Tasmania
The area affected by dryland salinity is estimated to be 53 000 ha. It is located mainly in the agricultural area of the midlands and northern Tasmania, King and Flinders Islands.
Figure 12.
The hazard assessment was based on field observation at the land system scale in the mid 1990s updated by expert opinion, questionnaire of Departmental and Landcare groups and limited ground truthing at a scale of 1:250 000 or greater. Groundwater data for Tasmania are extremely limited.
Findings
Table 19.Major impacts of dryland salinity in Tasmania.
|
Assets* |
2000 |
2020 |
2050 |
|
Agricultural land (ha) |
53 000 |
69 500 |
93 600 |
|
Wetlands of international significance (number) |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
Wetlands of national significance (number) |
44 |
44 |
44 |
- Tasmania's 53 000 ha affected by dryland salinity are located in agricultural land and represent 3% of the land used in Tasmania.
- The greatest threats to remnant vegetation, wetlands and fauna from dryland salinity are in the Flinders and Northern Midlands bioregions.
- In the land systems with medium to high salinity hazard there are:
- 25 reserves;
- 132 wetlands (six of which are of international significance);
- 44 wetlands of national significance;
- 44 flora species; and
- 17 fauna species.
- There is no evidence of infrastructure damage.
- There is some evidence of damage to four golf courses and some sports ovals.
An interim assessment of cost to agriculture is $5.3 m. This is predicted to rise to approximately $9.3 m in 2050.
Key issues
- Technical understanding of the hydrogeological processes that drive dryland salinity in Tasmania is limited.
- Limited data and information have prevented adequate assessment of the extent or range of impacts from dryland salinity.
- For agriculture the most significant impact of rising salinity is considered to be the regional effect on diversification from marginal enterprises into intensive irrigated cropping (especially high value salt sensitive crops).
Government responses
As a result of the Audit-funded initiative to assess the extent and impacts of dryland salinity in Tasmania, the Environment/Resources Heads of Agencies Group has endorsed:
- the development of a state salinity management strategy; and
- for Tasmania to become a full member of the National Dryland Salinity Program.
Table of Contents for the Australian Dryland Salinity Assessment 2000
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