Land and Sea Management

Overview

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) was invited by Australian and Queensland Government Ministers to manage the delivery of the Natural Heritage Trust programme (NHT) in the Torres Strait region. The overarching objectives of the NHT are biodiversity conservation, the sustainable use of natural resources, and community capacity-building and institutional change.

To find out more about the Natural Heritage Trust, visit: www.nht.gov.au

Land & Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait

The Torres Strait region, unlike other regions, does not have an accredited regional plan or regional investment strategy (RIS) in place. The TSRA Board and Australian and Queensland Government Ministers have approved a Land and Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait, developed in 2005, as the document that sets strategic directions to meet Natural Resource Management (NRM) objectives, in lieu of a fully accredited NRM Plan for the region.  The Strategy identifies a package of strategic projects and activities, including on-ground projects, key information needs and institutional resource needs to protect and enhance the natural environment of the Torres Strait.  It forms the basis for NRM investment and priority-setting in the region.  Concept project proposals are endorsed by the TSRA Board and Executive before being fully developed.

The TSRA’s Land and Sea Management Unit will be developing a draft Regional Investment Strategy to take to Torres Strait communities over the next twelve months.  It will form the basis for further NHT investment after June 2008.

TSRA Land & Sea Management Unit

In June of 2006, TSRA established a Land & Sea Management Unit to coordinate the delivery of regional and local level land and sea management initiatives, and to support communities to access additional financial and technical support, and information about the sustainable management of their environments.  The Unit operates out of the Four Winds Building, adjacent to the Gab Titui Cultural Centre, on Thursday Island.

The Land & Sea Management Unit is comprised of a Manager, Regional Natural Resource Management Facilitator, Landcare Officer, Land Management Field Officer, Dugong & Turtle Project Facilitator, Dugong and Turtle Project Liaison Officer, Community Liaison Officer and an Administration Officer. 
 

(L to R)Miya Isherwood, Regional NRM Facilitator; Ben Hanrahan, Land Management Field Officer; Sabrina Akee, Administration Officer; Vic McGrath, Community Liason Officer; Damian Miley, Manager; Lachlan Sutherland, Dugong & Turtle Project Facilitator; Marianne Helling, Landcare Officer;and Frank Loban; Dugong & Turtle Project Liason Officer.

Projects that the Unit is currently responsible for managing include:

• Eight NHT funded projects underway, of which two are project managed on behalf of the Northern Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA);
• two NHT projects soon to commence;
• two  NLP funded projects;
• a contract in place with the Australian Department of Envionment and Heritage (DEH) to extend the employment arrangements for our current NRM regional facilitator; and
• three projects funded through the Marine and Tropical Science Research Facility. 

Land & Sea Management Unit Staff Profile

Damian Miley, Manager, Land & Sea Management Unit

Damian Miley is the Manager of the Land and Sea Management Unit.  Damian is responsible for the overall coordination, delivery, monitoring, management and reporting of projects under the Land and Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait, as well as supporting and managing the Land and Sea Management Unit team.

Damian has a strong background in the natural resource field - from a hands-on role managing a number of national parks in Queensland, including in the Cape York region, as well as working with Aboriginal communities in natural resource management programs, particularly in the Cape York and Western Gulf areas.  Damian has been in a number of managerial positions in government, particularly with a policy and planning background - from land, coast and regional natural resource planning and policy to more recently being team leader for Indigenous Strategic Policy for the Department of Natural Resources and Water. 

Miya Isherwood, Strategic Regional Facilitator
 
Miya Isherwood has a background in law and environmental science, and has been working within the TSRA since June 2004 as the NRM Regional Facilitator for the Torres Strait, funded under the Natural Heritage Trust.  Miya played a key role in the development of the Land & Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait and the establishment of the Land and Sea Management Unit.  Miya continues to provide support for the delivery of land and sea management initiatives in the region through facilitating improved coordination and alignment of effort on the part of agencies, research entities, and partner organisations based within and outside of the Torres Strait region.  Contact Miya for advice and assistance to support your organisation or community to carry out land and sea management projects in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area.  

Lachlan Sutherland, Dugong & Turtle Project Facilitator

Lachlan Sutherland is the Regional Facilitator of the Dugong and Marine Turtle Project, coordinated by the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA).  Lachlan brings two years experience working in Indigenous Land and Sea Management at Aurukun as well as numerous years experience in environmental consultancy.  Lachlan has formal qualifications in aquatic ecology but his true passions lay in cross-cultural liaison and Indigenous culture and the integration of Indigenous and contemporary management of natural resources.

Lachlan’s role is to coordinate the roll out of the Regional Activity Plan for Torres Strait, a document that details the development of a community-based management approach to managing dugong and marine turtles in the region.  The Regional Facilitator works within TSRA and acts as a contact between Torres Strait communities and government agencies within these fisheries.  Lachlan works closely with Frank Loban.

Frank Loban, Dugong and Turtle Project Liaison Officer   

Frank Loban’s heritage hails from Besai and Boigu on his father’s side, whilst his mother’s ancestry is Badu, Moa and Besai.  He comes to TSRA after working in Brisbane with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for four years.  This included working overseas for a period of six months in the Solomon Islands.  Frank has completed an undergraduate degree in Justice involving components such as law enforcement, security and intelligence.  Currently he is in the final stages of completing a Masters of Indigenous Studies.  Frank developed a passion for resource management in his homeland, the Torres Strait, during his tertiary education years. 

Marianne Helling, Landcare Officer

Marianne Helling is the TSRA Land & Sea Management Unit’s Landcare Officer for the Torres Strait, which is funded under the National Landcare Programme.  Marianne has a technical background in horticulture, conservation and land management, is a qualified vocational trainer and assessor, and has a diploma in business administration.  Marianne has extensive experience working with Indigenous communities in training and land management projects. 

Ben Hanrahan, Land Management Field Officer

Ben Hanrahan’s role in the Land & Sea Management Unit (LSMU is to assist with the on-ground delivery of the various Landcare projects.  These projects are part of the LSMU’s approach to strengthening communities while benefiting the terrestrial environment of the Torres Strait.  Ben has a practical background in various horticultural fields as well as a Diploma in Horticulture and is currently studying Environmental Science through Charles Sturt University.  

Sabrina Akee, Administration Officer

Sabrina Akee joined the Land & Sea Management Unit in 2006 as its Administration Officer, having previously worked in the TSRA Policy Section.  Sabrina has also worked in other government agencies in an administrative capacity.  Sabrina has an interest in land and sea management as a Torres Strait Islander woman with connections to Boigu, Moa (St Pauls) and Mer Islands, and plays an important role in supporting the delivery of projects across the entire region. 

Vic McGrath, Community Liaison Officer

Vic McGrath has a work history on local environmental issues since 1990 when he worked on the Torres Strait Baseline Study.  He has been involved in a number of Torres Strait related projects since then, including an Environmental Impact Assessment for the PNG Gas Pipeline, the Warul Kawa Indigenous Protected Areas program, and on coastal erosion matters.  He also worked on the Island Coordinating Council’s marine strategy program known as MaSTERS as well as assisted to set up the inaugural Natural Resource Management Unit that was eventually replaced by the present Land and Sea Management Unit. 

Land & Sea Management Projects

The Land & Sea Management Unit is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Land & Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait with funding available under the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and National Landcare Programme (NLP) as well as other government and non-government funding sources. 

The Land & Sea Management Unit team are involved in delivering a range of projects, including local, regional, cross-regional and collaborative projects. 

Local projects include the:

- Badu Island Land & Sea Management Programme
- Ugar Island Water Quality Project

Regional and cross-regional projects include the:
• Native Title Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBC) Capacity-Building Project
• Water Education Project
• Information Management Project
• Marine Debris Project
• Land and Sea Management Education and Training Project
• Dugong & Marine Turtle Management Projects
• Long-term management of erosion on cay islands in Torres Strait - Warraber, Poruma and Masig Islands
• Supporting the establishment of stable landscapes on Erub, Masig and
     Mer Islands

The TSRA Board has also given in-principle approval for a sustainable local land-use planning project to be funded. The Unit is currently working as proposal to roll out this project.

Please contact the Land & Sea Management Unit by emailing info@tsra.gov.au, if you would like any further information about these projects.

More details on the projects: Refer to project review

It is also important to be aware of research protocols for working with Torres Strait Islander communities.  To view a copy of the Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Policy publication Mina Mir Lo Ailan Mun: Proper Communication with Torres Strait Islander Peoples, visit:

http://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/pdf/minamir.pdf

The Land & Sea Management Unit is also in the process of developing research protocols for working with Torres Strait Islander peoples in relation to land and sea management research projects. 

Links

http://www.nailsma.org.au/projects/dugong_turtle.html
http://www.regionalnrm.qld.gov.au
http://www.nht.gov.au

The Land & Sea Management Unit also is working on a number of collaborative projects with other regional bodies in neighbouring regions, including Cape York and the Northern Gulf.

Visit:

http://www.cypda.com.au
http:/www.northerngulf.com.au

1. Project Review

CROSS-REGIONAL DUGONG & MARINE TURTLE MANAGEMENT PROJECT

The Torres Strait is one of five regions participating in the cross-regional NHT-funded Dugong and Marine Turtle Management Project, coordinated by Northern Australia Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA).  A Regional Activity Plan (RAPTS) was developed on behalf of the TSRA by the CRC Torres Strait, to provide a strategic framework to guide the implementation of the project in the Torres Strait region.  The RAPTS includes four key components including community management plans for dugong and marine turtle; monitoring programs; catch sharing; and education and awareness-raising.

The Torres Strait component of the Dugong and Turtle Project is being coordinated by the TSRA’s Land and Sea Management Unit (LSMU) through Regional Project Facilitator, Mr Lachlan Sutherland and the Project’s Community Liaison Officer, Mr Frank Loban.

Through the LSMU, the Project is working with the region’s communities to:

• Assist island communities in developing community-based management for dugong and turtle;
• Assist island clusters to progress discussions on community-based management of dugong and turtle;
• Assist island communities is developing community-based monitoring programs for looking at the health of dugong and turtle  feeding grounds and nesting areas as well as catch monitoring;
• Deliver information to island communities about dugong and turtle research and management from around Australia and other countries; and
• Hold regional information sharing workshop to discuss the management of dugong and turtle.

Eight communities from the Torres Strait are now participating in the project and include Mabuiag, Badu, Boigu, Dauan, Horn, Mer, Erub, and Iama islands. These islands have embraced the project, with already five of the eight islands having local Community Dugong and Turtle Project officers appointed and also beginning community discussions on the management of their dugong and turtle.

The Project is also providing support and consulting with respective Traditional Owners, who with their knowledge and expertise over their land and sea country, will help to develop the most effective and appropriate management options for their islands.

LANDCARE

The Torres Strait Regional Landcare Officer is hosted within the TSRA Land & Sea Management Unit.  Given that terrestrial areas in the Torres Strait region are made up of islands, most of which have now had native title claims determined over them, and that the main primary production activities of the region are fishing and small-scale horticulture, the role of the Landcare Officer in Torres Strait is unique in the national context. 

The proximity of Torres Strait to Asia and PNG makes it an important monitoring and surveillance zone by quarantine authorities for exotic pests, weeds and diseases.  Small island populations are particularly at risk from invasive species, and it is critical that appropriate community education and awareness-raising activities are carried out to prevent future incursions. 

The Landcare Officer for Torres Strait is actively facilitating the participation of Torres Strait and Northern Cape York Peninsula area communities and traditional owners to deliver against the objectives of the NLP as they relate to the priority issues and initiatives identified in the Land & Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait.

The Torres Strait Landcare Program has made significant progress assisting communities in building capacity to manage land-based natural resources and horticultural initiatives in a sustainable manner. Community Elders have provided a wealth of cultural and local area knowledge and significant support to the Landcare Program.

Local Councils, Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) and other groups have shown continuing interest in being involved in the Landcare program. Collaborative arrangements and technical support networks have been developed with a variety of government and non-government organisations and additional funding has been secured from providers such as Community Water Grants and Envirofund.

Major areas of Landcare program activity in Torres Strait include: training needs analysis, development and delivery of training programs in land management and related fields; provision of supplier and product information; development of appropriate training resources, technical fact sheets and promotional materials; mentoring of island council administration and supervisory staff; providing assistance with development and resourcing of new projects, including acquisition of physical resources, and facilitating delivery of existing projects. Provision of training in Workplace Health and Safety issues and procedures and providing assistance with implementation of risk identification and mitigation strategies has also been undertaken as a priority identified through the training needs analysis process.

SUPPORTING THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF STABLE LANDSCAPES ON MURRAY, DARNLEY & YORKE ISLANDS

This project is supporting community’s re-establish natural landscapes, with the weed, lantana, taking over large areas.  Due to the massive scale of Lantana infestations on Murray and Darnley Islands, it is not envisaged that total eradication will be achieved within the parameters of this project, which is however making vital progress towards building community capacity to undertake the works in the longer term and overcome current impediments facing island communities in sustainably managing their land resources. Works required on Yorke Island are of a significantly smaller scale and should be achievable within the scope of this project if continuing funds are approved.

This project and the Torres Strait Landcare program in general have been very well received and supported to date by Island Councils, community members, PBCs, traditional landowners and community elders who have contributed a wealth of local area and cultural knowledge. Project participants are recording the plant cultural information gained from community elders and have produced work calendars based on this information.

All three island communities, working collaboratively with the TSRA Land & Sea Management Unit are making satisfactory progress towards achieving agreed milestones.

Plant nursery infrastructure development and upgrading is in progress on all three islands and will be effective within the scope of the project, however, additional investment will be required in the longer term to develop nurseries to the standard that will be required to effectively cater for escalating community needs in terms of quantity and variety of planting stock for land management works and proposed horticultural initiatives.

COASTAL EROSION IMPACTS PROJECT

A team of researchers from the School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography at James Cook University, is carrying out the NHT-funded project: “Long-term management of erosion on cay islands in Torres Strait”.  The team has extensive experience working in the field of coastal geomorphology, and will work in collaboration with community members on Warraber, Poruma and Masig Islands to deliver this project.  There is strong support from the TSRA Board and all levels of government for the approach the team will be taking to deliver the project, and broad recognition that coastal erosion is one of the most significant issues of concern to Torres Strait communities.  The aim of the project is to arrive at long-term solutions to the coastal erosion problem by engaging with communities to identify and prioritise erosion threats, identify the causes of erosion and develop long-term, sustainable solutions that work with, rather than against, natural processes, the consequences of which are understood and accepted by communities; and provide real data about the processes of erosion and the solutions that can be used to develop strong funding applications for real works if required.

UGAR ISLAND HYDROLOGICAL PROJECT

The water supply on Ugar (Stephen) Island, the smallest and one of the most remote inhabited islands in the Torres Strait, is very fragile. This project involves conducting a ground water hydrological survey and carrying out relevant pump tests, to ensure the effective and sustainable reinstatement of the two bores on Ugar Island and to provide the Ugar Island community with a robust and reliable source of potable water.

Funding provided through the Torres Strait Regional Authority will enable the Island Coordinating Council Infrastructure Support Unit (ICC-ISU), as program manager, to engage an appropriately qualified and experienced hydrologist to carry out an extended period hydrological survey, condition report and make operational recommendations for the future sustainable use of the Ugar ground water system.  The project will also entail the reinstatement of the ground-water pumping system and evaluation of subsequent water quality and pumping tests. 

The TSRA has entered into a variation of program grant with the ICC-ISU to enable the delivery of this project in accordance with existing infrastructure program delivery arrangements.  The ICC-ISU has contracted an appropriately qualified hydrologist to undertake the necessary surveys and reports. Hydrological investigations and surveys are now completed, along with a planning report. A site investigation for bore site 1 has also been completed.  Investigation into bore site 2 headworks design and study of the benefits of groundwater artificial recharge from the lagoon overflow is scheduled for late January.

The scope of the project has now extended to include an investigation into the benefit of artificially recharging the ground water system from the water storage lagoon overflow, which requires a 70m meter 60mm pipe to be laid. Project completion is forecast for late March 2007, consistent with Schedule 3 milestones.

The project dovetails with the regional NHT funded Water Education Project, which is also being delivered through a partnership with the ICC-ISU.  

PRESCRIBED BODIES CORPORATE CAPACITY-BUILDING PROJECT

This project is designed to increase the capacity of Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) in the Torres Strait to play a key role in the development and facilitation of land and sea management initiatives in the region.  It recognises that the PBCs, which are the entities established under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) to manage native title land on behalf of traditional owners, have a potential lead role to play in facilitating natural resource management outcomes.  In the Torres Strait, where virtually every island has a determination of native title and is held in trust by a PBC, the involvement of the PBCs in the implementation of natural resource management initiatives is fundamental to the success of these initiatives. 

Stage one of the project consists of the first six months.  It is designed to identify, through research, key factors which impact on the PBCs, in relation to their operational and governance capacity and their capacity to play a central role in the development and implementation of land and sea management initiatives.  A report will outline research findings at the conclusion of stage one.    Stage two consists of the remaining 18 months.  It is designed to develop and implement governance building strategies, in partnership with PBCs, which address key issues identified in the research findings in stage one. A report at the conclusion of stage two will outline project outcomes.

The project commenced in September 2006, led by the Native Title Office of TSRA in partnership with a pilot sample of Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) in the Torres Strait. Preliminary work was undertaken and funded by the Native Title Office in the first half of 2006, which laid the foundation for a funded capacity development project to be implemented once appropriate funding was made available.

Three of the four PBCs nominated to form the pilot sample for the project have now participated in workshops and completed interviews and questionnaires.  The fourth PBC is to participate in a workshop in February 2007. 

WATER EDUCATION PROJECT

This project entails the development and delivery of a regional community education package and management tools for water conservation, recycling and reuse in small island environments.  This project works towards improving the sustainable use of water resources by improving community understanding of the water cycle and the capacity for management.

In many communities, the level of water consumption, and in some instances wastage of water, may be minimised through changing household behaviour to improve sustainable water use, recycling and reuse of grey water by Councils, households, and community organisations.  These changes are critical to the sustainability of natural resources and need to be influenced in part through raising community awareness and understanding of the need to save water, the cost of water, developing water saving approaches suitable for the needs of particular islands and households, and assisting communities to access funding to implement these practices.

The project aims to raise understanding and capacity to the level that communities will be able to confidently apply for grants for on-ground works through programs such as the Community Water Grants Program.  The project is currently on target, and all milestones have been satisfied.

A draft project work-plan has been developed with the seventeen (17) Island Councils and is in place. The most common response from the workshops was a request for information on water-meters and their use. The project manager has developed and sent out pamphlets on the water meters. A Registered Training Provider has consulted with all Councils and presented the modified National Training Package to be delivered this year, the package has been developed based on the existing Torres Strait infrastructure.  A specialist water and wastewater operators training package has been developed to meet nationally accredited standards. Nationally accredited training program course content is to be finalised in January 2007, and training for local water officers will commence in early February.

The ICC-ISU has engaged ‘Bush TV’ to project manage a Water Icon Art Competition. Bush TV will release an advert or “Murri Minute” in the last week of January to attract “deadly Artists” for the art competition. Additional key messages will be disseminated through radio and television throughout the region.  Surveys and interviews have been conducted to identify barriers to residents reducing water consumption. Bush TV director ‘Tom Hearn’ reports that the common response from householders was the lack of understanding of the Water Cycle and associated costs.  Further national and regional publicity has been generated about the importance of sustainable use of water as a result of recent articles that featured in the Natural Heritage Trust Journal on the Torres Strait Water Education Project and Ugar Island Hydrological Project.

Preliminary specific information and research on water cycle and water use has been collated and distributed in association with the completion of the $1.9m Regional Water Metering Program. All households are now metered which supports the education processes. With meters now in place, Water Loss Control and “Unaccounted for Water” messages are able to be highlighted.

Promotional material has been designed, printed and distributed, including the Torres Strait Councils Water Pricing Policy and brochures. Education packages have been designed to meet national accreditation standards for the water industry.  The training package will be delivered to 40 water and sewerage officers of the 17 Councils. 
  
17 water use and water restriction notice signs have now been fabricated. The signs are Torres Strait specific and allow each water officer to set the daily water use that is displayed on a sliding scale from “Very High” to “Good”, the signs also allow each Island Council to inform the Community if  Water Restrictions are enforce and what the restriction levels are.

All Island Councils have now been engaged in relation to the development of water management strategies.  The project manager has also assisted with the preparation of funding submissions for two Island Councils under the Community Water Grants Program.  The strategies will include standardised water audit methodologies, water meter maintenance, testing and repair, leak detection and repair, pressure management, mapping, demand control, and user pays policy development.

The ISU Manager will be signing-off on 17 Council Water & Sewer Operations Plans in January 2007.   A water pricing policy for all 15 outer islands is nearing completion.  Once the policies are finalised, a process of Council education will follow prior to endorsement by each Council. 

Iconic uniforms have now been designed and delivered to all Torres Strait water and sewerage officers.  Water officers have also undertaken various promotional activities in their respective island communities and are now conducting water loss activities as the community sleeps. The officers patrol the streets every quarter (4 times per year) between midnight and 2am, they check to see is lights are on; and if not, they check to record if the water meter is turning. If the water meter is turning it is expected that there are internal household leaks and the hose is logged for inspection and repairs. This activity is an exciting step forward in water conservation strategies.

BADU ISLAND LAND & SEA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PHASE 2

The Badu Island Land & Sea Management Program is a community-based environmental management initiative that commenced in 2004 with funding available under the Natural Heritage Trust, National Landcare Program, and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations Indigenous Employment Program.  Since March 2005, Badu Island Council has employed two full-time rangers to deliver the program on behalf of the native title holders for Badu Island, represented through Mura Badulgal (Torres Strait Islanders) Corporation.  A third ranger, employed with CDEP funding, also supports the delivery of the program.

Other on-ground activities carried out by the rangers include coastal revegetation, weed removal and identification, fencing and construction of signage around culturally and ecologically significant areas, maintenance and rehabilitation of significant areas, tracks and community recreational areas.  The rangers also play a key role in community education and awareness-raising, including with the local school.  They regularly participate in joint patrols and surveillance activities with other government agencies, such as Customs and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMIA), including over coastal and marine areas.  They have also assisted AQIS and DNRMW Land Protection Officers on pest and weed management initiatives on Badu Island.

The Rangers are actively supporting the delivery of the cross-regional Dugong & Marine Turtle Management Project, and recently assisted in hosting and facilitating a regional workshop attended by community representatives from all Torres Strait Islands, and guest speakers.  They are also playing a key role in facilitating the development of a community-based dugong and turtle management plan.

There is significant interest throughout the region in the opportunity for improved community-based land and sea management through the employment of Rangers, who would cover off on a range of functions, including monitoring and surveillance, weed control and pest management, revegetation and protection of sensitive habitats, amongst other things.  There is also potential for future service-delivery arrangements to be negotiated with various government agencies in relation to the range of local functions that could be performed by Rangers on their behalf, as well as partnerships with the tourism industry to establish small-scale eco- and cultural-tourism ventures. 

Through the efforts of the local Rangers and LSMU staff, the project continues to achieve on-ground outcomes and satisfy the various milestones.