WE ARE WORKING TO BUILD RESILIENCE ACROSS OUR CATCHMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN REMOTE COMMUNITIES. WE PROUDLY SUPPORTED THE LAUNCH OF A BOOK THAT EXPLORES THE CONNECTION OF THE BENAMBRA COMMUNITY TO LAND AND WATER THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY, POETRY AND CONVERSATIONS. ANNUAL REPORT 2016-17 HIGHLIGHTS CONTENTS CONTENTS ............................................................................................ 3 GOVERNANCE ..................................................................................58 ABOUT THIS REPORT .................................................................. 4 REPORT PROFILE ...........................................................................60 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE ..........................................61 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AND CEO .......................... 5 OUR BOARD........................................................................................62 VISION, MISSION VALUES ........................................................ 7 BOARD MEETINGS ...................................................................... 64 OUR CATCHMENT ........................................................................... 8 COMPLIANCE .................................................................................... 69 IMPLEMENTING THE FINANCIAL SUMMARY ............................................................. 76 REGIONAL CATCHMENT STRATEGY ................................. 9 OUR STAFF ..........................................................................................77 WATERWAYS ...................................................................................... 10 Case Study - Flood response and recovery .................... 13 FINANCIAL REPORT .................................................................. 83 AUDITOR GENERAL’S CERTIFICATION ......................... 84 01 02 BIODIVERSITY ....................................................................................14 Case Study - 2017 Captive release and ACCOUNTABLE OFFICER’S DECLARATION .................87 community monitoring ................................................................ 17 COMPREHENSIVE OPERATING STATEMENT .............. 88 LAND .......................................................................................................18 BALANCE SHEET ........................................................................... 89 Case Study - Connecting with the rural STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY ............................90 community of Benambra ........................................................... 19 CASH FLOW STATEMENT ...........................................................91 COMMUNITY ...................................................................................... 20 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL REPORT .................................92 Case Study - Our catchments, our communities APPENDICES .................................................................................... 123 investment forum and round table ..................................... 22 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT ....................................................124 CONDITION OF THE REGIONS LANDSCAPES ......... 23 04 05 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS - URBAN ....................................................................................................24 AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ................................................126 Case Study - Wangaratta urban waterways DETAILED PERFORMANCE REPORT flood investigation ........................................................................ 26 AGAINST CORPORATE PLAN ...............................................128 LIFESTYLE .......................................................................................... 27 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ...............................................................136 Case Study - Healthy catchments information kit ...................................................................................28 AGRICULTURE ................................................................................ 29 Case Study - TAFCO weather website ............................... 31 FOREST .................................................................................................32 ABORIGINAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: 03 06 07 Case Study - Protecting priority waterways North East Catchment Management Authority (North East CMA) acknowledges and respects Traditional Owners and Aboriginal in parks ................................................................................................. 33 communities and organisations. We recognise the diversity of their cultures and the deep ALPINE ................................................................................................ 34 connections they have with Victoria’s lands and waters. Case Study - Mount Buffalo cultural exchange ........... 35 We value partnerships with them for the health of people and country. ACHIEVEMENTS AGAINST THE The North East CMA pays our respects to Elders past and REGIONAL CATCHMENT STRATEGY ................................ 36 present, and we acknowledge and recognise the primacy of Traditional Owners’ obligations, rights and responsibilities to use BUSINESS PLAN REPORT ...................................................... 54 and care for their traditional lands and waters. ACHIEVEMENTS AGAINST WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this publication may contain images or names of STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS ...........................................................55 deceased persons. 08 09 cover image 03 Australia UAV’s Paul Andrews uses an unmanned aerial 07 John Hardwick explores Yackandandah mountain bike Aleshia Sievers (pictured) and her sister Tahnee were vehicle to investigate and map flood damage at Markwood, tracks. Photo: Yack Tracks Inc. downstream of Pioneer Bridges. chosen to crack whips at the opening ceremony for the 08 Myrtleford P-12 College students helped to release Sydney Olympics and their journey from Benambra to the 04 Chris Mirams (left) mentored a successful Grazing Systems Macquarie Perch back into the mid Ovens River at Gapsted world stage is inspirational. Photo by Craig Dent for the to Improve Profit trial held at Ron Ferguson’s (right) in May. book Released from the Wild. property in Murmungee. 09 This year’s North East Environment Forum featured an 01 Dean Heinze shows Jane Roots a Mountain Pygmy-Possum 05 Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, inspiring line-up of speakers including, from left: Peter on Mt Hetherington. Photo: DELWP Hume. Anthony Carbines, and North East CMA Chair, Lyn Brenton (CSIRO), Dr Mark Norman (Parks Victoria), Prof Max 02 Warby Range Landcare Group members Ken Gaudion, Jeff Coulston OAM, celebrate 20 years of integrated catchment Finlayson (CSU), Dr Mardie Townsend (Deakin University), Colson, Bill Johnson, Bill Scott, Doug James were some of management in Victoria. Photo: Craig Moodie (DELWP) Uncle Leon Saunders (Rumbalara Cooperative), Glen Johnson (DELWP Hume). the many outstanding volunteers recognised at the 2017 06 Rural views of Glen Valley. North East Regional Natural Resource Management Awards and celebration of 30 Years of Landcare in Victoria. 2 NORTH EAST CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016/2017 3 ABOUT THIS REPORT MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR & CEO REPORTING ON CATCHMENT TRENDS AT A SUPPORTING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES This report provides information on the North East STATE, REGIONAL AND LANDSCAPE SCALE Throughout 2016-2017 the North East Catchment Catchment Management Authority’s (North East CMA) Section One of this Annual Report, ‘Implementing Management Authority (North East CMA) continued performance and finances, which can be assessed against its the Regional Catchment Strategy’, reports on to encourage community-led practice change, 2016-17 Corporate Plan targets. implementation of the Regional Catchment Strategy knowledge sharing and innovation that can deliver environmental and economic benefits for our region according to agreed state-wide indicators for catchment health – Waterways, Biodiversity, Land and simultaneously build resilience and adaptability in This report was prepared in accordance with all relevant and Community. This section also considers how our communities. Victorian legislation, including the requirement under the current practices are influencing the condition of Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 for the North East the landscapes identified in the Regional Catchment SUPPORTING LIVEABLE AND CMA to submit “a report on the condition and management Strategy – Urban, Lifestyle, Agriculture, Forest and RESILIENT COMMUNITIES of land and water resources in its region and the carrying out Alpine, based on the social and behavioural aspects of landscape change. As the custodian of river health for our region, we of its Functions”. welcomed news of a comprehensive state-wide water policy in October 2016. Design and print complies with Department of Treasury and ACHIEVEMENTS AGAINST THE REGIONAL CATCHMENT STRATEGY Released by the Minister for Water, Hon. Lisa Neville, Finance Reporting Direction 30B, which aims to achieve Water for Victoria offers a comprehensive framework consistency and minimise costs and environmental impact The next part of the Annual Report considers the that will guide smarter water management and support across government agencies. interventions being implemented for the management more liveable and resilient Victorian communities. measures identified in the Regional Catchment