Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2008/09 Working with Our Community to Deliver Real Natural Resource Outcomes
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority Annual Report 2008/09 Working with our community to deliver real natural resource outcomes CONtENtS Highlights ........................................... 1 On Ground Performance .................. 24 Community & Partnerships ......... 48 Natural resource Who We Are ........................................ 2 Biodiversity ................................... 25 management decisions ................... 49 Native vegetation ............................ 25 Our Catchment ................................... 4 Community Capacity Building ......... 51 Sustainable populations .................. 28 Key Performance Results ................. 6 Threatened species/communities .... 30 Monitoring, Evaluation Invasive species .............................. 32 and Reporting .................................. 54 Chair’s Foreword ............................. 12 River Health .................................. 34 Our People ........................................ 60 General Manager’s Message .......... 14 Riverine ecosystems ....................... 35 Corporate Governance ................... 66 Strategic Way Forward .................... 16 Groundwater & Marine .................... 37 Wetlands ......................................... 37 HNCMA Sustainability ..................... 80 Looking Ahead ................................. 18 Estuaries and coastal ...................... 39 Financial Reporting 2008/09 ............ 84 Our Board & Executive ..................... 20 Soil & Land .................................... 43 Appendices ..................................... 122 Natural Resources Soil condition .................................. 44 Commission’s Audit ......................... 23 Land capability ................................ 46 Quick Find Index ............................. 128 HIGHLIGHtS At A GLANCE Despite a year of considerable change and transition, the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority (HNCMA) continued to deliver practical environmental improvements well above expectations. $21.62 million Targets invested exceeded 22 on ground targets were exceeded The HNCMA’s programs and by 250% while 100% of the HNCMA’s partnerships delivered $21.62 million corporate targets were achieved in on ground projects (see pages 56-59) Practical improvements on the ground 1754 hectares of native vegetation conserved 171 kilometres of riverbanks and beds were rehabilitated 2804 hectares of degraded land rehabilitated 60,981 native plants established 84.3 kilometres of sensitive gullies, riverbanks and wetlands fenced Improving our 35% funding Positive audit service delivery increase feedback The Natural Resources Commission’s The organisation was realigned to deliver In contrast to the national trend for natural audit of the HNCMA found that we were its projects through three landscapes resource management agencies, the “effectively delivering projects that are (Warragamba, Blue Mountains Western, HNCMA secured a 35% funding increase likely to contribute to improved landscape and Lower Hawkesbury-Nepean) to better for 2009/10 to provide a total of $14.8 function”. Gaps identitied by the audit target investment and improve community million (excluding partner contributions) were addressed during the year engagement (see page 5) (see page 23) WHO WE ARE YOUR HAWKESBURY-NEPEAN NAtURAL RESOURCE CAtCHMENt MANAGEMENt MANAGEMENt IN tHE AUtHORItY CAtCHMENt The Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment The State and Australian governments Management Authority (HNCMA) works provide substantial investment for to protect the natural values of the managing the natural resources of the Hawkesbury-Nepean and ensure it Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment. The continues to be a healthy and productive Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA is one of catchment. We achieve this through several state and local government strategic planning, partnerships and agencies working to improve the funding to natural resource management catchment. State agencies, such as projects on public and private land to Department of Primary Industries, Sydney address issues of critical importance. Catchment Authority, Department of The HNCMA works in close partnership Environment and Climate Change, with state agencies, local government, Department of Water and Energy, Office landcare and bushcare, Aboriginal of the Hawkesbury Nepean, Department groups, landholders, primary producers, of Lands and Livestock Health and the community and other industries. Pest Animal Control Authorities, have responsibilities defined by state legislation. Many of these organisations also protect natural resources using regulatory mechanisms. The Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA has regulatory functions in relation to the Native Vegetation Act 2003. OUR VISION A healthy and productive catchment OUR MISSION We work with our catchment community to deliver real natural resource outcomes 2 OUR VALUES OUR FUNCtIONS OUR INVEStMENt PRIORItIES We are professional and adhere to The specific functions of the CMAs, as The Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA sound business principles: our staff defined by Section 15 of the Catchment targets its investment to ensure the are highly qualified, hardworking and Management Authorities Act 2003, are to: most effective environmental outcomes. honest and have substantial experience Priorities include: 1. Develop Catchment Action Plans and across a broad range of natural resource ensure their delivery through annual • improve river health including stable management fields. implementation programs and healthy riparian areas, and healthy We are committed to our catchment: 2. Provide loans, grants, subsidies drinking water supplies We represent our catchment and or other financial assistance for • protect biodiversity values by improving local communities, their interests and catchment activities the extent, quality and connectivity of objectives. We work closely with our 3. Enter contracts or do any work for the native terrestrial and aquatic habitats communities to achieve the best possible purpose of catchment activities • identify and encourage best practice natural resource outcomes. 4. Assist landholders to achieve in land management that supports We use the best available knowledge the objectives of the Catchment management of land within its capability in our work: We apply the best available Action Plan and suitability, and addresses salinity science with understanding of local and degradation 5. Provide educational and training conditions in all aspects of our work. courses and materials in connection • undertake strategic pest plant and We are approachable: We have good with NRM animal management that focuses on emerging and localised weeds, relationships with a broad range of 6. Exercise any function relating to natural and implementing effective, stakeholders and work co-operatively resource management as prescribed by coordinated control with them towards solutions. the regulations. • support greater involvement of We are fair and objective: We use The HNCMA has four offices at the Indigenous community in our experience and knowledge of best Goulburn (head office), Windsor, NRM, particularly where it provides natural resource management practice to Moss Vale and Lithgow to provide ongoing business opportunities ensure that advice is given and decisions service to local clients (see back cover including the identification of Indigenous are made in a fair and objective way with for information on office locations). cultural values clear accountable processes. • build stakeholder awareness, We are responsive and innovative: organisational capacity and community We plan and respond to catchment empowerment and resourcing that issues effectively, in a timely way and supports the implementation of the CAP. have processes and capacity to adapt to change. tHE LEGISLAtION AND POLICY WE OPERAtE UNDER • Catchment Management Authorities Act 2003 • Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 • Public Finance and Audit Regulation 2000 along with other related government policy and directions from the Minister for Climate Change and Environment • Native Vegetation Act 2003 • Water Management Act 2000 • Hawkesbury-Nepean River Act 2009 • Natural Resources Commission Act 2003 • Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984, and the • Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Regulation 2000 • Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 3 WHO WE ARE OUR CAtCHMENt PUTTY A Catchment of National Significance GLEN DAVIS the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment is a truly critical catchment in terms of the nation’s economic, social and environmental well being. the catchment:Blue ST ALBANS • Stretches 22,000 square kilometres • Provides 23% of NSW’s electricity (2.2 million hectares)Mo fromu nsouthta ofi ns usingHa waterwk fromes theb Coxsur yRiver in GOSFORD Goulburn to the &Putty W Valleye ins thete rn the Wallerawang and Lower Portland north, from Lithgow in the west to Palm power stations.Lower LITHGOW Beach on the coast. • ProtectsN 50%ep ofe thea catchmentn in • Feeds a river system which flows 470 over 1 millionW hectaresINDSO Rof NationalBE ROWRA kilometres from near Lake Bathurst to Parks and reserves. KATOOMBA Broken Bay. • Boasts the Greater Blue Mountains • Includes major rivers such as the World Heritage Area that includes Hawkesbury, Nepean,JENOL AWollondilly,N CAVES the 13% of the world’s Eucalypt SYDNEY Mulwaree, Tarlo, Wingecarribee, Nattai, species and almost 10% of Australia’s Nepean, Coxs, Kowmung, Grose, vascular plant species. Capertee, Colo and Macdonald. • Protects 288 threatened species • Provides