Annual Report 2006-07 Highlights
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G O U L B U R N B ROKEN CAT C H M E N T M A N A G E M E N T A UTHORITY Annual Report 2006-07 Highlights Drought response • Drought Employment Program employed 72 people and resulted in a dramatic increase in fencing of riparian vegetation. • 33,460 hectares of land protected from over grazing with 338 stock containment areas. • Seven Gigalitres (GL) of water not required for water quality management was sold to irrigators. The $2.8 million raised from the sale provided: • River health and water quality benefits, secured irrigator demands and took advantage of high water prices; • Extra funding for the Drought Employment Program in 2007-08, and • Funding for early warning systems on the Goulburn Weir and lower Broken Creek to mitigate the Catchment’s water quality risk. • Azolla and low dissolved oxygen problems in Broken Creek were managed by passing River Murray water and 2,703 Megalitres (ML) of Goulburn River Environmental Water Reserve through the Creek. Environmental Water Reserve (EWR) • 80:20 deal finalised (20 percent of sales pool of water now part of EWR). • Victorian Government $1 billion funding announcement for Food Bowl Modernisation Project providing 75 GL of water savings to EWR annually. • Victorian Government $52 million announcement to modernise irrigation infrastructure providing 52 GL of water savings to EWR annually. Water reform • Unbundling of water entitlements including preparing Water Use Licences and New Irrigation Development Guidelines. • Ability to carry forward water entitlements benefiting irrigators and the environment. Storing water will allow better management planning. • Murray Goulburn interconnector feasibility study started, which could provide more than 50 GL for EWR. Incentives • 756 incentives provided to land managers for activities such as fencing and the revegetation of waterways, building of stock containment areas, whole farm planning, improving irrigation and installing water re-use systems. www.gbcma.vic.gov.au Indigenous revegetation planted 1400 1200 1294 1000 1055 800 829 706 758 600 Hectares 400 476 200 0 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 Forecast* Remnant vegetation fenced 1600 1400 1516 1200 1000 800 886 Hectares 743 600 643 640 400 365 200 0 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 Forecast* Riparian vegetation fenced (a major part of ‘remnant vegetation fenced’) 800 700 725 600 500 400 Hectares 300 200 218 100 115 104 91 68 0 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 Forecast* Whole farm plans prepared 400 350 371 363 300 250 262 232 200 Hectares 185 150 140 100 Great Egret 50 0 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 Forecast* Reuse systems installed 100 99 90 80 70 78 70 60 65 50 56 Number 40 46 30 20 10 0 * Output targets are currently forecast to be low in 2007-08 because of 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 reduced indicative funding from commonwealth and state programs. Forecast* G O U L B U R N B R O K E N C A T C H M E N T M ANA G E M E N T A UTHORITY The Goulburn Broken at a glance GB CMA: Partners: The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GB CMA) Landcare, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the Department is a Statutory Authority established by the Victorian Parliament in of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Goulburn-Murray Water 1997 to coordinate land, water and biodiversity management in the (G-MW), Goulburn Valley Water (GVW) and Environment Protection Goulburn Broken region. GB CMA’s objectives, functions, powers and Authority (EPA). duties are further defined in the Catchment and Land Protection Act (CaLP) 1994. Where: The Catchment covers some 2.4 million hectares north of the city of Role: Melbourne to the River Murray – the border with New South Wales, The GB CMA plays a lead role working with the community, taking in Alexandra, Benalla, Cobram, Euroa, Kilmore, Kyabram, government, research and funding organisations to achieve integrated Mansfield, Numurkah, Seymour, Shepparton, Tatura, Yarrawonga and environmental works identified as the highest priorities for the region. Yea. Works are underpinned by collaborative research combining the best available science with practical challenges of running a productive farm Environmental problems: or maintaining a waterway for environmental and tourism benefits. Degraded river health, reduced extent and quality of native vegetation, All works undertaken in the Catchment fit within state, Murray reduced water quality, dryland and irrigated salinity and loss of Darling Basin and national strategies. During the reporting period, the biodiversity. GB CMA reported to former Minister for Water, Environment and Climate Change The Honourable John Thwaites. Population: Funding: Over 200,000 and includes 6,000 Indigenous Australians, many of them from the traditional owner groups: the Taungurang and Yorta GB CMA received about $30 million in 2006-07 from state, Yorta clans. In the Catchment’s north, original settlers from the British commonwealth and regional sources. It is estimated the regional Isles have been followed by migrants from Greece, Italy, Albania, community contributes up to double that which governments Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan and India. contribute. An increasing amount of government funding received is from initiative funding sources. Benefit cost analysis is undertaken on Land use: parts of the business where it is possible, such as major infrastructure works. About 1.4 million hectares is dryland agriculture, 270,000 hectares is intensive irrigated agriculture and 800,000 hectares is public land Board: (with extensive areas for conservation). In addition, the Shepparton Irrigation Region (SIR) includes 70,000 hectares of the adjacent North Members of the GB CMA Board of Directors are drawn from within Central Catchment in its works program for ease of management. the region. Together they have extensive experience and knowledge of primary industry, land protection, water resource management, Industry: Irrigated and dryland agriculture (including irrigated dairy, waterway and floodplain management, environmental conservation, horticulture, viticulture, dryland grazing, cropping, timber production, local government, business and financial management. and thoroughbred and standardbred horses); food processing; tourism and recreation. The annual economic output of the SIR Region is Under the direction of the Board, the GB CMA has developed detailed estimated at $6.1 billion. environmental management strategies. An over arching document - Goulburn Broken Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS) sets out priorities and goals for policy, funding and works. Implementation Committees (IC) drive the implementation of projects including on-ground works to ensure the activities of the GB CMA reflect the views of local communities. The GB CMA and partner agencies offer an array of incentives to landholders wishing to undertake environmental works. ANNU al R ep O R T 2 0 0 7 About this report Contents Page This report provides information on the GB CMA’s performance Introduction and summary and finances, which can be assessed against the targets as per the Goulburn Broken 2006-07 to 2010-11 Corporate Plan. Highlights Inside cover The Corporate Plan can be accessed online at: The Goulburn Broken at a glance 2 www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/Publications & Research/Published About this report 3 Documents/Corporate and Financial. Chairman’s strategic overview 4 This report has been prepared in accordance with all relevant Victorian legislation (refer to the Disclosure index on page 72 CEO’s report on action 6 at the beginning of the Financial information, governance and Performance summary 8 risk management section). Results details – The Environment 17 The GB CMA aims to provide information which is easily 1 SIR salinity: water-tables and River Murray salinity 18 accessed, easily digested and relevant to readers. More detailed and scientific data can be accessed by visiting the 2 Dryland salinity: water-tables and River Murray salinity 23 GB CMA website www.gbcma.vic.gov.au 3 Water supply and environmental flows 25 Feedback on this report is encouraged to help improve future 4 Riparian and instream habitat and channel form 27 annual reports. Please provide comments by 31 December 5 Water quality (nutrients) in rivers and streams 32 2007 to guarantee consideration. A feedback form to help 6 Biodiversity 35 direct comments is available under: 7 Climate change 38 www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/Publications & Research/Published Documents/Annual Reports. 8 Flood protection 39 9 Pest plants and animals 42 Results details – The Business 44 A Corporate and statutory operations 44 B Our people 46 C Planning and responding 48 D Knowledge 50 E Relationships, partnerships and community capacity 52 Implementation Committees – Delivering the results 56 Across the three ICs 56 Mid Goulburn Broken IC 57 Shepparton Irrigation Region IC 61 Upper Goulburn IC 66 Financial Information Governance and Risk Management 71 Disclosure index 72 Acronyms, Contacts and Office Locations 101 G O U L B U R N B R O K E N C A T C H M E N T M ANA G E M E N T A UTHORITY Chairman’s strategic overview Ten years of low rainfall, climate change and an increasing A range of activities have been initiated by the GB CMA, population is placing increasing pressure on natural partner agencies and the community to protect the health resources in the Goulburn Broken Catchment. of the Broken River through funding provided under the state’s Victorian Water Trust ‘Our Water Our Future’ and Despite another year of significantly below average rainfall Healthy Rivers initiatives. and frost damage, the Shepparton Irrigation Region’s food processing sector sustained its output at $1.5 billion, The RCS review will be completed by June 2009. A Dryland compared to $1.7 billion in a normal year.