Michael Hughes

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.

This project investigates recreational and commercial fisher motivations for using a fishery and the beliefs, attitudes and perceived benefits of aquaculture-based enhancement programs and other management options. It also determines the total economic value for recreational fishing for Blue Swimmer Crabs (Portunus armatus) and Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) in a range of estuaries in south-western Australia and investigates the benefits of release programs in contributing to the optimisation of biological, social and economic objectives for those fisheries. Finally, it provides training for the next generation of fisheries and social scientists and fishery economists and project members engaged in community engagement and education.

Work was focused on two iconic small-scale estuarine fisheries in south-western Australia, i.e. those for Blue Swimmer Crabs and Black Bream. A two-phase approach to elicit common recreational fisher beliefs using semi-structured interviews (phase 1) and then sample a broader pool of respondents using closed-question online surveys (phase 2). Analyses demonstrated that motivations for recreational fishing were markedly different for the two fisheries, even when operating in the same system. Aquaculture-based enhancement was universally supported by the recreational sector as a fishery management approach as they believed it would enhance stocks and catches, and, although it may cause negative impacts, they were considered unlikely. Commercial fishers were less supportive of this management intervention. Enhancement of stocks was estimated to increase the economic value of recreational fishing through increased visitation. Biological modelling highlights that stocking could provide substantial benefits to the biomass of the target stocks, particularly Black Bream, but the parameters of any future stocking the need to carefully considered to ensure maximum benefits and the mitigation of density-dependent effects on wild stocks. Advice on the numbers and size-at-release for Blue Swimmer Crabs in the Peel-Harvey and Black Bream in the Blackwood River Estuary are provided to optimise the biological, social and economic dimensions of these fisheries.

This project follows on from survey studies conducted by consultant Colmar Brunton Social Research on the Bibbulmun Track during 2003 and 2008. This project was required to provide up-to-date information about frequency/patterns of use, satisfaction levels, user expenditure and visitor profile for the Bibbulmun Track. This survey provided essential data to inform the Bibbulmun Track Use Survey to calculate visitation estimates and improved understanding of the Track users to assist both the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Bibbulmun Track Foundation in seeking funding for the Track. It provided data to be used in the future planning and improved management of the Track. It also provides a coordinated monitoring program for the Bibbulmun Track to obtain accurate and useful visitor information that is comparable to other monitored long trails and to set a baseline for future monitoring programs.

This project is based on concerns expressed by outdoor recreation groups that rights for public access to land for recreation in WA were being eroded and opportunities reduced. Advocates in WA pointed to the UK and New Zealand where restrictions on access were recognised and laws amended to counter these restrictions. In order to assess the potential for such action in WA, Phase 1 reviewed walking based access laws, policy and management in the UK, New Zealand and WA. It was found there is no need for changes to WA law. The review established that land access issues in UK and New Zealand were primarily related to the location and extent of private land. The WA issues are mainly associated with the state’s complex array of jurisdiction, policy and management regimes relating to public land, and concerns about risk and liability. This was especially where access includes more than one land management jurisdiction and where jurisdictions overlap. When combined with the range of recreation types wanting access to land, often at the same time and location, the potential for confusion conflict is high. The project aims to clarify the issues and potential way forward for recreation access management in WA.

The Western Australian Department of Planning (DoP) identified the need for additional decision support capability regarding land use and infrastructure planning using current, leading scenario modelling software tools. The DoP has identified a broad range of scenario planning needs at the state, regional and local scale associated with social, economic and environmental concerns. This review of land-use scenario planning and modelling software conducted by Curtin University will assist the DoP with identification of appropriate planning software tools. Effective use of appropriate planning software can enhance stakeholder engagement and assist with justification of planning decisions through evidence based decision making.

This report presents the results of a survey of Munda Biddi Trail users conducted over the course of 2009 and 2010. The main objective of the survey was to obtain an indication of types of trail users (market segments), their frequency and patterns of use, satisfaction levels and expenditure levels.At the time of this survey, the mountain bike trail extended 491km south from the Town of Mundaring along the Darling Range to the town of Nannup. Once fully completed, the trail will wind its way for 1000 km through national parks and state forest in the south-west of Western Australia before reaching the City of Albany on the southern coast. The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is designing and planning the trail in consultation with the Munda Biddi Trail Foundation, the Department of Sport and Recreation, the Western Australian Mountain Bike Association and other representatives of the cycling community.