Environmental Health and Protection Commons^™

Research, Monitoring, Assessment And Development Plan 2011 – 2012, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries occasional publications

No abstract provided.

A Sea Change For Aquatic Sustainability : Meeting The Challenge Of Fish Resources Management And Aquatic Sustainability In The 21st Century, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries occasional publications

No abstract provided.

Climate Change Response Strategy, Anne Bennett

Bulletins 4000 -

Climate change and policies introduced to reduce emissions will affect the agricultural sector and will lead to social and economic outcomes.

In addressing the Western Australian Government's priority plan for the agriculture and food sector, the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia has a number of roles it can play to assist industry to adapt and respond to climate change.

This document provides a balanced and coordinated strategic direction for climate change activities by identifying and prioritising key actions to be achieved over the next five years. The strategy is split into four chapters: emissions abatement, carbon sinks, adapting …

Fishing Industry Impact Study : James Price Point Proposed Liquefied Natural Gas Precinct, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries occasional publications

No abstract provided.

Farm Gate Nutrient Balances In South West Western Australia – An Overview, Rebecca Ovens, David Weaver, Nardia Keipert, Simon Neville, Robert Summers, Martin Clarke

Conference papers and presentations

Farm-gate nutrient budgets can be used to identify the efficiency of nutrient use within and between individual enterprises and catchments, and may be used to represent a component of the risk that particular landuses represent to water quality. Over the past 5 years, more than 400 farm-gate nutrient balance audits have been conducted across a range of catchments and landuses in southwest Western Australia (WA). Values for nutrient use efficiency and surpluses across landuses and catchments are reported. Patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus signatures closely reflect one another across landuses, though nitrogen input, output and surplus values are consistently higher …

Western Australian Rangeland Monitoring System For Grasslands: Field Manual, Andrew Craig, Philip Thomas

Bulletins 4000 -

Western Australian Rangeland Monitoring System (WARMS) sites are designed to provide defined areas for repeated photography and collection of vegetation composition, shrub/tree cover and landscape function (soil surface assessment) data. This manual defines the procedures for installing and monitoring WARMS sites in the grasslands of northern Western Australia. It provides a documented reference of site stratification at regional scale, and site allocation at station (property) scale. Different procedures apply for sites in the shrublands of the southern pastoral zone. WARMS is designed to be interpreted at the vegetation type or regional scale, rather than lease (station) scale. Information gathered is …

The Balancing Act, David Weaver

Conference papers and presentations

Nutrient management is as much a global issue as a local one with a balance required between economics and environment, inherent biological limitations and expectations of nutrient use efficiency, and traditional fertiliser practices and actual enterprise nutrient requirements. The concept of nutrient balance depends on context and scale. Nutrient balance can be considered at a global scale, where issues of nutrient stocks, cycles, depletion and transfer of a particular element are important. For a single farm enterprise, nutrient balance might be considered in terms of phosphorus (P) inputs into and outputs from the enterprise. This is commonly known as a …

Fisheries Envrionmental Management Plan For The Gascoyne Region. Draft Report., Dept. Of Fisheries

Fisheries management papers

This draft document for the Gascoyne Region is the first in the series of Environmental Management Plans. . It complements the recently released Fisheries Environmental Management Review of the Gascoyne Region (2000).

Phosphorus In The Landscape: Diffuse Sources To Surface Waters. Land And Water Resources Research And Development Corporation. Occasional Paper 16/98, Richard Davis, Anne Hamblin, E O'Loughlin, Nic Austin, R Banens, P Cornish, P Hairsin, M Mcculloch, Phil Moody, J Olley, B Prove, I Smalls, David Weaver

All other publications

The National Eutrophication Management Program (NEMP) and Environment Australia convened a workshop to develop a coherent overview of the sources and transport of diffuse phosphorus in Australian catchments based on the latest knowledge. The Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation (LWRRDC) and the Murray–Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) jointly fund NEMP. A select group of scientists attended the workshop and developed a coherent statement about phosphorus sources and transport in Australian catchments. The group did not extend this statement to include recommended management practices. This paper reports the findings from the workshop. State governments have developed algal and nutrient …

Degradation Of Remnant Vegetation, Richard George, Don Mcfarlane, Russell Speed

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Remnant vegetation, wetlands and riverine systems on both private and public land throughout south-western Australia are being rapidly degraded by dryland salinity, inundation, silting, nutrient enrichment and weed invasion. Richard George, Don McFarlane and Russel Speed outline some of the reasons why this is happening and provide some case studies that highlight actions to protect these remnants.

Land Use Planning For Agriculture And Sustainable Rural Development, Ian Kininmonth, Andrew Bathgate, Ross George, Dennis Van Gool

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

An important goel for agriculture will be to achieve sustainable land use patterns and management systems.

Land use planning has a role to play in helping agticulture achieve this goal. Ian Kininmouth, Andrew Bathgate, Ross George and Dennis Van Gool discuss the directions land use planning could follow.

Environmental Considerations For The Proposed Goldfields Gas Pipeline Route Through Wanjarri Nature Reserve, H J. Pringle

Resource management technical reports

Provides a broad description of the biophysical environment on Wanjarri Nature Reserve, discusses land management hazards, assesses and suggests an alternative alignment for the proposed Goldfields Gas Pipeline and briefly discusses environmental monitoring.From a purely environmental perspective the optimal alignment for the proposed Goldfields Gas Pipeline might be to the east of the mulga plains, in the spinifex for most of the way, and west of the sand ridge field near the track down to South Bore.

Saving The Catchments Of Albany's Harbours, Ashley Prout

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Fertiliser, particularly phosphorus, running off farm land is a major source of nutrient entering Albany's harbours. Oyster Harbour, which has a large rural catchment, is especially at risk.

The build-up in nutrients in the harbours has caused nuisance algal growth since the early 1970s and subseuent death of more than half the seagrass beds, which are vital to the areas marine life.

The Department of Agriculture, at the request of the Environmental protection Authority, has developed and promoted catchment management plans that enable rural land holders to reduce the amount of run-off into the harbours without necessarily sacrificing farm productivity. …

Management Of The South-West Inshore Trawl Fishery., N. Moore

Fisheries management papers

This report outlines the management plan for the south west inshore trawl fishery which already operates in coastal waters less than 200 metres deep between Guilderton and Cape Leeuwin. This management plan takes into account these important concerns and has specifically set aside a strip of coastal area from Cape Bouvard to Cape Leeuwin for recreational usage and for protection of the benthic community, and closed the management zone north of Burns Beach to trawling.

Irrigation And Fertilizer Management For Horticultural Crops On The Swan Coastal Plain, I R. Mcpharlin, Greg Luke

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Swan Coastal Plain is an important area for the production of vegetables, flowers and fruits in Western Australia. The yellow Cottesloe, Karrakatta and the white-grey Bassendean Sands upon which most of this production is based are infertile in their natural state and require large inputs of fertilizer for succesful production of horticultural crops.

Improved irrigation and fertilizer management will be needed to reduce nutrient leaching from horticultural crops on the coastal plain. This will probably involve applying fertilizer and water more frequently, but in smaller quantaties thaan currently practiced. The result should more closely match water and fertilizer supply …

Water Erosion Of Farmland In 1988, K J. Bligh

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Widespread heavy rains in WesternAustralian agricultural areas in 1988 caused severe water erosion, much of which could have been avoided by minimum cultivation and lower stocking rates.

Coastal Plains : Land Use And The Environment, P R. George

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Five years ago, this Journal of Agriculture reported on ways to overcome severe algal pollution of the Peel-Harvey estuarine system, 70 km south of Perth.

Several articles in this Journal of Agriculture discuss improved agricultural practices on the Swan Coastal Plain in particular, although the principals will apply to similar eutrophication of the Slbany harbours, Wilson Inlet and the Vassee-Wonnerup Estuary. They also emphasixe the fine balance between man's demand for potable water and land for rural, industrial and urban use.

Improved Fertilizing Practices On The Peel-Harvey Catchment, P T. Arkell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Broad-acre farmers in the Peel-Harvey catchment have met a challange and achieved a great deal since the fertilizer extension programme started in 1983.

The main objective of the extension programme has been to ensure that every year three-quarters of the farmers make economically and technically sound fertilizer decisions, thus causing a minimum amount of phosphorus to enter the waterways of the Peel-Harvey estuarine system.

Planning For Horticultural Expansion On The Swan Coastal Plain, P Coghlan, Geoff Moore, Jim Dixon

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Horticulture is an intensive, high value form of agriculture highly dependant on the availability of good water supplies for the year-round production of fresh produce. Production increase in Western Australia and the encouragement and development of export markets has caused rapid expansion if the industry in recent years.

Expansion is expected to continue, placing severe pressure on available water supplies and suitable land close to markets. At present' 90 per cent of the Stase's horticultural land is on the Swan Coastal Plain and minor selected hills areas around Perth.

Dust Elimination From Outdoor Feedlots For Sheep, D J. Carter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The humble woodchip, widwly used as a soil mulch in Western Australian gardens, is set tto take a new role as a dust inhibito in assembly yards used to hold live sheep for export.

Research by the Department of Agriculture's Soil Conservation Service Branch has shown that, of the materials tested, woodchips were the most effective in preventing dust being generated. Wind speeds had to approach a "near gale" before dust developedfrom the protected soil.

The use of woodchips, therefore, provides a practical alternative to stabalising the soil and preventing an environmental problem associated with one of the State's valuable …

Seepage Interceptor Drains And Topsoil Salinity, T R. Negus

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Department of Agriculture established 121 trials in its Narrogin advisory district starting in 1972 to measure the effect of bulldozer and grader built seepage interceptor banks and drains on the topsoil salinity of the land downslope of them.

After 14 years of moniterin, there was no evidence that seepage interceptor drains and banks reduced the top soil salinity on 10 of the 11 sites in the Pingelly, Brookton and Wickepin Shires.

Broadacre Pest Control After Ddt, P J. Michael

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DDT may no longer be applied to broadacre crops grown in Western Australia. It is being replaced by other more effective chemicals and with new methods of pest control. DDT was the most effective chemical for the control of several major broadacre pests in this State and farmers may well wonder why this change was necessary and how they will manage without DDT.

Grazing And Management Of Saltland Shrubs, C V. Malcolm, J. E. Pol

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

areas of bare saltland on farms need not be unproductive etesores. Many Western Australian farmers are now successfully growing salt-tolerant or halophytic shrubs such as bluebush (Maireana brevifolia), saltbushes (Atriplex spp.) and samphires (Halosarcia spp.) on these areas.

Department of agriculture trials and farmers' experience indicate that if saltland is planted with recommended shrubs, it can provide two months' valuable grazing for sheep during autumn and early winter, a time when paddock feed is scarce. Research by the Department has also identified a range of salt-tolerant shrubs suited to the various types of saltland.

Grazing trials to …

Biological Control Of Parkinsonia, W M. Woods

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

One of the most troublesome weeds in northern Australia'a lastoral country is Parkinsonia aculeata, commonly called Parkinsonia, Jerusalem Thorn, Palo Verde or Retama. In 983 Western Australia, ueensland and the Northern Territory started a joint biological control programme against this perst by sending the author overseas to search for its natural predators in southern USA, Mexico and Central America. A few insects show promise and one, a bruchid beetle Mimosetes ulkei, is being tested under Quarantine in Queensland.

Causes Of Soil Acidity, W M. Porter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The introduction of agriculture into australia has caused many of our soils to become more acid faster than they would have otherwise.

In Europe and other parts of the world, soil acidification is accepted as a normal by-product of a successful agricultural system. Lime* is widley used to neutralise the acids added as a result of agricultural practices.

In Western Australia, lime applications will be needed more frequently in the future, although maybe not in the same volumes as in Europe.

Soil Testing For Acidity, I R. Wilson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

One of the most important aspects of the soil acidity research programme is the accurate analysis of soil and plant materials.

A soil acidity problem cannot be simply diagnosed with one test. Although the soil pH test is used for the initial evaluation of soil acidity, it does not measure the other factors which affect plant growth as a result of this acidity.

For example, plant growth on a coastal soil with pH 4.3 (in water) may not be affected by applying lime, but growth may improve markedly on a central wheatbelt soil of pH 4,8 (in water).

Another two …

Algal Problems Of The Estuary, E. P. Hodgkin, P. B. Birch

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Peel-Harvey esturine system study began in 1976 because people living near Peel Inlet complained about the accumulation of water weeds and algae on the shores and the smell of hydrogen sulphide (rotton egg gas) that resulted from their decomposition. From 1974 efforts had been made to control this 'algal problem' by raking up the weed with tractors and carting it away. This 'cosmetic activity had little impact on the problem.

The immediate cause was obvious: a carpet of green algae covering about 20square kilometres of the bottom of Peel Inlet. From time to time this 'goat weed' floated to …

Alternative Land Uses, D A. Morrison, B. C. Mattinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

One aproach to minimise the high nutrient content and associated algal pollution of the Peel-Harvey estuarine system is to reduce phosphorus losses at their source. Farmers can do this by changing land use is such a way thar phosphorus run-off fromthe catchment soils into drainage is prevented or at least reduced.

The department of Agriculture is investigating the economics of alternative uses, particularly substituting forestry with Pinus pinaster or Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanian blue gum) for present beef and sheep enterprises. P. pinaster is used for logging and E. globulus for pulping.

Feral Donkeys : An Assessment Of Control In The Kimberley, S H. Wheeler

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Feral donkeys are one of the major limitations to increased pastoral production in many parts of the Kimberley area of Western Australia, where they compete with cattle for food. In addition donkeys are aggressive animals, driving cattle from watering points and better grazing areas. They eliminate perenial plants by overgrazing and therefore reduce the carrying capacity of the range.

Originally introduced as draught animals, donkeys were released when cars arrived; since then they have bred up to large numbers in many areas.

For several years the Agricultural Protection Board has undertaken a programme of donkey shooting from helicopters. Since this …

Algal Growth And The Phosphorus Cycle, Arthur J. Mccomb, K. S. Hamel, A. L. Huber, D. K. Kidby, R. J. Lukatelich

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Larger algae and microscopic phytoplankton foul the waters of the Peel-Harvey estuarine system, upsetting the fishery and polluting the beaches.

These aquatic plants grow in response to phosphorus runoff from drainage, trapping phosphorus in the estuary and using it in their growth. When they die this phosphorus remains in the system to be recycled for further plant growth.

Algal pollution in the estuary can be lessened by reducing the amount of phosphorus entering the system, increasing phosphorus losses to the ocean, or in some way blocking the trapping and recycling processes.