The Coastal lifestyle value was identified as being at threat from an Increasing population. A drying climate has increased subdivision in areas that were once waterlogged on the Swan Coastal Plain which will further add to the increasing urbanisation of the area and its population growth.

Farming communities are getting smaller. Changing land uses from agriculture to blue gum plantations has resulted in small towns reducing services meaning families now need to bus children and travel to shops.

An increase in travel leads to fatigue, isolation and increased mental illness.

A lack of people results in it being harder to get voluntary input and participants.

Not a lot for youth to do and youth are leaving town sooner.

Increasing community complexity is being observed.

Population dynamics are changing. The system is losing its farming heritage with little succession on farm happening.

There are numerous absentee landholders resulting in lots of vacant / unmanaged blocks creating fire hazards.

Changes in community dynamics is resulting in more of the community being unaware of the values within their natural landscapes and features (biodiversity hotspot).

Changes observed by those commenting: a more wasteful society; gone from producers to consumers; gone from quality to quantity.

Increasing urbanisation of the system, particularly the near-coastal and coastal areas is resulting in a loss of farmland to development.

A positive change has been a decline in discharge from piggeries, feedlots and dairies to the sensitive environment.

A shift in seasons is being observed with summer seeming to be coming later. This will impact agricultural practices as well as the natural environment.

Growth in mining along the Scarp has increased resulting in an increase in vegetation clearing. There have been improvements in mine rehabilitation practices however rehab is impacting water flows and recharge. Monocultures have been created through old rehab practices.

There have been improvements in mine rehabilitation practices however rehab is impacting water flows and recharge. Monocultures have been created through old rehab practices.

Farm sizes are either getting bigger or are not being viable any more.

Farm succession plans are often uncertain. There are young people farming but they may not be available to participate in the community due to work commitments.

Harvested blue gum areas now have limited value as the roots are difficult to remove, so the areas are growing weeds, and feeding kangaroos.

Waterlogging through salty groundwater rise is increasing.

Boggy areas are not boggy anymore in winter.

Some farming innovation is being seen.

We can expect more frosts so need to be prepared to adapt with technology and research.

Opportunities exist within a changing climate but conditions need to be stable and predictable to inform agricultural decisions.

We need to know the long-term weather forecast to make appropriate decisions.

Opportunities for new crops including sandlewood and summer crops may exist

Clearing of trees for roads, development and urbanisation has and is occurring.

An explosion in native pests (eg. Muir’s corellas and kangaroos) due to stable food source through agricultural land is being observed.

There is Increased pressure on native vegetation from these native species (eg. 28 parrots decimating grass trees).

Wetter summers may impact dieback spread.

Combination of stresses leads to tipping points in natural populations.

Due to changes such as urbanisation – there is nowhere for native species to adapt to.

It is also very hard to adapt to rapid changes.

The Dawesville cut has resulted in changes in fringing vegetation of the estuary, changing from an estuarine system to a marine system. It has improved the flushing of the system.

Due to changes in the water qualities (too salty) there have been observed changes to fish and marron species. The absence of Perch was noted.

A reduction in national shorebirds has been observed.

Tree stress from climatic conditions is expected to worsen impacting all vegetation types including Old Growth Forest.