CORE BUSINESS
1. On ground delivery of natural resource management projects (NRM) and environmental works
2. Attitudinal change in the wider community about the need to protect, repair and restore the environment for future generations.
What does NACC do?
What’s a catchment council?
What does NACC do?
NACC is a not-for-profit organisation owned and directed by people of the (NAR) with the vision:
“to lead influence in the creation of the regional community that exercises a high level of environmental stewardship in the sustainable management of its natural resources, for the enjoyment and benefit of current and future generations”.
NACC aims to achieve regionally sustainable outcomes through:
“providing leadership, advice and on-ground support for NRM issues and projects” .
NACC is short for the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council. The name represents the holistic nature of the work the organisation does in protecting and repairing the landscape.
A catchment is the area of land that ‘catches’ water, and over which water flows from rainfall, into a river or other wetland. Every piece of land in the world is part of a catchment. Taking a ‘whole of catchment view’ which incorporates all the elements of the landscape (and coast if the catchment runs into the sea) is critical to securing the future of our precious natural resources.
Soil, vegetation, flora and fauna are all interlinked to create a healthy and sustainable environment for producing food and exports.
The Northern Agricultural Region (NAR) runs from Kalbarri in the north, east to Mullewa, Perenjori and Kalannie, down the ‘clearing line’ which delineates farming from pastoral land, and south to Gingin. The coastline and waters off the coast (to three nautical miles and including the Abrolhos Islands) are included.
The region is an important area for biodiversity and production for Australia, and indeed the world. It is an enormously important producer of food for local consumption and export; and it falls into the South West Biodiversity region – a recognised international ‘hotspot’ of biodiversity.
Most of the land across the region is agricultural land which is under the stewardship of farmers and land managers with whom NACC works closely. The coastline and immediate waters are used by fishers and recreational users.
NACC is funded by public and private funds. It is a not for profit organisation which accepts funds to undertake projects which protect and repair the natural enviornment.
The organisation delivers Caring for Our Country outcomes on behalf of the Australian Government. In 2009 NACC received $3.91m to conduct these projects. SeePrograms
NACC also received $250,000 through the WA State NRM Office to support projects in 2009/10. www.nrm.wa.gov.au.
NACC is a regional organisation which has many staff located across the region, employed directly or through external partners; a model which ensures close collaboration with local communities.
NACC employees are located in two offices (Geraldton and Perenjori) and include:
- General staff – Administrative, financial management staff, a communications coordinator, GIS specialist and project coordinators for the CFOC targets.
- Natural Resource Management Officers (NRMOs) - Eight full time staff, hosted by two of the catchment organisations West Midlands and Moore; the Mingenew Irwin Group and the Shire of Chapman Valley