Coast to Coast 2010 Workshops

South Australian Coastal Conservation Assessments, 2006 – 2010

Convenors: Doug Fotheringham, Brian Caton, Matthew Royal, Mary-Alice Swan, South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage

Collation, mapping, and GIS analysis of the best available data on conservation and threats to SA coastal lands, leading to prioritisation of actions on a regional basis, is briefly described. The workshop will view and discuss the GIS maps produced for the 5 regions completed to date and discuss the processes leading to actions. For one region the use of this information tool by NRM, Councils and community groups is discussed.

Coastal Climate Change Guidelines

Convenor: National Committee on Coastal and Ocean Engineering (Engineers Australia)

Over the past two decades there has been a growing awareness of the potential impacts that human-induced global climate change may have, and especially its possible effects on the coastal and ocean environment. This awareness has been raised to the extent that many approving bodies now insist that climate change effects be taken into account in all new development applications.

The NCCOE is presenting a workshop for its 2010 update of the document Guidelines for Responding to the Effects of Climate Change in Coastal and Ocean Engineering, which has been prepared with the assistance of the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE).

The guidelines provide:

The DCCEE is also assisting the NCCOE to update Coastal Engineering Guidelines for Working with the Australian Coast in an Ecologically Sustainable Way and to develop a new document provisionally titled Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Management and Planning.

About the National Committee on Coastal and Ocean Engineering The National Committee on Coastal and Ocean Engineering (NCCOE) is a specialist committee of the Civil College of Engineers Australia. It has been in existence for over 30 years, and represents over 3000 EA members with an interest in coast and ocean engineering. The committee membership consists of volunteers representing each state and territory from the public, private and academic sectors. Administrative and logistic support is provided by Engineers Australia. The NCCOE assists public and private sector professionals practising in the coastal zone by producing and periodically updating several key publications (see above). It maintains links to a broad range of Australian and international organisations and professional bodies and responds to both local and national issues relating to coastal and ocean engineering matters. A key activity of the committee is the organisation of highly successful Australasian and international conferences, promoting coastal and ocean engineering and facilitating the practice of engineering for the common good. The NCCOE also maintains a focussed priority list of research development activities, is active in the accreditation of undergraduate engineering programs, provides awards for high achievement and disseminates information to members via its numerous active state panels and its web site at www.engineersaustralia.org.au/nccoe.

CSIRO Coastal Collaboration Cluster: Enabling Science Uptake in Australian's Coastal Zone

Convenor: Laura Stocker, Curtin University

Based in the CSIRO Wealth from Oceans Flagship, and also contributing to the Climate Adaptation Flagship, this new Cluster will analyse coastal zone management processes in Australia and develop conceptual and adaptive approaches that will enable better science uptake by governance, thereby contributing to a more resilient and sustainable coastal zone.

The workshop will overview the proposed research and findings to date of the five Cluster themes:

• Governance: collaborative policy-making and planning in the coastal zone (David Wood and Laura Stocker)
• Socio-cultural Context: dimensions and networks (Nick Harvey and Bev Clarke)
• Knowledge Systems (Kevin O’Toole and Marcus Haward)
• Adaptive Learning (Tim Smith)
• Integration and Synthesis (Lee Cordner, David Wood and Laura Stocker)

Cutting the Umbilical Cord: Integrated Planning for Coastal Management

Convenor: Neil Lazarow, Australian Coastal Society Board of Directors

The Australian Coastal Society invites conference delegates to attend and participate in a panel session that focuses on the challenges and opportunities for integrated coastal management (ICM). The session will focus on the significant non-NRM related ICM issues including: planning and infrastructure; governance; and the impact of demographic changes such as population growth, community health, and housing affordability. The workshop promises an engaging and critical discussion of these important challenges and should be attended by all those who have a serious interest in the future of our coast and communities.

Do We Need An Australian Coastal Observatory?

Convenors: Ian Cresswell, Richard Mount, Tim Pritchard, Arnold Dekker and the National Estuaries Network

In the past few years considerable effort has gone into developing a new research infrastructure for marine (Integrated Marine Observing System - IMOS) and terrestrial systems (Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network TERN). It is commonly recognised that a ‘gap’ exists in the creation of a national data and information "commons" for the coastal zone (onshore and nearshore and including estuaries). The rapid development of key research data commons organisations such as the Australian National Data Service (ANDS) has highlighted that new data and information infrastructures are feasible in Australia.

Currently the limited availability of existing data and once-off use of information is inefficient and expensive. One major factor contributing to the loss of these data sets from active, repeat use is the lack of a coherent way to store, manage and access them. This severely limits our capacity to respond to the challenges of coastal management.

The vision of coordinated coastal observations using nationally agreed standards, including earth observation, in situ measurements and various forms of mapping, is more efficient and will support management at all levels of activity from national to local. One of the key challenges in the coastal zone is the dynamism of the environment and a key concern for environmental information and change detection is to increase the frequency with which it is captured (temporal resolution).

To date IMOS and TERN have not had any focus in the coastal zone, but recent reports, including a Parliamentary Inquiry point to a clear need for a renewed effort to establish an improved coastal data and information infrastructure. This workshop will discuss "What is it we need?" (scope) and "How should we achieve it? (next steps)". If you are interested to join in the creation of this vision and a plan for taking it forward, then this is the workshop for you!

Progressing Shorebird Conservation and Management

Convenors: Birds Australia: Rob Clemens, Shorebirds 2020 Technical Manager, Grainne Maguire, Project Manager Beach-nesting Birds with support from the Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board

Migratory shorebird and beach-nesting birds are under increasing threats through coastal development and disturbance. Coastal managers and developers need to be aware that a range of shorebird species are subject to requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and a Wildlife Conservation Plan developed under that Act. This workshop will provide a brief overview of shorebirds their status and threats to their conservation; introduce Birds Australia’s beach nesting and migratory shorebird monitoring programs. Opportunity will be given to discuss the shorebird management techniques and aspects of state and national of shorebird conservation and ways to improve and expand existing programs.

For more information see: http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/beach-nesting-birds.html and http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/shorebirds-2020.html

Citizen Science on the Coast

Convenor: Alex Gaut, Coast to Coast conference committee member, and Biodiversity Program Co-ordinator at Conservation Council of SA

Nearly every state in Australia now has citizen science programs running in coastal and marine environments, such as Reef Watch (SA and Vic), Reef Life Survey, Sea Search, CoastKeepers, Coral Watch, Botany Bay Watch and more.
Citizen science is proving to be a valuable means to provide scientists and managers with data about coastal and marine ecosystems, engaging the community and giving the community a sense of stewardship for these precious environments. There have been some significant ‘wins’ for coastal citizen science that not only validate citizen science, but support the promotion and development of this important management tool.
Objectives of the workshop include:

• Networking
• Providing a discussion space
• Identifying common challenges and potential ways to address them
• Identifying strategic opportunities for coastal and marine citizen science
• Round robin: who is doing what and where, achievements, partners/stakeholders, activities, etc.
• Common challenges: e.g. volunteer retention, funding, data management, insurance, etc.
• Opportunities
• Networking
• Moving forward with coast and marine citizen science

Back to the Future for Australia’s Marine Protected Areas

Convenors: Mark Rodrigue & Sarah Bignell Parks Victoria & Department of Environment & Natural Resources, South Australia

Over the last two decades Australian States, Territories, and the Commonwealth have made significant advances in the identification and implementation of marine protected areas within their various jurisdictions contributing to the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA).

The commitment by Australia to marine bioregional planning, incorporating the NRSMPA, grew from discussions held between the Commonwealth Government and State Governments in the late 1980s. The national program of marine bioregional planning commenced with the broad bipartisan support given by both Commonwealth and State Governments and has enjoyed guidance from strong scientific foundations.

While enjoying relatively strong support over this period and the achievement of considerable gains in establishing better marine management recent political manoeuvring has seen a strong anti – MPA sentiment expressed and a significant challenge posed to demonstrate the benefits of this system.

This workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to get an around the states / territories MPA wrap up focussing on

• existing marine park and reserves system in place
• plans for future of the marine protected area system
• key threats to MPAs being addressed by current programs
• future challenges

Following this update participants will be invited to discuss future directions and opportunities for building support for continuing to establish MPAs and implementation of the NRSMPA.

Outcomes sought include:

• shared information about current programs
• identification of synergies and opportunities for jurisdictions to work together more effectively
• developing a collective response to recent anti MPA sentiments
• establishing a community of practice for MPA practitioners