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A range of planning strategies has been implemented to address water quality and sustainable land practices within the Adelaide Hills.
Meeting the Challenge
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Strategy 7: Updated planning strategies for the Mount Lofty Ranges Watershed will protect the region from inappropriate development that may impact on water quality.
Completion date: 2005
Lead agency: Planning SA |
Reports, progress and links:
Watershed strategies are included in the Planning Strategy for the Outer Metropolitan Adelaide Region. The region provides the physical interface between Metropolitan Adelaide and rural South Australia, and includes the Mount Lofty Ranges Water Catchment and some of the most important agriculture and tourism areas for South Australia.
The Planning Strategy for Outer Metropolitan Adelaide (December 2007) provides direction from the State Government on land use and development in this region over the medium term (a period of 10-15 years). It provides a comprehensive framework to guide future development, and will inform further detailed work with local councils, industry and local residents.
In particular, the maps, policies and strategies contained in the Planning Strategy provide direction and a resource for Councils undertaking strategic planning processes, including Strategic Management Plans, Development Plan reviews and Development Plan Amendments.
The Planning Strategy divides the Mount Lofty Watershed, for development purposes, into three distinct areas, differentiating the inherent risks of new development on drinking water supplies in each area (Area 1 having the highest risk and Area 3 the lowest).
On 20 December 2007 the Strategy was updated to reflect the new urban boundary for metropolitan Adelaide adopted on that date. Watershed strategies are included in Planning Strategy for the Outer Metro Adelaide Region, which was updated in August 2006.
The Strategy will be reviewed again and any changes to watershed strategies will be reflected in the reviewed document.
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Strategy 8: The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board has been established to deliver integrated and transparent management systems to the region.
Completion date: 2005
Lead agency: Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board |
Reports, progress and links:
The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board held its first meeting on 16 June 2005. The Board undertakes a range of activities to help improve the state and condition of natural resources within its region, often working together with other stakeholders and the community.
A key strategic role of the Board is to develop an over-arching plan to manage the region’s natural resources. The plan is a joint initiative by the Board with all its partners - landholders, industry, traditional owners, schools, community groups and federal, state and local government. Considerable effort has gone into developing the plan, which will form the basis of the Boards investment decisions over the coming years. The 20-year regional plan, including four-volumes comprising a comprehensive summary of the state of region’s natural resources, a 10-year plan, a three-year business plan, and a regulatory and policy document, was released in draft for comment in 2007. The comment period closed in February 2008 and the plan is now being finalised for introduction from mid-2008.
An interim plan has been in place while the comprehensive Regional Plan has been developed. For further details visit the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board Regional NRM Plan link.
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Strategy 9: Strategies will be evaluated and introduced to reduce pollution from existing developments in the Adelaide Hills, including improving septic tank management, and fencing off more rivers and creeks to prevent stock access.
Completion date: Ongoing
Lead agency: Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board |
Reports, progress and links:
The Mount Lofty Ranges Waste Control Project, involving the Adelaide Hills Council and funding by SA Water and the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, has successfully identified and rectified many leaking septic tanks. The project encourages property owners to upgrade their septic tanks to reduce human waste from contaminating water catchments in the watershed.
The South Australian EPA is actively involved in watershed protection and during 2000 to 2007, it oversaw the Myponga Restoration Project, a program that works with landholders to fence watercourses in the Myponga catchment to restrict stock access to reduce stock related pollution. The program is now run by the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board.
The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board has managed the watercourse restoration program that has been fencing water courses in the Mount Lofty Ranges to restrict stock access and reduce pollution from faecal matter.
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Strategy 10: Complex existing management arrangements for water resources in the Adelaide Hills will be reviewed and simplified to clarify overlapping responsibilities involving State and local government, semi-government and community organisations.
Completion date: 2010
Lead agency: Department of Water, Land & Biodiversity Conservation |
Reports, progress and links:
The water resources of the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges were prescribed on 8 September 2005, and those of the Western Mount Lofty Ranges were prescribed on 20 October 2005. Water allocation plans are being developed. A Mount Lofty Ranges Water Resources Coordinating Committee has been established with representation from key agencies and stakeholders.
The Natural Resources Management Boards are preparing discussion papers and draft water allocation plans for public consultation in 2007-08 (see Strategy 5). These actions will help clarify and reduce overlapping responsibilities between state and local government, the Natural Resources Management Board Boards and community organisations.
Please visit the following links for information on the water allocation plans:
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