We’re Picking Up What Your Putting Down

Earlier this week the NACC Team turned off our computers, packed our overnight bags and conveyed to the Turquoise Coast to talk strategy and values.

NACC has held an annual team retreat for the past four years, and this year the Board also participated as they knuckled down for a full day to talk strategy, directions and business planning.

I can’t wait to share with everyone some of the exciting initiatives we will be investing our capability in, to deliver NRM in the NAR. Make sure you keep a keen eye on our social media channels and NACC Notes, to stay up to date.

Better yet, sign up as a NACC volunteer using the contact form on our website and you’ll be the first to hear about opportunities to participate in these exciting initiatives.

After the planning workshop the Board was joined by the rest of the NACC team. Making the most of the sunshine, the staff retreat officially began in Green Head with a catch up with local Coastcare champions – Green Head Coastcare Group.

Before heading off to discover the acclaimed 3 Bays Walkway, the Green Head Coastcare Group spoke about their 20 year journey and highlighted some of their successful and not so successful projects. One of their many stand out projects was the extent of brushing on the dunes to prevent erosion and encourage natural recruitment.

Some of the NACC team were involved in a dune brushing exercise with the Coastcare Group three years ago – and they were all were pleasantly surprised by how much the dune environment has improved in such a short time.

After enjoying the many views of the 3 Bays Walkway – which if you ever pass by Green Head I strongly recommend you visit – and a quick photo shoot with Dynamite Bay as a backdrop, the board departed homeward and the team work began.

A short drive south to Jurien Bay and a much needed coffee stop were next on the agenda, along with a team meeting to recount the past year and discuss future directions.

For me the highlight of this year’s retreat was the beach clean-up at Jurien Bay. We can certainly give the NACC tick of approval to the residents and visitors of Jurien Bay who are doing a fabulous job of keeping their town beach spotless. Although we can’t say there was nothing to pick up, the rubbish was definitely slim pickings.

While scouting the beach for rubbish, the NACC team were also taking photos to represent our values – Passion, Collaboration, Professionalism, Leadership, Respect, Accountability, Excellence and Impartiality. Over the next few weeks the team will be creating a series of slideshows with these photos and I can’t wait to share some of the amazing pictures of this activity with you very soon.

Lastly, one of the most valued elements of our team retreat, is the community activity. If you have an idea for an activity for our next team retreat (2020) we would love to hear from you!

We love contributing to regional communities all year round, but getting to do this as one big team every year, is a special highlight for everyone.

Once again, the crew has been reinvigorated and I’m once again very proud to call this fantastic group of people my team.

Warm wishes

Katherine Allen

NACC General Manager

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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.