Great to be out in Yarra Yarra country with @lizzieking82 & the @YarraYarraCMG pic.twitter.com/mNmPtYWGWz
— Richard McLellan (@RichardMcLellan) February 22, 2016
It was great to catch-up with members of the Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group (YYCMG) at their Annual General Meeting in Perenjori this week, and to hear what the group is focusing on in the year ahead.
NACC and the YYCMG have had a long and productive partnership, which we solidified during this week’s meeting with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will guide our collaboration over the next couple of years.
Meet the @YarraYarraCMG committee. Looking forward to a continued partnership with @NACC_NRM in 2016 pic.twitter.com/wPS7qfvi3p
— Lizzie King (@lizzieking82) February 22, 2016
As perhaps the strongest demonstration of this partnership, one of our NRMOs (Natural Resource Management Officers), Lizzie King, is currently “embedded” in the YYCMG, helping the group to achieve its work program, and seeking new opportunities to achieve sustainable NRM outcomes across the Yarra Yarra catchment.
The MOU with the YYCMG is just one of a number of such partnership agreements that NACC has with local groups and organisations – aimed at articulating common goals and objectives, and on-ground outcomes that NACC and our partners are keen to realise.
Thanks @YarraYarraCMG for an insightful AGM yesterday. Some great work being done within the #YarraYarraCatchment pic.twitter.com/6eAqSiBkZM
— Sarah Gilleland (@Sarah_Gilly31) February 23, 2016
These MOUs are not only between NACC and Catchment/Landcare groups – such as Yarra Yarra and the Moore Catchment Council – but also with local government authorities – such as the Shires of Dandaragan and Chapman Valley.
Whether as formal as a signed MOU, or as informal as a “gentleman’s handshake”, any form of commitment to work together is “gold” as far as I am concerned, as I am convinced that collaboration is the only way that we will be able to achieve a truly sustainable future – especially for the natural environment, and for our country communities.
Fortunately, I am feeling that “spirit of collaboration” just about everywhere I go when travelling around our region, and seeing it physically manifest through our MOUs and other initiatives – such as the amazing response by local groups to the formation of NARSAN (the Northern Agricultural Region Sustainable Agriculture Network).
Adding their name to the NARSAN list, the Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group became the latest of 22 local organisations signing-up to the Charter – and in so doing, made a strong statement about their commitment to a shared and sustainable future for the region. You can read more about NARSAN via the NACC website.
Richard McLellan
CEO
Great stuff team….feeling the love!