119
x
Spatial adaptation to bioclimatic envelopes, hot dry conditions, reduced rainfall. This includes heat
waves that are more frequent, intense and extended.
x
Species loss
x
Salinity, pollution and turbidity levels will all increase with reductions in average flows.
x
Plant establishment and success influenced by appropriate environmental conditions.
x
Sea level rise and land subsidence, as saltmarshes and mangroves are squeezed between the sea
and infrastructure such as levees (particularly in Barker Inlet).
The potential impacts of climate change on biodiversity include an increase in hot, dry conditions which
may affect vegetative health, natural regeneration, and weed species distribution and abundance.
Increased summer rainfall could increase the spread risk of Phytophthora through to summer, however
there are currently no sites within this council area, or to the immediate north west of the council area (R.
Velzeboer pers. comm., 21/06/2012).
Future inland retreat of habitat and species home range will need to be addressed by protecting as many
existing resources (both remnant and constructed). Examples of potential resources that could be
restored include inactive ‘Community Group Action’ sites, golf courses, parks and existing reserves.
Biodiversity assets are shown on
Figure 7.2
.
7.3.
Coast and Estuaries
The coast and estuarine environment is an important feature of the Western Region, valued as a result of
the ecosystem services it provides and community amenity and recreation values. The northern
boundary of the Region borders the Barker Inlet and Port River Estuary, with the coastline to Gulf St
Vincent providing the western boundary. Tennyson Dune Reserve contains the most significant area of
remnant dune vegetation along Adelaide’s metropolitan coastline (Cordingley and Petherick, 2006).
During the development of the draft Adelaide Coastal Water Quality Improvement Plan, targeted
Indigenous Community Workshops were undertaken to identify cultural and spiritual values in connection
with the Adelaide Coast (EPA, 2011). It was noted that all of the Adelaide coast has cultural and
ecological significance and this cannot easily be simplified to a range of geographical locations. There
are a number of sites of particular significance noted along the coast, associated with the Port River and
Barker Inlet (see Pullen, 2006 reproduced in City of Port Adelaide Enfield, 2007).
Key coast and estuarine assets, values and threats are described in
Table 7.2
. These are included in the
biodiversity map (
Figure 7.2
).
