Spatial mapping of non-fishing recreational activities and associated values in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia

Michael Hughes; Halina T. Kobryn; S. Henningsson; Michael P. Burton; Abbie Rogers; Natasha Pauli; Julian Clifton; Milena Kim

Context: Cockburn Sound is the most intensively used embayment in Western Australia (WA), including industrial use as well as a wide range of recreational activities and associated values. The Western Australia Environmental Protection Authority identified general recreational use as a significant component of the social and aesthetic values of Cockburn Sound that pre-dates its industrial development. Consequently, Cockburn Sound is a highly contested and increasingly congested space. While Cockburn Sound hosts a range of recreational activities, much of the management attention is on recreational fishing while non-fishing recreational activities have received relatively less attention. Therefore, this project focused on understanding non-fishing recreational activities and values in the Sound. Mapping non fishing recreational use activities and associated values provides spatially explicit information on how Cockburn Sound is used and valued through a broad range of activities that represent the complex public recreational use context for Cockburn Sound management and the Westport development. Project Aims: • Identify the range and spatial extent of non-fishing recreational activities and associated values • Provide an economic valuation for key recreational sites identified by the PPGIS process • Provide a detailed understanding of non-fishing recreational activities and values Method A public participation GIS (PPGIS) approach was used to map the variety and types of non-fishing recreational activities and associated values in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia. An online questionnaire was developed using the Maptionnaire online PPGIS survey tool as a platform (Maptionnaire 2022). The questionnaire gathered respondent data including demographics, frequency of visit and mode of travel to Cockburn Sound. Respondents used an interactive map to place specific points and/or lines relating to a recreational activity they undertake in Cockburn Sound. Water-based and land-based activities were mapped separately by respondents during the survey. Respondents could place as many activities as lines or points as they wished. Respondents also indicated one or more values they associated with each of the recreational activities they mapped. The activities and values were selected by respondents from drop-down lists. The lists were developed by the project team based on a review of relevant literature. A travel cost model approach was used to evaluate the monetary value attributable to recreational use of key sites in Cockburn Sound. The PPGIS questionnaire was distributed online between August 2022 and February 2023 using a range of methods including recreational clubs distributing online via their social media platforms and member contact lists, notices with a QR code placed in local community centres and businesses, and the WAMSI social media platforms. Key Findings The questionnaire received 597 responses and a total of 31 non-fishing recreational activities were identified and mapped in Cockburn Sound including 16 land-based activities and 15 water-based activities. A considerable proportion of survey respondents were members of a club or organization associated with the recreational activity mapped by the respondent (approximately 75%). The northern end of the study area (Woodman Point Reserve) was most frequently visited by survey respondents for both land and water-based recreational activities. This likely to be related to accessibility and facilities in this area of the Sound. Mapped land-based activities were concentrated at the northern (Woodman Point Reserve), and southern (Rockingham foreshore and Cape Peron) areas of the Sound with an additional concentration adjacent to and just south of the Beeliar Regional Park shoreline area. Mapped water-based activities covered the entire Cockburn Sound area as well as areas to the west of Garden Island. The entire study area was associated with one or more recreational activity values. The most commonly allocated values included ‘have fun’, ‘improve physical health’ and ‘socialise with friends and family’. The travel cost analysis was restricted by the small number of respondents providing the required data for each activity in each zone defined for the analysis. In person intercept surveys would provide more comprehensive data but project budget limitations meant this method was not possible. Some activities had adequate data, including horse riding/exercising, beach activities and walking/running activities. The estimated value of a trip to the Naval Base horse beach was $14.75 per trip, which was relatively high compared to other beach activity value studies. The estimated value of a trip for beach activities was between $6.74 and $7.35 per trip. Walking and running activities were valued between $3.19 and $4.09 per trip. Online PPGIS tools enable collection of data from a large and/or dispersed population within a limited time frame and budget. However, there is a trade-off between acquiring a large enough sample within a short time frame and the depth and quality of the data. Conclusions Both land and water-based recreational users value the entire Cockburn Sound area to fulfil a diverse set of activities. This means the recreational carrying capacity of the region may be relatively high in this respect. However, there are several specialised and spatially focused recreational activities which should be considered in planning decisions.

Spatial mapping of non-fishing recreational activities and associated values in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia

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