Our Coast, Our Land – Striving Together

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In early October, the WA Landcare Network hosted the 2019 State NRM and Coastal Conference in Perth.

This highly regarded WA event has been held regularly since the 1990s, and this year focussed on maximising networking opportunities with an interactive program including workshops, tours, engaging conference sessions and open space sessions.

The conference also brought together practitioners, community members, volunteers, planners, managers, researchers and businesses to share their concerns, experiences and knowledge, as well as passion and visions for the future.

One of NACC NRM’s Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators Annabelle Garratt attended the conference and noted that this year’s event had a strong focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge and an overall desire from the delegates to develop genuine collaboration.

Annabelle said that the conference was a great opportunity for networking and to showcase what is going on in the NRM community.

‘It also provided a perfect opportunity to promote NACC NRM’s “Little Footprint, Big Future” exhibition – a joint venture between the Museum of Geraldton and NACC NRM, the exhibition is an educational and inspirational interactive “visitor activity centre” designed for primary-school-aged students.’

Annabelle added ‘with inspiration from speakers who have made a difference, offering new ways of thinking and taking action, overall the conference was a thought-provoking and motivational event.’

‘I encourage anyone involved in NRM and given the opportunity, to attend a State NRM and Coastal Conference in the future.’

A few of Annabelle’s highlights from the conference included:

  • Heidi Taylor from the Australian Marine Debris Initiative and Tangaroa Blue Foundation ‘blue’ delegate’s minds with her research and incredible work in helping to target marine debris in oceans. Heidi explained how identifying the source of plastic waste washing up on beaches helps reduce pollution and increase education.
  • Climate specialist Bill Hare spoke to future climate projections, being warmer than ever, and pointed out the necessity of our movement to renewable energy sources. WA Chief Scientist Peter Klinken also highlighted the need to address climate change and how ecosystems and human health were interconnected.
  • Blair Parsons along with Kingsley Dixon, Kent Broad, Keith Bradbury and Suzanne Prober held a workshop about the urgent need to scale up restoration and revegetation across landscapes for wildlife habitat, regenerative agriculture and climate change.
  • Cathy McGowan (AO) spoke about building community resilience in times of change, encouraging people to not only find their voice but to actively use them, and empower other people to find their own voices.

 

NACC NRM would like to acknowledge Lotterywest for awarding Annabelle a Not for Profit Subsidy – a subsidy available to volunteers and staff from not for profit (NFP) landcare, coastcare and NRM groups to attend the 2019 WA State NRM and Coastal Conference.

For more information about the conference and NRM in the Northern Agricultural Region get in touch with our Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitators: Lizzie King on (E) lizzie.king@nacc.com.au (P) 0447 361 335 or Annabelle Garratt on (E) annabelle.garratt@nacc.com.au or (P) 0448 986 879

 

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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.