The removal of trees for housing, increasing development and an increasing population are all having an impact on the system.

Changes to Busselton airport where FIFO workers are able to fly in and out from is resulting in changes in social structure. Increases in rental prices resulting in people moving on causing labour shortages.

Increased tourism pressure; large scale events causing local issues

Increased traffic congestion – increased frustration and pollution

Changes in community demographics are being experienced due to an increasing migration of an urban population.

Loss of farmers is resulting in a loss of fire fighters and therefore an increase in fire hazards as well as a loss of community. There has also been a loss of participation in landcare activities.

The system includes large areas of forest but it is increasingly being impacted on by people through activities such as the dumping of garden rubbish and illegal firewood cutting.

Expected changes in climate including a rise in temperature and reduction in rainfall and more extreme weather events, pose a risk to this important value.

Flooding of urban centre a concern with expected sea level rise.

Loss of value of farmers in the community is being experienced.

Urban expansion (particularly coastal) is causing a reduction in farmland within the system.

Changing farming practices due to changes in climate being experienced already eg. cutting hay earlier. The drying climate has made other types of crops possible (such as olives).

Intensification of agriculture has meant a greater reliance on groundwater (bores). There are less dairy farms and less farmers. Farms are now more often an employer of people not family businesses.

Reduction in rainfall means dams aren’t filling.

There has been an increase in the number of vineyards.

Reduced rainfall has resulted in less waterlogging and more productive farming land.

There have been observed impacts on stock from intensifying storm events.

Changed in climate are being observed including reduced rainfall and increased variability; the pattern of fronts has shifted and seasons are finishing earlier. There has been drier below average winters and reduced stream flows (40-50% less runoff). Dams and barriers are now stopping stream flow when it didn’t used to.

Less dung beetles have been observed in the last couple of years.

There has been a loss of productive land to urbanisation through the rezoning of agricultural land to allow subdivision and developments. This change is to support an increase in population through the migration of an urban population.

There are more hobby farmers and a shortage of skilled farmers.

There are more intensive operations; through foreign investment in larger farms.

More pests and weeds to deal with under changing climate (eg. Blackberry, cotton bush, kangaroos, blue gum plantations, weeds imported on machinery). A lack of management of pests and weeds on public land also impacting on production.

There is also observed losses of livestock and chooks following rabbit control in the environment. Rabbits have become naturalised as part of the landscape.

Aging farmers (50% of current farmers will change hands in the next 10 years due to farmer age) and a lack of succession (decline in young farmer willing to take over) means farmers are leaving the land.

We need to extend farming skills to the next generation. Existing knowledge of farming systems needs to be transferred.

Lack of skilled workers. People don’t train in agriculture; farmers employ unskilled workers.

There is currently an observed lack of government understanding in agriculture. We need additional money to develop further (currently only 20% developed on our farms); Commonwealth and State funding for research and development is needed. This could increase production on current land rather than needing to get bigger.

Fruit farmers are progressive in the region; seeking information from overseas. Lack of successor or superannuation means they won’t be able to hand over the farm.

Erratic seasons start and finish results in an increase in farming risks. Observed changes in climate already: rates of growth of grass has increased because it is warmer meaning more productive; less frosts; used to have gale force winds but has been 6-7 years without; warmer winters; changing direction of rain (W now N/W); used to get 60 inches of rain, now 45 inches – significant reduction in 20 years; heat and humidity higher (loss of cows over 38 degrees); cows don’t get winter coats (could be due to change in temperatures or to feeding of more grain feed leading to higher core temperatures); Summer sun has more bite – causing sun damage to fruit (needing to put up shade cloth to protect fruit and vegetables).

Insect attack – black beetles have always been around but are now impacting on production.

here has been a reduction in surface water flow due to a reduction in rain which impacts on the flushing of the river.

Salt water intrusion is occurring further up the river resulting in a loss of marron in the waterways and dolphins and crabs being found further up the river.

Reduced water levels are being observed.

These large areas of forest are being impacted on by people including through the dumping of garden rubbish and illegal firewood cutting.

Reduced water levels are being observed and are expected to be further impacted on by a reduction in rainfall.

The seasons are changing and this impacts the range and numbers of wildflowers. There has been an observed decrease in the number of orchids.

In addition, current fire regimes are impacting on orchids species (good for some eg. Spider orchids and cowslips but not good for others eg. Leak orchids which grow in rotting vegetation).

Definite changes in bird populations are being observed. Red wattle birds disappear in November; less rainbow bee-eaters, top notch pigeons, chats being seen. Pink and greys are new to the region. Sulphur crested cockatoos are increasing rapidly in the Margaret River and Busselton areas. Long billed corellas are increasing in numbers and doing a lot of damage.

Increasing numbers of kangaroos (more hobby farms are leading to more kangaroos as they have feed available and low stock numbers and often encourage the Kangaroos).

Increasing number of emus (red tape makes it difficult for farmers to shoot; no money in harvesting).

Alarming rate of dieback and canker being seen.

Changes in native vegetation being observed including the massive loss of peppermint trees.

Less banksias around – thicker bush now with less burning. Issues with current fire management regimes. Low risk fires don’t work; hotter fires are more natural.

Pests and weeds - Arum Lily now naturalised (one farmer denied a harvesting licence to export overseas due to declared weed status). New weeds emerging – grape vines are spreading into the creek lines. Difficult in controlling weeds – control one and another one takes over. Weed control is reducing due to cuts in APB and DPaW.

Feral deer and pigs (mostly in the Scott River region); rabbits; foxes are a problem.