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The Sample
A total of 650 residents living in the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority region took part in a telephone interview during early February 2005. 100 residents were selected from each of Aireys Inlet, Anglesea, Apollo Bay, Kennett & Wye Rivers, Lorne, Torquay/Jan Juc/Breamlea and 50 from Peterborough.
Residents were inclined to be slightly older than the Victorian population, with 68% aged 40 years or older and 32% aged 14-39 years. Just under half of the sample (45%) had their highest formal education as secondary school and almost 60% of the sample were working either full-time (40%) or part-time (19%). Among the residents, 67% had personally accessed the internet in the last 6 months, indicating the importance of this medium for information on estuaries in the region.
The majority of residents in the sample (86%) were interviewed at their permanent residence, while 14% were at a holiday house. Interestingly, 73% of residents lived in households without children; either living alone, as a couple or sharing with other adults.
Only 12% of residents were actively participating in activities or programs concerned with estuaries, 47% showed some interest in the past or perhaps the future and 41% have no real interest in participating.
Estuary Knowledge
Features & Threats
85% of the sample had heard of the term “estuary” before the interview. Amongst this group of 555 residents, the term “estuary” was thought to mean: where the river/creek meets the sea (43%), something to do with a waterway/creek/lake/river (27%), or a river mouth/inlet/outlet (24%).
Residents thought that the most important environmental features of estuaries were the quality/flow/health/cleanliness of the water (23%), the natural habitat/environment/ecosystem (18%), the wildlife (17%), marine life (14%), birdlife (14%), flora and fauna (13%) and biodiversity of the estuary (12%).
The biggest concerns or threats affecting estuaries in the local area were identified as chemical/industry pollution (25%), housing and building overdevelopment (22%), rubbish/litter (20%), recreational use and tourism (17%), sewerage/septic tank drainage (12%), land clearing (12%), stormwater runoff (10%) and nutrients in the water, including blue green algae (10%).
When asked what they liked about estuaries, residents mentioned that they were good for fishing (19%), to watch birds (19%), peaceful/tranquil/quiet (18%), beautiful/scenic/visually effective (16%), a good place to see wildlife (14%), and a natural environment (13%).
Two-thirds of the sample said that there was nothing that they disliked about estuaries, however amongst those with a dislike the major concerns were water pollution (12%) and rubbish/litter (8%).
Organisations Responsible
Respondents thought that the organisation responsible for looking after the health and management of estuaries in their local area was most likely to be the local shire/council/government, identified by 40% of the sample. Other organisations noted included Parks Victoria (12%), foreshore committees (12%), the Department of Natural Resources & Environment (11%), Barwon Water (11%) and local community groups (10%).
Only 5% of residents considered that the Corangamite CMA was responsible for looking after the health and management of estuaries in the local area. Reinforcement of Corangamite’s association with partner organisations in the management of estuaries could be a future promotional opportunity.
Local Estuaries
Awareness
When informed that “an estuary is a partially enclosed body of water formed when freshwater from our rivers and streams mixes with salty sea water” and that “estuaries come in all shapes and sizes, and provide a wide range of unique environments where conditions are constantly changing”, 72% of the total sample indicated that they were aware of estuaries along the Great Ocean Road.
Of the 20 estuaries along the Great Ocean Road, more than 10% of the sample were spontaneously aware of the estuaries: Anglesea River (32%), Painkalac Creek (26%), Erskine River (19%), Barham River (18%), Cumberland River (14%), Aire River (13%), Wye River (12%), Kennett River (11%) and Curdies Inlet (10%),
Once prompted with the estuary name, awareness levels reached 90% for the Anglesea River, with more than three-quarters of the sample aware of the estuaries Wye River (89%), Kennett River (86%), Erskine River (83%), Cumberland River (83%), Skenes Creek (82%), Painkalac Creek (81%) and Gellibrand River (78%).
Visited
In total, 644 residents knew of at least one estuary by name. Amongst this group the main estuaries visited were Anglesea River (71%), Wye River (66%), Erskine River (63%), Kennett River (61%), Cumberland River (60%), Painkalac Creek (57%) and Skenes Creek (54%).
A total of 618 residents had visited estuaries along the Great Ocean Road. The main reasons for visiting estuaries included: walking (the dog) or bushwalking (55%), relaxing or to unwind (34%), fishing (29%), sightseeing (22%), swimming (21%), to have a picnic/bbq (13%), a family outing (12%) or to watch birds (10%).
Residents were informed that a healthy estuary is measured by the water quality and flow, diversity of plants, animals and fish; and the cleanliness of the area. When asked to rate the health of the estuary that they visited most often, 81% rated the estuaries along the Great Ocean Road as being healthy (17% very healthy and 64% quite healthy); 15% rated the estuaries as not healthy and 4% were unsure.
Estuaries considered to be the most healthy amongst those residents who visited them, were Aire River (100% rating it healthy), Wye River (96%), St. George River (95%), Cumberland River (93%) and Painkalac Creek (93%).
Estuary Activities & Programs
34% of residents were aware of activities and programs involved with improving the health and management of estuaries. Amongst this group of 222 residents, the activities mentioned included those undertaken by local community groups (19%), Landcare (17%), tree planting or revegetation (17%) and weed removal (9%).
Once prompted, 48% of residents had heard of Waterwatch, which raises awareness and involvement of the community in improving the water quality of freshwater rivers, streams, creeks and lakes within the local area. When asked whether they thought that there should be a similar water quality monitoring program for estuaries in the local area, 93% agreed that there should be.
Only 12% of residents actively participate in activities and programs concerned with estuaries, 19% had taken part in the past and 28% indicated that they would like to participate. To encourage the 303 residents interested in participating to get involved in the activities and programs concerned with estuaries, it was recommended that more knowledge/communication/information about the estuaries be distributed throughout the local community. Indication of an immediate threat and the type of work involved would also help stimulate action.
The best methods for communicating information about the activities and programs involved with estuaries were local newspaper advertising, mentioned by 57% of the sample and letterbox drops (35%). Interest in a Corangamite CMA newsletter about estuaries in the local area, being dropped off in residents’ letterboxes, was very positive, with 93% of the sample indicating that they would read or browse through the newsletter.
In Conclusion
Findings from this research indicate that residents are aware of estuaries in their local area and knowledgeable about the important environmental features, and the main concerns, hence their interest in a water quality monitoring program specifically for estuaries.
Only 5% of residents are aware of the Corangamite CMA being responsible for looking after the health and management of estuaries in the local area. This indicates that more publicity of the organisation’s association with estuaries is necessary to increase its importance and relevance amongst the local community.
Residents need to be informed about specific activities and programs involved with improving the health and management of estuaries, as provided by the Corangamite CMA. The best way to do this is advertising in local newspapers and letterbox drops, with particular interest identified in the proposed newsletter about estuaries in the local area.
To encourage residents to get involved in the activities and programs concerned with estuaries, more information and communication is required about the estuaries, any immediate threats and the assistance needed to maintain healthy estuaries along the Great Ocean Road.
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