Leading our community in actively protecting the Northern Agricultural Region’s natural capital.
Stay updated with the latest news, stories, and insights on our environmental initiatives and community efforts.
As part of the recent Tree Festival, NACC NRM hosted a weaving workshop, inviting participants to connect with culture while learning more about Carnaby’s Cockatoos and the importance of their treetop habitats.
As part of the recent Tree Festival, NACC NRM hosted a weaving workshop, inviting participants to connect with culture while learning more about Carnaby’s Cockatoos and the importance of their treetop habitats.
NACC NRM is one of 54 regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisations across Australia and one of seven in Western Australia. We are dedicated to protecting and restoring the natural resources of the Northern Agricultural Region (NAR). By working alongside farmers, communities, and environmental partners, we strive to ensure the long-term sustainability of our land, water, and ecosystems for future generations.
Covering 7.5 million hectares, the Northern Agricultural Region is a vital hub for agriculture, biodiversity, and local economies, facing key challenges in land and water management. The NAR extends from Gingin in the south to Kalbarri in the north and stretches east to Mullewa, Perenjori, and Kalannie along the Local Government Area (LGA) boundaries. The region also includes the coastline and waters up to three nautical miles offshore, encompassing the Abrolhos Islands.
Healthy catchments are the foundation of thriving communities. Through strategic conservation efforts, we balance environmental stewardship with productive and sustainable livelihoods.
NACC NRM’s Biodiversity team collaborates with communities, Aboriginal groups, and govt to protect and restore the NAR’s unique flora and fauna, managing ongoing threats.
NACC NRM’s Sustainable Agriculture Program is dedicated to helping farmers tackle environmental issues and ensure the sustainability of their natural resources.
NACC NRM partners with Traditional Owners to encourage the reinvigoration and use of traditional knowledge to improve conservation outcomes and protect cultural heritage.
The NACC NRM coastal team works with the community, local and state government, educational institutes and Aboriginal groups to conserve, rehabilitate and monitor the region’s coast.
Explore upcoming events that inspire action and strengthen community connections for a resilient future.
The NACC NRM Enterprise Hub offers fully equipped, professional training rooms available for hire, ideal for workshops, seminars, and meetings.
Our spaces come with all the necessary equipment, and we provide comprehensive services, including set up and pack down, to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience.
Whether you’re hosting a small meeting or a large training session, our rooms cater to all your needs. Explore the available options below and book the perfect space for your next event.
Browse our fully equipped training rooms, designed for seamless meetings, workshops, and events.
Make a lasting impact on the environment and local communities. Your involvement helps protect the region and drive positive change.
Learn more about our services and how we can support your environmental projects.
Join over 500 members who are helping to make a real difference to our region’s environment and industry.
Join a passionate team of natural resource management professionals in regional Western Ausutralia.
In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.
The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.
The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.
To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.
Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.
All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.
In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.
Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.
This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.
It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.
We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.
Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.
This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.
Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.
While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.
During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.
