#PeopleOfNRM – Tegan Knowles & Mic Payne

Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 #PeopleOfNRM – Tegan Knowles & Mic Payne
This month for #PeopleOfNRM, we are introducing NACC NRM’s new Coastcare duo! Tegan Knowles and Mic Payne are on a shared mission as Coastcare Support Officers to protect our region’s precious coastlines and it’s ecosystems.
Tegan Knowles

Growing up in Geraldton, I have been blessed with an upbringing inspired by the environment that surrounds us. It was only natural that I’d grow up wanting to preserve it.

After High School I enjoyed completing a Bachelor of Coastal and Marine Science and Management, in Northern NSW. I was lucky enough to be involved in several environmental action groups including our local Coastcare group and the Australian Seabird Rescue. This is where I really witnessed and experienced the power of such passionate and committed people.

Eight years ago I moved back to Geraldton. My husband and I are now trying to keep up with two boys, or what I like to call, mini eco-warriors. In our spare time you’ll most likely find us at the beach, snorkelling or surfing. I love spending time in the veggie patch and am very passionate about zero waste living.

Now, starting the role of Coastcare Support Officer, I feel fortunate that I will be working with the dedicated coastcarers in the Northern Agricultural Region. I look forward to meeting you all face to face when it is safe to do so.

…

Mic Payne

I grew up in Perth and slowly travelled Australia, living in Broome and Cairns for a while. I returned to Perth to complete a BSc in Environmental Science then a PhD on Aquaculture Biology.

2000 saw me set up the Seahorse Sanctuary in Kalbarri where my partner Wendy and I bred seahorses and pipefish for the national and international aquarium fish market with the aim of reducing the pressure on wild-caught seahorses captured for this market.

The facility was very popular with tourists but the GFC led us to sell all our stock and close the facility in 2011.

We both got jobs at NACC NRM where I became the Coastal and Marine Program Coordinator and together we spent the next few years house-sitting in Geraldton.

In 2018 I parted ways with NACC NRM to manage the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Yellowtail Kingfish Broodstock Facility hosted by Batavia Coast Maritime Institute for 18 months.

These days, we have bought an old place in Geraldton so in between playing gigs with a band and fishing I get to do up the house and hopefully turn the backyard sand dune into a garden.

It is fantastic to be back at NACC NRM and I am looking forward to get the Program back on track with a network of dedicated volunteers working in Coastcare.

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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.