Our region contains some of the State’s most productive primary industries supplying local and international markets and contributing to the State’s economic and social well-being.
However, 170 years of development has had a significant ecological impact on our landscapes, terrestrial native vegetation and the marine environment.
Natural resource management challenges in the region include:
Unsustainable use of water supplies and disruption to natural water regimes
Excessive use and diversion of surface and groundwater supplies have profoundly affected natural water regimes, while surface and groundwater use exceeds sustainable limits in some areas.
Degradation and fragmentation of natural ecosystems and ongoing loss of natural biodiversity
Nearly two-thirds of the region’s native vegetation has been cleared, and what remains is degraded. There is continuing loss of biodiversity that is further threatened by groundwater driven salinity and stock impacts.
Processes limiting primary production
Declining soil health, pests and diseases collectively limit the ability of primary production to reach its full potential in the region.
Coastal and marine degradation
Human activities such as fishing, aquaculture and coastal development impact on the biodiversity of coastal and marine areas and adversely affect natural marine ecosystems.
See pages 47 – 54 of Integrated NRM Plan