Summer Estuary Workshop Series - NACC...PO Box 7168 Geraldton WA 6531 Tel 08 9938 0100 Fax 08 9938...

ABN 15 441 877 135 Northern Agricultural Catchments Council

PO Box 7168 Geraldton WA 6531 Tel 08 9938 0100 Fax 08 9938 0166 Web www.nacc.com.au

Workshop held on Friday 5th April 2013 at the CWA Hall, Jurien Bay.

Attendees: Dr Mic Payne, Ian Cotton (NACC), Dr Malcolm Robb (Dept of Water), Jen Bairstow (West

Midlands Group), Bev Port-Louis, Diane Yappo, Maxine Gossland, June Headland (Aboriginal

representatives), Tim Brokenshire, Chris Carey (Shire of Dandaragan), Mickey Russell, Mike

Sheppard, Kaye McGluen (Shire Councillors), Steve Buitenhims (Dept of Environ Conserv),

Jennifer Griffiths (community representative).

Workshop goals

• Raise community awareness of the issues associated with the Hill River Estuary (HRE);

• Record estuary values important to the community;

• Identify threats to the estuary and possible solutions to mitigate these issues.

Summary of presentations

The Hill River Estuary - Dr Mic Payne (NACC) and Dr Malcolm Robb (DoW)

Estuaries represent transition zones between rivers and the sea; they are very dynamic and

biologically productive with complex food webs, but are generally not very diverse;

Australian government database, OzCoasts (http://www.ozcoasts.gov.au), have adopted a general

definition of estuaries as “semi-enclosed bodies of water where salt and freshwater meet”;

The HRE is classified as a wave-dominated estuary, which means that ocean-derived sediments

tend to deposit at the mouth to form a sand bar;

The HRE represents a relatively pristine estuary in the Northern Agricultural Region with only 25%

of its catchment cleared for agriculture (1999 data);

There is no urban development in the catchment but peri-urban development has occurred recently

either side of the estuary;

Flow in the HRE is maintained by significant groundwater inflow, although decreasing rainfall in the

region is reducing flushing;

The system contains some unusual biota, including Night fish;

Up to 2005, the Dept of Water regularly monitored water quality in the HRE but this no longer

occurs

The area is a very popular destination for illegal camping and off-road vehicle use by local residents

and visitors

A Draft “Scoping Documentof the Hill River Estuary Water Quality Improvement Plan” was

completed in 2011.

Aboriginal perspective – Bev Port-Louis (Yuat representative)

Estuaries were places where Yuat people camped, traded and hunted;

Numerous midden sites and fish traps show that the region has been used by Aboriginal people for

thousands of years;

Summer Estuary Workshop Series 4. Hill River Estuary

http://www.ozcoasts.gov.au/



The Moore River is the main place of significance to the Yuat people but the Hill was certainly

important.

Community values

Workshop attendees attributed the following values to the HRE;

Recreational – primarily camping and canoeing;

Natural amenity;

Bird watching;

Ecological importance as an “untouched” estuary system;

Aboriginal culture/heritage.

Community concerns

At the conclusion of the workshop attendees were invited to complete a feedback survey. A Feedback

Report is included as Appendix A.

Conclusions

Nutrient levels in the HRE are moderately high compared with other estuaries in the Northern Agricultural

Region despite relatively little development in its catchment. Lower rainfall in the region means that the

estuary is not receiving as much flushing as in previous times. Recreational use of the HRE consists

mostly off-road vehicle use and illegal camping by locals and visitors alike, requiring on-going management

by the Shire of Dandaragan and local community groups. The completion of a draft scoping document for a

Hill River Estuary WQIP is an important step towards implementation of a WQIP for this relatively pristine

estuary system.

This workshop supported by;



Appendix A : Hill Estuary Feedback Report

Photograph 1: View of the Hill river estuary, 5 April, 2013 (photograph: NACC)

Geraldton, August 2013

Author: Rolan Deutekom, Social Science Research Officer at NACC



Introduction

A summer estuary workshop on the environmental values of the Hill River estuary was conducted in

the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR). A total of 14 participants attended the workshop from state

and local government agencies, and community representatives.

Funding for these workshops was provided by Caring for Our Country and the Northern Agricultural

Catchments Council (NACC). The workshop aimed to engage the coastal community in raising

awareness of the role of estuaries in our coastal environment and issues associated with estuary

management. Community feedback was recorded via feedback forms distributed at the end of the

workshop.

Nine respondents filled in a survey, but not all respondents filled in all questions.

Question 1: How do you rate the format/structure of this event?

Nine respondents answered this question. Most respondents rated the format/structure of the

workshop as very good. Two respondents provided the following comments:

• Informative, interacting

• Well presented

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Format/structure of event



Question 2: Please indicate your knowledge level on the environmental

value of estuaries:

Nine respondents answered this question. They indicated a (6.3 – 4.7) / 4.7 * 100% ≈ 34% increase

in knowledge. One respondent provided the following comments:

• Having visited Hill River estuary in the past for shore birds workshop - very keen to protect

Question 3: Please indicate your knowledge level on issues relating to

estuary management:

Nine respondents answered this question. They indicated a (6.2 – 4.7) / 4.7 * 100% ≈ 32% increase

in knowledge.

One respondent provided an additional comments:

• I have a fairly good knowledge of the Hill River Estuary

0 2 4 6

After NACC worksop

Before NACC workshop

Knowledge level

0 2 4 6

After NACC worksop

Before NACC workshop

Knowledge level



Question 4: Please rank (in order of priority) three management issues

you regard as most important for your local estuary:

This question was answered by nine respondents. A value matric was done to aggregate priority

management issues. The most important management issue was management of Camping and

Off Road Vehicles (ORVs). This was followed by Peri-urban development, Riparian vegetation –

stock, weeds, revegetation and Catchment water quality.

0 5 10 15 20

Camping/ORV's

Peri-urban development

Riparian vegetation - stock, weeds,revegetation

Catchment management/water quality

Maintain biodiversity

Fracking



Question 5: Would you alter the way you use/manage your local

estuary as a result of this workshop?

Nine respondents answered this question. Five respondents indicated ‘yes’ and four indicated

they already use the estuary in a sustainable way.

Question 6: Would you share information learned at this workshop with

others?

Nine respondents answered this question and all indicated that they would share information with

others.

Will you alter the way you use/manage your local estuary?

Yes

No

Don't know

Already use estuaryin a sustainable way

Would you share information learned at this workshop?

Yes

No

Don't know



Question 7: Would you consider becoming involved in any of the

following activities relating to your local estuary?

Nine respondents answered this question. Their answers can be found in the above graph.

One respondent indicated “Other” and mentioned:

• Keen to be involved, home travel distance an issue

Question 8: What was the one thing you enjoyed most about this event?

Nine respondents answered this question. Their answers can be found below.

• All the presenters and their knowledge (mentioned twice)

• Doing a field trip to the mouth of the Hill River (mentioned twice)

• Input from number of parties

• Diversity of speakers

• Noongar presentation. Would like to attend further education session given by our local people.

• Enjoyed all, but particularly appreciated Bev's Aboriginal culture input. This has to be implicit in

future planning and strategies.

• Very informative scientific background

• CWA Calees

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Restorationworks

Waterquality

monitoring

Other Invertebratesurveys

Photomonitoring

Fishsurveys

Birdsurveys

Activities you consider being involved in relating to your estuary?



Question 9: Is there anything we can do to improve this workshop?

Five respondents answered this question and their answers are depicted in the above graph.

• It was very informative for me

• You will always do better every time you do a workshop in different areas, but well done.

• Good overview met its aims to engage and inform the community.

• Possibly increase speaker times.

Question 10: Would you like to have received relevant information to

read prior to the workshop?

Seven respondent answered this question and their responses are depicted in the above graph.

0 1 2 3 4 5

Yes

No

Is there anything we can do to improve this workshop?

0 1 2 3 4 5

Yes

No

Would you liked to have received information prior to the workshop?



Question 11: Please indicate your position:

Eight respondents answered this question. Three people identified themselves as community

members. One respondents as Local government employee, one as a State Government employee,

two as councillor and two as ‘other’. The detailed responses to the category ‘other’ can be found

below:

• Yuat Aboriginal woman

• NACC member of staff

Position

Community member

Other

Local Governmentemployee

State Governmentemployee

Councillor



Question 12: How did you hear about this event?

Nine respondents answered this question and their answers can be found in the graph below.

Question 13: Other comments?

Two respondents answered this question and their answers are depicted below.

• Valuable community workshop

• Opportune timing to ensure future partnering to set up process for strategic management of Hill

River estuary.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

NACC Notes Newspaper NACC Website

How did you hear about this event?



Photograph 2: Head Ranger Chris Carey showing damage caused by coastal camping near

the Hill River Estuary, 5 April 2013 (photograph: NACC)

Conclusion

The workshop was well attended by local and government agency staff and community despite the

workshop being held on a weekday. Workshop participants considered the workshop format good

and increased their knowledge on the environmental values of and management issues for the Hill

River Estuary. Management concerns focused mainly on the issue of managing illegal camping and

off-road vehicles around the estuary. Semi-rural development, riparian vegetation and effective

catchment management were also highlighted as management issues. Participants indicated a

willingness to change how they use/manage the estuary, a willingness to share workshop

information with others and to get involved in community-based activities.

Summer Estuary Workshop Series - NACC...PO Box 7168 Geraldton WA 6531 Tel 08 9938 0100 Fax 08 9938...

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