The coastal zone: Introduction
Introduction
The coastal zone is home to more than 85% of Queensland's population, and has significant resources and environmental values that provide a foundation for the state's economic and social development.
Queensland's mainland coastline is extensive. It extends about 6000 km, from the Gulf of Carpentaria in the west (138°E) and Cape York in the north (10°41'S) to Point Danger in the south-east (28 °10'S, 153°33'E). When the 1165 offshore islands and cays (not reefs) are included, the coastline's length is about 9500 km. The Great Barrier Reef consists of 3400 separate coral reefs, shoals and other formations and extends more than 2300 km from Bramble Cay in the north to Lady Elliott Island in the south. The catchment draining to the coast from the mainland east coast is 447 655 km², and that draining from the Gulf of Carpentaria is 450 815 km². Individual catchments range in size from several square kilometres to 142 645 km² ( Fitzroy River catchment).
The coastal zone includes coastal waters, or all areas landward of coastal waters in which there are physical features, ecological or natural processes or human activities that affect, or potentially affect, the coast or coastal resources. In the quantitative assessment of spatial data in this report, the coastal zone layer has been defined as the area within 5 km of the coastline and up to 10 m above sea level.
This chapter reports on five key issues that emerge from the complex set of interactions that occur between humans and the environment along the Queensland coast:
- Coastal resource use and development, which considers a number of factors that place pressure on the coastal environment, including urban development, tourism, maritime industry, resource extraction, fishing and aquaculture;
- Acid sulfate soils, which examines the environmental and economic risks associated with the disturbance of these soil types, and outlines management strategies implemented by government and the community;
- Coastal water quality, which discusses diffuse and point source discharges of pollutants, particularly nutrients, bioaccumulated toxins, and algal blooms;
- Coastal habitats and biodiversity, which deals with disturbance of marine and terrestrial habitats, and the commercial exploitation of biodiversity (for information about species protection, see Chapter 7, Biodiversity); and
- Physical processes and coastal variability, which explores topics such as sea level rise, storm surges, cyclone activity and wave climate.
Each issue is discussed within the extended Pressure-State-Response model (see Chapter 1) and includes comparisons with information presented in previous state of the environment reports where possible. Since the previous reporting period some indicators have changed as enhanced monitoring systems have been implemented. In a few cases indicators have been maintained for continuity, while recognising that better measures may more adequately describe the state of the environment.
As improved data become available they will be published in future reports.
Climate chgane and the coastal zone
The global issue of climate change, associated with rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, has potentially far-reaching consequences for coastal areas, cutting across all issues in this chapter. There are possible impacts on sensitive coastal ecosystems, such as wetlands, dunes and reef systems, as well as aquatic species. Predictive modelling of biodiversity impacts is not included, but trends in coastal physical processes, such as sea level rise and cyclone activity, are discussed in the context of predicted impacts of climate change.
Integrative frameworks-national, state and regional management
Society's approach to environmental management of the coastal zone is documented within the Response section of each issue paper. The reader will recognise cross-over in the responses to each of the issues, reflecting the interrelationship of the issues and the measures taken to deal with them.
In this round of reporting, measures additional to those described in State of the Environment Queensland 2003 (EPA 2003) have been taken in the integration of coastal management. These are summarised below.
The federal and state governments have developed broad management frameworks for the management of the Queensland coast. Initiatives include the release of the National Cooperative Approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management. Framework and Implementation Plan ( DEH 2006), which was developed to improve coordination of coastal management across all tiers of government.
The Queensland Government has a wide range of legislation relating to management of the coastal zone. The primary legislation is the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995, under which the State Coastal Management Plan (the Coastal Plan) (EPA 2001) was released. This was discussed in detail in State of the Environment Queensland 2003.
Four Regional Coastal Management Plans commenced in this reporting period. The status of these and other regional plans at mid-2007 is summarised in Table 6.1.
Table 6.1 Status of Regional Coastal Plans at May 2007
Region |
Plan status |
Wet Tropical Coast |
Commenced on 1 March 2004 |
Cardwell-Hinchinbrook |
Commenced on 13 January 2004 |
Curtis Coast |
Commenced on 29 December 2003 |
Wide Bay Coast |
Draft stage |
South-east Queensland |
Commenced on 28 August 2006 |
Mackay-Whitsunday |
Draft released for public consultation |
Source: EPA
Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan)
In late 2003 the Commonwealth and Queensland governments released the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) (AG and QG 2003) to coordinate the management of water quality in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. The implementation of the plan has been tracked through reports (AG and QG 2005), which have noted the development of industry-led best management practice and farm management systems, the accreditation of regional NRM plans and investment strategies that deliver on Reef Plan objectives, and the introduction of new vegetation management legislation in Queensland to improve land management in Reef catchments.
SEQ Regional Plan
The SEQ Regional Plan, released in 2005, provides an overarching framework for management of development in 18 local government areas of south-east Queensland. Nine of these are located on the coast, and all except one fall within coastal catchments.
Indigenous involvement in coastal management
The recognition of Native Title rights provides a legal basis for Traditional Owners to participate in management of land and sea. In this round of reporting continued consultation and Indigenous engagement are being built into coastal management. For example, within the framework of Australia's Oceans Policy (EA 1998), the Commonwealth Government commissioned Southern Gulf of Carpentaria Sea Country Needs and Issues Research (Memmott and Channells 2004) through the Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, which will feed into the development of the Northern Marine Plan.
Similarly, the policy of the State Coastal Plan is that 'the living culture of Indigenous Traditional Owners and their connection with cultural resources within the coastal zone is valued and continues for future generations of Indigenous Traditional Owners'. Regional plans identify region-specific directions for the implementation of this policy.
References
AG and QG 2003, Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2003, Australian Government and Queensland Government,
Canberra and Brisbane.
AG and QG 2005, Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2005, Report to the Prime Minister and the Premier of Queensland, Australian Government and Queensland Government, Canberra and Brisbane.
DEH 2006, National Cooperative Approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Framework and Implementation Plan, Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, Australian Government, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra.
EA 1998, Australia Oceans Policy Vol. 1, Environment Australia, Canberra.
EPA 2001, State Coastal Management Plan- Queensland's Coastal Policy, Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane.
EPA 2003, State of the Environment Queensland 2003, Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane.
Memmott, P. and Channells, G. 2004, Southern Gulf of Carpentaria Sea Country Needs and Issues Research,
National Oceans Office, Hobart.
Return to State of the Environment Report 2007 content page
Last reviewed 17 May 2011
Last updated 13 February 2008