WA COASTAL COMPARTMENTSWA COASTAL COMPARTMENTSA Geological Framework for Marine and Coastal ManagementA Geological Framework for Marine and Coastal Management

Presentation to Marine Group Workshop at the WALIS Forum 2009

Ian Eliot & Christopher Nutt

November 2009

A project initiated by the Department of Environment & Conservation, the Geological Survey of Western Australia and now undertaken jointly with the Departments of Planning and Transport

Project AimsProject Aims

The aims of the project are to:The aims of the project are to:• Identify a hierarchy of planning units based Identify a hierarchy of planning units based

on natural coastal systems similar to the on natural coastal systems similar to the approach used to identify river catchments.approach used to identify river catchments.

• The marine and coastal planning units The marine and coastal planning units should approximately accord with mapping should approximately accord with mapping scales commonly used for the preparation of scales commonly used for the preparation of statutory plans.statutory plans.

BASIC CONCEPTS

1. The hierarchy of planning units is based on the geologic framework of the coast.

2. At the broadest planning levels the planning units comprise a set of discrete coastal compartments determined by geologic boundaries, structures, landforms and aspect of the shore together with the landforms they contain.

3. At the most detailed planning levels the planning units are identified as sediment cells in which sediments sources, transport pathways and sinks can be clearly defined.

4. Together, coastal compartments and sediment cells provide a framework for a variety of applications including:

(a) planning and management of natural resources within the nearshore marine and coastal environment; and

(b) assessment of vulnerability to coastal hazards, climate change and rise in sea level.

Priority Feature Examples

1 Changes in bedrock geology Metamorphic to sedimentary rocks; lithified to unconsolidated sediments

2 Rock structures (topography) Rocky capes, peninsulas, termination of extensive cliffs

3 Geomorphic features (morphology)

Large cuspate forelands and tombolos; extensive sandy beaches

4 Change in aspect of the shore Bald Head at the entrance to King George Sound; changes in aspect along Eighty Mile Beach

COMPARTMENT BOUNDARIES

HierarchicalLevel

Location, climate, geology, landscape, biological province

Nominal Scale

1: 1 000 000

1: 250 000

1: 50 000

1: 10 000

Location, climate, large landforms, bathymetry, hydrology, primary biotopes

Location, geology, geomorphology, physico-chemical and biological features, jurisdictional areas, secondary biotopes

Location, geology, geomorphology, coastal dynamics, physico-chemical and biological features (ecological character), habitats, biological facies, jurisdictional areas, land tenure, land use, management issues, environmental hazard and risk

Level 2Regional strategies

Level 1Policy

Level 3Regional and local plans

Basic information (core data) requirements

Level 4Local and site plans

Mapping Scale Planning Hierarchy

REGIONS & PRIMARY COMPARTMENTS

Compartments have been identified for three levels.

These correspond with the lower three tiers in the planning hierarchy.

Landforms contained in the primary and secondary compartments have been identified.

Potentially these broad descriptions are applicable as planning units at regional strategic planning levels

HIERARCHY OF COASTAL COMPARTMENTS

THE LOCAL SCALE: SEDIMENT CELLS & SEDIMENT BUDGETS

From Stul et al (2007)

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS

COMPARTMENTS

Landforms (Framework) & Processes (Drivers)

PLANNING PURPOSES

Marine & coastal

planning

Habitat description

Marine & coastal risk assessment

Marine conservation

EBFM

SCALE SECTION OF INTEREST AGENCIES APPROACH

STRATEGIC1:250 000 to1:1 000 000

Primary and Secondary Coastal Compartments around WA

DECDoPDoT

Habitat mapping; conservation planningPlanning & policy; Hazard & risk assessment

REGIONAL1:50 000 to1:250 000

South Coast: Cape Leeuwin to SA Border

DEC Habitat mapping; regional marine planning

Pilbara: Entrance Point to Cape Jaubert

DEC DoPDoT

Habitat mapping; regional marine planningCoastal vulnerability & climate change

Kimberley: Cape Jaubert to NT Border

DEC Habitat mapping; regional marine planning

SUB-REGIONAL1:10 000 to1: 50 000

NAR: Guilderton to Kalbarri

DoPDoTGPACGG

Coastal planning & management Hazard & risk assessmentPort maintenance & coastal stabilityCoastal vulnerability & climate change

Mandurah LGA MCCDoP & DoT

Coastal planning & management Coastal vulnerability & climate change

LOCAL> 1:10 000

Binningup to Dawesville

DoP & DoT Hazard & risk assessmentCoastal vulnerability & climate change

Lancelin Townsite GSCDoT

Hazard & risk assessmentCoastal vulnerability & climate change

SOME PROJECTS IN PROGRESS: INCLUDING CASE STUDIES

WHERE TO NEXT?

Primary and secondary planning units (compartments & the landforms each contains) have been completed for the State.

Tertiary compartments have been identified but the landforms each compartment contains remain to be determined

There is a need to agree on appropriate descriptors of the landforms at each level to avoid duplication of jargon.

Examples of the potential planning applications at each scale are being compiled, particularly potential use in the Coastal Planning Policy (SPP 2.6).

Custodianship of the data needs to be determined, although GSWA is recommended as the potential custodian.

The framework will be made available for use by interested agencies and organisations and it is up to whoever is interested to further develop the applications.

Thanks for your attention