Stay Tuned for More in 2024

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Another year has flown past and as is tradition, NACC NRM’s Biodiversity team are recapping the happenings of the past year; new collaborations and projects, highlights, and challenges.   

To start the year, the Biodiversity team welcomed Project Officer Samantha Comito to take the lead on ‘In the Wake of the Storm’, NACC NRM’s TC Seroja resilient revegetation project. Biodiversity Trainee Paige Kirby continued workplace experience training, getting hands-on with wildlife and flora surveys within the Northern Agricultural Region.   

NACC NRM’s ‘Safeguarding Midwest Flora’ project kept the team busy, collaborating with WA Parks and Wildlife Service and working to conserve three threatened endemic flora. 

Projects ‘Gnow or Never’, ‘Protecting WA’s Black Cockatoos’, and ‘Securing the future of regionally extinct mammals in the NAR’ provided amazing opportunities for the community to connect with threatened fauna conservation. These projects alone restored over 800ha of key habitat, fenced for conservation over 2750ha of remnant vegetation, installed 24 artificial hollows, and monitored more Malleefowl mounds and Cockatoo hollows than can be counted.  

Amid the highs of the year, April saw the NACC NRM team and broader community endure a devastating loss in the sudden passing of Tom Maina, NACC NRM’s long-serving Corporate Services Manager. Tom was a friend to so many around the Northern Agricultural Region and beyond, known for his kind smile and huge heart. He is sorely missed by all, and our hearts are always with Tom’s family. 

In remembrance of Tom, and with many thanks to staff at Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)’s Mt Gibson Sanctuary, one very special quoll was named after Tom, who was a passionate advocate for nature. Known affectionately as ‘Tom the Quoll’, this special fella has since been spotted during routine monitoring thriving in his new home. AWC’s reports on Tom the Quoll have been glimpses of joy welcomed during a challenging time.    

2023 Highlights 

Biodiversity Project Officer Sam said an ultimate highlight for the year was witnessing the introduction of western quolls back to Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Mt Gibson Sanctuary.  

“Watching the quolls sheepishly emerge from their bags to explore their new homes, and knowing they have the potential to re-establish the quoll population in that area brought me so much joy and hope,” said Sam.  

Biodiversity Trainee Paige said being able to explore the region while undertaking fieldwork was always a highlight. 

“I enjoyed getting out to the Murchison for Carnaby surveying,” said Paige. 

“I also felt very lucky to hear cultural stories from Gloria, a local Elder and AWC Badimia Ranger.”   

Last but not least, Biodiversity Program Coordinator Jarna said that survey season is always a highlight on the calendar, and this year was no exception.  

“Last year we installed the first ever artificial cockatoo hollows on Murchison House Station, and to see a the first healthy (and very grumpy) Carnaby chick in our hollow was an absolute thrill!” Jarna said.  

With new projects on the horizon and more opportunities to conserve the unique environment of the NAR, 2024 is set to be a busy and exciting year. Keep a close eye on our socials and stay up to date on our NACC Notes newsletter to see what the team gets up to in the new year! 

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season.  

NACC NRM Biodiversity Team – Jarna Kendle, Sam Comito & Paige Kirby

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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.