Christie Creek - its catchment and issues
The Christie Creek Catchment encompasses an approximate area of 37 square kilometres. It originates in the southern Mt Lofty Ranges with a series of five major tributaries that converge near the mid point of the catchment. A single primary channel then meanders through the coastal hills before reaching the sea at Christies Beach.
Major issues associated with the Christie Creek catchment include:
export of high sediment loads to Gulf St Vincent from the catchment;
degradation of the near shore marine environment in particular Horseshoe Reef;
feral plant species infestations in both the urban and rural parts of the catchment;
existing urban design which is not sympathetic to best natural resources management practice;
lack of community ownership of the problems, making effective management extremely difficult.
Christie Creek Taskforce
The Christie Creek Task Force was commissioned by the Board in November 2005 to provide advice and support to the Board and Southern NRM Group on the development and implementation of integrated natural resources management strategies for catchment.
The Taskforce comprises:
Don Hopgood (Chair and community representative);
Anthony Cheshire (AMLR Board representative);
Rex Manson (community representative);
Margaret Brady (community representative);
Britt Gowing (City of Onkaparinga representative);
Andrew Emmett (DWLBC representative);
and Stephen Smith (AMLR Board representative).
The Task Force expects to deliver a report to the Minister for Environment and Conservation early in 2007. The report will identify targets for natural resource management in the catchment, as well as strategies and actions for meeting those targets both within the short term (3 years) and longer term (20 years).
Community Meeting
The Task Force hosted a public meeting on the health of the catchment and adjacent marine environment on 6 December 2006. The public meeting was attended by 60 people from various interest groups as well as individuals from the local area.
The noted marine ecologist Professor Anthony Cheshire, and Mr Steven Gatti of the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board addressed the meeting. PDF versions of their presentations can be downloaded here: (Please note these files are large. If you have a slow internet connection you may prefer to receive a copy on disk in the mail - to do so, please contact the Board on 8273 9100.)
Presentation from Professor Anthony Cheshire (900 kb)
Presentation from Mr Steven Gatti (5Mg)
Report to the Southern NRM Group
Report to the Southern NRM Group - Proposed Natural Resource Management Strategies and Actions
July 2007 (4 mg)