West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Annual REPORT 04/05 Contents SECTION 1 HIGHLIGHTS Achievement against key areas of focus 2 Chairs and CEO’s Report 8 SECTION 2 WGCMA Our purpose 11 Our organisation 11 Our operating environment 12 Overview of the region and map 13 SECTION 3 GOVERNANCE The Board and Sub-committees 14 Organisational structure 16 Statutory reporting 17 Report against Corporate Plan targets 19 Disclosure index 23 SECTION 4 MANAGEMENT Management Structure 24 Integrated Catchment Unit report 26 Corporate Services Unit report 26 Partnership Development Unit report 27 Operations Unit report 27 SECTION 5 CATCHMENT CONDITION RCS/RCIP update 28 Water report 30 Land report 33 Biodiversity report 36 Atmosphere and climate report 38 People and communities report 39 Production report 41 GINRF report card 42 SECTION 6 FINANCES Financial statementsManagement 46 Auditor General’s statementAuthority 45 1Section 1 Highlights Achievements against key areas of focus identified in our Strategic Plan 2 Each year the Board endorses an Action Plan aimed at delivering on the strategies included in our Strategic Plan. In the 2005/2005 year 150 actions were included in the Plan. In this Highlights Section we have detailed the results against some of these actions. 1 Meeting our Statutory Requirements 1.2.2 Ensure finalisation and ministerial sign off of RRHS The final version of the West Gippsland River Health Strategy (RHS) was signed off by the Board in August 2004 and forwarded to the Minister for the Environment in February 2005 for its final endorsement. The RHS has been used to develop the Water Program for the West Gippsland region during 2004-2005 which has successfully secured significant investment for river health across the region, in particularly the Thomson and Macalister Rivers, the Traralgon Creek and the Tarra River. Regional River Health Project Officer and Operations Manager discussing the RHS. 1.6.11 Implement works under White Paper initiative for Thomson River The Thomson Macalister Rivers Repairing the Damage project has been successfully implemented during 2004-2005. All targets and milestones have been met for both on-ground and planing based activities with work continuing on the development of a Wetland Plan for the region and a community monitoring program in partnership with Waterwatch. 2 Delivering On Our Co-ordindation Activities Saving the Red Gums on the Thomson River. 2.1.4 Develop a strategic community education program for waterwatch Waterwatch has undertaken to run several major regional community events annually to promote a specific waterway health message to the broader community. These activities provide the opportunity to promote the Waterwatch program to the wider community who are not interested in monitoring water quality & are above school age. They also provide opportunities to form closer relationships with partners – who may wish to be involved with specific events. 3 1West2 Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Major events in 2004/2005 included: • A canoe tour of the Tarwin River which provided 70 participants with a first hand experience of the health and condition of the river. Six guest speakers also highlighted key issues for the health of the Tarwin River. • Two “Catch a Carp” Days – at Lake Guthridge and Lake Narracan. Both events were very successful, and the Lake Narracan event attracted over 500 participants. The Lake Narracan event was run in partnership with Latrobe City and Yallourn Energy with prizes for both events donated by Alpine Country. Canoe tour on the Tarwin River. 2.3.1 Finalise the development of the Salinity Management Plan The West Gippsland Salinity Management Plan was successfully completed and endorsed by the Board in June 2005. Development of the Salinity Management Plan during the year included a major component of stakeholder engagement this engagement included a series of workshops throughout the region at which a number of community and agency representatives provided input into the management actions in the plan. Those management actions will drive the implementation of the Salinity Management Plan over the next five years as it strives to meet the set resource condition targets. The plan is currently with the Department of Sustainability and Environment prior to seeking Ministerial endorsement. An example of salinity. 3 Providing Support In Our Region 3.6.1 Develop a regional policy framework for the support of seedbank As the first step in developing the framework a forum was conducted with with over 30 people representing the key stakeholders in native vegetation restoration in the region. The day was aimed at identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the regions Seedbanks. The outcomes from the forum were a positive step forward for West Gippsland’s Seedbanks. The forum identified opportunities for seedbanks to work closer together sharing equipment, knowledge and skills. It also identified the need for regional direction in areas of Harvesting seed. business planning, education, training and pricing. 3.7.2 Co-ordinate a review of the MID NRP The WGCMA co-ordinated the Review of the Macalister Irrigation District Nutrient Reduction Plan (MID NRP). The MID NRP has been a key delivery tool for nutrient reduction activity and investment in the MID region since 1998. Representatives from the Gippsland Lakes Taskforce and key agencies steered the review of the plan that aimed to determine the effectiveness of past plan implementation and make 4 Hig lig ts recommendations for the future. The review determined that on the whole the plan has been successful in meeting the SEPP target to reduce nutrient loads entering the irrigation drains and that investment has been accurately directed to nutrient reduction works such as on- farm extension and incentives for improved land management. Future directions for nutrient reduction includes the development of a Land and Water Management Plan for the MID that addresses a broad range of natural resource management issues. Continued extension and incentives and an assessment of the phosphorous drain store will also drive the nutrient reduction program. 1 Irrigation in the Macalister Irrigation District. 4 Influencing Our Operational Environment 4.3.4 Finalise and implement Traralgon Creek Action Plan The Traralgon Creek Action Plan has formed the basis of the Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan for the Traralgon Creek being managed by the Latrobe City in partnership with the community and stakeholders of the Traralgon Creek catchment. Priority river health related activities within the Traralgon Creek Action Plan have been implemented through the White Paper funded Traralgon Creek Riparian Improvement Project. Additional funding during 2005- 2006 will enable further riparian improvements along the Traralgon Work undertaken on the Traralgon Creek. Creek. 4.6.2 Maintain, develop and implement community focus of Regional Landcare Forum The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority Board values the important partnership between Landcare and the WGCMA. Current Landcare issues, trends and best practice in relation to catchment management are of ongoing interest to the board. As part of the Board’s plans to fulfil its obligations in this area it has constituted a Regional Landcare Forum. The Regional Landcare Forum convened 4 times this year. It continues Guests at the Landcare Film launch. to provide an excellent opportunity for the voice of Landcare to be heard within a regional context. This year the Forum revisited and updated its Charter and provided input into the implementation of the Guests at the Landcare Film Launch Landcare Support Strategy and implementation of the findings of the Co-ordination and Facilitation Review undertaken by the WGCMA. 5 1West2 Gippsland Catchment Management Authority 5 Engaging Our Community and Regional Stakeholders 5.2.5 Examine ways of working with EGCMA more efficiently. The West and East Gippsland CMAs have committed to exploring opportunities for sharing resources and creating efficiencies for our respective communities during 2004-2005. We agreed to the establishment of a joint Floodplain and Statutory Planning Team, a joint Water Quality Team and an Environmental Water Reserve Management Team. In addition to the above we have commenced the provision of the payroll and account keeping services for EGCMA through Axapta. Gippsland Statutory Planner & Gippsland Floodplain Officer. We understand these shared services are the first being undertaken in any serious way by Catchment Management authorities across Victoria and we believe we can establish a model which could encourage other CMAs to adopt this type of approach. 5.6.1 Endorsement of Indigenous Engagement Policy During the development and recent accreditation of the RCS, the issue of indigenous engagement was highlighted as an area for further focus. Several Indigenous Communities have an interest in the WGCMA region. There are two traditional owner groups, namely the Kulin Nation, comprising the Bunurong, Wurundjeri and Taungurong clans, and the Gunai / Kurnai Nation with four of their five clans in the region: the Bratauolung, Brabiralung, Tatungalung and Braiakaulung. (Tindale, 1974) In the last part of 2004 the WGCMA Indigenous Engagement Policy and the associated Procedure were endorsed by our Board. The policy will assist in establishing a framework for the WGCMA to better understand and address Indigenous Cultural Heritage Issues in relation to all activities that