, these programs will improve the way our landscapes and natural resources are managed by building on existing achievements and are intended to be undertaken in collaboration with landowners, primary producers, Traditional Owners, and the broader community.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the achievements against the priorities is essential to providing a line of site between expenditure and on-ground actions and outcomes, whilst guiding improvements for the on-going management of landscapes. The Board will review and report on achievements against the priorities and their impact on the sustainability of the natural resources in the region.

Board ResponsibilitiesThe Northern and Yorke Landscape Board is a statutory authority of the Crown, formed under the Landscape SA Act 2019 and accountable to the Minister for Environment and Water.

The Board is responsible for facilitating the management of landscapes in partnership with stakeholders and the community, and will provide strategic oversight of activities within the region that align with the objectives of the Act. The Act provides that the Board will adopt good governance practices to ensure transparency and accountability in decision making and reporting.

Under the Landscape SA Act, the Board will have a General Manager and staff who deliver programs and services on behalf of the Board. In 2020/21, it is anticipated that the Board, through the General Manager will staff 39 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, with funding sources split between levy funds, project (Australian Government) funding and corporate services charges. These staff will be public sector employees but will no longer be employed by a Government Department.

In 2020/21, the Board will continue to receive Corporate Services (including finance, human resources and information technology) support through the Department for Environment and Water (DEW), however the services accessed through DEW may be subject to review.

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Income 2020 - 2021

The Business Plan outlines the total expected income for the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. In the 2018/2019 financial year, the Board was successful in obtaining funding through the Australian Government’s Regional Land Partnerships Program, with funding through this program continuing until June 2023.

The Board also aims to secure funding from State and Australian Government contestable grant programs, including the Landscape Priorities Fund and as opportunities arise. Other income sources include fees and charges, contributions, investment interest and re-imbursements. The Board continues to seek additional funding from industry, community and government, where the opportunity for complementary activity arises to address regional and state priorities.

SOURCES OF INCOME BUSINESS PLAN 2020-2021

Landscape Levy $5,523,002

Water Levy $365,621

Total Levy Income $5,888,623

Interest $20,000

Sales of other goods / services $30,000

Total Other Income $50,000

National Landcare Program ‘Regional Land Partnerships’ $426,415

National Landcare Program ‘Great Southern Ark’ $570,378

National Landcare Program ‘Living Flinders’ $400,000

WWF Australia $85,000

Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife $16,000

Total Income Externally Funded $1,497,793

Total $7,436,416

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Landscape and Water Levies

The primary income source is the Landscape Levy, previously known as the NRM Levy. The Landscape Levy will continue to be raised and collected by local councils in the same way the NRM Levy has been collected previously. Councils will pay quarterly contributions to the landscape board and gazette a levy rate to reimburse themselves the cost of the levy.

Water levies will still be collected by the Department for Environment and Water on behalf of the Minister and will be paid to the relevant landscape board. Where a prescribed water resource is in more than one landscape management region, water levies will be shared between the two boards.

Levy Transition Scheme

The effect of boundary changes on land levies is being managed through a levy transition scheme approved and gazetted by the Minister for Environment and Water. The aim is to ensure residents do not pay higher levies as a result of boundary changes.

For 2020/2021, the transition scheme provides for council contributions to be set consistently with 2019/2020 adjusted by CPI. This will provide for consistency in the levy rates paid by ratepayers, noting that changes to land values and the number of rateable properties also influence council contributions and levy rates.

COUNCIL COUNCIL PROPOSED CONTRIBUTION COLLECTION FEE 2020/21 ($) based on standard rates ($)

Adelaide Plains Council 190,159 3,855

Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council 496,596 4,380

District Council of Barunga West 226,839 3,280

District Council of Copper Coast 636,387 5,649

District Council of Mount Remarkable 132,265 3,449

District Council of Orroroo Carrieton 43,270 2,954

District Council of Peterborough 33,741 3,014

District Council of Yorke Peninsula 1,153,202 6,344

Goyder Regional Council 282,723 2,831

Light Regional Council 337,288 4,614

Northern Areas Council 274,490 3,724

Port Pirie Regional Council 420,945 5,343

The Barossa Council 541,424 5,711

Town of Gawler 365,144 5,513

Wakefield Regional Council 388,529 4,027

Total 5,523,002 64,685

Regional Water LevySome parts of the Northern and Yorke region are irrigated. However, with the boundary realignment for the Northern and Yorke region, the prescribed water resource areas (PWRA) of the Clare Valley and Barossa Valley and sections of the Marne Saunders, Northern Adelaide Plains and the Western Mount Lofty PWRAs fall within the region’s boundaries.

The water levies collected in these shared PWRAs will be split between the relevant Landscape Boards and agreements established with the Green Adelaide Region and the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board to establish how they will work together to effectively manage the resources, including how they will be consistent in approach and where specific responsibilities lie for planning and implementation.

Regional Landscape LevyEstimated Landscape Levy contribution and estimated Levy collection cost by each constituent council for 2020-2021.

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In 2020-21, the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board will raise water levies in accordance with the existing levy bases:

• For the Marne Saunders prescribed water resources (formerly in the SAMDB NRM region), levies will continue to be charged based on a rate per ML of water allocated, with a minimum charge of $200.• For the Western Mt Lofty Ranges (formerly in the AMLR NRM region), levies will continue to be charged based on a rate per ML of water.

* Proportion of the PWRA allocated water within Northern and Yorke

PRESCRIBED RESOURCES RATES AND BASIS 2020-21

PROPORTION OF THE PWRA*

EXPECTED AMOUNT TO BE RAISED IN 2019-20

Clare Valley Prescribed Water Resources Area (PWRA) $101.90 as a fixed amount per water license, and 3.636 c/kL of water allocated

100%

$365,621

Barossa Prescribed Water Resources Area 0.628 c/kL of water allocated 100%

Marne Saunders Prescribed Water Resources Area 0.675 c/kL of water allocated or a levy of $200, whichever greater

40%

Northern Adelaide Plains Prescribed Wells Area 0.628 c/kL of water allocated 33%

Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA (including water levy on persons authorised under section 105 to take water from a water resources within the Western Mount Lofty Ranges PWRA)

0.628 c/kL of water allocated 3%

Water levy on persons authorised under section 105 - to take water from a water resource within the Barossa and Northern Adelaide Plains PWRA

0.628 c/kL of water allocated

Expenditure 2020 - 2021The funds which the Board collects through Landscape levies are invested into the region’s five priorities and their key focus areas. The following tables provide the anticipated expenditure against each priority and focus area.

Program Investment Landscape and Water Levies External Funding Total

Pest Plant and Animal Control $1,629,828 $614,268 $2,244,097

Sustainable Agriculture $605,868 $130,000 $735,868

Water Management $1,231,647 $0 $1,231,647

Biodiversity $812,558 $445,367 $1,257,925

Communities $1,779,638 $221,958 $2,001,596

Total Expenditure $6,059,539 $1,411,593 $7,471,133

Priorities and Focus Areas Landscape and Water Levy External Funding Total

PEST PLANT AND ANIMAL CONTROL

Coordinated control of priority weeds $588,503 $20,000 $608,503

Coordinated control of exotic predators $373,248 $311,069 $684,317

Active management of total grazing pressure $170,641 $283,200 $453,840

Program Support $497,437 $0 $497,437

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Improve livestock grazing practices $169,357 $32,500 $201,857

Reduce soil acidification rate $52,763 $32,500 $85,263

Maintain surface cover on pastures and cultivated lands $112,118 $32,500 $144,618

Improve soil stability and water infiltration rates $69,484 $32,500 $101,984

Program Support $202,146 $0 $202,146

WATER MANAGEMENT

Review region’s water management framework $346,549 $0 $346,549

Manage land run-off and impacts to watercourse integrity $234,355 $0 $234,355

Improve the efficiency of water use across catchments $38,206 $0 $38,206

Program Support $162,766 $0 $162,766

Water Planning Management Fee $449,771 $0 $449,771

BIODIVERSITY

Increase the area of native vegetation managed $231,652 $316,430 $548,082

Revegetate and support regeneration in high priority areas $228,375 $0 $228,375

Plan and implement cross-tenure fire management $88,540 $0 $88,540

Monitoring and Evaluation $0 $128,937 $128,937

Program Support $263,992 $0 $263,992

COMMUNITIES

Community engagement $610,144 $145,873 $756,017

Aboriginal engagement $100,852 $76,085 $176,937

Collaboration and partnerships $398,275 $0 $398,275

Grassroots Grant Program $170,770 $0 $170,770

Program Support $499,597 $0 $499,597

Total $6,059,539 $1,411,593 $7,471,133* Included in the Program Support by the priorities are Board, Group and Committees fees of $160,500 which includes sitting fees, training and development, travel and meeting costs.

Communities29%

Biodiversity15%

Pests and Weeds29%

Soils11%

Water16%

Copyright

This publication is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior permission of the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be directed to the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, 155 Main North Road, Clare SA 5453 or ny.landscapeboard@sa.gov.au.

Disclaimer

The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and the Government of South Australia, their employees and their servants do not warrant or make any representation regarding the use or results of use of the information contained herein as to its correctness, accuracy, currency, or otherwise. The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board and the Government of South Australia, their employees and their servants expressly disclaim all liability or responsibility to any person using the information or advice contained herein.

Landscape Priorities for Northern and Yorke

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Northern and Yorke Landscape Board155 Main North Road Clare SA 5453 Telephone: +61 (8) 8841 3400 Facsimile: +61 (8) 8841 3411 Email: ny.landscapeboard@sa.gov.auWebsite: https://landscape.sa.gov.au/

Appendix

PEST PLANT AND ANIMAL CONTROL

• Implementation of three District Weed Management Plans to control priority weeds and promote improvements in agricultural productivity.

• Provide support for community groups in the Mid North to implement feral Deer control - Clare Valley, Washpool Range.

• Continued participation and support for the state-wide Buffel Grass Taskforce, to limit the economic effects of this weed species along the Port Augusta Highway, and roadsides between Crystal Brook and Mambray Creek.

• Continuation of the Connecting Landscapes project – undertaking landscape-scale control of goats and other pest animals in the Burra rangelands.

• Trial control of African Boxthorn through the aerial application of herbicides, across 3,000 hectares in the southern Flinders Ranges.

• Undertake Opuntoid Cactus control on public lands, in combination with voluntary participation by landholders in the southern Flinders Ranges.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

• Monitor House Mouse abundance on southern Yorke Peninsula to develop an understanding of their impact on crop production.

• Provide advice and support services to farming systems groups across the region, to assist them in the development and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

• Deliver the Federal Government’s Sustainable Agriculture Program.

WATER MANAGEMENT

• Continuation of the Healthy Flows project to deliver improvements in water quality along the Broughton River system through stock exclusion, woody weed control and native revegetation.

• Initiate review and revision of Clare Valley Water Allocation Plan - canvas community and industry opinion on the adequacy of water supply and the need to achieve a balance between water use and environmental needs into the future.

• Finalise revision of Barossa Water Allocation Plan.

BIODIVERSITY

• In collaboration with local councils, undertake priority actions identified in the region’s new Coastal Management Action Plan to reduce weed abundance and damage from recreational vehicles.

• Community awareness program to improve the management of native shorebirds and waders.

• Provide support the Wildlife for Wine programs in the Barossa and Clare Valleys to increase the abundance of native animal species to enhance crop pollination and reduce crop damage by insect.

Projects that will be undertaken by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board in 2020-2021:

• Continue to monitor the region’s bushland and native species, to ensure sustainable development and use.

COMMUNITIES

• Development of the new Regional Landscape Plan.

• New Grassroots Grants program to provide volunteers and community groups with the opportunity to participate in the management of our landscape.

• Expand our engagement with the region’s Aboriginal communities, through Healthy Country Planning with the Narungga and Nukunu Nations.

• Continue our engagement with the community through the Community Action Planning process to ensure their aspirations are captured and incorporated into the landscape programs being delivered - southern Yorke Peninsula, upper Yorke Peninsula, Mid North, southern Flinders Ranges and the Adelaide Plains.

• Incorporate citizen science into the development of the new Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

• Provide support to the Yorke District Fire Recovery project.

Marna Banggara landscape management program (Southern Yorke Peninsula)

• Undertake targeted control of Weeds of National Significance (African Boxthorn, Boneseed) across 2,000 hectares on southern Yorke Peninsula.

• Support the community on Yorke Peninsula to control Rabbit populations and improve pastures.

• Undertake fox and feral cat control across 140,000 hectares on southern Yorke Peninsula to conserve native species and boost agricultural production.

• Reintroduction of Brush-tailed Bettongs to southern Yorke Peninsula to reinstate soil processes and contribute towards the maintenance of the district’s unique native vegetation.

• Establish a captive colony of Brush-tailed Bettongs at Monarto Safari Park to provide additional animals for reintroduction to southern Yorke Peninsula.

• Monitoring of threatened orchid, shorebird and Malleefowl populations to evaluate the success of predator control.

• Development of Marna Bangarra project website.

Living Flinders landscape management program (Southern Flinders ranges)

• Support landholders to manage fox and wild dogs across 145,000 hectares in the southern Flinders Ranges, to reduce predation on sheep flocks.