CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENTS · deliver practical environmental outcomes at the local...

NEW SOUTH WALES CATCHMENTMANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES

CELEBRATINGFIVE YEARS OF

ACHIEVEMENTS

HEALTHY AND RESILIENTLANDSCAPES FOR NSW

CELEBRATINGYEARS OF ACHIEVEMENTS 5

With the challenges of climatechange, drought, and a growingglobal population, the work of NRM groups is vital to the future of Australia as a thriving food-producing nation.

The tremendous skills, knowledgeand hard work of all involved –particularly the volunteers whoselflessly dedicate their time torestoring our landscape – is greatlyvalued by the Rudd Government.

Catchment management groups in NSW achieve excellent resultsthrough engaging and buildingpartnerships with local groups,farmers and other landholders.They have delivered significantoutcomes such as enhancing thesoil condition on more than twomillion hectares of land.

Seventy per cent of the Australianlandscape is managed by farmers,which is why capacity building and engaging with our nation’sproducers is so critical. Theinvolvement of local Landcare,Indigenous, and industry groups is also absolutely essential todelivering productive agriculture in Australia.

Congratulations on the impressiveresults achieved over the last fiveyears and I look forward tocontinuing to work with farmers,community groups and CMAs toachieve a landscape that ishealthier and more productive inthe years to come.

THE HON. TONY BURKE MPMinister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

I am delighted to present theachievements of the thirteenCatchment Management Authorities(CMAs) in NSW during their first fiveyears of operation. The NSW Government establishedthese regional bodies in 2004 with avision to empower local communitiesto take responsibility and leadcatchment planning and practicalimprovements to natural resourcesin their region.I am proud to say this regionalapproach is working effectively, asevidenced by the significantoutcomes outlined in this report. Improvements have been to improvethe extent of native vegetation, riverhealth, wetlands, soils, and estuaryand marine habitats, as well asbuilding community skills. A majorkey to this success has been theeffective partnerships that CMAshave developed with the community,partner organisations, industriesand individuals.I am pleased to see how successfullythe NSW CMAs have been inleveraging government funding andattracting further investments to seean impressive total of $2.1 billioninvested in natural resourcemanagement invested in this Stateduring the past five years.Today the CMAs in NSW have becomeintegral and trusted partners inregional and rural communities;they also continue to play a criticalrole in delivering on environmentaltargets in the NSW State Plan.The NSW Government now looksforward to the fruits of their workover the next five years.

THE HON. JOHN ROBERTSON MPMinister for the Environment andClimate Change

All Australians recognise ourresponsibility to protect theremarkable biodiversity andstunning landscapes which make upthis amazing country. As we confrontthe challenges of climate change,this has never been more important,both now, and in the future.

Catchment Management Authorities(CMAs) are at the forefront ofnatural resource management,engaging and working with thecommunity across NSW to conserve,rehabilitate and strengthen ourunique ecosystems. From coastalhabitat to rangelands, grassy plainsto woodlands and rainforests, CMAshave been providing support andresources to thousands ofindividuals and volunteer groupsworking to increase the resilience ofour landscapes.

Over the past five years CMAs haveenabled the enhancement andrehabilitation of at least 2.6 millionhectares of native vegetation. This is a substantial achievement bycommitted staff and a committedcommunity, including landholders,community environment groups,coastcare, landcare and Indigenousgroups. I congratulate the CMAs ontheir efforts.

I am confident that with the supportof CMAs and their communities wewill continue to make significantachievements towards our goal of anenvironment that is healthy, betterprotected, well managed, resilientand providing essential ecosystemservices in a changing climate.

THE HON. PETER GARRETT AM MPMinister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

MINISTERS’ FOREWORDS

THE CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT

AUTHORITIES OF NSW

CENTRAL WEST

BORDER RIVERS-GWYDIR

HAWKESBURY-NEPEAN

HUNTER-CENTRAL RIVERS

LACHLAN

LOWER MURRAY DARLING

MURRAY

MURRUMBIDGEE

NAMOI

NORTHERN RIVERS

SOUTHERN RIVERS

SYDNEY METROPOLITAN

WESTERN

01 Ministers’ Forewords

04 Executive SummaryIntroductionJoint Achievements

08 CMAs in Review• The Regional Approach• Reaching Targets• Environment• Funding• Partnerships• Community Ownership• Our People• The Future for NSW CMAs

15 Case Studies

21 E4 State Plan Targets01 Native Vegetation02 Native Animals03 Threatened Plants, Animals

and Populations04 Weeds and Pests05 Rivers06 Groundwater07 Marine08 Wetlands09 Estuaries and Coastal Lakes10 Soils11 Sustainable Land Management12 Community Wellbeing13 Community Capacity

48 Contributors

49 Endnotes

02 03

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

INTRODUCTIONOver the past five years, thirteen Catchment ManagementAuthorities (CMAs) in NSW, together with their localcommunities, have made significant achievements inprotecting and improving natural landscapes across theState. These regional organisations have motivated,supported and funded local communities to deliver over13,000 projects, large and small.

Against a backdrop of the worst drought in living memory,the combined positive impact of this work is impressive.Projects have taken place in virtually every corner of theState, as communities and individuals have applied localknowledge, skills and their own resources to improve thenatural environments in which they live.

This document celebrates the successes of the CMAs andtheir communities over the past five years, and showcasessome inspiring tales from the people of NSW who, throughinnovation and hard work, have turned significantgovernment investment into real environmental action.

JOINTACHIEVEMENTS

YEARSOF ACTION5

Since the NSW CMAs began in 2004, thousands oflandholders, local councils and community volunteers have responded to significant government investment bycontributing their own time, effort and money to repair pastdamage and change the way things are done to improve theresilience of NSW landscapes.

“NSW CMAs HAVEMORE THAN DOUBLED RETURNS ON GOVERNMENTINVESTMENT”Since 2004, NSW CMAs have delivered $2.11 billion ofinvestment (CMA funds and partner contributions) in practicalenvironmental works, building on the $659.8 millioncontributed by the Australian and NSW Governments for on-ground projects. In other words, for every $1 invested bygovernment, NSW CMAs have attracted a further $2.20 incash and in-kind support from landholders, private sector,industry and organisational partnerships, with almost 80 percent of all funding invested directly on the ground.

These funds were delivered through partnerships withindividual landholders, landcare and community groups,Aboriginal networks, industry groups, businesses,contractors, local councils and other agencies to targetcatchment priorities.

4 05

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In total, almost five million hectares of land, equivalent to six per cent of the area of NSW, has been protected, repaired,enhanced, treated and/or rehabilitated by NSW CMAs andtheir communities since 20041. This enormous effort is due,in no small part, to the partnerships CMAs have fostered todeliver practical environmental outcomes at the local level.

A critical first step in the NSW CMA success story was to earnthe support of private landholders to undertake practicalworks on their land. In just five years, NSW CMAs havenegotiated 13,206 voluntary management agreements whereprivate landholders committed to activities that address localenvironmental issues. That’s 10 agreements signed withlandholders every working day for five years. In addition, 1,064 conservation covenants were negotiated with landholderscommitted to managing at least part of their property for theprotection and conservation of native flora and fauna.

“NSW CMAs AND THEIRLOCAL COMMUNITIESENHANCED ANDREHABILITATED 2.6 MILLION HECTARES OF NATIVE VEGETATION,AN AREA MORE THAN TEN TIMES THE SIZE OFTHE A.C.T.”

Protection and repair of native vegetation was a key originalpurpose in the formation of the NSW CMAs. In the last fiveyears, NSW CMAs have supported their communities toenhance and rehabilitate 2.6 million hectares of nativevegetation, an area more than ten times the size of the A.C.T.This equates to six per cent of the entire 40.5 million hectaresof native vegetation on private land in NSW.

Significant species and ecological communities have beenspecifically protected through CMA support and activity, with306,035 hectares of habitat protected by fencing to excludeeither stock, human traffic or vehicles.

The NSW Government has now substantially built upon theachievements of the former state-wide Native VegetationManagement Fund, which protected or improved 79,000hectares from 1999 to 20032. By implementing a regionalmodel, where CMAs develop close working relationships withtheir communities, the NSW Government has significantlyboosted protection of native vegetation in the State.

“SOILS IMPROVED ON AN AREA EQUIVALENT TO THREE MILLIONFOOTBALL FIELDS”In an effort to protect one of the State’s most valuable naturalassets, NSW CMAs and their communities have jointlyimproved soil condition on over 2 million hectares, an areacovering three million football fields. Activities in this areaincluded increasing organic matter, soil acidity treatmentsand conservation farming practices aimed at improving soilhealth. In addition, soil erosion has been prevented on afurther 66,516 hectares by engineering works such as theconstruction of flumes, rock ramps, contour banks, salinityworks and waterponding.

TERRESTIAL2,424,341 haTEN TIMES THE SIZEOF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

NATIVE VEGETATION ENHANCED AND REHABILITATED BY NSW CMAs SINCE 2004

WETLANDS80,850 haSURFACE AREA OF650,000 OLYMPICSWIMMING POOLS

RIPARIAN137,611 haONE HECTARE EVERY 21MINUTES FOR FIVE YEARS

COASTAL9,451 haALMOST FIVE PERCENTOF THE NSW COASTLINE3

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

TOTAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS INVESTED IN NSW CMAs

TOTAL CMA FUNDS INVESTED ON THE GROUND

$659.77 m$838.49 mTOTAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS INVESTEDIN NSW CMAs

TOTAL CMA FUNDS INVESTEDON THE GROUND

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“OVER ONE MILLIONHECTARES OF WEEDSCONTROLLED”Invasive weed species pose a major threat to the State’sbiodiversity and agricultural production capacity, and are anissue that crosses CMA boundaries. To date, over one millionhectares of weeds have been controlled in NSW as a result ofCMA investment.

“9,000 COMMUNITYEVENTS INVOLVINGOVER 140,000PARTICIPANTS”Not only have CMAs and their communities achievedsignificant practical outcomes in a very short space of time,there now exists a legacy of communities who are betterinformed, trained and skilled in natural resourcemanagement. Since their inception, NSW CMAs haveorganised almost 9,000 events to increase the capacity ofcommunities to manage their natural resources sustainably.These events have involved 141,039 participants.4

The positive influence of CMAs has been felt far beyond theboundary fence. CMA investment has generated localemployment and new business opportunities, and hasboosted many regional economies at a time when the droughtand floods have had a devastating impact.

Apart from the direct employment of over 500 full and part-time local staff, NSW CMAs have contributed significantly tolocal employment and business in regional areas through thepurchase of goods and services such as fencing, plants,machinery and training. Contractors, including Aboriginalwork crews, and local suppliers, are also engaged to conductearthworks, fencing, soil assessments, stream rehabilitation,scientific surveys, soil restoration works and tree planting. All CMAs have made it a priority to use local supplierswherever possible.

There is also evidence from a number of CMAs thatvolunteerism has increased, with more opportunities toparticipate in community groups due to a funding boost from CMA investment. In addition to direct financialinvestment, NSW CMAs directly support networks ofcommunity organisations, such as 1,363 NSW landcaregroups, by providing practical advice and information,investing in projects and fostering partnerships betweenindividual groups.

NSW CMAs HAVE ACHIEVED VERYSIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES IN A VERY SHORTSPACE OF TIME. SOME OF THESEACHIEVEMENTS ARE EASILY MEASURED, BUT OTHERS SUCH AS SOCIAL, ECONOMICAND COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS, ARE MUCHHARDER TO QUANTIFY. THE FIGURESPRESENTED HERE TELL ONLY PART OF THESTORY, BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR - CMAsHAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO ANUMBER OF CRITICAL LAND AND WATERDEGRADATION ISSUES IN NSW, WITH LASTINGENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS TO BE SEEN FORYEARS TO COME.

CMAs IN REVIEW

THE REGIONAL APPROACH CMAs – A COMMUNITY INTERFACE

REACHING TARGETSBUILDING RESILIENT LANDSCAPES IN NSW

In 2004, the NSW Government placed the management of the State’s natural resources into the hands of regionalcommunities, as part of an ambitious reform agenda. With 89 per cent of NSW land privately managed5, theGovernment recognised that the voluntary participation oflandholders was critical to long-term environmental health.This regional approach aimed to develop greater localautonomy and trust, better tailored solutions for localconditions and long-term community ownership.

Thirteen NSW CMAs were established as the regionalorganisations responsible for planning and investing innatural resource management and are the only regionalgovernment organisations focused on natural resourcemanagement in NSW. CMAs have become integrated localorganisations that deliver NSW and Australian Governmentfunds, offering expertise to landholders and providing acoordination point from which communities can tackle naturalresource issues together. Partnerships have played a crucialrole, with CMAs providing a vehicle for governments toconsult, engage and work alongside communityorganisations, industries and individuals.

Since 2004, NSW CMAs have prepared 10 year CatchmentAction Plans and Investment Strategies, delivered $659.8 million of government funds directly to on-groundprojects and more than doubled the investment made bygovernments through support from private, industry andorganisational partners.

CMAs are lean organisations, where administration costs are kept to a minimum. Rigorous planning and monitoringsystems are put in place to ensure projects are delivered on time and result in planned environmental outcomes.

Other key CMA roles include assessing applications for nativevegetation clearing and management under the NativeVegetation Act 2003, undertaking practical and sustainablenatural resource management projects and providing accessto training and community education.

“NSW CMAs HAVEPREPARED 10 YEARCATCHMENT ACTIONPLANS IN CLOSECONSULTATION WITHTHEIR COMMUNITIES”

NSW CMAs have the difficult task of achieving the goals and objectives of their communities and many levels ofgovernment. To deliver this, CMAs have developed regionally-appropriate plans and management strategies with the ability to adapt to new science, emerging issues andgovernment priorities as they arise.

All thirteen NSW CMAs strive to meet one state-wide goal, as set down by the NSW Government in 2005: “Resilient,ecologically sustainable landscapes functioning effectively at all scales and supporting the environmental, economic,social and cultural values of communities6”. The overarchingmeasure of success is healthy, productive landscapes that can cope with change.

Individual CMAs address the six national priorities outlined inthe Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiativeintroduced in 2008, as well as the 13 State Targets set out inthe State Plan for NSW.

Each CMA has developed a Catchment Action Plan (CAP) toaddress government targets and community priorities. These 10 year plans, developed in close consultation with the community, identify priority issues, set local targets and outline strategies for investment and management ofnatural assets within the catchment. The plans addressissues identified by landholders, all levels of government,Aboriginal communities, industries and community groups.The plans are also approved by Cabinet and take a whole ofgovernment approach.

Progress is measured against a set of standards7 developedby the NSW Natural Resources Commission, an independentauthority that audits the implementation of Catchment Action Plans8.

NSW CMAs have also implemented a Monitoring, Evaluation,Reporting (MER) program, to allow systematic and objectiveevaluation of natural resource management programs. The MER program is concerned with the collection, recording,analysis and use of gathered information, to adaptivelymanage investment, and to demonstrate natural resourcemanagement progress against catchment targets. Thesefindings are essential in supporting improved practices anddecision making, and to best measure outcomes at bothcatchment and state levels.

08 09

1 2 3 4 5 6

1WESTERN

2BORDERSRIVER-GWYDIR 3

NORTHERNRIVERS

5CENTRAL WEST

4NAMOI

11MURRUMBIDGEE

9LOWERMURRAY-DARLING

10LACHLAN

6HUNTER

CENTRALRIVERS

12MURRAY

13SOUTHERNRIVERS

7HAWKESBURYNEPEAN

8SYDNEYMETROPOLITAN

WESTERNSq km: 230,000

Population(approx): 18,000

Current Chair: Rory Treweeke, farmer and grazier

Term served: 5 years

BORDER RIVERS-GWYDIRSq km: 50,000


Current Chair: Dr Bob Crouch,grazier

Term served: 5 years (1 year as Chair)

NORTHERNRIVERSSq km: 50,000


Current Chair: Dr Judy Henderson,company director


NAMOISq km: 42,000


Current Chair: Jim McDonald,dryland croppingfarmer


CENTRAL WESTSq km: 92,000


Current Chair: Tom Gavel, farmer


HUNTER-CENTRAL RIVERSSq km: 37,000

Population(approx): 1.2 million

Current Chair: Dr Wej Paradice, CEO, Hunter Valley Research Foundation


7 8 9 10 11 12HAWKESBURY-NEPEANSq km: 22,000

Population(approx): 1 million

Current Chair: John Klem, grazier


SYDNEYMETROPOLITANSq km: 2,470

Population(approx): 3 million

Current Chair: Philip Sansom, local councillor

Term served: 5 years(1 year as Chair)

LOWER MURRAYDARLINGSq km: 63,000


Current Chair: Mark King,horticulturalist,grape grower andlocal councillor


LACHLANSq km: 84,700


Current Chair: Robert Gledhill,local councillor and landholder


MURRUMBIDGEESq km: 84,000


Current Chair: Lee O’Brien,farmer


MURRAYSq km: 35,170


Current Chair: Alex Anthony,irrigation farmer


13SOUTHERNRIVERSSq km: 32,000


Current Chair: Pam Green,planning anddevelopmentmediator


FOR EVERY $1 OF GOVERNMENTINVESTMENT, NSW CMAs HAVE ATTRACTED A FURTHER $2.20IN CASH AND IN-KIND SUPPORT

CMAs IN REVIEW

ENVIRONMENT STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN NSW

FUNDINGADDING VALUE TO GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT

The landscapes of NSW have been severely altered sinceEuropean settlement, to a point where entire species havebeen lost, productive farmlands are at risk, and our uniquebiodiversity is seriously threatened. With land and waterdegradation comes threats to viable urban and regionalcommunities and the industries they support, as well as ourcore social, environmental and Aboriginal heritage values.

Communities across NSW have been aware of, and haveworked hard to address, many environmental issues;however, the evidence of degradation is still clearly evident.The complex web of issues is different for individualcommunities and includes severe soil erosion, salinity, weedand feral animal infestations, loss of native vegetation andbiodiversity, decreased water quality and river health, soilhealth issues and more recently, climate change.

It will take time, major investment and in-kind resources, and the willingness of landholders and land managers toovercome these issues. CMAs, in partnership with others,have made significant inroads and it is critical these efforts are continued into the future with increased fundingand support.

“COMPLEXENVIRONMENTALISSUES HAVE BEENTACKLED WITH GREATPRECISION AT ACATCHMENT LEVEL ”

NSW CMAs have received $838.5 million in funding from theAustralian and NSW Governments since their inception in2004. CMAs have invested a large proportion of this funding,$659.8 million, directly to on-ground projects.

For every $1 invested by government, NSW CMAs haveattracted a further $2.20 worth of cash and in-kind supportfrom their communities and partners, to see a total $2.11billion invested in practical environmental works in the pastfive years. This is a measure of strong community support for CMAs, with significant value-adding based on trustedpartnerships with individual landholders, industries, business,local councils and community groups.

Key funding sources have included:

• Australian Government• National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality • Natural Heritage Trust • Caring for our Country initiative• National Landcare Program.

• NSW Government• Recurrent funding• Land and Water Management Plan • State Sustainability funding • Catchment Action NSW• State Salinity Enhancement • Soil Conservation Section 10• Environmental Services Scheme. • NSW Environment Trust• Premier’s Regional Partnership Fund.

This multi-level government support has allowed complexenvironmental issues to be tackled with great precision at thecatchment level, and CMAs have played the important role ofgathering funds from a variety of sources and delivering themto priority regional projects.

CMAs have also taken the initiative to develop their owninvestment strategies and to broaden their revenue streamsto complement government funding.

10

CMAs IN REVIEW

PARTNERSHIPS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIPLOCAL PEOPLE MAKING LOCAL DECISIONS

The protection and repair of our natural environment relies on many people working effectively together. Scientists,landholders, extension staff, government agencies, Aboriginalcommunities, land managers, community groups and funding bodies must all bring their expertise to the table inorder to find practical solutions to serious land and waterdegradation issues.

NSW CMAs have brokered hundreds of effective andmeaningful partnerships since 2004, and these are central to the success of the regional model. CMAs have fundedprojects, provided expertise to landholders, linkedneighbours, connected like-minded community groups,worked with local and state government agencies andsupported landcare9 networks.

These partnerships can only develop in an environment wherethere is community trust and respect. CMAs have workedhard to earn this by rolling their sleeves up, giving practicaladvice, delivering funds with less red tape, and demonstratingsuccess on the ground where it matters.

CMAs also work collaboratively, rather than in competition.They partner with each other, government agencies, non-government organisations, the scientific community,educators and investors, to deliver a truly integrated approachto natural resource management in NSW.

The regional model for natural resource management is allabout communities driving change. Based on mutual respect,on-ground action can be taken on private and public land byan army of willing volunteers.

True community partnerships are based on meaningfulrelationships. Thousands of community meetings were heldby NSW CMAs over the last five years to identify and prioritiseissues, develop Catchment Action Plans, monitor progressand report results. Every step of the way, CMAs involved asmany individuals, industries, landcare, community groups andAboriginal representatives as possible in critical decisionsabout the future of their catchments.

With the encouragement and support of CMAs, the people ofNSW have volunteered countless hours of community serviceto repair waterways, replace and fence native vegetation,remove weeds, monitor and recover species and improvefarming practices. Over 13,000 individual projects have beenfunded in every corner of the State, from coastal waters to thearid western environments.

“OVER 13,000INDIVIDUAL PROJECTSHAVE BEEN FUNDED INEVERY CORNER OF THESTATE, FROM COASTALWATERS TO THE ARID WESTERNENVIRONMENTS”

OUR PEOPLE THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT:COMMUNITY TRUST

THE FUTURE FOR NSW CMAs

NSW CMAs are led by Boards drawn from local communities,with diverse experience and skills in areas such as primaryproduction, cultural heritage, biodiversity and businessadministration. The Boards are appointed by, and reportdirectly to, the NSW Minister for the Environment, ClimateChange and Water, and adhere to strict governance controls.

Thirteen NSW CMAs, with over 500 full and part-time staff,operate from 73 regional offices, located from Bega in thesouth to Lismore in the north, Grafton in the east to BrokenHill in the west. Most staff live and work in their catchments, a major factor in the development of trust between CMAs andtheir communities.

CMAs provide an important extension role and have built theircapacity in this area at a time when many governmentagencies have reduced staff in the field or in front linepositions. Local people, particularly in farming communities,need to develop relationships with people they can trustbefore they will commit to major changes on their land. Highly trained CMA staff work hard to build theserelationships by providing practical advice to land managers,coordinating projects, organising education and field days,supporting landcare and Aboriginal networks, and makingsite visits to support those undertaking on-ground works.

In just five years, NSW CMAs have built strong regionalprofiles and credibility, based on partnerships where allparticipants work towards shared goals for their communities.

“IN JUST FIVE YEARS,NSW CMAs HAVE BUILTSTRONG REGIONALPROFILES ANDCREDIBILITY”

CMAs have a key place in the future of natural resourcemanagement in NSW. Over the last five years the regionalmodel has been an effective and cost efficient approach, withmany positive inroads made into some of the State’s greatestenvironmental challenges.

Critically, CMAs have proven to be flexible organisations thatcan adapt to changing government priorities, funding andpolicies and other emerging issues. The nature of our naturalresource systems means that improvements in environmentalconditions are likely to take some years to be fully realised, so continued investment is an important element in ensuringlong-term results.

There are exciting times ahead for NSW CMAs, with someimportant areas of focus for the next few years to include:• Helping our landscapes and communities adapt to climate

change• Complementing government investment by broadening

income streams• Applying principles of adaptive management to achieve new

priorities set down by the Australian Government under theCaring for our Country initiative, while still meeting Statepriorities

• Continuing to improve systems and processes foraccountability and transparent decision making

• Enhancing systems for monitoring, evaluation andreporting information, so as to become increasingly robustand consistent

• Adapting to, and applying, any new directions resulting fromfuture reviews of the NSW State Plan

• Continuing the core business of on-ground change, basedon community focus, community ownership and a regionalapproach.

Natural resource management requires long-term andcontinual planning, financial commitment and perseverance.CMAs are trusted and reliable community organisations thatcan support and motivate land managers and volunteers toachieve necessary changes. CMAs and their communitieshave made a great start. Future support and investment willensure this important work continues.

13

NSW CMAs HAVE WORKED ON ALMOST5 MILLION HECTARES OF LAND SINCE2004, EQUIVALENT TO 6 PER CENT OFTHE TOTAL AREA OF NSW

CASE STUDIES

CMAs WORKING WITHABORIGINAL COMMUNITIESTO CARE FOR OUR COUNTRY

CMAs MANAGINGNATURAL RESOURCES AT A LANDSCAPE LEVEL

RIVER RESTORATION – RESTORING LINKS TO‘COUNTRY’ AND CULTURE

Project Title: Wagga Wagga Traditional Owner RiverRestoration Project

TOTAL INVESTMENT: $5.4 MILLION

Through classroom training and hands-on work, the WaggaWagga Traditional Owner River Restoration project isproviding over 60 local Aboriginal people with qualifications,employment and an opportunity to reconnect with ‘country’and culture.

The team has reclaimed degraded sites along theMurrumbidgee River, transforming them into havens fornative wildlife and the community.

Since January 2007 the team have been successful in:• Planting more than 15,000 indigenous trees and shrubs• Removing up to 10 kilometres of weeds• Sowing six hectares of native grasses• Constructing 56 nesting boxes for gliders, possums, bats,

tree-creepers and parrots• Fencing vulnerable areas• Controlling erosion and stabilising riverbanks• Improving pathways and river access.

While improving the river sites, the trainees gained aCertificate III in Conservation and Land Management throughTAFE NSW, improving their future employment opportunitiesin natural resource management.

The team has identified sites of cultural importance andconducted tours, raising awareness of Cultural Heritage andenvironmental stewardship amongst the broader community.

One of eight projects of its kind, it demonstrates theMurrumbidgee CMA’s commitment to engaging TraditionalOwners and Aboriginal people, increasing Aboriginalinvolvement in natural resource management, creatingAboriginal employment opportunities and increasingcommunity awareness of natural and cultural values in the landscape.

The successful project is a result of collaboration between a diverse range of partners including Murrumbidgee CMA,Wagga Wagga Aboriginal Elders Group, Wagga Wagga City Council, Land and Property Management Authority, Group Training and Employment Services and TAFE NSWRiverina Institute.

REHABILITATION OF OUR RIVER REACHES

Project Title: Northern Rivers River Reach Program

TOTAL INVESTMENT: $450,000

The rivers of Northern NSW are in good hands, with aninnovative three-tiered rehabilitation program designed toallow communities to improve waterways as their naturalresource management capacity grows.

Funding for the River Reach program has proved competitive,despite requiring 60 per cent of landholders along a stretch ofriver having to commit to the project before its commencement.This indicates significant levels of trust have developedbetween the Northern Rivers CMA and local landholders.

Since the program commenced in 2005, a massive amount ofrestoration work has taken place on river reaches across theNorth Coast region, including:• Enhancing and rehabilitating over 330 hectares of riverine

corridor, including 1,700 kilometres of streambank• Establishing 210 voluntary conservation agreements• Planting over 8,000 riparian plants in 30 hectares of

riverine corridor• Protecting 165 hectares of riparian zone and 45 kilometres

of stream bank through fencing• Undertaking over 60 hectares of pest plant control• Stabilising almost 4.5 kilometres of riverbank by

engineering works• Protecting almost 30 kilometres of streambank by installing

over 60 alternative stock watering sites• Delivering 15 contracts for on-ground works to implement

River Reach plans, with 15 field days and six training eventsheld in 2007-08.

Complementing this on-ground work is an innovativemulti-partner research project tracking fish movement in the 22,500 square kilometre Clarence River catchment. The project examines river flow, fish movement, habitat useand barriers to fish passage. The research will generate newunderstanding about the seasonal patterns of fish movement,what constitutes a barrier to fish passage, and the criticalflows required by native fish species.

15

CASE STUDIES

CMAs BUILDINGPARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY

CMAs TEAMING UP WITH THE CORPORATESECTOR

FIVE-FOLD LANDCARE RETURN IN THE HAWKESBURY-NEPEAN

TOTAL CMA INVESTMENT: $3.2 MILLION

A strong partnership between landcare and the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA has seen landcare groups carry out $15 millionworth of environmental work since 2004, an almost five-foldreturn on the CMA’s $3.2 million investment.

Like many CMAs in NSW, the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA iscommitted to supporting on-ground landcare and currentlyworks with 125 groups involving over 2,750 volunteers. These groups contribute a staggering 71,000 volunteer hoursand $2.3 million to environmental works in the catchmenteach year.

Landcare groups also attract a further $1 million in annualgovernment and private sector investment in environmentalrestoration, meaning $3.3 million is invested through landcarein these projects.

With ongoing support, the number of landcare groups hasbeen growing at eight per cent per year for the past five years.

Landcare groups range from locations in urban areas, on theperi-urban fringe and in agricultural districts of the catchment,where groups are restoring waterways and remnantbushland, or undertaking production-focused projects.

The Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA provides a range of supportincluding:• Providing insurance• Supplying first aid kits• Offering OH&S and technical training• Assisting access to various funding programs• Providing technical advice for projects• Offering ongoing group maintenance.

The Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA sees ongoing support oflandcare as critical to building a base of committed and expert volunteers working on private and public lands acrossthe catchment. The results of this successful partnershipclearly show the mutual benefits of working closely with thelandcare movement.

INDUSTRIES SAVE UP TO 20 PER CENT FROM TOWN WATERSUPPLIES IN THE NAMOI CATCHMENT

Project Title: Industry and Local Government Water UseEfficiency Program

TOTAL INVESTMENT: $950,000

A massive effort by businesses in the north-west of the Statehas seen water savings of up to 20 per cent from townsupplies, thanks to support from the Namoi CMA.

The project included water audits, infrastructure andefficiency improvements, with a number of large industrialwater users in major towns including Tamworth, Gunnedahand Narrabri.

One highly successful project saw 406,000 litres of rainwaterrunoff harvested from the Wests Leagues Club in Tamworthduring the 2009 Country Music Festival alone, which wasreused in the club’s amenities. It is estimated this rainwaterharvesting system will save Tamworth over 2.5 million litres of water each year.

In partnership with Waterwise NSW and the Namoi LocalGovernment Group, Namoi CMA realised that significantwater efficiency gains could be made across the wholecatchment by targeting the biggest commercial water users.

Water saving measures ranged from simple techniques suchas introducing flow control on taps and water points andbetter leak detection, through to water recycling and majorinfrastructure upgrades.

Namoi CMA aimed to assess and assist businesses to becomeas water efficient as possible, with the overall aim of reducingwater usage by increasing efficiencies. Businesses wereencouraged to implement simple options that could provideinstant reductions in water use, through to major worksneeding significant long-term investment.

17

OVER 2 MILLION HECTARES OF SOILS HAVE BEEN IMPROVED BY NSW CMAs SINCE 2004, ENOUGH TO COVER 3 MILLION FOOTBALL FIELDS

CASE STUDIES

CMAs WORKING ACROSSCATCHMENT BOUNDARIES

CMAs LINKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

MANAGING INVASIVE NATIVE SCRUB ACROSS CATCHMENTS

Project Title: Invasive Native Scrub Research Program

TOTAL INVESTMENT: $3 MILLION

Thickening and encroaching native trees and shrubs overopen country is affecting rangelands across the globe,severely limiting pasture production.

Called Invasive Native Scrub (INS), this phenomenon wasrecorded as early as the 1870s in western NSW. It continues to be a major issue affecting agricultural production, propertymanagement and farm viability, and can lead to a range ofenvironmental issues.

The Central West and Western CMAs are working together tobetter understand the science of this phenomenon and thepracticalities of rehabilitating widespread areas of INS intomore natural mosaics of native pastures and open woodlands.

The CMAs, in conjunction with the NSW Department ofEnvironment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW), haveimplemented a research program to develop knowledge ofthis issue and fill information gaps. Around 80 landholdershave been directly involved; providing study sites, workingwith researchers and attending workshops and field days.

The key to the project’s success has been landholders openlysharing their experiences and demonstrating theirwillingness to tackle the problem.

Individual projects include research on the science of soilhealth and erosion, developing best practice for INSmanagement techniques and recording landholderexperience and knowledge.

Networks are also being developed with the Lachlan andNamoi CMAs to share information, work together on INS-related field days, and carry out other extension activities.

The research program has delivered rigorous science,practical resources, case studies and other information tohelp landholders and CMAs manage this critical issue, forboth environmental benefits and production outcomes.

Through collaborating on common issues such as this, CMAscan effectively engage communities across a broader scaleand make real differences to our natural resources.

CONNECTING SCHOOLS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT

Project Title: Schools Connections

TOTAL CMA INVESTMENT: $220,000

Over the last three years the Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA hasdirectly reached 5,000 students across every school within thecatchment, representing over a third of students, with aneducation campaign about how to be responsible landmanagers who care for the natural environment. One of thekey aims of the Schools Connection project is to foster ageneration of responsible stewards of the land.

The project focuses on preparing and delivering educationresources, activities and projects for teachers and students, to improve awareness and knowledge of natural resourcemanagement and an individual’s impact on the localenvironment.

A suite of educational resources pitched at a variety of levelshave been widely distributed to students and teachers, including:• Six education kits/packs that provide guidelines to

educators about composting in schools, waterways healthand management and lesson plans for incorporation intothe curriculum

• Ten readers aimed at school children aged between five andseven to assist them in learning to read

• One DVD showcasing the natural resources and communitiesaround the Border Rivers and Gwydir catchments

• One interactive CD-ROM for students and teachers to assistin understanding sustainable natural resourcemanagement

• Six outdoor education activities (run in conjunction with theeducation trailer) such as water bug identification, biodiversityand ecology activities, water quality testing and bird watching

• One outdoor education trailer that travels to schools andcommunity events, educating people about natural resourcemanagement

• Six competitions including the annual Property PlanningCompetition, Write-a-Reader Competition and Flags of OurCatchment Art Competition

• Nine newsletters called The CATCHee News updating anetwork of over 50 educators about environmentaleducation activities and resources

• The 2007 NSW Youth River Health Conference was alsoheld, attracting over 200 students.

The Schools Connection project involves a multi-level approachthat educates students from primary and secondary schools,TAFE colleges and remote communities. It has included aseries of well-supported activities and practical guides thatalign with the NSW school curriculum, such as HealthyWaterways Readers and Lunch Munchers Worm Farming kits.

18

OVER 1 MILLION HECTARES OF WEEDS HAVE BEEN

CONTROLLED DUE TO NSW CMAACTIVITIES SINCE 2004

The following section illustrates the practical ways that NSWCMAs have worked towards meeting a set of ambitious targets,set out in the State Plan for NSW under priority E4. A series ofcase studies under each State Target showcases the innovation,collaboration and simple hard work that our communities haveundertaken over the last five years. This massive combinedeffort finds us well on the way to achieving the state’s overallaim: HEALTHY AND RESILIENT LANDSCAPES FOR NSW.

NSW CMAs HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 9,000 COMMUNITY EVENTSINVOLVING OVER 140,000 PARTICIPANTS SINCE 2004

MASSIVE PROJECT TOREVEGETATE THE MURRAY

Project Title:Remnant Vegetation Project

CMA: Murray

Location:Multiple locations throughout theMurray Catchment

Key Achievement:20,000 hectares of privately ownedsites of remnant vegetation improvedand placed under a managementagreement, with 8,800 hectares ofimproved vegetation management onpublic reserves

TOTAL CMA INVESTMENT:$5 MILLION

In Collaboration With:Private landholders, local councils,Nature Conservation Trust, MurrayIrrigation Ltd, Livestock Health andPest Authorities

NEWTON’S LAW FOR NATIVEVEGETATION SUCCESS

Project Title:Demonstration of the Maintenance of Native Perennial Grass Cover in the Rangelands

CMA: Western

Location:Four sites in the Walgett, Cobar andBourke areas

Key Achievement:Landholders Wayne and Judy Newtonestablished one of four Invasive NativeScrub (INS) farm-scale demonstrationsites, showcasing strategies tomanage INS, which out-competesnative pasture

TOTAL INVESTMENT:$168,500 FOR FOUR SITES

PROTECTING THREATENEDSPECIES ON PRIVATEPROPERTIES

Project Title:Property Vegetation Plans in the LowerNorth Coast Landscape

CMA: Hunter-Central Rivers

Location:Lower North Coast including thetownships of Taree, Forster,Gloucester and Port Stephens

Key Achievement:5,036 hectares of land protected byProperty Vegetation Plans, many protecting threatened plant and animalspecies in perpetuity

TOTAL INVESTMENT:APPROX $3.6 MILLION

In Collaboration With:Various local landholders, NSWDepartment of Environment, Climate Change and Water, GreaterTaree City Council

Ptilotis (lamb tails, pussy tails) inflower along Tuppal Creek

Judy and Wayne Newton’s demonstrationsite enables landholders to better managepotentially devastating vegetation

Landholder Jason Mobbs protectingancient rainforest on his property near Krambach, Lower North Coast

HELPING FARMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT SURVIVEDROUGHT IN THE BORDER RIVERS-GWYDIRIn the grip of the worst drought on record in NSW, farmers in the Border Rivers-Gwydir were assisted by their CMA to either destock their property to minimise overgrazing, establish a sacrifice paddock to feed the remainder of stock, and/or re-establish deteriorated perennial pastures.

One-off payments were made to 94 landholders in drought declared areas of the catchment, with the aim of both assistingfarmers through the drought and protecting farmlands from further damage.

The project resulted in:• Destocking 10,575 cattle, 1,279 calves and 18,894 sheep• Establishing 4,822 hectares of perennial pastures• Creating sacrifice paddocks on the properties of 25 per cent of funding recipients• Training 94 landholders in drought preparedness and management.

This innovative program reduced overgrazing and damage to native pastures during drought, a time when they were moresusceptible to degradation and stress. By destocking and excluding remaining stock from the majority of paddocks,groundcover was maintained and, after rain, pastures were able to regenerate much faster than they would have otherwise.

Not only did the program provide farmers with assistance at a time when they needed it most, they now have additionalskills, techniques and tools for drought preparation and stock management that can be used in the future.

22 23

DROUGHTRESPONSE

INCENTIVESPROGRAM

1NATIVE

VEGETATION

WHEN EUROPEANS SETTLED AUSTRALIA IN 1788, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT NATIVE FORESTSCOVERED ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE CONTINENT. THIS FELL TO ABOUT ONE-FIFTH IN 2003,WITH 26,658,000 HECTARES REMAINING IN NSW.10

A MAJOR FOCUS FOR CMAs ACROSS THE STATE HAS BEEN TO PROTECT AND LINKREMAINING NATIVE VEGETATION AND TO REPLACE LOST VEGETATION AND HABITAT – ALL THE WHILE WORKING TO FIND THE BALANCE BETWEEN PRODUCTION ANDCONSERVATION. NSW CMAs ARE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO DELIVERING THE STATE PLANTARGET THAT “BY 2015 THERE IS AN INCREASE IN NATIVE VEGETATION EXTENT AND ANIMPROVEMENT IN NATIVE VEGETATION CONDITION11.” TO DATE, 2.6 MILLION HECTARES OF NATIVE VEGETATION HAS BEEN ENHANCED OR REHABILITATED BY CMA PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.

LACHLAN RIVER CARPCLEANUP

Project Title:Lachlan River Carp Cleanup

CMA: Lachlan

Location:Lower Lachlan River

Key Achievement:Installation and trialling of CarpSeparation Cages to removedestructive migrating carp in the mid-Lachlan River, while still allowing freepassage of native fish

TOTAL INVESTMENT:$1 MILLION

In Collaboration With:Industry and Investment NSW, Invasive Animals CRC, SARDI, K & CFisheries, Victorian Department ofSustainability and Environment,Australian Government, State WaterCorporation, Lake Cargelligo Lakesand Wetlands Council, LachlanAboriginal Natural ResourceManagement Group, local councils,Hillston Hook Line and Sinker FishingClub, Lower Lachlan Landcare GroupInc, Wyangala Fishing Club

VEGETATION MAP COVERING42,000 SQ KMS IN THE NAMOI

Project Title:Native Vegetation Mapping and NatureConservation Strategy

CMA: Namoi

Location:North-west NSW (from Walcha in theeast to Walgett in the west, north toBarraba and south to Willow Tree)

Key Achievement:Complete and detailed vegetation mapof entire Namoi Catchment, leading toa comprehensive Nature ConservationStrategy allowing identification ofendangered ecological communitiesand regionally significant vegetation

TOTAL INVESTMENT:$400,000

HUNDREDS OF SPECIES ANDHABITATS IDENTIFIED INSYDNEY

Project Title:Rapid Fauna Habitat AssessmentResearch Projects

CMA: Sydney Metropolitan

Location:Fifty sites of remnant bushland withinthe Sydney Metropolitan region

Key Achievement:Comprehensive research projectidentifying more than 550 native faunaspecies, including 53 threatened faunaspecies, and a surprisingly wide rangeof intact habitats within the SydneyMetropolitan region


In Collaboration With:NSW Department of Environment,Climate Change and Water

Keith Bell, K & C Fisheries Global,cooking carp at the Booligal CarpFishing Competition

Tawny Frogmouth – Biodiversity of theNamoi Catchment will benefit from theimplementation of the NatureConservation Strategy

One of the many intact habitatsidentified within the SydneyMetropolitan area

FARMERS MANAGE OVER 60,000 HECTARES FOR CONSERVATIONNine landholders within the NSW Western Division have agreed to manage 60,000 hectares for conservation rather thanuse it for agriculture until at least 2023, under the Enterprise Based Conservation project.

The landholders are managing an area one-quarter the size of the Australian Capital Territory through protecting populationsof native animals and enabling plants to thrive, by installing fences, removing artificial watering points and excluding stock.It is believed that at least 64 threatened species occur across the nine properties.

These landholders (six from the Western Catchment and three from the Lower Murray Darling Catchment) will receivefinancial incentives to actively manage part or all of their properties for specific conservation goals for 15 years.

In addition to protecting the habitat for a wide range of animals and plants and producing clean air and healthy soils andwater, the Enterprise Based Conservation project recognises conservation as a legitimate commercial land-use. It demonstrates the success of using a market-based instrument to achieve positive conservation goals whilst protectingsustainable populations of native fauna species on landscapes, including the iconic Cuttaburra and Paroo Channels, MitchellGrass Plains, Saltbush Downs and Mallee country.

The Enterprise Based Conservation project has shown members of the local community that conservation can be a legitimatealternative to agricultural production, and that landholders can remain on their properties despite prolonged drought, whilstactively improving the condition of their local environment.

ENTERPRISE BASEDCONSERVATION

24 25

2NATIVE

ANIMALS

WHILE AUSTRALIA IS ONE OF THE MOST BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE COUNTRIES ON EARTHWITH OVER ONE MILLION SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS, IT ALSO HAS THE WORSTRATE OF MAMMAL EXTINCTION IN THE MODERN WORLD. IN NSW, THERE ARE MORE THAN1,000 NATIVE SPECIES, POPULATIONS AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES LISTED ASTHREATENED WITH EXTINCTION.12

NSW CMAs HAVE INVESTED IN A MULTITUDE OF PROJECTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARSAIMED AT MEETING THE STATE TARGET THAT “BY 2015 THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THENUMBER OF SUSTAINABLE POPULATIONS OF A RANGE OF NATIVE FAUNA SPECIES13.” CMAs HAVE PARTNERED WITH INDIVIDUALS, CONSERVATION AND LANDCARE GROUPS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, TO REPLACE AND PROTECT HABITAT AND REMOVE THREATSTO OUR PRECIOUS NATIVE FAUNA.

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RETURNING THE BRUSH-TAILED ROCK WALLABY TOTHE WILD

Project Title:Returning the Brush-tailed RockWallaby to the Wild

CMA: Hawkesbury-Nepean

Location:Jenolan Caves region

Key Achievement:Successfully controlled foxes tosupport the release of a smallremaining population of endangeredBrush-tailed Rock Wallabies into thewild. This population had been kept incaptivity for over 20 years to protectthem from fox predation


In Collaboration With:NSW Department of Environment,Climate Change and Water

NATIVE FISH MAKE A MIGHTY SPLASH!

Project Title:Native Fish Make a Mighty Splash!

CMA: Lower Murray Darling

Location:Twenty locations along the Darling andMurray Rivers

Key Achievement:Over 350,000 Murray Cod and GoldenPerch fingerlings (juvenile fish) werereleased to boost recovery of nativefish stock numbers which had declined dramatically due to on-goingdrought and a lack of flood events thattrigger spawning


In Collaboration With:Industry and Investment NSW, NativeFish Stocking Program, MurrayDarling Hatcheries (Wagga Wagga),Bundaberg Rum Bushcare (viaLandcare Australia), Origin “GreenEnergy” (via Landcare Australia), ClubMarine Insurance Ltd

CONSERVING THEGRASSLANDS OF THE MONARO

Project Title:Monaro Grasslands ConservationProject

CMA: Southern Rivers

Location:Monaro district of south-east NSW,from Cooma to Bombala

Key Achievement:13,300 hectares of Natural TemperateGrasslands (one of Australia’s mostendangered ecological communities)protected by partnering with farmersto graze grasslands sustainably

TOTAL INVESTMENT:$2.1 MILLION

In Collaboration With:NSW Department of Environment,Climate Change and Water, Industryand Investment NSW, Snowy River,Bombala and Cooma-Monaro Shire Councils, Monaro landholders,local community

Brush-tailed Rock Wallabysuccessfully released in the BlueMountains, near Jenolan

Origin’s Green Ambassador JamieDurie and Murray Darling Fisheries’Noel Penfold with Wazza the Cod

Monaro Grasslands ConservationProject protects high conservationvalue natural temperate grasslands

FUNDRAISING FOR FROG RECOVERYHigh in the Australian Alps, the Corroboree Frog Conservation Program, a partnership with the Murray CMA, is raisingawareness of the plight of these endangered amphibians and giving them a better chance of survival.

Following a huge response to fundraising efforts and a comprehensive media campaign, the captive breeding program hasreleased 211 adult frogs and over 1,000 eggs into the wild to boost declining populations.

Over $17,000 has been donated by corporations and individuals through an “Adopt a Frog’ program, with a dedicated website(www.corroboreefrog.org.au) receiving 1,000 hits a day. All funds raised directly support the project partners’ captive breedingand reintroduction works.

The program has established an important source of alternative funding for Corroboree Frog recovery and has effectivelyengaged the community in frog conservation. The establishment of a charitable trust for the program represents aninnovative model for CMAs to raise much-needed funds for threatened species recovery.

The project also provides vital support for the Recovery Program of two of Australia’s most threatened frog species(Corroboree and Booroolong) through partnerships with the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water,Amphibian Research Centre, Taronga Zoo, Zoos Victoria and the ACT Government.

Perhaps one of the greatest successes of the program was that it allowed the Murray CMA to engage the broader communityin new ways, such as through television advertising and a dedicated website. It is estimated that the coordinated mediacampaign reached over one million people in the catchment.

26 27

CORROBOREE FROGCONSERVATION

PROGRAM3THREATENED

PLANTS, ANIMALSAND POPULATIONS

WITH OVER 1,000 NATIVE SPECIES, POPULATIONS AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES LISTEDAS THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION IN NSW, SPECIES CONSERVATION HAS BECOME ACRITICAL ISSUE BEING ADDRESSED BY CMAs14.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT NSW CMAs, SINCE 2004, HAVE SPECIFICALLY PROTECTED 305,701HECTARES OF LAND FOR SIGNIFICANT SPECIES OR ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY PROTECTION,BY FENCING, WEEDING, SURVEYING AND IMPROVING VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.HUNDREDS OF PROJECTS ADDRESSING THREATS SUCH AS INVASIVE WEEDS, FERALANIMALS, LAND CLEARING AND CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN A BID TO KEEP A VARIETY OF NATIVE SPECIES BACK FROM THE BRINK. CMAs HAVE INVESTEDSTRATEGICALLY TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE TARGET THAT “BY 2015 THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE RECOVERY OF THREATENED SPECIES,POPULATIONS AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES.”

ALMOST 150,000 WEEDS OFNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCEREMOVED IN THE BROKENHILL AREA

Project Title:Eradication of Category 1 Weeds ofNational Significance


Location:26 properties in the Broken Hill area

Key Achievement:A three year Mesquite and Athel pineeradication program that treated over150,000 mesquite trees, with a kill rateof over 95 per cent. The aim is toeliminate all Mesquite from thecatchment within a decade


In Collaboration With:Western Livestock Health and PestAuthority, Perilya Mines, CountryEnergy, Western CMA, Defeating theWeeds Menace Programme, locallandholders, Environmental Trust

7,650 FEWER FERALS IN THE WEST

Project Title:Feral Pig Control in Walgett, Bourkeand Brewarrina

CMA: Western

Location:Walgett, Bourke and Brewarrina areas

Key Achievement:7,650 fewer feral pigs damaging theecosystems of the Barwon-Darling and Warrego River areas and theCuttaburra Basin, as a result of anintegrated aerial shooting, baiting and trapping program


In Collaboration With:Darling Livestock Health and PestAuthority, Industry and InvestmentNSW, NSW Department ofEnvironment, Climate Change andWater, local landholders

BITOU BUSH BLITZ

Project Title:Cooperative Bitou Bush Program

CMA: Northern Rivers

Location:Far North Coast

Key Achievement:Successful partnership with sevenland managers has halted the spreadof Bitou Bush north from theQLD/NSW border, with a focus onprotecting significant Aboriginalcultural heritage sites

TOTAL CMA INVESTMENT:$1.1 MILLION

In Collaboration With:Coastal Shire Councils, NSWDepartment of Environment, ClimateChange and Water, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Local AboriginalLand Councils, Mid and Far NorthCoast Weeds agencies, Dunecare,Landcare and Coastcare groups,Reserve Trusts, Land and PropertyManagement Authority

Spraying and tagging a Mesquite plantDarling LHPA aerial shooter RobynneWells-Budd was part of the teamresponsible for the feral pig cull

Ellen White and the Dirawong ReserveTeam removing bitou bush throughmanual control

COORDINATED ASSAULT ON RIPARIAN VINE WEEDSFour coastal CMAs in NSW have launched a successful assault on 180 kilometres of NSW coastal rivers, to removedestructive riparian vine weeds that were posing threats to biodiversity, stream health and habitat.

Riparian vine weeds are highly invasive, vigorous climbers. They spread rapidly and smother high conservation value riparianvegetation and rainforests, often resulting in loss of habitat for threatened species and riverbank erosion.

In a coordinated effort involving weed authorities, Aboriginal NRM teams, landcare, non-government organisations andprivate contractors, a range of weed control methods were used on high value and endangered coastal ecosystems. Priorityand strategic sites were identified by the community and experts, with the work undertaken by Aboriginal NRM teams,contractors, landholders and volunteers.

Techniques included manual removal, selective chemical use, bush regeneration and Cats Claw Creeper bio-control. The projectalso included research into the most effective herbicide options for this particular weed, the results of which can be sharedacross many coastal catchments of Australia.

Eighty landholders have also signed landholder management agreements (in the Northern Rivers catchment alone) to carryout follow-up control and monitoring, which will be vital to the long-term success of the project.

Another positive outcome saw very high levels of Aboriginal and community involvement. At least 10 Aboriginal NRM teamswere trained and their skills developed, contributing to their long-term viability as NRM contractors. Hundreds of hours ofvoluntary work have been conducted by landcarers and farmers, with the project due for completion in December 2009.

28 29

NSW COASTAL VINE WEEDS

CONTROL PROGRAM

4WEEDS

AND PESTS

UNFORTUNATELY, MANY INVASIVE SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS HAVE BEENINTRODUCED TO NSW SINCE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT, WITH DEVASTATING IMPACTS ONOUR NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. IN FACT, OVER 1,350 WEEDS ARE NATURALISED IN NSW, WITH MORE THAN 300 LIKELY TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.15

THESE EXOTIC PLANTS ADVERSELY IMPACT ON 341 SPECIES, 14 POPULATIONS AND 64 ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES LISTED AS THREATENED.16

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, CMAs, IN CONJUNCTION WITH PEST MANAGEMENTAUTHORITIES IN NSW, HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO ADDRESSING WEED ANDFERAL PEST PROBLEMS, WITH WEED CONTROL MEASURES IMPLEMENTED ON OVER 1.1 MILLION HECTARES OF LAND. CMA WEED PROGRAMS ARE TARGETED AT CONTAINMENTAND ACHIEVING THE GREATEST POSSIBLE BIODIVERSITY BENEFITS. THESE PROGRAMSHAVE GONE A LONG WAY TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE STATE TARGET THAT “THERE IS AREDUCTION IN THE IMPACT OF INVASIVE SPECIES BY 2015”17.

FISH BACK TO SUCCESSFULLIFECYCLE

Project Title:Burtundy Fishway


Location:Burtundy Weir, Darling River

Key Achievement:Re-established fish passage to 234 kilometres of the Lower DarlingRiver, from the junction of the Darlingand Murray Rivers up to PooncarieWeir, allowing migrating fish tocomplete a successful lifecycle


In Collaboration With:Tulney Point Station landholders,Industry and Investment NSW,Barkindji Elders, National Action Planfor Salinity and Water Quality

BRINGING FISH BACK TO THEBARWON-DARLING

Project Title:Aquatic Habitat – Brewarrina toBourke Demonstration Reach

CMA: Western

Location:Barwon-Darling River fromBrewarrina to Bourke

Key Achievement:Improvements to 200 km of the iconicBarwon-Darling River by restoring fishbreeding sites and installing fishways,and also providing Aboriginalemployment opportunities throughweed control and maintenance work


In Collaboration With:Industry and Investment NSW, localcouncils, local schools, Baarkindji-Kurnu Landcare Group

BEGA CHEESE DAIRY FARMERSEMBRACE ENVIRONMENTALMANAGEMENT

Project Title:Bega Cheese EMS partnership


Location:Bega Valley and Eurobodalla Shires

Key Achievement:Over 90 per cent of Bega andEurobodalla dairy farmers engaged inenvironmental works to prevent cattleentering creeks and degrading riparianzones

TOTAL INVESTMENT:OVER $10 MILLION

In Collaboration With:Landholders, Bega Cheese, BegaValley Shire Council, Industry andInvestment NSW, Department ofEnvironment, Climate Change andWater

The completed Burtundy Fishway,allowing migrating fish to complete asuccessful lifecycle

Crossing management has improvedwater quality in the Bega Valley

John, Angela and Thomas Gordon atthe re-snagging site on their propertyin Bourke

TACKLING RIVER HEALTH WITH AN INTEGRATED APPROACHThe Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA’s River Health Program has restored a length of riverbank equivalent to the distance betweenSydney and Coffs Harbour, and continues to exceed its river restoration targets by 150-180 per cent.

In 2005, the Hawkesbury-Nepean River Health Strategy was developed to assess and prioritise work on 255 river reachesand 3,600 kilometres of waterways. It was the first comprehensive river health strategy of its kind in NSW and involved over100 stakeholders and community members in its development.

In the past five years the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA has invested $6 million in on-ground works directly on private property,in partnership with 556 landholders. This has resulted in:• The restoration of 596 kilometres of riverbanks currently underway• The fencing of 519 kilometres of riverbanks, gullies and wetlands.

The program also works with 23 local councils and has invested $2.1 million in 32 local government river health projects onpublic land. Along with funding, the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA provides strategic and technical support to assist the designand implementation of projects.

The Hawkesbury-Nepean community ranks river health in its top two issues of concern. This has also translated to activeparticipation in the program beyond the 500-plus landholders who have carried out works on their properties.

The program has been guided and supported by the wider Hawkesbury-Nepean community through their participation on fundingassessment and expert panels, and through the running of over 25 training field days, drawing more than 600 participantssince 2004.

30 31

HAWKESBURY-NEPEAN RIVER

HEALTH PROGRAM5RIVERS

NSW IS HOME TO 439 COASTAL AND INLAND RIVERS18, MANY OF WHICH ARE UNDER STRESSDUE TO A VARIETY OF HUMAN IMPACTS. OVER RECENT YEARS, MANY OF OUR RIVERSYSTEMS HAVE BEEN COPING WITH THE ADDED PRESSURE OF A PROLONGED DROUGHT,WITH PARTICULAR PUBLIC ATTENTION ON AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST RIVER SYSTEM, THEMURRAY-DARLING. A STUDY CONDUCTED IN 2000 FOUND MORE THAN 95 PER CENT OF THERIVER LENGTH ASSESSED IN THE MURRAY-DARLING BASIN WAS DEGRADED.19

NSW CMAs ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS ON DELIVERING THE STATE TARGET THAT “BY2015 THERE IS AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONDITION OF RIVERINE ECOSYSTEMS.20” TOADDRESS THE CONDITION OF OUR RIVER SYSTEMS, EACH CMA HAS DEVELOPED ANDIMPLEMENTED COMPREHENSIVE RIVER HEALTH PROGRAMS AS PART OF THEIR CATCHMENTACTION PLANS. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE INCLUDED MAPPING AND IDENTIFYINGDEGRADED SITES AND STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH PRIORITY AREAS AND ISSUES.

REHABILITATING BOREDRAINS TO PROTECTVEGETATION, SOILS ANDWATERWAYS

Project Title:Bore Drain Rehabilitation Program

CMA: Border Rivers–Gwydir

Location:Boomi, Boronga, Dolgelly, Euraba,Wellbondonga and Tulloona

Key Achievement:657 kilometres of bore drains beingrehabilitated by filling them in andtreating the soil, in order to preventsalt from accumulating and washinginto waterways and wetlands

TOTAL CMA INVESTMENT:$287,550

In Collaboration With:Landholders, Bore Trusts at BoomiWest, Boomi East, Boronga West,Boronga East, Dolgelly, Tulloona,Euraba, Welbondonga, Land andProperty Mangement Authority,Department of Environment, ClimateChange and Water

WATERSMART EXPO TAPSINTO THE BEST AVAILABLEWATER USE INFORMATION

Project Title:Central West CMA WaterSmart Expo

CMA: Central West

Location:Narromine

Key Achievement:Two day expo providing latestinformation on water use efficiencytechnology, design and industryadvances. WaterSmart websitelaunched to monitor community’songoing water use


In Collaboration With:Narromine Shire Council, waterrelated industries

ENCOURAGING USE OFINTEGRATED WATER CYCLEMANAGEMENT

Project Title:Water Sensitive Urban Design inSydney Program - wsud.org


Location:Influencing projects across 2,000square kilometres and 39 councils inthe Sydney Metropolitan CMA region

Key Achievement:An independent review showed theprogram was a key regional driver forembedding integrated water cyclemanagement into council policies,procedures, projects, initiatives andon-ground works


In Collaboration With:39 councils, universities, peak industrybodies, Landcom, Upper ParramattaRiver Catchment Trust, RegionalOrganisations, various Governmentagencies and adjoining CMAs

Narromine High School students learn how a wetland works from aCMA Catchment Officer at theWaterSmart Expo

A bore drain near Boomi beforeremediation

An example of water sensitive urbandesign

COTTONING ON TO PRODUCING “MORE WITH LESS”Facing a 78 per cent cut to groundwater allocations, Namoi Valley cotton farmer Mark Hamblin, with the help of Namoi CMA,installed a new irrigation system that has seen water savings of 40 per cent per hectare.

Mark from “The Willows”, located at Emerald Hill, north-west of Gunnedah, has implemented the new overhead lateralsystem for irrigation, which is far more efficient than the traditional method of running water down rows in between crops.

The drought, combined with huge cuts to groundwater allocations under the ASGE program, meant Namoi farmers neededto find alternative means of irrigation via massive efficiency gains, in order to remain viable. As the majority of cotton growersalso grow other crops, an adaptable system that could be used on a variety of crops was required. The lateral move irrigationsystem was the most efficient and cost effective for the area’s self-mulching black soils.

Positive environmental outcomes include:• Significantly less water used per hectare to produce the same crop• Less water used equals less fuel consumed• Less fertiliser used as crop nutrient requirements can be delivered via the system in a more efficient and timely manner• Better soil health, structure and water retention, as crops can be planted directly into stubble• Benefits to the community from a healthier environment and a viable farming sector.

The experience on “The Willows” has also been shared at field days and informal discussions, with fellow farmers, peersand colleagues.

32 33

SURFACE IRRIGATIONCONVERTED TO OVERHEAD LATERAL SYSTEM

6GROUNDWATER

GROUNDWATER IN NSW IS A PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCE, ONE THAT SUSTAINS MANYRURAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEMS. IT MUST BE SUSTAINABLYMANAGED TO MAINTAIN GROUNDWATER DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEMS, REPLENISH SURFACEWATERWAYS AND SUSTAIN THE LIVELIHOODS OF MANY AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIES ANDFARMING FAMILIES. THE QUALITY OF GROUNDWATER IS ALSO CRITICAL TO ENSURE THAT ITREMAINS FIT FOR USE.

ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES WITH OUR GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IS THE OVER-ALLOCATION OF MANY SYSTEMS AND THE RESULTING THREATS TO LONG-TERMSUSTAINABILITY. THE NSW GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN THIS ISSUE VERY SERIOUSLY.THROUGH THE WATER SHARING PLAN PROCESS IN NSW, ENTITLEMENTS HAVE BEENREDUCED TO HELP ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE YIELD LEVELS, AND THE STATE PLAN SETS OUTAN AMBITIOUS TARGET THAT “BY 2015 THERE IS AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE ABILITY OFGROUNDWATER SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT GROUNDWATER DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEMS ANDDESIGNATED BENEFICIAL USES21.”

STANWELL PARK TO EDEN:PROTECTING AND IMPROVINGCOASTLINE AND ESTUARIES

Project Title:Coasts and Estuaries IncentivesProgram


Location:Entire Southern Rivers coastline fromStanwell Park to Eden

Key Achievement:62 on-ground projects to protect andimprove estuaries and coastline,pulling together a wide range ofstakeholders from State and LocalGovernment through to bushcare andlandcare groups


In Collaboration With:Local government authorities, Landand Property Management Authority,NSW Department of Environment,Climate Change and Water, Industryand Investment NSW, Marine ParksAuthorities

COMMUNITIES CARING FORCATCHMENTS THROUGHWATERWATCH

Project Title:Landholders, Schools and CommunityGroups Monitor Local Water Quality


Location:Region-wide

Key Achievement:The Waterwatch program involved38,092 participants, includinglandholders, schools and communitygroups, with many monitoringactivities linked to on-ground works

TOTAL INVESTMENT:APPROX. $1.1 MILLION

In Collaboration With:NSW Waterwatch, WaterwatchAustralia, NSW Department ofEducation and Training, Hunter WaterCorporation, Mid Coast Water,Community Environment Network

BORDER SECURITY BOATERSON THE LOOKOUT FORMARINE PESTS

Project Title:Marine Pests


Location:Across the Sydney Metropolitan CMA region

Key Achievement:Education of boaters and recreationalfishers on ways to minimise the spreadof marine pests and developing avolunteer brigade of “border security”boaters and recreational fishers on thelook-out for new marine pests


In Collaboration With:Natural Resources AdvisoryCommittee (Forging Partnerships),Industry and Investment NSW, NSW Maritime, NSW Boating IndustryAssociation, NSW Boat OwnersAssociation, Coastcare, fishing andboating clubs

Students from Greta Public Schoolparticipating in a Waterwatch activityon Anvil Creek

The Coasts and Estuaries Programprotects coastal lakes and the marineenvironment for all to enjoy

Just some of the “border security”boaters now on the lookout for newmarine pests

BUSHCARERS AND FISHERS FORM UNLIKELY PARTNERSHIPIn a unique and unlikely partnership, Sydney’s volunteer bushcarers have teamed up with the commercial fishing industryto improve riparian vegetation, and in so doing, protect the habitats and breeding grounds for the region’s fish and oysters.

The Tide to Table pilot project identified the links between a healthy shoreline and viable fish populations, and has been sosuccessful that it’s been expanded to coastal regions around Australia.

Nurturing a healthy marine environment relies on multiple ingredients: removing barriers to fish passage; protecting andenhancing saltmarsh; addressing the impact of stormwater by improving water quality while slowing and reducing peakflows; and restoring waterway vegetation. Together these actions have improved water quality for the benefit of marine lifein Sydney’s fresh and saltwater systems.

Through this project, within the Sydney Metropolitan CMA, the following work has been completed:• Opened 8.8 kilometres of stream up to fish passage• Planted 67,300 tubestock • Protected 17 hectares of wetlands • Restored 1.4 kilometres of riverbank • Protected 8.25 hectares of riparian vegetation with fencing• Planted 3.3 hectares of riparian vegetation • Controlled 6.4 hectares of weeds.

This project involved 814 volunteers, a major partnership with OceanWatch Australia and support from the commercialfishing industry, particularly with regards to research conducted by NSW Fisheries.

Multiple projects, large and small, have all contributed to the sustainability of in-shore habitats, estuarine and coastal fishand invertebrate populations, improved water quality and the creation of habitat for fish breeding, feeding and shelter.

34 35

TIDE TO TABLE

7MARINE

ONE-QUARTER OF ALL AUSTRALIANS LIVE WITHIN THREE KILOMETRES OF THE COAST,WITH 86 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION LIVING IN COASTAL CATCHMENTS. WITH THISCONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE COMES INCREDIBLE PRESSURE ON COASTAL ECOSYSTEMSAND MARINE ENVIRONMENTS, WHICH ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY LAND-BASEDACTIVITIES. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT LAND-BASED POLLUTION ACCOUNTS FOR UP TO 80 PERCENT OF ALL MARINE POLLUTION AFFECTING ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES, PUBLIC HEALTH,AND SOCIAL AND COMMERCIAL USE OF MARINE RESOURCES22.

CMAs ARE WORKING ACROSS BOUNDARIES TO MINIMISE IMPACTS ON OUR MARINEENVIRONMENTS BY DEALING WITH PROBLEMS AT THE SOURCE, WORKING WITH INDUSTRIESAND RECREATIONAL USER GROUPS, AND INVESTING IN NEW SCIENCE TO BETTERUNDERSTAND THESE COMPLEX ECOSYSTEMS. THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FIVE COASTALCMAs ALSO EXTEND THREE NAUTICAL MILES OFFSHORE TO THE LIMIT OF STATE WATERS.

NSW CMAs HAVE ALREADY MADE GOOD PROGRESS DELIVERING ON THE STATE TARGET THAT“BY 2015 THERE IS NO DECLINE IN THE CONDITION OF MARINE WATERS AND ECOSYSTEMS23.”

CONTROLLING WATERHYACINTH AT GINGHAMWATERCOURSE

Project Title:On-Ground Works Incentives Project

CMA: Border Rivers–Gwydir

Location:Gwydir Wetlands, 60 kilometres westof Moree

Key Achievement:Successful control of Water Hyacinth, a weed that out-competes nativeaquatic plants, through aerialspraying, harvesting, biological controland a new amphibious spray vehicle,called the ‘Tortoise’


In Collaboration With:Gingham Watercourse Association,Industry and Investment NSWBiological Control staff, Moree PlainsShire Council, NSW Department ofEnvironment, Climate Change andWater, Gwydir Valley IrrigatorsAssociation

NGEMBA PEOPLE RESTOREBREWARRINA WETLAND

Project Title:Old Brewarrina Aboriginal MissionWetland Restoration

CMA: Western

Location:Outskirts of Brewarrina

Key Achievement:The Ngemba Billabong Restorationand Landcare Group are planting 2,500native trees and excluding stock fromthis wetland of great culturalsignificance, which contains hearthsites and scar trees


In Collaboration With:Ngemba Billabong Restoration andLandcare Group, Local Aboriginal Land Council, Heritage Branch, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Investment NSW, TAFE

WET AND DRY CYCLES – THE NATURAL ORDER

Project Title:Wetland Rehabilitation Project –Reinstating Wetting and DryingRegimes


Location:917 hectares of freshwater ephemeralwetlands adjacent to the Murray andLower Darling Rivers werereconnected and/or rehabilitated

Key Achievement:Reinstated natural wetting and dryingcycles in the wetlands, with the aim ofimproving flow variability, fish passageand water quality, and increasingdiversity and abundance of native floraand fauna


In Collaboration With:Local landholders, Aboriginalcommunity, NSW Governmentagencies, Wentworth Shire Council,Central Darling Shire Council

A Jabiru in the Gingham Watercourse,part of the Gwydir Wetlands

Completed road culvert works atTinghi Creek

The Western CMA’s AboriginalCommunity Support Officer BlackieGordon, at the Old Brewarrina MissionWetland

DEGRADED ESTUARY BROUGHT BACK TO LIFEThe Kooragang Wetland Rehabilitation Project (KWRP) has recently marked 15 years of work on 1,590 hectares in the HunterRiver estuary near Newcastle. This massive, long-term effort has transformed and effectively restored the function of theseestuarine wetlands, and their associated corridors, to the highest standard possible given current land uses.

Significant changes are now evident and achievements over the past five years include: • Opening tidal creeks to improve fish habitat• Enhancing, maintaining and creating coastal saltmarsh for shorebirds• Protecting and enhancing freshwater/brackish swales for frogs and birds• Establishing 400 hectares of wetland buffers• Stabilising eight kilometres of riverbanks• Conserving threatened species such as the Green and Golden Bell Frog, the Australasian Bittern and White Cynanchum• Planting more than 50,000 plants to extend and link floodplain rainforest and woodland remnants.

Much of the work has been undertaken by volunteers, with the KooraGang Landcare Group providing nearly $500,000 of in-kindlabour annually. Considerable progress has been made in transforming the project site from degraded land to an area withinternationally significant conservation values, with work based on extensive scientific knowledge gained over many years.

Benefits to the environment relate to enhancing habitat for estuarine flora and fauna and protecting threatened species ofconservation significance. The community has benefited too, with better opportunities for outdoor recreation and natureappreciation, and educational opportunities for schools and interest groups.

This project has demonstrated that wetland restoration is possible through coordinated and scientifically informedapproaches as well as the establishment of partnerships with a high level of community involvement and ownership.

36 37

KOORAGANG WETLANDREHABILITATION PROJECT

8WETLANDS

WETLANDS ARE VITAL TO NSW. THEY ARE BREEDING GROUNDS FOR BIRDS AND AQUATICLIFE, PROVIDE HABITAT FOR MANY SPECIES, ARE CRITICAL TO COMMERCIAL FISHINGINDUSTRIES, AND ARE HIGHLY VALUED BY ABORIGINAL PEOPLE.

WETLANDS ARE AMONG THE MOST THREATENED ECOSYSTEMS HERE AND IN THE WORLD.THERE ARE 20,000 WETLANDS IN NSW, WHICH CAN COVER SIX PERCENT OF THE STATE AT THEIR MAXIMUM EXTENT,24 BUT APPROXIMATELY 50 PER CENT OF INLAND WETLANDS AND 70 PER CENT OF COASTAL WETLANDS IN NSW HAVE BEEN LOST SINCEEUROPEAN ARRIVAL.25

NSW CMAs ARE MAKING SOLID PROGRESS TO ACHIEVING THE STATE TARGET THAT “BY 2015THERE IS AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONDITION OF IMPORTANT WETLANDS, AND THEEXTENT OF THOSE WETLANDS IS MAINTAINED26.” SINCE 2004, 80,850 HECTARES OF NATIVEVEGETATION FOUND IN THE WETLANDS OF NSW HAS BEEN IMPROVED DUE TO THECOLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF CMAs AND THEIR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.27

SEAGRASSES SAFER WITHFRIENDLY MOORINGS

Project Title:Seagrass-Friendly Moorings

CMA: Hawkesbury-Nepean, SydneyMetropolitan, Hunter-Central Rivers

Location:Sydney Harbour, Pittwater and PortStephens

Key Achievement:Replaced 130 traditional boatmoorings, which can each destroy upto five hectares of seagrass, with newinnovative seagrass-friendly moorings


In Collaboration With:NSW Maritime, Industry andInvestment NSW, local boatingassociations

FISH GIVEN RIGHT OF WAY ON YAMBA ROAD

Project Title:Bringing Back the Fish – Opening UpFish Habitat


Location:Shallow Channel, Clarence Riverestuary near Yamba

Key Achievement:Identified as a priority estuary, thisproject has restored tidal exchangebetween the Clarence River andShallow Channel, re-establishing fishpassage beneath Yamba Road into animportant fish habitat area


In Collaboration With:Clarence Valley Council, NSWDepartment of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Industryand Investment NSW, WetlandCareAustralia

RESTORING A DEGRADEDTIDAL WETLAND

Project Title:Hexham Swamp Rehabilitation Project


Location:Hexham in the Lower Hunter

Key Achievement:Project aims to restore 700 hectares ofwetlands, degraded when floodgateswere installed in the early 1970s,thereby reducing tidal inundation. The first of eight floodgates wasopened in December 2008

TOTAL INVESTMENT:APPROX $1.5 MILLION

In Collaboration With:Australian and NSW Governments

Mooring licence holders receive a demonstration of the new seagrass-friendly moorings inPittwater, Sydney

Retired CMA Program ManagerSharon Vernon and consultant BrettPeterkin open the first floodgate atHexham Swamp

Tidal flow has been restored followingthe installation of this culvert

WORKING TOGETHER:SHOALHAVEN DAIRY AND OYSTER FARMERSA major environmental effort on private properties by Shoalhaven dairy farmers has seen a dramatic improvement in the waterquality of the Crookhaven and Shoalhaven Rivers and the Shoalhaven Estuary, with positive effects for the local oyster industry.

This ongoing project clearly demonstrates that effective natural resource management practices on land can benefit usersin aquatic environments.

The main benefit has been a significant reduction in faecal and nutrient pollution from cattle, which in the past has adverselyaffected the growing of local oysters. The Comerong Bay Harvest area is now “conditionally approved” for direct oysterharvest as a result of significant reductions of E. coli in oyster meat samples, and there’s been an overall reduction in thenumber of days oyster production must cease due to poor water quality.

Major project outcomes include:• Preventing a potential 5.5 million kilograms of faecal and nutrient pollution into Shoalhaven Estuary, by excluding 500 head

of cattle• Protecting 275 hectares of sensitive estuary habitat, including 140 hectares of saltmarsh• Rehabilitating 51 kilometres of riverbank through stock proof fencing• Implementing four kilometres of erosion control• Revegetation and/or regeneration of 30 hectares with native species• Saving 26 megalitres of dairy effluent per year by developing appropriate systems• Installing five alternate watering sources and 600 metres of upgraded dairy laneway.

To ensure the benefits are felt for years to come, the Southern Rivers CMA has developed long-term managementagreements with landholders to ensure project sites are soundly managed into the future, and has strengthened its industryand government agency partnerships.

38 39

SUSTAINABLEPRACTICES

PROTECTING THESHOALHAVEN9

ESTUARIESAND COASTAL

LAKES

IN 2002, THE HEALTHY RIVERS COMMISSION REPORTED THAT 31 PER CENT OF COASTALLAKES WERE ‘MODERATELY’ OR ‘SEVERELY’ AFFECTED BY HUMAN PRESSURES.28 THE FIVECOASTAL CMAs BRING TOGETHER COMMUNITIES, STATE AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTAND INDUSTRY, TO ADDRESS ISSUES AFFECTING ESTUARIES AND COASTAL LAKES SUCHAS POLLUTION, LAND CLEARING, DAMAGE TO SEAGRASS BEDS AND OTHER VEGETATION,HABITAT LOSS, SEDIMENT LOADS, AND THE EFFECTS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

MANY EFFECTIVE PROJECTS ACROSS THE FIVE COASTAL CMAs ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE STATE TARGET THAT “BY 2015 THERE IS AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONDITION OFESTUARIES AND COASTAL LAKE ECOSYSTEMS29” IN NSW.

SYDNEY’S DRINKING WATERPROTECTED BY HEALTHYCATCHMENT

Project Title:Catchment Protection Scheme

CMA: Hawkesbury-Nepean

Location:Warragamba Catchment

Key Achievement:Restored 7,712 hectares of degradedland affected by erosion and stabilised171 kilometres of creek and riverbanks in a catchment supplyingdrinking water to over four millionSydney residents


In Collaboration With:Sydney Catchment Authority, Land and Property Management Authority,landholders

SOIL ORGANIC CARBON ANDCATCHMENT CONDITIONMONITORED

Project Title:Murray Soil Benchmarking Project

CMA: Murray

Location:35,000 square kilometres of theMurray catchment

Key Achievement:Established 107 long-term monitoringsites and developed catchment-specific soil carbon kits to measurekey biological indicators and soilorganic carbon status


In Collaboration With:University of Western Australia, NSWDepartment of Environment, ClimateChange and Water, Land and WaterAustralia, regional landholders

INLAND NSW FINDS AID INDROUGHT RECOVERYPROJECT

Project Title:Drought Recovery Project

CMA: Murrumbidgee

Location:Inland catchment management areas

Key Achievement:437 landholders participating acrosseight inland CMAs to maintaingroundcover on 350,000 hectaresduring drought, which also helpedprevent erosion and improve waterquality


In Collaboration With:Border Rivers-Gwydir, Central West,Lachlan, Lower Murray Darling,Murray, Namoi and Western CMAs

Lithgow property manager KimWilkins with a flume constructed tostop gully erosion on the Coxs River

Located in the Riverine Plains, this soilbenchmarking site is used to helpmeasure key biological indicators

Landholders such as grazier DannyFlannery attended training courses tobetter manage their natural resourcesthrough drought

A PROVEN TECHNIQUE IN RESTORING SCALDED LANDThe Central West CMA has supported a new and innovative land management technique that can triple native grass diversityin just a few years. The “waterponding” method has proven so successful that it’s been taken up nationally and around the globe.

Waterponding is a management technique used to restore scalded and eroded land. It involves grading a series of horseshoeshaped banks designed to catch and hold rainfall. The result is improved infiltration so that seeds can establish over timein the damaged surface, also leading to salt concentrated on the surface infiltrating down into the soil profile.

In central and western NSW, soils had become bare and scalded due to wind and water erosion, rabbits, grazing pressureand prolonged drought. The Central West CMA’s staff worked tirelessly over many years with 22 landholders to trial andperfect the technique. With trial and error, stringent record keeping and building on past successes, the waterpondingprocess was refined. The program has rehabilitated and improved 7,692 hectares of scalded and unproductive land that nowhas impressive ground and shrub cover providing both profits to the landholder and benefits to the environment.

Since 2004, the Central West CMA has invested $738,510 in the program, part of the total amount of $2.95 million that hasbeen invested by private landholders since the program’s commencement.

40 41

WATERPONDINGPROGRAM10

SOILS

ONE SQUARE METRE OF SOIL CAN CONTAIN MORE SPECIES THAN ONE SQUARE KILOMETREOF RAINFOREST30 AND THESE LIVING, BREATHING ORGANISMS ARE ONE OF NSW’SFUNDAMENTAL NATURAL RESOURCES.

AUSTRALIA HAS SOME OF THE MOST FRAGILE AND SHALLOW SOILS ON EARTH,VULNERABLE TO WIND AND WATER EROSION, SALINITY, SOIL ACIDITY AND FERAL PESTS.MORE RECENTLY THE STRONG LINKS BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOIL CONDITIONHAVE ALSO BECOME KNOWN.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 120,000 HECTARES OF LAND IS AFFECTED BY SALINITY IN NSW,31 ANDUP TO 172 MILLION TONNES OF SOIL IN NSW MAY BE REMOVED AS A RESULT OF SHEET ANDRILL EROSION EVERY YEAR.32

THE FARMERS PRODUCING OUR FOOD AND FIBRE ACROSS NSW WORK TOWARDS BETTERWAYS OF MANAGING SOIL. NSW CMAs SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS, AND ARE WORKINGTOGETHER TOWARDS A STATE-WIDE TARGET OF “IMPROVING SOIL CONDITION BY 201533.” ONE MEASURE OF SUCCESS IS THAT CMAs HAVE IMPROVED SOIL CONDITION ON 2.2MILLION HECTARES, WITH SOIL EROSION PREVENTED ON A FURTHER 66,516 HECTARES.

IRRIGATION PARTNERSHIPPROMOTING WATER USEEFFICIENCY

Project Title:Land and Water Management Plans

CMA: Murrumbidgee

Location:Murrumbidgee and ColeamballyIrrigation Areas

Key Achievement:Engaged 53 per cent of landholders inprograms to improve water useefficiency and reduce the impacts ofsalinity, through new watermanagement systems, monitoring,recycling and native plantings


In Collaboration With:Murrumbidgee Irrigation Ltd,Coleambally Irrigation Cooperative Ltd,more than 1,300 private landholders

BIG CHANGES BRING BIGREWARDS TO GRAZING LANDS

Project Title:Big Changes Bring Big Rewards –Grazing Management Project

CMA: Lachlan

Location:Condobolin

Key Achievement:Planted 500,000 trees on a 2,429hectare property, “Wallaroi”, for stockshade, shelter and native wildlifehabitat, along with paddock redesign,water system upgrades and excludingstock from the creek


In Collaboration With:Landowners Greg and TraceyStubberfield

AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACHTO PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Project Title:Tablelands Sustainable GrazingProgram


Location:Northern Tablelands – Queenslandborder to Walcha

Key Achievement:The amount of land managed abovecritical-threshold for groundcover andaccording to Best ManagementPractice has increased to 48,263hectares in the last two years, with theprogram now being extended tocoastal areas


In Collaboration With:Agricultural Information andMonitoring Services (AIMS)

Training and on-farm managementplanning are critical in reducingexcess water drainage on-farm

Landowner Greg Stubberfield on hisproperty, “Wallaroi”, in Condobolin

Contractor Lewis Kahn assessingpasture mass with landholders on theNorthern Tablelands

STRIKING DRYLAND SALINITY AT ITS CORESalinity causes major losses in agricultural production, degrades remnant vegetation and river systems, and triggers erosion.

Through catchment assessments, including stream flow and salinity testing, the Murrumbidgee CMA identified majorhotspots contributing to dryland salinity in the mid and upper Murrumbidgee Catchment.

Landholders in the targeted areas were approached to work in partnership with the CMA to address the issue on theirproperties.

Since 2004, over 280 landholders have undertaken Property Vegetation Plans and Management Contracts to complete on-ground activities to arrest salinity, including:• Planting 600 hectares of salt tolerant species and other native vegetation• Improving 20,400 hectares of pasture• Controlling 110 hectares of gully erosion • Fencing of 2,576 hectares to protect and manage vulnerable streams.

Landholders are now seeing trees and shrubs re-establishing in areas once bare and unproductive, as well as a noticeabledecrease in erosion, a lowered water table and the return of local native bird species. The establishment of native vegetationwill also provide landholders with increased crop and pasture productivity and reduced wind erosion, due to its shelteringqualities.

The rehabilitation of salt affected sites and areas contributing to the spread of dryland salinity has brought life back tounproductive land. Major environmental and agricultural gains will become increasingly evident as vegetation establishes,giving new life to our land and river systems.

In a true community approach, Project Liaison Committees, made up of local landcare members, were developed in each ofthe targeted salinity areas. These committees provided guidance and support for the implementation of the project.

42 43

TARGETEDSALINITY AND

WATER QUALITY11SUSTAINABLE

LANDMANAGEMENT

THERE ARE 43,268 FARMS IN NSW34, COVERING 63.6 MILLION HECTARES (79 PER CENT OFTHE STATE’S LANDMASS), GENERATING $9 BILLION IN TOTAL PRODUCTION VALUE ANDCONTRIBUTING $5.06 BILLION IN AGRICULTURAL EXPORT VALUE EACH YEAR35.

WITH THE MAJORITY OWNED BY FAMILY FARMERS, WHO RELY ON SUSTAINABLE LANDMANAGEMENT FOR THEIR LIVELIHOODS, NSW CMAS HAVE INVESTED SIGNIFICANTRESOURCES IN PARTNERING WITH FARMERS TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT FARMLANDS.CMAS ARE PROVIDING ACCESS TO TRAINING AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR FARMERS TO IMPLEMENT LONG-TERM CHANGE IN RELATION TO SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT.THIS HAS BENEFITS NOT ONLY FOR THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, BUT FOR THE SOCIAL ANDECONOMIC FABRIC OF MANY REGIONAL COMMUNITIES.

THE SHARED TARGET FOR CMAS IS TO “INCREASE THE AREA OF LAND THAT IS MANAGEDWITHIN ITS CAPABILITY BY 201536”, WITH CMAS PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE INENCOURAGING AND FUNDING IMPROVED FARM PRACTICES ACROSS THE STATE.

INDIGENOUS LANDMANAGEMENT TRAININGLEADS TO JOBS

Project Title:Namoi Indigenous Land ManagementCertificate

CMA: Namoi

Location:Tamworth, Pilliga, Gunnedah, Tinga,Guyra, Bourke, Brewarrina, Mungundiand Boggabilla

Key Achievement:Forty people gained direct employmentin the Namoi Catchment followingcertificate completion, with a further120 who received training expected togain employment in northern NSW


In Collaboration With:Institute of TAFE New England

BENCHMARKINGENGAGEMENT AND CAPACITYIN NRM

Project Title:NRM Benchmarking Project


Location:Whole of Southern Rivers CMA region

Key Achievement:Benchmarks establishing rurallandholder beliefs, attitudes andcapacity; stakeholder engagement andcapacity for NRM and the CMA’scapacity to support all its stakeholders


In Collaboration With:Environment and behaviourconsultants

COMMUNITY TURNS OUT INDROVES TO INAUGURALCATCHMENT CONFERENCE

Project Title:Central West CMA – Partners Towardsa Healthy Catchment Conference

CMA: Central West

Location:Wellington

Key Achievement:Over 170 people attended a two dayconference where CMA participants,including leading land managers,shared their projects, practicalexperiences and achievements withthe community


In Collaboration With:Local land managers, landcare groups

The first class of graduates from therevamped Indigenous LandManagement Certificate course

Two thousand rural landholders wereconsulted as part of the benchmarkingproject

Central West CMA staff with NSWFarmer of the Year Nigel Kerinattending a Catchment Conferencefield trip

CONSERVATION FARMING TRAINING ACHIEVES CHANGE IN THE LACHLANConservation farming in the Lachlan has become significantly more widespread, with 240 landholders registered in anintegrated training and extension program for conservation farming, developed and delivered by the Lachlan CMA. This isthe first of its kind in Australia.

The program, which has been very well received by farmers and cropping groups, has 13 modules covering the requirementsof a no-till, stubble retention farming system in detail.

The 240 landholders who have attended training represent a potential area under improved management of over 480,000hectares. Through the adoption of sustainable farming practices, the program is effectively improving the economicsustainability of this farming land. From a very practical point of view, the program has also seen 168 conventional farmingmachines converted to allow for less aggressive tillage practices.

Importantly, the program has allowed the Lachlan CMA to help set up and mentor individual’s goals, and to then monitor theimpact of management changes on the catchment.

Positive outcomes have included:• Improved soil health• Less soil erosion• Increased area sown with no-till/disc seeders • Increased awareness of the benefits of retaining and managing stubble• Improved soil water use efficiency.

By engaging and training landholders, this program addresses the requirements for a long-term and committed change byfarmers and achieves widespread adoption of conservation farming practices among all cropping groups in the catchment.

44 45

LACHLAN CMACONSERVATION

FARMING PROGRAM12COMMUNITYWELLBEING

A KEY PART OF THE NSW CMAS’ ROLE IS TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES, GAINTRUST, BUILD OWNERSHIP OF THE REGIONAL CATCHMENT ACTION PLAN, ANDENCOURAGE THE VOLUNTARY ADOPTION OF SOUND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENTPRACTICES AND NATURAL RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP ON THEIR LAND.

HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS, IN TURN, LEAD TO VIABLE ANDPROSPEROUS REGIONAL COMMUNITIES WITH THE CAPACITY TO MANAGE THEIR NATURALASSETS. STATE TARGET 12 IS THAT “NATURAL RESOURCE DECISIONS CONTRIBUTE TOIMPROVING OR MAINTAINING ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING37.”

CMAS HAVE BECOME TRUSTED LOCAL ORGANISATIONS THAT HAVE DIRECTLY SUPPORTEDTHOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY GROUPS AND PROJECTS AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN OVER9,000 CAPACITY BUILDING EVENTS SINCE 2004. THE SIGNIFICANT FLOW-ON EFFECTS OFTHESE EFFORTS MAKING A MAJOR POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY WELL-BEINGACROSS THE STATE.

CENTRAL WEST GREEN TEAMSHARE KNOWLEDGE ANDSKILLS

Project Title:Central West Green Team

CMA: Central West

Location:Across Central West catchment

Key Achievement:Four skilled workers employed toundertake major environmentalprojects including riparian restoration,wetland rehabilitation and bushregeneration, with the aim to increasecouncil staff NRM capacity andcommunity engagement


In Collaboration With:13 local councils

COMMUNITY TRAININGCENTRE AT LAKE COWAL

Project Title:Lake Cowal Conservation Centre(LCCC)

CMA: Lachlan

Location:Lake Cowal

Key Achievement:Training courses, seminars,demonstrations and field days heldregularly to encourage local landmanagers, school students and othercommunity members to considerimproved land management practices.Over 1,300 people attend the Centreeach year


In Collaboration With:Lake Cowal Foundation Ltd, Barrick Australia Ltd, West WyalongHigh School

BEST SELLING FIELD GUIDEFOR BUSHCARERS

Project Title:Bushcare with Care: A Field Guide forBush Regenerators


Location:Designed for bush regeneratorsworking across the Greater Sydneyregion

Key Achievement:A back-pack friendly guide book, now afree “best-seller” among bushcarers,including protocols on how to workwith sensitivity in areas that maycontain Aboriginal places and objects


In Collaboration With:Mulgoa Landcare, Western SydneyAboriginal Landcare Group,Meadowbank and Ryde TAFE; landrehabilitation consultancy group ENSR

Central West Green Team memberssaving the locally endangered SilverBanksia in Orange

School students learning aboutimproved land management practicesat the Lake Cowal Conservation Centre

A bushcarer in Sydney’s Ku-ring-aiChase using the Field Guide for BushRegenerators

SKILLING UP WOMEN IN THE LOWER MURRAY DARLINGWomen are making an even greater contribution to natural resource management and decision making in the Lower MurrayDarling, following CMA support for Board and Committee training for 19 local women.

Forty-six women from drought affected areas were also sponsored to attend women’s gatherings in Hay and Coonamble, withthe result of increased representation of women on NRM boards and committees in the catchment.

These positive opportunities have engaged and energised culturally diverse rural women and helped them to build selfesteem and confidence, personal skills and support networks. It has allowed these women to confidently give advice, identifyissues and direct and implement changes for the betterment of the catchment and the community.

The project has also proven to be a very effective investment for the CMA, providing access to highly skilled, accessible andaffordable community-based leadership, from an underutilised resource in the community.

46 47

WOMEN PUTTING THE“WOW” INTO THEIRCOMMUNITIES

13COMMUNITY

CAPACITY

THE COMMUNITY CAPACITY NEEDED TO ARREST LAND AND WATER DEGRADATION IN NSWIS ENORMOUS. IT REQUIRES NOT ONLY TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED EXTENSION STAFF,BUT LAND MANAGERS WHO ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO SHARE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE,INNOVATIONS AND DISCOVERIES, FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS IN THEIR CATCHMENT AND BEYOND.

WITH ALMOST 90 PER CENT OF NSW IN THE HANDS OF PRIVATE OWNERS, THESELANDHOLDERS MUST NOT ONLY BE ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNISE AND TAKERESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ON THEIR LAND, BUT BE WELLEQUIPPED IN HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.

CMAS ARE ONE OF THE FEW NRM AGENCIES THAT CONTINUE TO OFFER FRONT-LINE STAFFWHO GET OUT ON THE GROUND TO GIVE PRACTICAL ADVICE WHERE IT’S NEEDED. THISFUNCTION IS CRITICAL TO CMA SUCCESS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE STATETARGET THAT “AN INCREASE IN THE CAPACITY OF NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGERS TOCONTRIBUTE TO REGIONALLY RELEVANT NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT38.”

contributors endnotes

This document was produced with significant help and inputfrom the following contributors:• Kerryn Richardson, CMA Chairs’ Council• Daryl Green, General Manager, Western CMA• John Carse, General Manager, Sydney Metropolitan CMA• Annabelle Monie, Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA• Lynne Hawkes and Rod Campbell, Central West CMA• Peter O’Malley, Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA• Liane Corocher and Tiffany Jeffrey, Hunter-Central

Rivers CMA• Kathleen Mann and Kylie Krause, Lachlan CMA• Susan Walla, Lower Murray Darling CMA• Kim Krebs, Murray CMA• Karen Giddings and Kate O’Connell, Murrumbidgee CMA• Anne Ferguson, Namoi CMA• Jane Baldwin, Northern Rivers CMA• Laura Fragiacomo, Southern Rivers CMA• Louise McMahon, Sydney Metropolitan CMA• Maree Barnes, Western CMA• Various CMA staff who collected data

For more information on the activities of individual CMAs:

Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA: www.brg.cma.nsw.gov.au

Central West CMA: www.cw.cma.nsw.gov.au

Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA: www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au

Hunter-Central Rivers CMA: www.hcr.cma.nsw.gov.au

Lachlan CMA: www.lachlan.cma.nsw.gov.au

Lower Murray Darling CMA: www.lmd.cma.nsw.gov.au

Murray CMA: www.murray.cma.nsw.gov.au

Murrumbidgee CMA: www.murrumbidgee.cma.nsw.gov.au

Namoi CMA: www.namoi.cma.nsw.gov.au

Northern Rivers CMA: www.northern.cma.nsw.gov.au

Southern Rivers CMA: www.southern.cma.nsw.gov.au

Sydney Metropolitan CMA: www.sydney.cma.nsw.gov.au

Western CMA: www.western.cma.nsw.gov.au

1. NSW CMA Five Years Output Data (NB: total based onsum of OG outputs 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 9.1, 9.4. In somecases the outputs/activities reported may have beencarried out on the same area of land)

2. NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and NaturalResources Annual Report 2002-2003

3. Calculation based on a one kilometre strip of coastline

4. Number of participants attending in person days

5. Freehold and leasehold, AUSLIG land tenure database1993. NSW has a total of 801.6 thousand squarekilometres of land of which approximately 50.6 per cent isprivate freehold title, 38.5 per cent is crown leaseholdmanaged privately and 10.7 per cent is public land

6. NSW State of the Environment 2006, Appendix 2

7. NSW Quality Standard for Natural Resource Management.See www.nrc.nsw.gov.au/content/documents/Standard%20 for%20NRM.pdf

8. All CMAs prepare Annual Reports which provide furtherdetails of regionally specific natural resourcemanagement

9. Landcare is taken to include a range of groups such aslandcare, bushcare, dunecare and coastcare

10. Bureau of Rural Sciences, National Forest Inventory, 2003

11. NSW State Plan, Priority E4, Biodiversity, Target 1

12. DECC website


14. NSW Department of Environment and Climate changewebsite

15. NSW Invasive Species Plan 2008-2015

16. NSW State of the Environment 2006


18. Geographical Names Board of NSW

19. Murray-Darling Basin Assessment of River Condition 2000

20. NSW State Plan, Priority E4, Water, Target 5


22. Australian Marine Conservation Society website


24. Distribution of Wetlands in New South Wales Report,DECC 2003

25. NSW State of the Environment 2006


27. NSW State Plan Annual Report 2008

28. Healthy Rivers Commission 2002


30. Australian Society of Soil Science Inc. Fact Sheet: Soil Facts

31. ABS, Salinity on Australian Farms, 2002

32. 2002 National Land and Water Resources Audit (averageyear, based on the prevailing land cover at that time)

33. NSW State Plan, Priority E4, Land, Target 10

34. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Agricultural Commodities2005/2006

35. NSW DPI Annual Report 2007-08

36. NSW State Plan, Priority E4, Land, Target 11

37. NSW State Plan, Priority E4, Community, Target 12

38. NSW State Plan, Priority E4, Community, Target 13

PUBLISHED BY NSW CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIESOCTOBER 2009

10 VALENTINE AVENUE · PARRAMATTA NSW 2150 · PH (02) 9895 7635 · WWW.CMAS.NSW.GOV.AU

THE NSW CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES ARE PLEASED TO ALLOW MATERIAL IN THIS REPORT TO BE REPRODUCEDIN WHOLE OR IN PART, PROVIDED THE MEANING IS UNCHANGED AND ITS SOURCE AND PUBLISHER ARE ACKNOWLEDGED.

THIS PUBLICATION IS PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER

THIS PUBLICATION WAS WRITTEN BY STEP COMMUNICATION AND DESIGNED BY VILLA AND VILLA

COVER PHOTO: CAMDEN DAIRY FARMER, TONY BIFFEN, PROTECTING ENDANGERED CUMBERLAND PLAIN WOODLAND ON HIS PROPERTY

ISBN 978 1 921546 35 8

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