Two words: Collaboration. Success

Home 🞂 Newsroom 🞂 Two words: Collaboration. Success

To my mind, these two words are now synonymous … especially when it comes to achieving many of the ambitious goals and objectives that we have set at NACC for the next three years.

Without doubt, working collaboratively with our many partners – at local, regional, state and national levels – hugely increases our chances of success in all of our endeavours.

I personally place great importance on our partnerships, whether it be with community groups, research institutions, local government authorities, government agencies, other regional NRM groups, businesses or individuals. Our collective effort is so much more powerful than anything any of us can do alone.

This has really been really evident during the lead-up to the WA Threatened Species Forum – which we are jointly hosting (with our partners) in Geraldton next Friday.

Its success is largely down to the great contributions that we’ve had from every partner that we’ve approached to be involved. I really want to acknowledge Durack Institute of Technology and the WA Department of Parks and Wildlife, along with all of the other WA regional NRM groups, Bush Heritage Australia, Mid West Science Engagement Group, Waste Authority, Chapman River Friends, Perth Zoo, Fig Tree Gully, City of Greater Geraldton, Regional Development Australia Mid West Gascoyne, Burnt Barrel and the WA Museum Geraldton.

Every one of these organisations has made an important contribution to the success of the Forum. In fact, its success is guaranteed by their collective contributions – from the event itself, to the exciting field trips planned for Saturday 31 October.

As mentioned, our collaboration includes the WA Museum Geraldton – which, through superb serendipity, is presenting a really interesting-looking public lecture at the Museum this coming Thursday evening (29 October – 7pm).

 

The Southwest: Australia’s Biodiversity Hotspot

This public lecture will be a fantastic opportunity to hear from author and journalist (and Threatened Species Forum MC) Victoria Laurie about her new book: The Southwest: Australia’s Biodiversity Hotspot. I can’t pre-empt what Victoria might have to say at the lecture any better than what it says on her book’s back cover:

“Victoria Laurie offers us in words and pictures the southwest of Australia, a land triangle that encompasses a multitude of natural worlds. One-third of all known Australian plant species is found growing in the southwest, and the region has been designated ‘Australia’s Global Biodiversity Hotspot’, one of only thirty-four such hotspots in the world and only the one on this continent.

Driven by her own passion for this country, Laurie presents us with the voices of scientists and those dedicated to protecting a fragile ecology supporting up to 150,000 species. Life forms and landscapes are a feature of this informative and thrilling discovery of a region that has evolved with abundant biodiversity because of its isolation.”

For a “biodiversity and the bush” fanatic like me, this is pure gold. I’ll be in the front row at the WA Museum Geraldton next Thursday night. I hope you can join me.

Richard McLellan

CEO, NACC

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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.