The Year in Review – Reflections on 2017 from our CEO Richard McLellan

Like just about every year, 2017 was a bit of a roller-coaster ride, no better illustrated than by this year’s on-again, off-again rainfall patterns that culminated in very mixed results for farmers across the NACC NRM region.
NACC’s CEO Richard McLellan

We’re very fortunate, here at NACC, because the “highs” of the roller-coaster year far outweighed the “lows”, leaving us with much to look back on with satisfaction, and much to be proud of at the end of the year.

Achieving consistent “highs” doesn’t come without lots of passion, dedication, commitment and sheer hard work. And we’ve had all of that (and more) in spades in 2017.

Accordingly, I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed towards those successes – particularly the staff at NACC who have put-in an amazing amount of work. Despite some loss in staff capacity, our teams have pulled together and worked hard to ensure that all of our programs have continued to be delivered on time and to the high standards on which NACC prides itself.

I’d also like to thank our Board, and all of our members and supporters – especially the hard-working volunteers, community members and community groups who have worked with us on projects and activities. Our successes are due in large part to them, our partners, our funders (especially the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program), and everyone else who has worked with NACC in one way or another this past year to help us rack-up the awesome list of 2017 achievements.

Collectively we’ve achieved some fantastic outcomes in protecting our region’s invaluable natural assets through a wide range of Landcare, Coastcare and Bushcare activities. NRM, Landcare and Coastcare community groups, along with hundreds of individuals – farmers and community members – have worked with NACC over the course of the year to make a real difference to land and sea stewardship. I’d urge everyone to have a look at NACC’s 2017 Annual Report to see some of the fabulous examples of on-ground achievement over the past year.

I’d like to wish everyone a safe and joyous festive season and new year, and look forward to further collaboration in 2018.

The year ahead, particularly the transition to the next phase of the National Landcare Program is sure to throw-up some big challenges for NACC – and everyone working on natural resource management in our region. We’re looking forward to meeting those challenges and having another bumper year for sustainability for all concerned.

Best wishes.

Richard McLellan

CEO, NACC

 

Key highlights of 2017

1.) All of the core NACC Programs – Biodiversity, Coastal & Marine, Sustainable Agriculture, and Aboriginal Participation – exceeded all of their (many) project Outcomes and Deliverables within the organisation’s Strategic Plan and contracts with the Australian Government and other funders – on time and on budget.

2.) NACC achieved a 20/20 result in the NLP Audit conducted by the Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy. NACC was ranked among the very top NRM regional organisations in the country and acknowledged for its leadership in a number of ‘Areas of Best Practice” including:

  1. NRM Planning (inc. stakeholder/community engagement) and presentation of our plan on NARvis.
  2. Reporting standards (using MERI).
  3. Hierarchy of planning: Regional > Organisational > Program > Individual Work-plans.
  4. Communications planning and implementation.
  5. Community engagement and partnership development.
  6. Photomon.
  7. Use of Polldaddy to collect data for incorporation into MERI reporting.

3.) NACC developed and launched the inaugural Midwest Aboriginal Ranger Program – after being awarded a $1.5 million contract by the Australian Government (Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet). This is being delivered in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), and local Aboriginal enterprise Western Mulga

4.) NACC’s Coastal & Marine Program team was declared the country’s Best Coastal Community Engagement Group in the 2017 Australian Coastal Awards at the Australian Coastal Councils Conference in Redcliffe, Queensland. The team was also a finalist in the WA Landcare Awards for Community Engagement.

5.) NACC was declared the winner of the Midwest Community Participation Award at the 2017 MidWest Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business Excellence Awards. NACC was also a finalist in the Not-for-Profit and Aboriginal Engagement

6.) The very successful 2017 WA Threatened Species Forum – organised and conducted in collaboration with NRMWA and DBCA.

7.) Very successful outcomes for the NACC 2017 Board elections; Annual General Meeting; and Regional NRM Awards.

8.) NACC joining the Rangelands NRM Alliance; and signing an Memorandum of Understanding with the Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute (WABSI).

9.) NACC being nominated as the “Environment Hub” for a multi-stakeholder MidWest Research & Development initiative by the MidWest Development Commission.

10.) NACC undertaking its first exhibition collaboration with the Geraldton Museum (Museum of Western Australia): Little Footprint, Big Future.

11.) NACC completing and launching its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan.

Tagged , , , ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CEO’s Report

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.