2012 /13 annualreport www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au Contents Port Phillip and Western Port Region 2-3 The Role of the Port Phillip and Westernport CMA 4 2012/13 Highlights 5 Chair’s Message 6 The Board 7 Chief Executive Officer’s Message 8 PPWCMA Staff 9 Summary of Performance 10-11 Achievements and Performance against Key Performance Indicators Coordinating Implementation of the Regional 12 Catchment Strategy Directing Funding to Priority Projects 13-14 Managing Environmental Projects 16-20 Engaging Stakeholder Organisations and 21 This Annual Report outlines the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority’s (PPWCMA) progress against the performance indicators in its 2012/13 Corporate Plan. Enhancing Community Awareness It also includes information about: Supporting Landcare 22-23 Advising on Natural Resource Management 24 the PPWCMA, its Board and staff; Issues and Opportunities programs and their results; Catchment Condition 25-30 the work of partners and their contribution to the region’s environmental goals; Maintaining a Healthy Organisational Culture and 31-37 the condition of some of the natural resources in the region; High Standards of Business Management and compliance with governance requirements; and Governance financial statements. Financial Statements 38-56 This report is available online at www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au Disclosure Index 57-58 2012/13 PPWCMA Annual Report Index 60 Published by Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, Frankston. P 03 8781 7900 F 03 9781 0199 ISSN 1836-2729 (Print) ISSN 1836-2737 (Online) This Annual Report is printed on uncoated, 100% recycled stock using vegetable based inks and water based glues. Copyright © State of Victoria, Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, 2013. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Copying for non-commercial/non- profit purposes is permitted subject to the publication being copied entirely. The PPWCMA believes that the information contained in this publication is accurate and reliable at the date of publishing. It is the responsibility of readers to avail themselves of the latest information and advice in respect of the information contained in this publication after this date. Disclaimer: This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. The PPWCMA thanks the following photographers: Alison Griffiths, James Lauritz and David Marks. Port Phillip & Westernport CMA 01 Port Phillip and Western Port region Water Resources The Bays and Coast The region’s water storage and waterway The Port Phillip and Western Port region The catchments meet the sea at Port system provides most of the potable is home to over 4 million people and Phillip Bay and Western Port, each supply for 75% of Victoria’s population boasts some of Victoria’s most productive with unique ecological, economic and 39% native and many other economic, social and farming lands, spectacular parks, 4m+ people community values. The bays support environmental benefits. There are around exciting landscapes and diverse natural commercial fishing, aquaculture, three vegetation 8,400 kilometres of waterways, attracting ecosystems. The activities and lifestyles of major ports and provide the most popular around 100 million recreational visits the region’s urban and rural residents, and recreational fishing areas in Victoria. annually. More than 900 wetlands are the region’s thriving tourism industry, are Not surprisingly, some 90 million dotted across the region, three of which underpinned by the diversity and health recreational visits are made each year to are listed as Wetlands of International of its natural resources. The challenges the bays and beaches of the region’s 600 Importance under the Ramsar Convention associated with a growing population and kilometre coastline. on Wetlands. changing climate mean the region’s natural resources need to be carefully managed. Cultural and Natural Heritage The region is home to many sites of Native Flora and Fauna cultural significance including important The extensive range of vegetation indigenous sites such as stone quarries, communities and natural ecosystems coastal shell middens and hundreds of found in the region are home to many scar trees scattered across the region, species of native flora and fauna. While geological formations such as the Organ there has been substantial development Pipes and Werribee Gorge, significant and alteration of the region’s landscape, landscapes and vegetation of local and approximately 40% of the region retains introduced species. indigenous vegetation including several areas of significant grasslands. Around Managing the Region’s Natural 34% of this vegetation is protected in Resources parks or reserves and managed for The region’s environment, as measured by conservation while a further 20% is found indicators such as air and water quality, is on other public land. The remaining 46% generally good by world standards. These of this indigenous vegetation is retained factors are fundamental to Melbourne’s on private land. There are many native reputation as one of the world’s most animals that have adapted to the change, livable cities. Managing the natural but around 340 flora species and 200 resources in this region is a complex task. animal, bird, fish and reptile species are Many people and organisations play a considered under threat of local or total part including numerous Government extinction. Victoria’s faunal emblem, the 600km agencies, 38 Councils, various non- Helmeted Honeyeater, is one of these government organisations, agricultural and threatened species. coastline industry bodies and hundreds of volunteer Landcare and community groups. Parks and Reserves Agriculture The region is home to many parks and Of the 1.3 million hectares in the region, reserves that support rare and diverse around 45% is rural farmland with flora and fauna species and provide highly industries including horticulture, dairying, valued recreation and tourism areas. There poultry farming, beef farming, horse are eight National Parks, six State Parks management and viticulture. The region and eight marine protected areas, as well produces the second highest agricultural 8,400km as numerous regional, metropolitan and yield, in dollars per year, among Victoria’s 1.3m local parks and conservation reserves. ten catchment management regions. waterways hectares 02 Port Phillip & Westernport CMA Port Phillip & Westernport CMA 03 The role of the PPWCMA 2012/13 Highlights Who we are Who we work with Our vision The PPWCMA’s successes and highlights during Delivery of $426,000 to 63 local Improvement of habitat for three rare and The Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment The PPWCMA works mainly with Government In 2030, people and organisations across 2012/13 included: environmental projects through the annual endangered native species – the Helmeted Management Authority (PPWCMA) is a Victorian departments, councils, water authorities, the Port Phillip & Western Port region will PPWCMA Community Grants program – Honeyeater, Leadbeaters Possum and Release of the draft Port Phillip & Western Government statutory authority established non-government environmental organisations, be collaborating to protect and improve the ranging from group support grants of $500 Southern Brown Bandicoot - through the Port RCS which introduced innovations not under the Catchment and Land Protection Act community groups and other partners to protect extent, quality and diversity of its environmental to on-ground projects up to $20,000. PPWCMA-managed Habitat Protection seen in such strategies across Australia. 1994. The responsible Ministers for the period and enhance the natural resources within the assets. Amid continuous changes in land use and Conservation project which enhanced The draft strategy was produced as a from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 were the region. In simple terms, we draw people and and climate, there will be shared leadership in The beginning of significant on-ground over 319 hectares of native vegetation. website rather than a printed document Hon. Ryan Smith MP, Minister for Environment organisations together to create a shared vision decision making, action, monitoring, reporting work in the Maribyrnong Valley through and features an interactive map enabling & Climate Change, and the Hon. Peter Walsh for the region’s environment and generate and learning that ensures targets for all the “Meeting of the Minds to Manage the Completion of the Living Links Master users to zoom in from region-scale to MLA, Minister for Water. collaboration with and between these partners. environmental assets are met and contribute Maribyrnong” and “A verdant Maribyrnong Plan to promote new landscape-scale property-scale. The PPWCMA makes working together more to the natural ecosystems being healthy and Valley” projects including 80 hectares of connections in an urban environment What we do attractive and productive than working alone. resilient. weed and 357 hectares of feral animal covering 10 council areas in Melbourne’s The planting of Grow West’s millionth tree The PPWCMA is responsible for: