Since joining us a few months ago, our new Program Manager Water, Andrew Solomon has been busy planning for the 10 year review of the Water Allocation Plan which has been brought forward due to concerns about our local water resources. Andrew joins us from a number of years with the Environment Protection Authority. He’s enjoying being back in his home town of Port Lincoln.

This month we farewell Andrew Freeman who has been with our organisation for more than 20 years! For the past several years he has been our Planning and Assessment Officer, most recently taking the lead on our Eyes on Eyre ​sustainable camping project and the Coffin Bay water quality project.

Amy Wright continues to be a contact for the local farming community in her updated role of Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator. This position is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program. Ag Innovation and Research EP (AIR EP) is contracted to deliver this role for us.

As we begin a new 5-year funding agreement with the Commonwealth Government, we expect a new range of programs and education to be available for local farmers. Stayed tuned!

We hope to welcome new Board members in time for our August Board meeting. This follows Helen Lamont stepping down as a Board member recently. Thanks to Helen for her work on the Board over the past 18 months.

The first draft of our Indigenous Participation Plan has been completed and now our Aboriginal Engagement Officer Monique Anderson is travelling around the Eyre Peninsula consulting on the plan.

One of the first stops was a meeting with the Nana’s group in Ceduna (pictured left). The group meeting was well attended by the elders of the community where they gave feedback on the plan. We would like to thank the Nana’s for allowing the consultation to take place and providing their invaluable input.

The Indigenous Participation Plan provides a way forward for us to work collaboratively with Aboriginal communities and Traditional Owners.

“Understanding the deep bond between our Aboriginal communities and the land, sea, and water is crucial to preserving the sustainability and well-being of the Eyre Peninsula,” says Ms Anderson.

“By actively engaging in partnerships and working hand in hand with these communities, we believe we can make a meaningful impact on sustaining our region.”

If you would like to comment on the draft plan please contact Monique on email at monique.anderson@sa.gov.au or call her on 0407 484 421.

Last week Monique also joined in NAIDOC Week events held in Streaky Bay, Ceduna and Whyalla.

Our landscape officers have been working on a range of pest plant control across the region.

In Streaky Bay, the focus has been on gazania control. Following early June rain, it's been the ideal time to control gazania. It may look like a nice garden flower but it’s actually a declared weed which competes with natives for moisture and water, causing biodiversity loss. Gazania spreads along road reserves, degraded native vegetation areas and coastal dunes, forming dense stands that excludes other plants. See our Gazania fact sheet.
 

White weeping broom control has also been taking place around lower Eyre Peninsula. As we work towards eradicating White weeping broom from our region, a thorough search for this pest plant has been undertaken in areas with known sites including Port Neill, Point Boston, Tumby Bay saltmarsh, Bergs Beach, Port Lincoln and Lipson.

Our landscape officers have been working with private landholders and councils on these site inspections with subsequent control work involving cutting and swabbing the plants in sensitive areas such as creeklines, and using the basal bark method in others. Read our fact sheet for more information about control methods.
 

African Boxthorn control work has been carried out over 300km of roadsides and priority areas in the eastern district. More than 1,600 boxthorn plants have been treated to date.

Work is focused on preventing the outwards spread of boxthorns, working from the least infested areas and pushing back towards the most infested areas around Cowell and Arno Bay. Fully surveyed and treated roadsides include the stretch of Lincoln Highway between Whyalla and Cowell, Cowell to Kimba Rd, Cowell to Cleve Rd, and the Lucky Bay Rd.

Boxthorn seed is spread easily by birds feeding on the fruit of mature plants, so it’s important to treat boxthorns now while they are actively growing - before they bear fruit in spring. See our fact sheet for more details and our management plan.

Water is a precious resource that needs to be managed sustainably.

On Eyre Peninsula, that means landholders wanting to modify existing or establish new water sources such as dams or soaks, will likely need a water affecting activity permit before any works take place. Similarly, a permit may also be required to undertake works within a watercourse. Our staff can help with this. See our water affecting activities page for more information.

Water allocation planning
Our region contains many complex and fragile groundwater systems. Eyre Peninsula has a Water Allocation Plan for the Southern Basins and the Musgrave Prescribed Wells Areas. This plan sets out the rules for managing the take of the prescribed groundwater resources.

A review and amendment of this plan is set to be complete by early 2026. Consultation has begun with water licence holders in these areas and will be key to the review during the next year, along with updated water science data from the Department for Environment and Water. Current data suggest there is a likely decrease in the volume of available groundwater and it’s expected that significant changes will be made to licences following the review. Read our media release about this for more details.

SA Water is a major licence holder for the Southern Basins and Musgrave areas, responsible for supplying mains water to many households and businesses across Eyre Peninsula. The general community who access mains water will therefore be included as part of our review process later this year.