Limestone Coast Landscape Board Business Plan
2024-25
This Business Plan delivers on the
Limestone Coast Landscape Board Regional Landscape Plan 2021-26
Our vision
A healthy, productive and biodiverse Limestone Coast landscape
Be at the heart of the community, inclusive of First Nations and resilient to a changing climate.
Acknowledgement to Country
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board acknowledges Aboriginal people as the First People and Nations of the ancestral lands and waters of the Limestone Coast. We acknowledge the elders past, present and future and we respect the deep feelings of attachment and relationships of Aboriginal People to Country including the language groups: Meintangk, Potaruwutij, Bunganditj, Tatiara/Ngarkat, Tanganekald (Southern Clans) and Ngarrindjeri, and we commit to working together to look after our landscape.
A message from the Limestone Coast Landscape Board Chair, Dr. Penny Schulz.
"Our Business Plan confirms our commitment of work to deliver in 2024-25 but it's also a good time to reflect on what we've been working on over the last 12 months and some key projects that are coming up that we're excited about."
Limestone Coast Landscape Board Members
Regional representatives who make decisions about investment in landscape management, derived from landscape and water levies, in conjunction with the Limestone Coast Regional Landscape Plan.
Dr. Penny Schulz - Chair
Robbie Davis
Mark Bachmann
Tom Linnell
Staff
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board delivers on its objectives through the employment of a General Manager, and a team of public sector employees. The Limestone Coast Landscape Board, through the General Manager, employs 49.9 full-time equivalent staff working to deliver the programs and projects with employee costs of approximately $4 M. A number of these positions are funded through external funding sources.
Staff work across the Limestone Coast, with locations throughout the region.
A number of corporate and water science services are provided to the Limestone Coast Landscape Board through Service Level Agreements with the Department for Environment and Water and the Department of Treasury and Finance, Shared Services SA.
Walking Together Statement
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board is committed to walking with First Nations to manage our landscape. We demonstrate this commitment through adoption of the Lartara-Wirkeri Cultural Governance framework developed with the South East Aboriginal Focus Group. This framework has been incorporated into our Regional Landscape and Annual Business Plans to support opportunities for engagement and procuring services from First Nations groups.
Sources of funding
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board receives funding through the collection of levies (landscape and water levies) as well as through agreements with the South Australian and Australian Governments or other funding partners.
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board will seek funding opportunities during the 2024-25 year to supplement the programs and projects outlined in this plan.
|
Funding source |
2024-25 income |
|---|---|
|
Landscape and water levies |
|
|
Regional landscape levy |
$5,489,539 |
|
Water levy |
$4,596,339 |
|
National Water Grid Authority |
$370,000 |
|
South Australian Government Heritage Outreach Service |
$132,000 |
|
Australian Government Carbon Farming Outreach Program |
$50,156 |
|
Australian Government Regional Delivery Partner for Environmental Protection, Sustainable Agriculture, and Natural Resource Management Services |
$290,500 |
|
Australian Government Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator |
$138,226 |
|
Landscape South Australia Soils Project |
$870,650 |
|
South Australian Government Regional Bird Refugia Project |
$182,514 |
|
Other sources of income |
|
|
Pest Control Service |
$284,946 |
|
Other sources of income |
$186,422 |
|
Total revenue |
$12,591,292 |
A budget adjustment amount to re-profile expenditure for the amount of $148,426 from levy and $273,797 from external funding in 2023-24 has been allocated to Limestone Coast Landscape Board priorities and is included in the expenditure amounts provided below.
Prioritising our investment
|
Priority investment |
Landscape and water levies |
External funding |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Educating and partnering to sustainably manage our landscapes |
$942,735 |
$19,911 |
$962,646 |
|
Protecting and balancing our region's water resources |
$4,396,766 |
$705,886 |
$5,102,652 |
|
Growing sustainable primary production |
$394,158 |
$1,204,282 |
$1,598,440 |
|
Working collaboratively to manage pest plants and animals |
$3,237,906 |
$284,946 |
$3,522,852 |
|
Conserving and enhancing our region's biodiversity |
$1,074,390 |
$459,764 |
$1,534,154 |
|
Grassroots Grants |
$292,771 |
$292,771 |
|
|
Total |
$10,338,726 |
$2,674,789 |
$13,013,515 |
Our work
Protecting and balancing our region's water resources
Managing water for all purposes, towards a balance that is understood and recognised.
|
Key activities |
Investment |
|---|---|
|
Adaptation of the South-Eastern Drainage System project |
$773,886 |
|
Water allocation planning - science support |
$150,000 |
|
Water allocation planning studies |
$172,000 |
|
Groundwater dependent ecosystems assessments |
$125,000 |
|
Water Affecting Activity control policy implementation |
$1,000 |
|
Communications and engagement |
$20,000 |
|
Program delivery |
$3,860,766 |
|
$5,102,652 |
|
Growing sustainable primary production
Supporting sustainable and integrated land management for environmental stewardship across the region.
|
Key activities |
Investment |
|---|---|
|
Sustainable Agricultural Facilitator |
$138,226 |
|
Carbon Outreach Project |
$50,156 |
|
Soil extension project |
$870,650 |
|
Program delivery |
$539,408 |
|
$1,598,440 |
|
Working collaboratively to manage pest plants and animals
Creating relationships to collectively manage pest plants and animals to support environmental, primary production and community outcomes.
|
Key activities |
Investment |
|---|---|
|
Feral deer eradication |
$380,000 |
|
Roadside pest priorities |
$304,164 |
|
African lovegrass partnership |
$56,000 |
|
Equipment maintenance and renewal |
$7,000 |
|
Southern priority pests |
$27,000 |
|
Northern priority pests |
$15,000 |
|
Emergency preparedness for new pests |
$10,000 |
|
Communications and engagement |
$1,000 |
|
Pest control service |
$284,946 |
|
Program delivery |
$2,437,743 |
|
$3,522,852 |
|
Conserving and enhancing our region's biodiversity
Maintaining biodiversity through partnering for increased environmental stewardship.
|
Key activities |
Investment |
|---|---|
|
Habitat Conservation Grants |
$100,000 |
|
Priority species monitoring |
$25,000 |
|
Paddock tree project |
$133,250 |
|
Priority species on ground works |
$40,000 |
|
Heritage Outreach Services |
$132,000 |
|
Regional bird refugia |
$182,514 |
|
Program delivery |
$921,390 |
|
$1,534,154 |
|
Educating and partnering to sustainably manage
our landscapes
Working together in the management of and towards a connectedness with our landscape.
|
Key activities |
Investment |
|---|---|
|
Young Environmental Leaders Program |
$15,000 |
|
Program sessions and teacher professional development |
$20,000 |
|
First Nations engagement and organisational support |
$76,000 |
|
First Nations activities and support for managed lands |
$26,000 |
|
Support for mentoring of First Nations cultural knowledge holders |
$30,000 |
|
Limestone Coast Covenant Scheme Provider investigation |
$3,000 |
|
Walking the Seasons for the community |
$19,911 |
|
Program delivery |
$772,735 |
|
$962,646 |
|
Landscape levy rates and collection from Local Government
The landscape levy will be raised and collected on our behalf by local councils. Councils pay quarterly contributions to the Limestone Coast Landscape Board. Under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 arrangements apply for councils to be reimbursed for unpaid levies.
In this Business Plan, the Limestone Coast Landscape Board has retained the basis of the landscape levy as a fixed charge of an amount that depends on the purpose for which rateable land is used. A landscape levy based on land use purpose is viewed to align with a ‘beneficiary pays’ principle (e.g. primary production landholders pay a higher rate for the landscape levy as they use natural resources to generate an income and they are more likely to receive benefit from Limestone Coast Landscape Board programs). The Limestone Coast Landscape Board is continuing to use the purpose of use categories of commercial, industrial, primary production, and residential/vacant land/other uses.
Landscape levy rates have been increased by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 5.9% (September 2023 quarter, Adelaide)
Estimated council contributions to landscape levy income and collection costs for 2024-25.
|
Coorong District Council |
|||
|
Number of rateable properties |
Indicative council area contribution |
Indicative council area share of levy |
Council area collection fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1,076 |
$216,140 |
4% |
$3,336 |
|
Tatiara District Council |
|||
|
Number of rateable properties |
Indicative council area contribution |
Indicative council area share of levy |
Council area collection fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3,431 |
$583,078 |
11% |
$4,042 |
|
Kingston District Council |
|||
|
Number of rateable properties |
Indicative council area contribution |
Indicative council area share of levy |
Council area collection fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2,126 |
$284,437 |
5% |
$3,651 |
|
Naracoorte Lucindale Council |
|||
|
Number of rateable properties |
Indicative council area contribution |
Indicative council area share of levy |
Council area collection fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
4,310 |
$735,616 |
13% |
$4,306 |
|
District Council of Robe |
|||
|
Number of rateable properties |
Indicative council area contribution |
Indicative council area share of levy |
Council area collection fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2,620 |
$393,903 |
7% |
$3,799 |
|
Wattle Range Council |
|||
|
Number of rateable properties |
Indicative council area contribution |
Indicative council area share of levy |
Council area collection fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
7,216 |
$1,163,029 |
21% |
$5,178 |
|
City of Mount Gambier |
|||
|
Number of rateable properties |
Indicative council area contribution |
Indicative council area share of levy |
Council area collection fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
14,584 |
$1,406,869 |
26% |
$7,388 |
|
District Council of Grant |
|||
|
Number of rateable properties |
Indicative council area contribution |
Indicative council area share of levy |
Council area collection fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
4,488 |
$706,466 |
13% |
$4,359 |
Levy rate per land use purpose
|
Purpose of use category |
Percentage of levy income raised |
Total no. of properties per land use (January 2024) |
Landscape levy rate per rateable property 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Residential, vacant and other |
52.19% |
31,610 |
$90.64 |
|
Commercial |
5.25% |
2,118 |
$135.96 |
|
Industrial |
2.31% |
582 |
$217.54 |
|
Primary production |
40.26% |
5,541 |
$398.82 |
|
Total |
100% |
39,851 |
Water Levy
Water levies will be collected by the Department for Environment and Water on behalf of the Minister and paid to the relevant landscape board.
Water levy rates have been increased by Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 5.9% (September 2023 quarter, Adelaide).
|
Water levy rates |
|
|
Charge Type |
2024-25 |
|---|---|
|
Charge per licence |
$239.81 |
|
Tintinara Coonalpyn, Tatiara, Padthaway and Lower Limestone Coast Prescribed Wells Areas |
|
|
Public water supply |
$19.40/ML |
|
Water holdings allocations |
$3.06/ML |
|
Water taking allocations |
$3.06/ML |
|
Specialised Production Requirement (SPR) |
$3.06/ML |
|
Delivery supplement allocations for confined aquifer |
$3.06/ML |
|
Delivery supplement allocations for unconfined aquifer |
$0.31/ML |
|
Water taking allocations for industrial, aquaculture, industrial-dairy, intensive animal keeping, environmental and recreational uses |
$4.05/ML |
|
Lower Limestone Coast Prescribed Wells Area only |
|
|
Forest water allocation |
$3.06/ML |
|
Specialised Production Requirements (SPR) frost allocations |
$1.02/ML |
|
Morambro Creek watercourse (including Cockatoo Lake and Nyroca channel) and its surface water area |
|
|
Water taking allocations |
$26.70 per share |
Get involved in a Limestone Coast Landscape Board project
Follow our projects, join our conversations and events and help shape our Limestone Coast landscape.
Photo credits
Walking Together art - Marie Clark
_____
All other photos are the property of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board
Produced by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board June 2024
Disclaimer
The Limestone Coast Landscape Board and the Government of South Australia, their employees and their servants do not warrant or make any representation regarding the use or results of use of the information contained herein as to its correctness, accuracy, currency or otherwise. The Limestone Coast Landscape Board and the Government of South Australia, their employees and their servants expressly disclaim all liability or responsibility to any person using the information or advice contained herein. With the exception of any material or devices protected by Aboriginal rights or a trademark, and sublet to review by the Government of South Australia at all times, the content of this document is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence.
For further information contact us
Phone: 08 8429 7550
Email: lclandscapeboardengage@sa.gov.au
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