The main objective of this section is to identify the land use priorities and issues to focus on when populating the support tool. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA) is used to identify these priorities. In particular, a web based MCA decision support tool called
WebHIPREis used. This is a publicly accessible MCA which has had extensive application in NRM and land use planning internationally.
EditApproach
Model for Land Use Analysis
In decision making, when considering a problem the decision maker has some alternatives and some criteria on which the decision can be based. In Web-HIPRE MCA tool the problem is structured hierarchically to form a value tree. In this value tree each criterium is divided to its sub-criteria, which are weighted by their importance to decision makers (On the lowest level criteria the alternatives are weighted). The total weights of the alternatives are calculated from these local weights.
The goal of this project is to determine a list of priority land uses and associated NRM issues to focus on in developing the support tool. Priority should be based on a combination of growth pressures being exerted by individual land use types and their impacts on natural resources. Natural resource management issues can also be rated depending on their relevance or importance to the region.
The main criteria and sub-criteria proposed for determining the priority for the land use types are:
Growth – This considers the comparative growth of the different land uses. Associated factors include:
- Current area(ha).
- The rate of growth (% per year).
- Current extent of land use (No. of local governments where the land use is evident).
- Number of establishments and land managers.
Impact – This considers the comparative impacts of the different land uses on natural resources in the region. These impacts are generally outlined in the section
NRM issues and impacts and discussed in relation to each land use in the section
population and development. It is essentially a consideration of the comparative impacts of each of the land uses being evaluated. Main impacts considered are broadly grouped under land and soil, water, chemicals, nutrients, biodiversity, waste, air, energy, biosecurity and cultural heritage.
Impacts need to be assessed initially against their potential regional relevance or priority. Next land uses need to be assessed against against the land use types based on their comparative impact based on the land use type. For example, rural residential may have a relatively minor impact on nutrient issues compared with market gardens however this may be counteracted by the large area of rural residential development occurring compared to market gardens and associated growth trends.
EditResults and priorities
A desktop analysis of the land use options based on growth and development impacts was undertaken using a combination of the data contained in the section on
population and development and
NRM issues and impacts. The results of the analysis (figure 1) indicate that priority land uses to focus on in the development of the support tool are rural residential and small holdings, and vineyards. These represent intensive land uses which have been expanding most rapidly throughout the region and which have the greatest impact on natural resources.
The analysis has been limited to those uses for which data is readily available. Analysis of other land use and development types may also be undertaken having regard to changes in market and industry trends. Analysis can also be undertaken in a workshop setting with a combination of industry and environmental experts. The benefits of this are that it enables explicit and tacit knowledge to be combined in the MCA process.
Figure 1 - Analysis by level 1 (composite) criteria
Figure 2 - Analysis by level 2 criteria
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