Avon Natural Resource Management Strategy 2005
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AVON NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2005 Avon Catchment Council PO Box 311 Northam WA 6401 www.avonicm.org.au THE AVON NRM STRATEGY THE REGIONAL NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE AVON RIVER BASIN The Avon Natural Resource Management Strategy The Regional Natural Resource Management Strategy for the Avon River Basin May 2005 Copyright Statement This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for the purpose of education, training or implementation of the Strategy, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of source and to its not being used for commercial purposes or sale. Reproduction for other purposes requires the prior written consent of the Avon Catchment Council. © Avon Catchment Council (Incorporated), 2005 Disclaimer This Strategy is based on existing information and will be subject to change as new information becomes available. Whilst this Strategy has been prepared with diligence and every effort made to ensure that the information contained herein is accurate and representative, readers cannot rely on this information as a substitute for legal advice. Further, the Avon Catchment Council disclaims any liability from error, loss or other consequence that may arise from reliance on any information or materials contained in this document. Before acting on any matter, take advice from a qualified legal practitioner or other appropriate professionals. Front Cover Design by Rosemary Arkeveld Cover photographs (left to right): Grain courtesy of Skye Arkeveld; Dead trees courtesy of Mike Griffiths; Gastrolobium sp. courtesy of Mick Davis; Aerial view courtesy of Richard Waldendorp. Reference Details The recommended reference for this publication is: Avon Catchment Council (2005). The Avon Natural Resource Management Strategy. The Regional Natural Resource Management Strategy for the Avon River Basin. Avon Catchment Council. Avon Catchment Council. Avon natural resource management strategy: 2005 Bibliography. ISBN 0-9757808-0-8 (print) ISBN 0-9757808-1-6 (online) ISBN 0-9757808-2-4 (CD-ROM) 1. Watershed management – Western Australia – Avon River Watershed. 2. Conservation of natural resources – Western Australia – Avon River Watershed. 3. Avon River Watershed (W.A.). I. Avon Catchment Council. II. Title. 333.7317 Digital copies of this Strategy are available online at <http://www.avonicm.org.au>. Hard copies are available from the Avon Catchment Council. ii Avon Natural Resource Management Strategy Come gather ‘round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You’ll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth savin’ Then you better start swimmin’ Or you’ll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin’ Bob Dylan Avon Natural Resource Management Strategy iii Foreword The Avon Catchment Council has developed the Regional Natural Resource Management Strategy for the Avon River Basin by extensive revision of the original strategic plan. The Avon NRM Strategy will assist decisions and actions in natural resource management towards our ‘preferred future’ over the next fifty years. It will see change in the manner in which the Avon River Basin’s natural resources are managed, considering environmental, social and economic factors. The drive for change has come from many quarters, but initially from our traditional fund provider, the Australian Government. On reviewing the Natural Heritage Trust Programme, the government accepted the conclusion that significant positive impacts on the environment were difficult to achieve through fragmented funding and small-scale projects. It recognised that building the capacity of communities to manage natural resources is important, and acknowledged success in this area. The revised NHT2 program and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality are responding to the need for a more focused and strategic approach to investment in natural resource management. A requirement for change was also recognised by much of our community, who have put in tremendous effort during the decade of landcare, only to see, quite often, salinity, erosion, loss of biodiversity and acidification continuing to increase. This has at times caused considerable frustration to those most affected. As a result of these changes, our new strategy identifies assets of high value, the threats affecting them and a clear pathway to the protection of these valued assets. The Australian and State Governments, along with the community through the Avon Catchment Council, have worked in partnership to draw up a strategy that reflects these changes and also clearly outlines a way forward for all stakeholders in the Avon, to protect assets dear to them. One of the challenges facing the Avon Catchment Council is to ensure that this strategy is meaningful to everyone at the scale that interests them most, whether it is the local ‘back paddock’ scale, or the state and national scale or something in between. This challenge will be met through delivering regional programs at the local level. Champion individuals and catchment groups will provide ongoing leadership for successful works that protect our land, water, biodiversity conservation and infrastructure assets as well as adding to the lifestyle of people who live and work in the region. The Avon NRM Strategy challenges us all to work together to be effective. Areas previously thought to be ‘too difficult’ or controversial must now be tackled if we are truly to make the changes we all strive for. Successful implementation of this Strategy requires that industries dependent upon natural resources are both sustainable and profitable. The Strategy does not stand alone but fits with Australian and State Government policies and strategies as well as those at the regional and local levels. The Avon Catchment Council has undertaken the difficult task of developing a revised strategy for natural resource management for the Avon River Basin within a relatively short period of time. It has been achieved through the cooperation and assistance of our partners and our community, particularly assisted by our local landcare / rivercare / bushcare coordinator network. The Avon Catchment Council pulled together a management team consisting of policy, technical and community people from government, private industry and community. Each has had an important part to play, and without each and everyone working closely together we would never have managed to complete the task. Now that we have this Strategy to lead us into the next fifty years, it is up to each of us to play our part in implementing it. It has been written so that everyone will find relevance to his or her situation. However it will still need us all to be involved in putting this complex jigsaw together over the next fifty years, if we truly want to ensure the Avon River Basin is thriving environmentally, economically and socially in 2054. Barbara Morrell Former CHAIR AVON CATCHMENT COUNCIL (Endorsed by Wayne Clarke Current CHAIR AVON CATCHMENT COUNCIL) iv Avon Natural Resource Management Strategy Welcome to Country Our land Australia, how lucky we are to have the privilege of living in such a beautiful country and having it to call home. We the Ballardong people are proud to acknowledge our traditional ownership of these lands and our ancestors’ for they have cared and nurtured this land for thousands of years and have been the sole caretakers who implemented their cultural values and ways of living with nature side by side. Let us work together to achieve one common goal ‘The Healing of Mother Earth’, for time has come to give back to her what we took from her very soul. On behalf of the Aboriginal people Acknowledgements The Avon NRM Strategy has been prepared by the Avon Catchment Council with support from many individuals, agencies and organisations. It was prepared following public consultative processes with contributions from many individuals, families, groups and organisations. Development of this Strategy would not have been possible without the input of many people. The Avon Catchment Council acknowledges those who have contributed to this Strategy either by direct input or by their involvement in earlier planning and workshop processes. The Avon Catchment Council wishes to extend its appreciation to all these people. The ACC especially wishes to thank: • Avon Community Landcare Coordinators; • Department of Environment Staff; • Department of Agriculture Western Australia Staff; • Department of Conservation and Land Management Staff; • Forest Products Commission; • Wheatbelt Development Commission Staff; • CSIRO Staff; • Salinity Investment Framework Steering Committee; • Attendees of the Regional Prioritisation Workshop; • Attendees of the Focus Group Meetings; • Avon Local Government Authorities; • CLC Management Committees; • Land Conservation District Committees; • The Aboriginal Community; • Greening Australia, World Wide Fund for Nature, WA Channel Steering Group, Avon Waterways Committee; • The following communities: Bencubbin, Brookton, Bruce Rock, Calinigiri, Corrigin, Cunderdin, Kellerberrin, Koorda, Merredin, Mukinbudin, Newdegate, Nungarin, Pingelly, Quairading, Southern Cross, Tammin, Toodyay, Trayning, Westonia, Wickepin; • Viv Read, Bruce Hamilton, Peter Curry, Ted Rowley, Ross Colliver, Rod Safstrom, Andrew Huffer and Carla Swift; • URS Australia, Economic Consulting Services (ECS); • Attendees of the numerous community meetings held throughout the region; and • ACC members and staff, past and present, especially