Tamar NRM 2007-2011 Strategy (2007) Tamar NRM was recognised nationally as a case study for the development of a regional approach to natural resource management in the late 1990s with the publication of the first Tamar Region Natural Resource Management Strategy. Amended in 2001, this Strategy guided the activities of Tamar NRM over the next five years to improve the management of natural resources and increase the community awareness of those resources. The third edition of the Strategy, launched at Tamar NRM’s Biodiversity Conference in June 2007, provides direction for the management of the Region’s land, atmosphere, biodiversity, inland waters and wetlands and coastal, estuarine and marine environments for the next five years. It was launched by Ian Sauer, President of Tamar NRM and Kay Bailey, Executive Officer. The Strategy links community, local and state government, the regional NRM organisation and industry effort in the Tamar Region with the aim all parties work co-operatively to achieve the agreed targets and actions. The Strategy promotes a balance between biodiversity conservation and production in accordance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development. Download the new strategy here (PDF, 4.1 Mb)
	Tamar Region Natural Resource Management Strategy (2nd Edition) 2001

FOREWORD

When the first edition of the Tamar Region Natural Resource Management Strategy was published in May 1999, the foreword signed by the Mayors of the three local councils of the region stated the Strategy was a dynamic document which would evolve over coming years and be subject to regular review and updating.

Since then the Reference Group and Management Committee of Tamar NRM have asserted that dynamism by firstly recognising the need to expand on the action plans relating to each of the ten priority issues outlined in very broad terms in the initial document. The first essential step towards implementing the Strategy, the major purpose of this organisation, was to put flesh on the bones of the action plans by developing a set of specific actions, time frames and responsible agencies relevant to each issue.

This task was undertaken by establishing a range of Working Groups consisting of individuals having either a personal interest as a member of the community or relevant professional expertise. The importance of representation from the latter group was recognised and pursued to ensure the scientific integrity of the Strategy. The final compilation of the results of the deliberations of the Working Groups into the Action Plans incorporated in this second edition has been the work of our Project Manager, Jacky Williams, to whom we are deeply indebted. We also thank those many people who made their time available to attend meetings and review early drafts.

This document now provides the basis from which we can move forward to the implementation of the Strategy and the blueprint against which we can assess and evaluate the many projects put forward for funding through the Natural Heritage Trust’s devolved grant process. It continues, however, to be a dynamic document and will be subject to regular further reviews in the light of experience, changing circumstances and community expectations.

The need for a natural resource management strategy in the Tamar Region will not expire with the passage of time or with any future changes in funding arrangements. We therefore look forward to the continuing development of this Strategy as a joint enterprise of local, state and federal governments and the community.

John Beswick

President
Tamar Region Natural Resource Management.

The Strategy and its Development

The Tamar Region NRM Strategy provides direction for the future management of the Region’s land, atmosphere, inland waters and wetlands, coastal, estuarine and marine environments, and biodiversity within these.

The Strategy links community, local government, state government agencies and industry with the aim that they will work cooperatively to achieve the agreed goals and actions.

The Strategy is underpinned by six principles of natural resource management adapted from the Queensland Government’s Strategy for Land, Water and Related Biological Resources (1991). They are:

a) natural resources are basic and interactive components of natural ecosystems and their management should be based on an understanding of these interactions and ecosystem dynamics, with a commitment to manage and plan for natural resource-use, development, and conservation within ecosystem and regional contexts;

b) ecosystems such as rivers, wetlands, forests, coasts, estuaries and marine environments, soils, and rural land are continuously changing in response to natural processes and human activity, and their management must account for these changes over time;

c) the management of natural resources must be integrated rather than fragmented, with decisions based on the best available information and be conducted in partnership with relevant stakeholders (including individuals, community groups and organisations, local and state governments, and relevant industry companies or organisations);

d) natural resource management and planning must take into account the environmental, economic, and social implications of decisions and aim for a balance between the short and long-term socio-economic needs of the region and the short and long-term conservation and rehabilitation needs of the environment. In other words, it must operate according to the principles of ecologically sustainable development.

e) all resource-users and managers (ie. the whole community) have a responsibility to ensure that their actions do not have adverse impacts on the environmental values of the region; and

f) the management of natural resources is best achieved through the informed actions of individual users and managers.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Strategy are to:

1. provide background information covering the natural resources of the Region;
2. identify issues relating to the allocation and use of the regional resources;
3. prioritise the NRM issues for the Region; and
4. identify goals, actions and priorities to address these issues.

What’s in the Document

This Strategy document comprises five key components:

1.	A description of the natural resources, resource use and competing demands for resources in the Region.
2.	A list of the shared concerns relating to NRM issues within the Region.
3.	An assessment of priority issues in the Region.
4.	A list of goals to address the identified issues.
5.	A set of priority actions to address the top ten priority issues.

Background

The project commenced in April 1998 with the appointment of a project manager. In July 1998, following an extensive Statewide search, the Tamar region (the Region) was selected for the Case Study. In August 1998, nominations were sought from individuals, community groups, industry, local councils and State agencies for representation on a Reference Group. All interested persons were welcome to join the group. The Reference Group that developed through this process had the role of overseeing and guiding the formation of the Strategy. A smaller NRM Executive Committee was later drawn from the membership of the Reference Group to work towards the Strategy's refinement and implementation.

Natural Resource Management as defined in the document Regional NRM in Tasmania: A Framework for Developing Strategies and Setting Priorities (the Regional Framework) refers to any activity relating to management of the use, development or conservation of:

I. rocks and soils;
II. inland waters(including ground water), estuaries, and seas;
III. vegetation (native, introduced, wild and controlled); and
IV. fauna (native, introduced, wild, and domesticated) (Greening Australia, 1998).

The approach taken in the Regional Framework was to broaden the NRM definition to specifically include activities and management associated with the major themes of the Tasmanian State of the Environment Report (SoE) as shown in Table 1:

Table 1: Natural Resource Themes

In addition to the natural resource management themes, consideration was given to the economic and social implications of issues, including the competing needs for various resources, the impacts of NRM issues on those sectors, and the potential impacts of activities designed to resolve them. The principles of ecologically sustainable development underpin this holistic approach to management. An issues paper was developed, using the five themes of the SoE as its basis, and released for public comment during September 1998. The Paper identified influences on the condition of the natural resources and the natural environment of the Region.

The issues were then grouped and prioritised using a criteria based system (See Regional Natural Resource Management in Tasmania: Case Study and Regional NRM in Tasmania: A Framework for Developing Strategies and Setting Priorities).

Priority issues identified in the Region and detailed in the Strategy are shown in Table 2:

Table 2: Priority Issues detailed in the Strategy.

Goals, actions and activities to address the priority issues were then identified at a public workshop.

The Strategy is a dynamic document that will undergo regular review and continued development as issues are addressed and more issues identified through changes in the use and allocation of resources.

Description of the Region
Local government municipalities have been used as the spatial unit for the development of the Strategy. The advantages of using local government boundaries for NRM are outlined in the Regional Framework. The Strategy covers the municipalities of George Town, West Tamar and Launceston (See Plate 1). Each Council has developed a vision. These visions reflect the desire for an attractive, safe, clean and enjoyable place to live, work and visit, providing opportunities for future development and encouragement for young people to stay in the Region. They express a desire for the Region to offer a blend of residential communities and rural landscapes abundant with natural features, heritage and cultural attractions that will be promoted and maintained to provide maximum usage for the residents, enterprises and visitors.

Mindful of the three Council visions, the Reference Group identified an NRM vision for the Region:

"an attractive and prosperous place to live and work based on a healthy environment".

Plate 1: Map of the Region covered by the Strategy

Natural Resource
The Tamar Region (the Region) covered by the Strategy extends from Badger Head in the west to the mouth of the Little Pipers River in the east and Launceston in the south. The area covers approximately 2,800km 2 , with a maximum altitude of 1,413 metres at Mt Barrow in the east. The Region includes most of the catchments of the North Esk, Pipers, Supply and Curries Rivers, the lower reaches of the South Esk and other, lesser parts of the Tamar Estuary catchment.

The natural resources of the region include soil, water, vegetation and air which supports life and activities in the Region on social, environmental and economic levels. This definition acknowledges the fact that the resources of the Region provide for economic activities such as forestry, mining and agriculture as well as environmentally based recreation and conservation.

Climate
The Region lies between latitudes 40 degrees S and 42 degrees S and no part of it is more than 80 kilometres from Bass Strait. The regional climate is classified as temperate maritime and has an average maximum temperature of 18 degrees C. The average maximum temperature in summer ranges from 25 degrees C in Launceston to 20 degrees C in coastal areas with the minimum winter temperature ranging from 0.5 degrees C to 6.7 degrees C. The average annual rainfall recorded at the Launceston airport station is 690mm. A temperate climate, rainfall distributed throughout the year, and long hours of sunlight provide a pleasant living environment as well as ideal growing conditions for pastures and a range of agricultural enterprises.

Economy
Economic development in the Region has focussed mainly on the wholesale and retail trade and community services (See Table 4), manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. The core industries are generally based around a range of natural advantages such as energy, timber resources, grazing, the natural environment and heritage values. Launceston acts as the business centre for the northern region of Tasmania providing banking and finance.

Population
The 1996 Census revealed that Northern Tasmania had a population of 129,764, 28.3 % of the State's total.

About 70% (See Table 3) of the people in Northern Tasmania live in the Tamar Valley (the Greater Launceston Statistical Subdivision), which includes both sides of the Valley from George Town in the north to Evandale in the south.

Table 3: Tamar Valley Municipalities as a percentage of the Northern Tasmanian population Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Catalogue No. 2790.6, 1996

Employment
Over the last 20 years there have been significant changes in the composition of the work force in Northern Tasmania as depicted in Table 4.

Employment in traditional primary industries has fallen from 11% to 8 % of the Northern Tasmanian workforce, or almost 15% in population terms. Manufacturing has also fallen 17%. These figures imply a shift in the allocation and use of resources away from traditional primary industries and manufacturing.

Industry
Four major companies operate within the Region:

1. Comalco Aluminium (Bell Bay) Ltd
2. Tasmanian Electro Metallurgical Company (TEMCO)
3. Boral
4. North Forest Products

Comalco Aluminium (Bell Bay) Limited, an aluminium smelting facility commenced operation in 1955. In 1995, the plant had a production capacity of 120,000 tonnes per annum (tonnes per annum) which increased to 138,000 tonnes per annum by 1996.

In 1996, Comalco announced a $200 million capital expenditure program which allowed for an increased plant capacity and significant environmental improvements including installation of dry scrubbing technology that significantly reduced the amount of airborne fluorine emissions, and the development of an environmental buffer zone of 3500 hectares around the site.

TEMCO has been in operation since 1962 and is located 2 km south east of George Town. TEMCO is Australia's only ferro-alloy producer, supplying approximately 210,000 tpa of manganese alloys to the steel industry. A joint water treatment plant with George Town Council treats TEMCO water and George Town's sewage waste. Storm water run-off is treated through a constructed wetland system.

Boral's operations at Long Reach on the Tamar handles woodchip exports to Japan for conversion to paper products. The value of these exports is near $65 million annually.

North Forest Products also operate at Long Reach where their headquarters for the north, north-east and Central Highlands forestry operations is located. Over 80 people are employed directly and over 400 associated contractors. This facility processes up to 1.4 million tonnes of hardwood and softwood timber each year. This is also the headquarters of the company Tamar Tree Farms, a farm forestry joint venture between Japanese firms and North Limited to supply Eucalypt pulpwood to mills in Japan.

Additionally, The Starwood Plant, producing medium density fibreboard, was commissioned between January and March 1998 and commenced production in late March. The plant's full capacity is 130,000 tpa which will be reached when operating seven days a week.

Emerging Industries
Viticulture and aquaculture are emerging industries in the Region. The wine industry in Tasmania has seen a twenty fold expansion in yield since 1986. The Tamar Region has 31 vineyards covering 139 hectares, producing 30 % of Tasmania's wine. The viticulture industry and associated tourism are fast becoming a major economic focus for the region.

Aquaculture is also becoming an industry with potential for growth following a successful captive breeding program of seahorses for the Asian medicinal market at Beauty Point and the establishment of a trial ocean trout and salmon farm at Rowella. A $41 million aquaculture based tourism development is also planned for Beauty Point.

Manufacturing
Manufacturing was listed as the largest single employer in Northern Tasmania in 1997 (ABS Labour Force Survey, August 1997). It is the larger companies in Northern Tasmania that form the manufacturing core.

The most significant manufacturing employment areas are in wood handling, wood products and furniture, and basic metal products.

Northern Tasmania has long been regarded as one of the State's major manufacturing areas. The large industrial employers in the Region are Comalco and Temco at Bell Bay and ACL Bearings at Rocherlea. There are some significant food manufacturers in the Region, including Blue Ribbon Meat Products, Four Roses and Boags Brewery. Companies such as Gunns, Seas Sapfor, Koppers, North Forest Products and Boral Resources Tasmania represent the timber industry.

Over 2000 people are employed in seven main manufacturing companies in the Region. Blue Ribbon, Gunns, Comalco, TEMCO, ACL Bearing Co, North Forest Products and Boral Timber export most of their production. These companies operate in the Region for a range of reasons. Comalco and TEMCO operate in the Region due to the competitive price of electricity; Gunns, North Forest Products and Boral Timber, due to the forest resource.

Sea freight is the main method of transporting finished products of the manufacturing core economy. Launceston Airport supports the majority of airfreight for the State.

Tourism
Tasmanian tourism is centred around a quality lifestyle which incorporates local food and wines, history and natural beauty. Tourism plays an important part in the Region's economy. In 1996 Tasmania received about 472,900 tourists, 60% of whom visited Launceston and 33% of these entered the State at Launceston airport. Northern Tasmania has 30% of the State's accommodation. The estimated net expenditure by tourists in 1996 was $568 million for the whole State, with the value to Northern Tasmania being about $75 million per annum.

Agriculture
Northern Tasmania has a strong agricultural base, with a reputation for high quality. Island isolation has provided some protection from pests and diseases. Tasmania's image of being Œclean and green' gives value added rural based food products a distinct marketing advantage.

Wool, beef, fat lamb and dairy are the main agricultural commodities within the area. In more recent years viticulture has become a growth industry within the Region with exports of wine going to Europe, (including the United Kingdom), Canada and Hong Kong. Viticulture, an industry with developing Œhigh-tech' aspects to it, requires high capital input and is becoming a large employer within the Region. Cereals, apples, potatoes and poppies are also grown and there are several emerging crops including asparagus, peas, strawberries, cherries and other orchard fruits.

Education
The Tamar Region is home to the Launceston campus of the University of Tasmania, which offers a wide range of courses, the Australian Maritime College and Cooperative Research Centre for Aquaculture.

Transport
Bell Bay is Tasmania's leading port with an annual cargo through-put of 3.59 million tonnes in 1995/96. Each year over 500 vessels ranging in size up to 55,000 tonnes make use of the port's 5 deep-water berths. The major export commodities from Bell Bay are woodchips, aluminium, ferro-manganese, and general cargo. The major import commodities are alumina, manganese ore, coal and coke, petroleum, and general cargo. Launceston is the transport hub for the Region, with main highway and rail access to the State capital, major urban centres in the North West and the port of Bell Bay.

Natural Environment
The Region has a wide range of protected natural environments including important reserves, parks, conservation areas and sanctuaries. Areas commonly used for a variety of recreational pursuits include the Trevallyn State Recreational Reserve, the Asbestos Range National Park, Mt Barrow State Reserve, the Notley Gorge State Reserve, and the Cataract Gorge. Both the developed and undeveloped areas of the Region's coastline offer valuable recreation opportunities. The rivers, creeks, streams and beaches provide recreation assets for fishing, swimming, boating and sailing.

Heritage
The built heritage of the Region is important because of its relative age and integrity. Due to gentle pressure from growth and change it has retained a representative cross-section of buildings and styles reflecting not only the growth and development of an Australian colonial city, but also the evolution of its hinterland of rural villages and relics of early industrial enterprise.

Goals, Actions and Priorities
This section provides an overview of the natural resources of the Region identified under the five themes of the State of the Environment Report:

1. Atmosphere
2. Inland Waters and Wetlands
3. Coastal, Estuarine and Marine
4. Land
5. Biodiversity

It also provides background to the ten priority issues for the Region and sets out goals and actions to address those issues. The process of identifying the priority issues, goals and actions is outlined in Regional Natural Resource Management in Tasmania: Case Study. A discussion of the issue and action as recorded at the Public Workshop is also provided. The ten priority issues are:
1. Declining water quality
2. Lack of knowledge, research & education about biodiversity
3. Nuisance fauna & flora
4. Loss of native vegetation
5. Adverse sedimentation impacts on the Tamar Estuary & North Esk River
6. Unsustainable land use
7. Conflicting demands for water & seasonal variations in water availability
8. Habitat loss, modification & isolation & its impact on biodiversity
9. Particulate & gaseous emissions
10. Solid waste management
Implementation of the Strategy will be achieved through stakeholder representation (including community groups, local and State government, industry and individuals) on the Reference Group working cooperatively to develop strategies and action plans, identify funding opportunities and undertake on ground work to achieve identified goals and actions.

Abbreviations

BOD	Biochemical Oxygen Demands
CAR	Comprehensive Adequate & Representative Reserve System
CBD	Central Business District
CO	Carbon Monoxide
DELM	Department of Environment & Land Management
DPAC	Department of Premier and Cabinet
DPIF	Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries (now DPIWE)
DPIWE	Department of Primary Industries Water & Environment
EPA	Environment Protection Authority
FPC	Forest Practices Code
GA	Greening Australia
GTC	George Town Council
HRB	Hazard Reduction Burns
ICM	Integrated Catchment Management
LCC	Launceston City Council
LEC	Launceston Environment Centre
NEPA	National Environment Protection Agency
NHT	Natural Heritage Trust
NPI	National Pollutant Inventory
NRM	Natural Resource Management
NTMO	Northern Tasmanian Municipal Organisation
PEV	Protected Environmental Values
PWS	Parks and Wildlife Service
RPDC	Resource Planning Development Commission
SDAC	Sustainable Development Advisory Council
SO2	Sulphur Dioxide
TDR	Tasmania Development & Resources
TEMCO	Tasmanian Electro Metallurgical Company
TFGA	Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association
TSS	Total Suspended Solids
TVWS	Tamar Valley Weed Strategy
WTC	West Tamar Council

Glossary

Biodiversity: the variety and diversity of living things, the sum of the species, ecosystems and genetic diversity. The different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain, and the ecosystems they form. It is usually considered at four levels: genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and community diversity.

Community Diversity: means the variety of communities in an area.

Ecosystem Diversity: means the variety of ecosystems in an area.

Species Diversity: means the variety of species and their relative abundance in an area.

Genetic Diversity: means the variety of genetic information contained in the total genes of individual plants, animals and micro-organisms in an area.

Geodiversity: refers to the range of earth features including geological (bedrock), geomorphological (landform), palaeontological, soil features, assemblages, hydrological and atmospheric features, systems and earth processes. Geodiversity includes evidence for the history of the earth (evidence of past life, ecosystems and environments) and a range of processes (biological, hydrological and atmospheric) currently acting on rocks, landforms and soils (RFA National Estate Report Part H., Australian Natural Heritage Charter).

Habitat Loss: Elimination of existing or naturally occurring environment to the extent that few, if any, of the endemic flora and fauna can survive; or critical components have been removed for a large range of species. The area is not available for the range of endemic flora and fauna that it originally supported. Examples include vegetation clearing for agriculture and urban development, drainage of wetlands and river clearing.

Habitat Modification: modification describes changes that occur to predominantly natural environments that alters the vegetation structure or other components to reduce (or increase) the abundance of certain populations and/or eliminate others. Processes which lead to habitat modification include: inappropriate grazing regimes (overgrazing may lead to elimination of more palatable species); wood production (forestry may lead to changes in age structure and floristic diversity); trampling caused by recreation; collection of plants and animals and habitat fragmentation. Two primary effects of habitat fragmentation are the alteration of the microclimate within and surrounding the remnant, and isolation of each area of the landscape. Effects of microclimate changes include altered radiation fluxes associated with cleared surrounds, increased exposure to wind, and modification of water balance as a result of increased run-off and decreased interception. Modification of water balance is a cause of increased soil erosion and sedimentation of the river systems. Fragmentation of habitat disrupts movement of insects and birds and can affect pollination and seed dispersal of plants.

Land Capability refers to the capability of the land for agricultural production without impairing the long term, sustainable productive potential of the land.

Nuisance Fauna and Flora: animals or plants which are or have the potential to become serious threats to primary production, the environment or community health. Animals may be classified as pests for a variety of reasons such as: they compete with native and agricultural animals for food and shelter; may prey on native or agricultural animals; may cause significant losses to crop production; and may contribute to soil degradation. Pest animals may include native fauna (eg: wallabies and possums) where modified environments have given rise to population imbalance of certain species. Plants may be classified as pests for a range of reasons such as they: compete with more useful plants for nutrients, moisture, and light; taint and contaminate agricultural produce, may be poisonous to humans or livestock; harbour pest animals and disease; and interfere with transport, essential services or recreation and can invade or overwhelm endemic communities.

Protected Environmental Values: means the value or use for which it has been determined that a given area of the environment should be protected. There can, and often will be, more than one protected environmental value for a given area. Water quality objectives may be set for surface waters and ground waters in Tasmania by determining which of the following protected environmental values should apply to each body of water.

I. Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems

A. Pristine or nearly pristine ecosystems

B. Modified (not pristine) ecosystems

1. from which edible fish, crustacea and shell fish are harvested

2. from which edible fish, crustacea and shell fish are not harvested

II. Recreational Water Quality and Aesthetics

A. Primary contact

B. Secondary Contact

C. Aesthetics only

III. Raw Water for Drinking Water Supply

A. Subject to coarse screening only

B. Subject to coarse screening only plus disinfection

IV. Agricultural Water Uses

A. Irrigation

B. Stock watering

V. Industrial Water Supply

The specific industry type for which the water is to be used must be specified to identify appropriate guidelines.

Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters, ANZECC, 1994

Remnant vegetation: patches of native vegetation which have survived progressive clearing of land for uses such as agriculture, forestry, mining and urban development.

Sedimentation: Sedimentation occurs naturally in streams and wetlands. This is the result of either soil erosion or in-stream scouring. Causes of sedimentation include increased broadscale soil loss from clearing, agricultural practices, logging (including the construction of roads) and fire. Localised disturbances along streams caused by dam construction, road crossings, mining (including instream gravel extraction) and construction works can be a major source of sediment. Sedimentation refers to the deposition of particles on the stream bottom, wood debris or rocks.

Stakeholder: is any person or institution who:

• has a controlling influence in the project
• benefits in some way from the project
• has an interest in the process and/or outcome of the project
• has resources invested in the program, or
• has other projects that may depend on the effectiveness of the project

Unsustainable Land Use/Soil Degradation: Soil degradation takes many forms, from soil acidity, nutrient decline, and structural decline. Soil acidity may occur naturally or be induced by agricultural practices such as the use of acidifying nitrogen and elemental sulphur fertilisers, and the use of legume dominant pastures. Soils with a low buffering capacity, such as sandy soils, are more susceptible to induced salinity than loams and clay soils. Soil acidity begins to suppress productivity at a pH of less than 5.5 (in water). High soil acidity can depress plant and root growth and increase the risk of soil erosion. Nutrient deficiencies in soils can result from leaching to the subsoils; erosion of topsoil; denitrification and export of produce. Water logging of some soil types may induce copper deficiency; whilst restricted root development because of hard pans development or sub soil collapse reduces plants nutrient uptake ability. Pastoral and cropping systems can also deplete earth worms and soil microbes which aid recycling of organic matter and nutrients. Soil structure refers to the 3-dimensional arrangements of soil aggregate and their distribution, continuity and pore size. Clearing of native vegetation, cultivation and grazing have caused widespread decline in soil structure which results in reduced: air and water penetration; soil biological activity; root penetration; and plant growth. Increased surface run-off from soil structure decline may cause erosion down slope.

Water Quality: Within urban areas declining water quality may be caused by industrial and domestic waste discharges, run-off from contaminated, exposed soils and polluted storm water. Within agricultural areas the use of pesticides and herbicides and the application of artificial fertilisers may have detrimental impacts both on and off site. Eutrophication of waters can be caused by nutrient run-off from fertilisers, manure, sewage and other wastes, from agricultural, industrial and domestic sources.

Water Quantity: water resource development, clearing of native vegetation and drainage works have substantially altered flow regimes (frequency, intensity, volume and water depth) on the South Esk River. Changes in stream flow can cause serious disruptions to many aquatic species. In drier periods diversion of water accentuates low flow conditions which may contribute to algal blooms.

Extended bibliography

ATMOSPHERE

Air Pollution, Environmental Health and Respiratory Diseases Working Party (1996) Report on an Investigation by an Expert Working Party into Air Pollution, Environmental; Health and Respiratory Diseases. Launceston and Upper Tamar Valley; Tasmania, 1991 - 1994, Launceston City Council, Launceston.

Carnovale, F. (1997) Ambient Air Monitoring of Particulate Matter in Tasmania. Department of Environment and Land Management.

Todd, J.J & Singline, R. (1989) The Impact of Woodheaters on Air Quality on Australia. Fuelwood Report No.2 Centre for Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania.

LAND

Eastoe, C. J. (1979) Geological Monuments in Tasmania - West Tamar Municipality. Geological Society of Australia. Forestry Commission of Tasmania. A Manual for Forest Landscape Management. Forestry Commission of Tasmania.

Forestry Tasmania, (1997); (Map Data) Tasmania: Land Tenure Edition 3, 1997, Forestry Tasmania, Hobart.

DEGRADATION

Barson, M. and Temple-Smith, M. (1997) Tasmanian Soil and Land Resource Assessment Needs. Third Draft 14th April 1997.

Grice, M. S. (1995a) An Assessment of Soil and Land Degradation on Private Land in Tasmania. Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Tasmania.

Grice, M. S. (1995b). Assessment of Soil and Land Degradation on Private Freehold Land in Tasmania. Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, Tasmania

Land Management and Rehabilitation Services Pty Ltd (1994) West Tamar Council Waste Disposal Facility - Soils, Vegetation and Rehabilitation. Land Management and Rehabilitation Services Pty Ltd, Hobart.

McKenzie, N., 1991; A Strategy for Coordinating Soil Survey and Land Evaluation in Australia; CSIRO Division of Soils; Canberra

FLORA & FAUNA

Askey Doran and M. Fry (1994) Remnant Vegetation In the West Tamar Municipality. Report to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Launceston Environment Centre, Launceston.

Bushcare Reference Panel, 1998; Vegetation Management Strategy for Tasmania: Guidelines for Determining Bushcare Priorities Within a Proposed New Set of Interim Bio-geographic Regions; Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment; Hobart

Kirkpatrick, J.B. (ed)., 1991; Tasmanian Native Bush: A Management Handbook; Tasmanian Environment Centre; Hobart [Tasmanian Environment Centre]

Forestry Commission, 1993; Forest Practices Code; Forestry Commission; Hobart [Forestry Tasmania, Hobart]

Kirkpatrick, J.B., and Harris, S., 1995; The Conservation of Tasmanian Dry Coastal Vascular Plant Communities; Department of Environment and Land Management; Hobart [DELM Library, Hobart]

Neyland, M. (1996) Tree Decline in Tasmania: A review of the factors implicated in tree decline and management recommendations for its control. Division of Silverculture Research and Development Forestry Tasmania.

Neyland, M., (1996); Tree Decline in Tasmania, Land and Water Management Council, Tasmania.

Noble K.E. (1991), Land Capability Survey of Tasmania. Pipers Report. Department of Primary Industry, Tasmania.

Noble K.E. (1992), Land Capability Survey of Tasmania. Tamar Report. Department of Primary Industry, Tasmania.

Noble, K.E., and Noble, R.B., 1992; Land Capability Survey of Tasmania: Land Capability Handbook; Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries; Hobart [DPIF Library, New Town]

Pinkard, G. J. (1980) Land Systems of Tasmania Region 4 Department of Agriculture, Tasmania.

Private Forests Council, (1991) Managing Your Dry Forests.

TBA Planners Pty Ltd & Armstrong Agricultural Services (1996) Sustainable Use of intensive Cropping Land. Draft Strategy. Prepared for Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry & Fisheries in association with Armstrong Agricultural Services, Simon McGuiness & Associates and William Wood & Associates.

NUISANCE FAUNA AND FLORA

Bishop, A., 1996; Tasmanian Weed Mapping Guidelines; Department of Primary Industry & Fisheries; Tasmania [DPIF Library, New Town]

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 1996; Spartina: A Threat to Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands in SE Australia; Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Melbourne [DELM Library, Hobart]

Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries, (1996) Weed Plan: A Tasmanian Weed Management Strategy. Issued by the Ministerial Working Group for the Development of the Tasmanian Weed Management Strategy.

Hedge, P. (1997) Strategy for the management of rice grass (Spartina anglica) in Tasmania, Australia (draft for public comment). Report to the Rice Grass Advisory Committee, DPIF.

Hyde-Wyatt, B.H., and Morris, D.I., 1989; Tasmanian Weed Handbook; Department of Primary Industry, Tasmania; Hobart [DPIF Library, New Town]

Ministerial Working Group, 1996; Weed Plan: A Tasmanian Weed Management Strategy; Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries; Hobart [DPIF Library, New Town]

Parker, G. and Bower, D., 1996; Willow Management Guidelines; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries; Hobart [DPIF Library, New Town]

Phillips, A.W., 1975; The Establishment of Spartina in the Tamar Estuary, Tasmania; Royal Society of Tasmania; Hobart [University Library, Hobart]

Tamar Valley Weed Strategy Working Group (1994) The War Against Weeds In the Tamar Valley.

Tamar Valley Weed Strategy Working Group (1996) Tamar Valley Weed Strategy - Public Forum and Workshop. Tamar Valley Weed Strategy Working Group, Launceston.

Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, 1994; Rice Grass: An Estuarine Weed; Department of Environment and Land Management; Hobart [DELM Library, Hobart]

INLAND WATERS AND WETLANDS

Bobbi, C., Fuller, D. A. and Oldmeadow, D. F. R., 1996; South Esk Basin - State of Rivers Report; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries; Hobart [DPIF Library, New Town]

Davies, P. E. and Humphries, P., 1996; An Environmental Flow Study of the Meander, Macquarie, and South Esk Rivers, Tasmania; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries; Hobart [DPIF].

Esk Water, (1998). Esk Water Annual Report. Esk Water.

Fuller, D. A. and Graham, B., 1998; Environmental Flow Estimates - Meander River at Strathbridge; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries; Hobart [DPIF Library, New Town]

Fuller, D. A. and Katona, G. G., 1993; An Overview of Water Quality Data in Tasmania; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries; Hobart [DPIF Library, New Town]

Munks, S., 1996; A Manual for the Rehabilitation and Management of Riparian Vegetation; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries; [DPIF Library, New Town]

Nelson, M., 1997; Environmental Flows Assessment Methods - A Technical Review; Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries; Hobart [DPIF Library, New Town]

Tasmanian State Government (1997) State Policy on Water Quality Management, 1997. Government Printer.

West Tamar Landcare Inc., (1998) The Supply River Catchment Resource Report. A Community Recourse and Feedback Report.

COASTAL ESTUARINE AND MARINE

City of Launceston (1994) Launceston River Environs Study, by TBA Planners et al, Bendigo Victoria.

Edgar, G.J., Barrett, N.S., and Graddon, D.J. (1998) A Classification of Tasmanian Estuaries and Assessment of their Conservation Significance: An Analysis using Ecological and Physical Attributes, Population and Land Use. Report to Environment Australia from Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment & Land Management.

National Environmental Consultancy, 1989; Tamar Estuary: Environmental Baseline Monitoring Program: Coastal and Estuarine Water Quality; Department of Environment and Planning; Hobart [DELM Library, Hobart].

Northern Tasmania Regional Development Board (1996) Tamar River Environs Study - Final Report. by TBA Planners Pty Ltd et al, Bendigo Victoria.

Pirzl, H. and Coughanowr, C. (1997) State of the Tamar Estuary: A review of environmental quality data to 1997. Supervising Scientist Report 128, Supervising Scientist, Canberra.

Smith, B. J., (1995) Tamar Invertebrates: Atlas of the Common Species. Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Launceston.

BIODIVERSITY

Australian Committee for IUCN (1996) Australian Natural Heritage Charter: Standards and principles for the conservation of places of natural heritage significance, Sydney.

Beatley, T., 1991; Protecting Biodiversity in Coastal Environments: Introduction and Overview; Coastal Management, 19(1): 1-19

Bieda, K. Launceston: Environmental Problems Resulting from Low Density Development.

Brown, M. J., Hoggins, D. D. and Bayley-Stark, H. J., 1977; Conservation of Flora in Tasmania: The Status of Plant Species which are Primitive, Endemic, or of Geographical Significance; PWS; Hobart [DELM Library, Hobart]

Department of Environment and Land Management, 1996; Tasmanian State Coastal Policy; Department of Environment and Land Management; Hobart [DELM Library, Hobart]

Department of Environment, Sport, Territories 1996, The National Strategy for the conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity, Department of Environment, Sport, Territories, Canberra.

Jackson, J., and Taylor, R., 1995; Threatened Fauna Manual for Production Forests in Tasmania; Forestry Tasmania; Hobart [Forestry Tasmania Library]

Mesibov, R., 1996; Inverterbrate Bioregions in Tasmania; Public Land Use Commission; Hobart [DELM Library, Hobart]

PLANNING

Banks, A.J., 1999; Regional Natural Resource Management in Tasmania: A Framework for Developing Strategies and Setting Priorities; DPIWE, Hobart.

George Town Council (1997). George Town Council Strategic Plan 1997 -2002.

George Town Council, (1997). George Town Council Operational Plan 1997/98.

Launceston City Council (1995) Draft Cataract Gorge Reserve Management Plan, by Jerry de Gryse et al for Launceston City Council.

Launceston City Council (1996) Launceston Planning Scheme 1996 Policy Papers, Launceston.

Municipality of Beaconsfield (1975) Strategy Plan, by Guthridge Haskins & Davey Pty Ltd, Melbourne.

Natural Resources and Environment (1997) Using Multi-Criteria Analysis: A Manual for Ranking Impacts of Land and Water Degradation Version 1. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria.

Rowland, C.J., 1999; Regional NRM in Tasmania: Case Study – Tamar Region; DPIWE,Hobart.

Sustainable Development Advisory Council, (1996) State of the Environment Tasmania, Volume 1 - Conditions and Trends, compiled by the State of the Environment Unit, Land Information Services, Department of Environment and Land Management, Tasmania

Sustainable Development Advisory Council, 1996; State of the Environment Tasmania. Volume 2: Recommendations; DELM; [DELM Library, Hobart]

Tamar Region Master Planning Authority, (1990) Rural Report Launceston.

Tamar Regional Master Planning Authority (1989) Environment - Background Study. Tamar Regional Planning Authority, Launceston.

Tamar Regional Master Planning Authority (1989) Siltation Report. Tamar Regional Master Planning Authority, Launceston.

Tamar Regional Master Planning Authority (1990) Draft Industrial Policy , Launceston.

Tamar Regional Master Planning Authority (1990) Draft Strategy Papers - Environment, Launceston.

Tamar Regional Master Planning Authority (1990) Draft Strategy Papers - Rural, Launceston.

Tamar Regional Master Planning Authority (1990) Rural Report, Launceston.

TBA Planners Pty Ltd, (1996) West Tamar Council and Northern Midlands Council Rural Land Conservation Strategy Issues and Ideas Identification Paper. Prepared for West Tamar Council and the Northern Midlands Council in association with Armstrong Agricultural Services, Alex Brownlie planning Consultant, The Centre for Land Protection Research and Neil Clarke and Associates.

TBA Planners Pty Ltd. (1997) West Tamar Council Rural Land Conservation Strategy. TBA Planners Pty Ltd.

Tilbury, Steel and Farley, Australia, RCS Consulting (1997) Regional Environmental Initiative Study for the Northern Region of Tasmania.

Victorian Catchment and Land Protection Council, 1995. Guidelines for Preparation of Regional Catchment Strategies.

West Tamar Council (1986) Beaconsfield Planning Scheme, West Tamar.

West Tamar Council (1995) 1996 - 2000 Strategic Plan, West Tamar.

West Tamar Council (1996) Annual Report 1996/1997.

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