All key corporate targets in the HNCMA’s Business Plan were met during 2010/11

HNCMA staff workshop at Mt Annan in June to begin the mammoth task of redeveloping the 10-year Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Action Plan

MEETING CORPORATE TARGETS IN THE HNCMA’S BUSINESS PLAN All key corporate targets in the HNCMA’s Business Plan were met during the year.

KPI Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Achievement 2010/11 achieved

Grow existing markets in the catchment Develop a marketing plan based on HNCMA Marketing Strategy to establish long-term funding Marketing plan developed in April 2011 (see page 34) 4 security for HNCMA

Develop new markets for existing products Workshops undertaken in 2010 and Climate Change Vulnerability Report developed (see page 29) – two case Develop Hawkesbury-Nepean Climate Change 4 adaption Strategy studies developed as video stories Climate Change Action Plan developed New Sustainability Plan developed and being Develop HNCMA Sustainability Plan implemented with objective that HNCMA is carbon 4 neutral (see pages 109-116) Meetings held between Blue Mountains City Council, Facilitate research into climate change impacts and Macquarie University and University of NSW to align 4 mitigation in the catchment community monitoring of peat swamps with current university research

Diversify markets Partnership meetings held with government agencies, council and peak community organisations in the region Develop a joint marketing project focused on the 4 Blue Mountains World Heritage Area “Living on the Edge” website under development to promote best practice to landholders around the World Heritage Area (see page 34)

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 15 Key Performance Results

Financial Performance Proportion of HNCMA Expenditure (excluding partner contributions) The HNCMA had a successful year in meeting financial performance targets coming within $21,000 of NSW Treasury expenditure targets (see pages 119-124 for details). This expenditure is closely monitored during the year to ensure 8.4% timely reporting is provided to HNCMA investors and that the investment is meeting on ground targets and outcomes 16.1% 26.9% agreed to with investors. For a detailed analysis of the HNCMA’s financial performance see pages 119-124 and financial statements on pages 130-151. 48.6%

Leveraging Investment In 2010/11 the HNCMA invested $12.67 million from the NSW and Australian Governments directly in on ground Biodiversity $4.43 Million works. These funds were used to leverage additional Water $7.99 Million investment, almost doubling ($1:$1.96) the total delivered on the ground to $24.8 million. Land $2.64 Million Community $1.49 Million

While HNCMA projects are delivered through three landscape regions (see pages 39-61), funding is tied to four Statewide “themes”. The graph here shows the breakdown of investment across the themes and indicates a high investment in “water” as a result of the peak in the Smart Farms program in 2010/11 (see pages 23-27).

NSW and Australian Government investments

in projects Expenditure Categories 2010/11

HNCMA Partnerships 7.0% 5.6%

87.4%

on ground 87.4% Coordination 5.6% monitoring and evaluation 7.0%

The HNCMA continues to aim to invest more than 80 percent of its revenue directly “on the ground”. This was achieved again in 2010/11 for the seventh consecutive year of operations.

16 Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 HNCMA Financial Performance 2010/11 HNCMA EXPENDITURE BY STATE TARGETS

20 1 $1.949

18 2 $0.736

3 $0.709 16

4 $1.039

14 5 $6.813

12 6 $0.000 arget

7 $0.000 10

Million ($) 8 $0.719 State Wide T 8 9 $0.467

6 10 $1.671

4 11 $0.977

12 $0.845 2

13 $0.584

0 JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Investment ($ Million) Month Key - State Wide Targets Key - State Wide Themes revenue 1. Native Vegetation Biodiversity expenditure 2. Fauna Water forecasted revenue 3. Threatened Species Land forecasted expenditure 4. Invasive Species 5. Riverine Ecosystems Community The graph shows actual vs forecasted revenue and expenditure for the year. 6. Groundwater Revenue at July 2010 commences with the bank balance from the previous year carried over. There was a delay in receiving revenue from key investors 7. Marine Waters from January until April 2011 and this affected expenditure over the second half of the year. Full expenditure was achieved in June 2011 with significant 8. Wetlands catch-up required in the last few months of the year. 9. Estuaries and Coastal Lake Ecosystems 10. Soil Condition 11. Land Capability 12. Natural Resource Management Decisions 13. Community Capacity Building

Under the four statewide themes there are 13 specific statewide targets which the HNCMA reports on. This graph shows the expenditure against these targets. For full details on the relationship of State themes/targets with HNCMA Catchment Action Plan targets see page 64.

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 17 Chair’s Foreward

Seven Years of Environmental Improvements

Since commencing in 2004, the HNCMA has invested $ 131.93 million (including partner contributions) in catchment improvements to deliver:

I am pleased to present the Hawkesbury-Nepean encouraging landscape stewardship, behavioural change, Catchment Management Authority’s (HNCMA) annual building community capacity, delivering practical environmental report for 2010/11. outcomes and broadening investment. The Department of Primary Industries became our host agency in 2011, and we The HNCMA reports to the Minister for Primary Industries will continue to work with Director- General Richard Sheldrake and is the key body undertaking natural resource and staff as this partnership grows. management decisions and investment in the Hawkesbury- Nepean catchment, a catchment of national significance Looking ahead, we are projecting continued revenue growth of (see pages 3-5). 12% for 2011/12 following on from 2010/11 which saw 49.7% in revenue growth (see pages 120-124). A major challenge will The HNCMA delivered $12.93 million of project funds during also be to implement effectively and efficiently the CAP review by the year to increase native vegetation cover, improve rivers, December 2012 (see page 20). We will continue to strengthen wetlands, degraded lands, and manage agricultural lands to our existing partnerships with governments, industry and other improve the catchment’s natural resources (see page 12). I am stakeholders, and broaden our proactive communication, pleased to report that we used this funding to leverage further including to youth and culturally and linguistically diverse groups. investment, delivering 867% above the 20 targets that we identified in the HNCMA’s business plan (see page 12 and 15). We are anticipating a potential decline in revenue beyond This almost doubled the NSW and Australian Governments’ 2011/12 after the major Smart Farms Program funding is investment in on ground works to $24.8 million to achieve key expended. To address this medium-term challenge, we have outcomes (see page 16). developed and begun to implement a Marketing Strategy to attract additional sources of private sector investment The year has been one of consolidation and high performance (see page 34). for the HNCMA. We continued our strategic planning process to achieve and exceed targets we committed to with the NSW I thank Lisa Corbyn and staff of the Office of Environment and and Australian governments (see page 21). Heritage, Richard Sheldrake and staff of the Department of Primary Industries, and Mark Patterson of the Department of We established three Landscape Community Reference Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services for Groups (see page 101) as part of our restructure to an their support during the year. Thanks also to staff in NSW and integrated landscape-based delivery model, which will be Australian governments Minister’s offices. a key consultation mechanism for review of our catchment action plan (CAP) in the year ahead. In preparing for this review, Importantly, my thanks to our HNCMA team of board we completed the HNCMA’s Climate Change Vulnerability members, executive and staff for their dedicated work during Assessment of nine key natural resource assets of the the year. We all look forward to continuing to work with our catchment to (see page 29). partners and community in the year ahead.

There were major changes during the year. John Klem John Verhoeven retired as inaugural Chair of the HNCMA. I thank John for Acting Chairperson his considerable contribution to the HNCMA’s success, in establishing and growing a robust organisation, and

18 Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 General Manager’s Message

1,616 1,085 776,397 projects carried out on kilometres of native plants landholder’s properties riverbanks restored established 13,531 17,404 624 hectares of native hectares of degraded kilometres of vegetation protected lands restored rivers, gullies and wetlands fenced

This year’s annual report details the continued progress The key challenge for the year was to efficiently deliver a we have made to achieving targets in the HNCMA’s 49.7% increase in revenue from the previous year and manage Strategic and Business Plans and Catchment Action the organisational challenges of having no increases in staff Plan priorities (see page 100 for details of the links numbers to deliver the projects. between plans). To address this impact, the HNCMA carried out a significant In 2010/11 the HNCMA consolidated major reforms of its program of improving staff well-being during 2010/11 structure to landscape-based delivery and changes to its engaging the Mt Eliza Business School to carry out a funding priorities and programs. This has allowed the HNCMA leadership program with the HNCMA Executive and run a staff to focus on quality of performance and outcomes this past year. workshop to develop a Staff Development and Well-Being Action Plan which will be implemented over the following year We have worked with our new host agencies, first the Office (see pages 77-79). of Environment and Heritage then the Department of Primary Industries, to provide organisational support for human The HNCMA also focused on recruitment capacity building resources, finance and corporate governance areas. measures to ensure we are better able to meet the demands of a further 12% increase in funding without further impacting This year we consolidated a highly effective partnership with on staff. We opened a new office in Moss Vale during the the Department of Primary Industries to deliver the $17.86 year to improve access for clients in the Southern Highlands million two-year Smart Farms Program to improve water (see page 78). efficiencies and nutrient management among landholders in the catchment. In 2010/11 this partnership has achieved Ahead in 2011/12 the HNCMA will work to review our 10-year very significant improvements for the catchment including Catchment Action Plan (CAP) and this will provide significant 4.6 gigalitres of water savings and stopping 41,719 tonnes opportunities for the organisation and our partners to deliver a of nitrogen and 10,525 tonnes of phosphorus reaching our whole-of-government approach (see page 20). waterways each year (see pages 23-27). I would like to thank the HNCMA’s former Chair and new For another year our investment program’s financial and Acting Chair and the board for their strategic direction during non-financial targets exceeded those planned. Both our the year. I also want to acknowledge and thank the HNCMA income ($16.429 million) and our expenditure ($16.468 million) staff for their extraordinary efforts in delivering a record level was achieved with a small overspend of $21,000 which has of investment. been very pleasing (see pages 120-124). Bernie Bugden Our level of expenditure across the three statewide theme General Manager areas (Land and Soil, Water and Biodiversity) ranged between $7.99 million and $2.64 million (see page 16) with water receiving the highest portion of investment due to the Smart Farms program.

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 19 Looking ahead - Major activities for 2011/12

Richard Tacon, General Manager, Western Operations (Centennial Coal) A rainbow over Hartley Valley, near Lithgow, where the HNCMA has focused handing over sponsorship for Regent Honeyeater plantings on carrying out bushland protection projects with landholders in the past year in the Capertee Valley to HNCMA General Manager Bernie Bugden (left)

For the year ahead the HNCMA has identified the following key • Continue fostering partnerships, in particular with industry initiatives to: and the corporate sector, to increase investment in • Deliver $18.31 million in catchment improvements the catchment through implementing a new HNCMA (not including partner contributions), which is a 12% Marketing Strategy (see page 34) increase from the previous year • Work with the new government and Minister for • Complete the partnership program with the Department Primary Industries to implement any changes to roles of Primary Industries to deliver the remaining $8.1 million and responsibilities of Water Smart Farms funding to landholders to improve • Further develop partnerships with a range of other irrigation and water management in the region (see government agencies responsible for delivering natural pages 23-27) resource outcomes including the Department of Primary • Commence the five-year review of the Hawkesbury- Industries, Office of Environment and Heritage, Department Nepean Catchment Action Plan including: of Planning, Sydney Catchment Authority, Livestock Health and Pest Animal Authorities, Office of the Hawkesbury  processes for broad community consultation Nepean, Office of Water and 23 local governments.  technical panels advising on targets and approaches • Further collaborate with the HNCMA’s new host agency, with a draft plan expected by June 2012 the Department of Primary Industries, to finalise  engaging whole-of-government in developing and arrangements for services and support such as human delivering on the CAP resources and finance • Support newly established Community Reference Groups • Implement the new organisational Staff Development and in each of the three Hawkesbury-Nepean landscapes with Well-Being Action Plan (see pages 77-79) a focus in the next year on these groups informing the • Develop a solid “evidence base library” for HNCMA Catchment Action Plan review process (see page 101) decision making on project approaches and areas for investment, and collaborate with 13 NSW CMAs to share this information between organisations (see pages 30-31) • Carry out two audits for Biodiversity Performance and Government Structures and Arrangements. As well as implementing recommendations from 2010/11 audits including the Review of Business Practice and Asset Use and the audit of HNCMA Occupational Health and Safety (OHS).

20 Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 Strategic way forward

The HNCMA Board is undertaking initiatives to ensure • Fostering greater ownership and understanding of “resilience” of the catchment in the face of pressure from our catchment. This will include establishing new population increases and the threat from climate change and Landscape Community Reference Groups, relationship global warming. Resilience is the capacity of the catchment building, and broadening our proactive communication and its systems to absorb disturbance and reorganise so as to to include a focus on youth and culturally and linguistically retain essentially the same function, structure and feedbacks. diverse groups Resilience thinking accepts that: • Continuing to strengthen our relationships with Local • The people in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Government, State agencies, industry and other are part of the natural system and are underpinned stakeholders by natural resources • Ensuring the fulfilment of investor obligations by • Environmental, social and economic factors are maintaining and improving project outputs and quality continually changing • Ensuring our business management planning supports the • Trying to hold natural systems in place or return them to achievement of NRM outcomes, including a major review previous states may not be possible of our Strategic Plan. • There are often limits to how far a system can be pushed During the year, the HNCMA developed its Business Plan before it changes to a different and undesirable state. 2011/12 to direct the operations of the organisation. This The Board’s initiatives require ongoing planning, financing and Business Plan aligns the HNCMA’s approved funding, staff organisational reform. During the year, the HNCMA Board and resources with our strategic priorities and defines the updated its Strategic Plan which builds on the Corporate Plan performance targets matched to program delivery and other (see page 100 for an outline of relationships between these statutory functions. Key initiatives of these two plans, in and other key documents). The Strategic Plan (available at addition to the above strategic actions, include: www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au) addresses the long-term direction • Delivering a near record budget for the year of of the HNCMA by laying out what it is going to do and how. $18.31 million It identifies which investors, stakeholders and partners we will • Implementing the Aboriginal Small Grants program work with, what products and services (including influencing) to invest in cultural activities and natural resource we will provide, and how this will generate value for our management works by Aboriginal people and groups investors, stakeholders and partners. It will also lead to a more within the catchment resilient catchment. • Implementing the Marketing Plan and Prospectus in line Some of the key strategic actions for the HNCMA include: with the Strategic Plan initiative of increasing revenues • Identifying and obtaining the resources needed for from non-government sources catchment improvements. This includes growth of 60% • Identifying and pursuing joint funding partnerships between over the 2008/09 baseline by June 2012 the HNCMA and local government • Better understanding the risks to catchment condition • Implementing the recommendations of two audits: the and investment, and developing new tools through the Review of Business Practice and Asset Use Audit and Catchment Action Plan (CAP) review and upgrade to better the OHS Audit prioritise actions • Preparing the third Aboriginal Regional Natural Resource • Responding to the challenge of preparing our catchment Management Forum to be held later in 2012, to identify for the predicted impacts of climate change, such as land new priorities for the catchment. capability changes and sea level rise, by implementing the See pages 100-102 for the report of the HNCMA’s Strategic HNCMA Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Plan, Planning Subcommittee. and include climate change impacts in the CAP review and upgrade • Implementing effectively and efficiently the CAP review and upgrade by December 2012

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 21 Tarlo Valley landholder, Jo-Anne Rooker (left) discusses projects works, which included developing a wildlife refuge in a farm dam and controlling erosion on her creek, with the HNCMA’s Lauren Wilson

22 Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 Catchment Highlights

smart farms in the catchment The context The $77.4 million Hawkesbury-Nepean River “The single biggest Recovery Program was funded by the Australian investment in on-farm Government’s Water for the Future initiative, and the HNCMA partnered with Department of Primary improvements in Industries to deliver the $7 million Nutrient Smart Hawkesbury-Nepean” Farms Project and the $20.7 million Water Smart Farms Project over two and a half years. The aim of Nutrient Smart Farms was to improve nutrient management on farms in the catchment while Water Smart Farms aimed to improve irrigation efficiencies and secure additional flows for the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. Although it commenced in 2009, it was during 2010/11 that both programs peaked in terms of numbers of landholders involved and environmental improvements delivered.

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 23 Catchment Highlights - Smart Farms

Major achievements in 2010/11 at a glance

HNCMA work underpinning 127 the achievements: water smart farms 205 projects developed works agreements administered to achieve the above outcomes

4.6 909 project cases logged into the gigalitres (or 1800 project management database olympic sized swimming pools) of water savings per annum achieved 300+ Aboriginal Cultural Heritage searches in relation to project sites and 20 follow up site inspections carried 140 out where items of Aboriginal heritage were identified nutrient smart farms to ensure no impact would occur projects developed as a result of proposed works. 41,719 kilograms of nitrogen 10,525 kilograms of phosphorus stopped from entering river systems per annum

Stock kept out of a wetland alongside the headwaters of the Nepean River at East Kangaloon in the Southern Highlands to keep nutrients away from24 the waterwaysHawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 CASE STUDY Nutrient Smart at Mount Hunter

Nutrient Smart The Project Farms highlights For the past 15 years Kaye Morris has watched erosion gullies growing The HNCMA’s role in the project was to deeper and wider on her 10-hectare engage landholders and provide funding hobby farm at Mount Hunter (near and technical advice at the same time Camden), where she runs a handful as undertaking administrative support of sheep and cattle. During rainfall, for the entire project. The HNCMA silt and nutrients were washing off the also developed and maintained an property into the Mount Hunter Rivulet information management system for the and downstream to the Nepean River. high volume of project information. However, lack of resources and her The HNCMA’s on-ground project husband’s poor health prevented her work involved stock exclusion from from taking action, even though some Mount Hunter hobby farmer Kaye Morris (centre) and her son Rod, with the paddocks now waterways, fencing and revegetation of gullies were 10 metres deep. protected from erosion, alongside the HNCMA’s riverbanks, establishment of filter strips, Koshy Varghese The HNCMA became involved and soil conservation, gully and streambed Kaye discovered the family could stabilisation works. Project partners, contribute its portion through in-kind the Department of Primary Industries, Investment and Partners works. The project involved building focused on engaging landholders from • HNCMA gully control structures, mulching its core client areas, including industry • bare soils with commercial compost, Nutrient Smart Farms ($57,400) groups such as dairy farmers, turf fencing out sensitive areas from • Kaye Morris growers, nurseries and market gardeners. stock (with alternative watering (approx $28,000 in kind) points provided) and planting native Challenges vegetation. Kaye and her son did Looking to 2011/12 Implementing highly technical soil the fencing and are carrying out the The gully erosion works, fencing and conservation works is relatively new to planting. alternative watering points have been the lower half of the catchment, while completed, halting the erosion of there is a 50+ year history of ongoing Key Achievements silt and nutrients from the property. soil programs in the upper catchment. The project will: Already the property looks much better and the landholder is looking Therefore, considerable time was spent • repair and prevent gully erosion on building staff capacity and skills early the property forward to establishing the new on in the project. vegetation. • prevent 315 kilograms of nitrogen Significant analysis of the nutrient and 74 kilograms of phosphorus issues in the landscape also had to be per year from washing into undertaken to identify important areas waterways in the catchment contributing nutrient • improve downstream water quality loads to the waterways so the HNCMA in the Mount Hunter Rivulet and could target these sites. This required Nepean River considerable staff resources at the start • improve the aesthetics, safety and of the project. quality of the land.

Looking ahead 2011/12 The Nutrient Smart Farms project expended all funding to landholders in “Before the project, the erosion looked terrible and the past year and on ground works are I was worried about it being dangerous. The project expected to be completed by the end of has already made an incredible difference. When I go September 2011. Final reporting will be a key focus in the first half of 2011/12. up and see it, all the hard work is worthwhile.” - Kaye Morris, Landholder, Mount Hunter.

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 25 Catchment Highlights - Smart Farms

The HNCMA’s Paul Bennett (left), Sydney University Farm Manager Kim McKean Mulgoa landholders Carol and Eric Hayward with the HNCMA’s Koshy and Department of Primary Industries Matt Plunkett who came together to Varghese in front of a concrete flume designed to stop 21,000 tonnes deliver major irrigation improvements on the university’s two farms near Cobbitty of sediment washing into the Nepean River

Water Smart Farms highlights The project involved The Department of Primary Industries was the lead agency in this project, with the HNCMA providing incentive funding complex legal management and administrative support which underpinned the success of the project. The HNCMA performed the considerations with following work during 2010/11: landholders returning • Developing the standard works agreement • Managing the finances for the incentive funding a proportion of their component of the project • Creating and maintaining project management databases water entitlement for recording landholder projects and developing a framework for recording the spatial distribution and on to the NSW Government ground outputs through the Land Management Database (see page 30) • Administering the works agreements • Training 15 Department of Primary Industries staff in project and spatial databases • Media and communications support • Participating in project assessment panels • Aboriginal Cultural Heritage assessments for all projects.

26 Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 CASE STUDY Westwood Farm gets Water Smart

Challenges The Project The project involved complex legal The University of Sydney runs five considerations with landholders returning farms supporting a dairy enterprise a proportion of their water entitlement of 300-330 cows. The 40-hectare to the NSW Government in exchange Westwood Farm, used to produce for funding to carry out water efficiency silage for the dairy business, was improvements. It was critical to get the running a near-obsolete system of process correct and transparent and this travelling irrigators that wasted power involved considerable negotiations and and water. legal advice at the start of the project. The project involved replacing the Another key challenge was administering travelling irrigators with a single the sheer volume of works agreements low-pressure lateral move irrigator to within a short time frame. The number improve efficiency and productivity, of works agreements produced for the and reduce the waste of power project in the past year was a 400% and water. In return for the funding, increase on what is normally produced the university returned a water in a typical year. The process tested entitlement of 83 megalitres back to the HNCMA’s business and information the state environmental water holder. management systems and led to significant advances in the efficiency and Key Achievements effectiveness of these systems. The project will: A total of 83 megalitres of water has been • increase production and silage returned to the Nepean River by installing a Looking ahead 2011/12 through efficient use of water travelling irrigator at the Cobbitty farm The project has amassed a huge • allow the university to expand its Investment and Partners amount of data and project information dairy herd to 400 cows • Water Smart Farms ($273,900) which will be useful for future planning • save an estimated $35,000 per and evaluation of projects in the year in labour costs • Department of Hawkesbury-Nepean. The finalisation Primary Industries NSW • reduce power consumption by up of all on ground works and collation of to 50% • The University of Sydney information for final reporting will be the ($74,132 in-kind) first half of 2011/12. • reduce maintenance costs • reduce runoff and potential Looking To 2011/12 nutrient leaching into the Nepean The Department of Primary Industries River system intends to use the project as a • return 83 megalitres of water per showcase of irrigation efficiency for year to the state environmental the region’s dairy farms through field water holder. days, farm walks and potentially formal training programs.

“There’s a huge increase in water efficiency. One person can shift the new irrigation system in about an hour, so that’s a major saving in labour. The current crop is coming up very evenly with consistent growth rather than the variations we used to have.” - Kim McKean, Farm Manager, University of Sydney.

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 27 Catchment Highlights - Aboriginal Projects

Investing in Aboriginal projects the Context The HNCMA supports the Aboriginal communities in the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment to be involved in natural resource management in a way that provides social and economic outcomes beyond just the environmental.

The Project The HNCMA established an Aboriginal small grants program during the year to support work that had been identified as a priority by the Aboriginal community at the 2009 Hawkesbury- Members of Moyengully Restoration Group at work restoring Nepean Aboriginal NRM Forum. This program invested Box Vale walking track near Moss Vale $100,000 in seven projects to restore areas of cultural significance and capacity building in communities.

The results • Western Sydney Aboriginal Landcare Group – to bring the local western Sydney Aboriginal community together to These projects included: restore a site on Ropes Creek near St Marys undertaking • Gundungurra Heritage Association – held a cultural major weed removal and establishment of 100 native workshop at Katoomba for 41 people to learn traditional plants and restore a cultural mural at the site. Aboriginal cultural practices such as weaving and making • string bags and ceremonial adornments. This workshop Hawkesbury City Council – to assist restoration at the provided an opportunity for Aboriginal and non Aboriginal culturally and historically significant Sackville Mission community members to learn together. site by establishing a local Aboriginal Landcare group supporting regular work by up to 25 people removing • Mingaan Corporation – developed a five-year Plan of lantana and improving access. Management Black for Fellows Hands (Maiyingu Marragu) in the Capertee Valley which was recognised as an Aboriginal Place under the NPW Act in 2011 – to ensure The challenges its cultural heritage and conservation values are protected, • Developing agreements between landowners, often preserved and enhanced. councils, and community on the management of important • Merana Group based in Richmond facilitated a three-day sites can require lengthy negotiations extending time Aboriginal Bushcare and Landcare Conference bringing required to deliver a project together 60 Aboriginal community members. • Supporting community members to form groups to • Blue Mountains Aboriginal Cultural Resource Centre – undertake works required, for example, forming a landcare designed and erected 10 Aboriginal specific interpretive group to carry out priority works signs highlighting various plants, plant families and their • Developing skills for community members to ensure they uses at the Bush Tucker Garden in Katoomba with work can undertake works either through training or providing carried out by local Aboriginal high school students, skill support e.g. experienced bush regenerators. community elders and TAFE students • Moyengully Natural Resource Management Group – Looking ahead to 2011/12 restored the Box Vale public walking track near Mittagong by undertaking weed eradication and bush regeneration The HNCMA will run another round of the Aboriginal projects in one kilometre of culturally significant creekline while grants program in 2011/12 after the success of the first round. completing professional TAFE training. Five members have The third Annual Hawkesbury-Nepean Aboriginal NRM Forum completed training in Level 1, 2, 3 Land Conservation will be held later in 2012 to report back to the community and Management certificates with two young members going talk about priorities for the next three years. on to full time employment in environmental management.

28 Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 Bringing climate change into catchment planning The context The HNCMA developed an internal Climate Change Action Plan in 2009 and the issue of climate change is a key strategic challenge identified in the HNCMA’s Strategic Plan 2009 – 2012. The HNCMA will respond to the challenge of preparing the catchment for the predicted impacts of climate change by implementing mitigation measures and within the catchment.

In 2010/11, the HNCMA has been working on the first two steps The giant dragonfly (Petalura gigantean), that has survived since gondwanan in this action plan which is to lead by example by integrating times, is found in the swamps of the Blue Mountains and was one of the mitigation measures throughout its business operations (see “assets” studied in the HNCMA’s Climate Change Vulnerability Study page 109-116) and to prepare draft vulnerability assessments of key natural resource assets in the catchment.

Key results The project • Key pressures and the vulnerability of the asset to climate Nine key natural assets were selected in 2010 from across change were assessed plus a suite of responses were the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment to be assessed for their identified for each of the nine assets vulnerability to climate change. The assets were spread across the catchment from a range of biophysical targets. Assets were • 7 meetings involving 57 experts also chosen based on conservation significance (for example, • Published the Climate Change Vulnerability Report and being listed under the Threatened Species Conservation Act) made available online at www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au/ and on the data available to inform the assessment of the asset. mulitattachments/5892.html. The nine assets were: • Aboriginal cultural heritage on Sydney sandstone The challenges The assets selected provide an indication of how a range of • Little Wheeny Creek and its population of Macquarie Perch natural resource assets may be affected by predicted changes • Blue Mountains Swamps to climate. This work has allowed the HNCMA to work with • Purple (Copper) Butterfly leading experts to think through how a representative range • Saltmarsh of assets may be affected. This provides valuable information • A specific soil landscape in the upper Wollondilly which will help in the consideration of climate change in the catchment (Garland soils) future review of the Catchment Action Plan. The challenge will then be to introduce the complexity of interactions between • Three vegetation communities of the Southern Highlands assets and predicted climate changes. (Robertson Rainforest, Southern Highlands Shale Woodlands, Robertson Basalt Tall Open Forest). Looking forward to 2011/12 The assessment was undertaken by panels of scientific and technical experts as well as land managers and Two of these assets will be interpreted by community and community representatives. experts and presented on DVD to support understanding of the assets and their vulnerability by the wider community. While investigating climate changes in the next 50 to 100 A series of educational fact sheets will be published to help years, the vulnerability assessment also considered current broaden community understanding of the challenges of threats (such as invasive pest and weed species). These climate change and awareness of these key assets. threats are reducing the capacity of all natural systems to adapt to climate change and the report highlights that it is essential to The impacts of climate change on natural resources in the continue to manage these current threats to increase resilience catchment will be integrated into the review of the Hawkesbury and minimise vulnerability. Nepean Catchment Action Plan planned for 2012.

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 29 Catchment Highlights - Business Systems

Integrated, leading business systems The context The HNCMA has focused on integrating its range of financial and non-financial business systems to provide a one-stop database for accurate and timely project data. These systems include the following components: • Spatial (land management database) • Project (catchment information system) • Expenditure (expenditure and revenue reports)

• Evidence (Zotero library) Catchment Information Management System is used for project management • Records (Objective records management system).

Key results 2010/11 With improved integration, the HNCMA was able to introduce Total investment auto-population of management agreements during 2010/11 The HNCMA has pioneered the development of the spatial which greatly improved efficiencies for staff (with 266 and project management components across all 13 NSW agreements completed during the year) and better accuracy catchment management authorities. At the HNCMA, each of textural, spatial and financial data. of the five components of the system has a staff member Also during the year, 15 Department of Primary Industries staff who is primarily responsible for maintaining that component were given training and ongoing support in using the HNCMA’s representing an annual investment of up to $500,000. spatial and project management databases to assist them to However the main focus for investment is in training staff deliver the Smart Farms Program. The HNCMA’s system was in the systems and in supporting staff in their integrated use identified by this department as the best system available to of the systems. record and track the progress of this complex project. Finally, the new “evidence based library” based on Zotero Looking ahead 2011/12 software was brought online at the HNCMA for project staff to The strategy for data management at the HNCMA has record available evidence such as published scientific papers. identified the records system (Objective) as a foundational component and during 2011/12 better linkages will be developed between the various business systems with The challenges document storage in Objective. Combining multiple systems on varying platforms with a range of hosting arrangements and associated security walls has In 2011/12 staff will also be dedicating some of their time to been a challenge to the project. These systems are complex populating the newest part of the system, the Zotero evidence and require a high skill level and familiarity by staff. The use of library. This will build up the collection of available evidence to the systems needs to be continually reviewed to ensure that all support our understanding of the outcomes that are achieved users are entering data in a consistent manner and that there through various activities. This evidence is an important are no gaps or inconsistencies. In addition, the competing component of the Catchment Action Plan review. pressures on staff to maintain multiple data systems has been a challenge to staff resourcing during the year to keep the system fully updated in a timely manner.

30 Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 Integrated HNCMA Business Systems

Objective

records management

Catchment Zotero Information Management System evidence library to support project management decisions Project management

Land Management Database

Spatial project data & priorities

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 31 Catchment Highlights - Native Vegetation

Native Vegetation Management The context The HNCMA is the approval authority for the clearing of native vegetation within the catchment under the Native Vegetation Act 2003. Clearing can only be approved if it will result in a improving or maintaining the environment.

The project The HNCMA provides advice to a range of clients on the management and clearing of native vegetation. Some native vegetation clearing does not require approval under the Act (for Natural regeneration is allowed once stock are removed by fencing example, excluded lands, exclusions under other legislation, (see understory growth on the right of the fence) contrasted to the grazed paddock with no regrowth regrowth and routine agricultural management activities). To determine whether clearing can occur using exclusions or whether a Property Vegetation Plan (PVP) assessment is required involves HNCMA native vegetation officers liaising with to including Development Applications, draft Local the landholder on site. Generally clearing can only occur if it is a Environment Plans, Development Control Plans and Plans well represented vegetation type in low to moderate condition, of Management in a landscape that is not over-cleared and the landholder can • 33 written responses were provided to landholders provide a sufficient off-set of a similar vegetation type. regarding native vegetation advice Where possible, the HNCMA aims to avoid the need for • 4 reports of possible illegal clearing or compliance native vegetation clearing by better planning of developments issues were received from the community and referred to especially on land not covered by the Act. To influence the Office of Environment and Heritage compliance branch the outcomes, the HNCMA comments on Development • 50 council staff from Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Applications and Local Environment Plans to local government councils informed at workshops on native vegetation and the Department of Planning to reduce impacts on native legislation, compliance, Biobanking and partnership vegetation and biodiversity. opportunities with the HNCMA. Guidance is also provided to landholders, developers and During the year, the HNCMA was the lead NSW catchment consultants who are planning work that may impact on management authority in the development of revegetation biodiversity in the catchment. policy under clause 28 of the Native Vegetation Regulations The HNCMA also carries out a major program of funding 2005. This policy was finalised in 2011 and allows for the for protecting and enhancing native vegetation across minor clearing of native vegetation and planting of native the catchment, with emphasis on endangered ecological species so there is long-term environmental benefits. A copy is communities such as Box Gum Woodland. available on the HNCMA website. The HNCMA also is a member of the Sydney Growth Centres Key results in 2010/11 Biodiversity Off-Set Advisory Group which has conserved in- perpetuity 320 hectares of threatened ecological communities • 2,575 hectares of native vegetation protected and in the catchment. restored • 102 enquiries about clearing native vegetation were received from landholders or their consultants the Challenges • 49 property visits were conducted by staff Challenges during the year included: • 2 Property Vegetation Planning (PVP) assessments • Ongoing development in the catchment, particularly were completed western Sydney, posed challenges for biodiversity protection during the year • 23 environmental review matters were responded

32 Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 CASE STUDY Southern Highlands Biolink

• Staff resourcing in the vegetation The Project unit was impacted by the move of The Southern Highlands Biolink one part time staff member to another project is establishing a major program area and one staff member regional bushland corridor being on long service leave during management program between the year Morton National Park and the Blue • One Property Vegetation Plan Mountains World Heritage Area. agreement took up a significant The HNCMA-led project is funded by amount of staff time during the year the Australian Government’s Caring due to the complexity of legal issues for Our Country initiative. related to threatened species on The Southern Highlands has the property. been selected as one of several Views of the major bushland corridor between priority areas for improving overall Morton National Park and the Blue Mountains Total Investment connectivity of the Great Eastern World Heritage Area where “gaps” in the corridor are being protected and restored on The HNCMA invested $400,000 in Ranges. While large areas of the private property running the native vegetation unit during Southern Highlands have been the financial year with another $2.91 cleared for agriculture in the past, Investment and Partners million invested in on ground biodiversity significant native vegetation remains • Caring for Our Country ($500,000) protection and restoration. on private land. The Biolink project worked with private landholders with • HNCMA significant bushland areas that can • Greening Australia Partners Involved become part of the corridor. • Office of Environment The HNCMA and landholders, and Heritage consultants, local government, Key Achievements government agencies, including the The project: Looking to 2011/12 Office of Environment and Heritage, and • Initially the project will focus on the Australian Government. protected a range of local vegetation on private land working with landholders in a corridor including paddock trees, riparian that extends from Morton National Looking Forward to 2011/12 corridors, rocky outcrops and Park at Wingello, through Paddy’s A review of the Native Vegetation remnant woodlands River, Canyonleigh, Belanglo, Medway, Joadja, to the Nattai Regulations 2005 and sections of the • helped landholders improve the Environmental Outcomes Assessment condition of bushland through National Park north of High Range. Methodology will be undertaken by activities like weed control the New South Wales government • extended and connect bushland during 2011/12. The HNCMA is looking areas through further planting. forward to contributing to this review and improving the legislation for managing native vegetation in NSW. A number of improvements including data upgrades have been made to The native quoll which is found in the Southern Highlands is one of many species that relies on a HNCMA computer systems for assessing contiguous bushland area for migration clearing proposals. Many of these (photo courtesy of Office of Environment and Heritage) changes were a result of issues identified during last the 2010/11 state-wide audit of Property Vegetation Plans and these changes will improve the quality of future ‘In the Southern Highlands there are significant areas HNCMA Property Vegetation Plans. of natural vegetation remaining on private property, like missing pieces in a jigsaw puzzle.’ - Aaron Smith, Catchment Coordinator, HNCMA

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 33 Catchment Highlights - Engagement and Communications

1. “I love living on the edge”

The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area - we can all do our bit to protect it 2. 3.

Engaging and communicating Boosting the HNCMA’s with the community marketing initiatives The context The Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment has one of the In 2010/11 the HNCMA focused its marketing effort most diverse and complex communities in Australia with through a “Prospectus for the Hawkesbury-Nepean a population of nearly one million people. The catchment River and its Catchment” and the development of a straddles the urban-rural divide and includes very Marketing Plan and supporting program to implement sparsely populated rural areas though to dense housing the existing Marketing Strategy. of western Sydney. This work has focused on three areas of activity: The communication and engagement challenges in this environment are considerable for small agency such as the • Promoting the HNCMA as an organisation to raise HNCMA with limited resources. its profile within the community. • Promoting the HNCMA environmental programs to The project landholders and other potential project partners to To overcome these challenges, the HNCMA has developed ensure that funding delivers the optimal outcomes. a series of strategies informed by considerable research and with highly targeted approaches. During the year, the following • Accessing additional funding from government and strategies and plans were developed: non-government sources to complement existing • Catchment Action Plan Review Communications and funding from the Commonwealth and Engagement Strategy 2011-2012 NSW Governments. • HNCMA Communication Strategy 2011-13 The Marketing Plan and Program is closely supported • HNCMA Communication Action Plan 2011-2012 by the HNCMA Communications Strategy. • HNCMA Marketing Plan

Key Results 2010/11 Through the marketing program, the HNCMA was 1. Work on the Living on the Edge website began during the year to target able to access an additional $1.1 million in 2010/11 140,000 landholders living within five kilometres of the Blue Mountains World for programs to improve the health of the catchment Heritage Area boundary 2. With an estimated 80,000-plus farm dams in the catchment, the new Farm Dams Guide provides advice to landholders on delivered by the HNCMA and its partners. protecting water quality and improving biodiversity 3. A series of promotions during the year aimed to connect catchment residents with their passion for caring about key “assets” of the catchment such as the river

34 Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 Catchment Highlights - Engagement and

The results

In 2010/11, the HNCMA achieved the following communications and engagement results during the year:

140,565 website visits for the year – a 1524 community members engaged in workshops and field days 7.7% increase from the previous year

landholders engaged in projects 650 DVDs of “2010 Hawkesbury-Nepean 266 Environmental Performance Stories” ordered and over Farm Dams booklet developed as a statewide resource 1000 downloaded online in partnership with the Sydney Catchment Authority and Department of primary Industries 5 new “2011 Hawkesbury-Nepean Environmental Performance Stories” produced 3500-strong catchment community database maintained 14,000 copies of The Source newsletter distributed – with each copy shared with 3 people (according to Participation in National NRM Awareness Campaign survey feedback) to give approx. readership 40,000 with local publicity and products in May and June

6 new publications produced including facts sheets HNCMA Annual Report gained Silver in Australasian and best practice guides Reporting Awards in May

37 media releases distributed with a 60% publication success

“Living on the Edge” World Heritage Area website underdevelopment including stakeholder consultation and three workshops

Looking ahead to 2011/12 The HNCMA will focus on

• Developing new online tools for educating and engaging the community

• Implementing a communications program to support the review of the Catchment Action Plan

• Implementing the Marketing Plan to seek to fill gaps in investment

Father and son planting at the twice yearly Capertee Valley Regent Honeyeater planting days on private land Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 35 Catchment Highlights - Landcare Awards

Regional Landcare Awards The context The HNCMA provides support such as insurance, training, funding and technical support to over 130 landcare groups in the catchment. The groups carry out work to improve waterways, bushland and agricultural land valued at $2.8 million per annum.

The project To recognise and celebrate the efforts of over 2800 volunteers in the catchment, the HNCMA created the bi-annual Winners are grinners Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Awards. In 2010/11 these – Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Award recipients for 2011 awards were held for the third time in conjunction with the region’s Landcare Forum which aims to provide landcare groups with an opportunity to network, share and learn from other groups and individuals from across the catchment. Key results 2010/11 Winners were awarded in seven categories in May 2011: • Janet Fox - Hawkesbury Rainforest Network (Individual Landcarer) • Yellomundee Aboriginal Bushcare Group (Indigenous Landcare) • Philippe Frost - University of Western Sydney’s Hawkesbury Remnants (Young Landcare Leader) “A well run, informative • Friends of the Colo (Landcare Community Group) • Friends of Knudsen Reserve (Urban Landcare) day which made us all • MacMasters Beach Surf Lifesaving Club (Coastcare/Estuary Group) feel valued,” • Capertee Valley Alliance (Landcare Education). - Landcarer attending Special mentions were also given to Penrose Swamp Conservation Group in the Southern Highlands, Barragal the forum and awards Landcare Group and Central Coast Indigenous landcarer, Deborah Swan. Highlights of the landcare forum included: • 110 community members attending the event • Inspirational talks on how to attract youth into landcare and science about local wildlife and work of the Barragal Landcare group

36 Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 CASE STUDY Philippe Frost, Young Landcare Leader

The challenges UWS student Philippe Frost has Challenges to running the awards been a champion for Landcare on include getting nominations across all the University of Western Sydney’s nine categories from volunteers who are (UWS) Hawkesbury campus over busy carrying out their projects. This the past year. year, seven categories were entered with two (Primary Producer Landcare Philippe volunteered to coordinate and Local Government Community the Hawkesbury Remnants Landcare Partnership) having no applicants. To Group, with membership from overcome these challenges, the HNCMA students and staff on the campus. had a very proactive approach of The group is tackling a serious issue, engaging potential community members as the UWS Hawkesbury campus to nominate their colleagues. contains the third largest stand of the critically endangered Cumberland Plain woodland in greater Western Total investment Sydney. Members meet once a month The HNCMA invested $15,000 in the to tackle weeds and help restore landcare forum and awards, plus another the native vegetation and wildlife $178,000 in landcare support and habitat that makes up this distinctive insurance for landcare groups during ecological community. the year. As an active and energetic volunteer coordinator, Philippe has attracted Looking ahead to 2011/12 new members and resources to

The seven local winners will now be put the group. He has established Young landcarer of the year – Philippe Frost – forward to the NSW Landcare Awards a facebook page, made close helped establish the Hawkesbury Remnants that will be announced at Parkes on 6 connections to other organisations Landcare Group on campus at the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury September 2011. including local council, the HNCMA, Landcare groups and the adventure conservation group Willow Warriors. Philippe has secured support for the He trains new members, and is group, including promotional material, constantly developing his own skills access to activities and workshops in bush regeneration and natural of relevance to the group, and he has resource management. been crucial to the implementation of a sustainability promotional stall across three UWS campuses during the university orientation week. The Hawkesbury Remnants Landcare Group recently won the “Excellence in University Sustainability” (Student) category of the UWS Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Awards.

“Philippe is to be commended not only for his ongoing dedication but also his excellent coordination of this key volunteer student group on our Hawkesbury campus.”

- Dr. Lyn Anderson, UWS Environmental Supervisor.

Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2010/11 37