NEW SOUTH WALES CATCHMENTMANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES

CELEBRATINGFIVE YEARS OF

ACHIEVEMENTS

HEALTHY AND RESILIENTLANDSCAPES FOR NSW

CELEBRATINGYEARS OF ACHIEVEMENTS 5

NS

W C

AT

CH

ME

NT

MA

NA

GE

ME

NT

AU

TH

OR

ITIE

S –

CE

LE

BR

AT

ING

FIV

E Y

EA

RS

OF

AC

HIE

VE

ME

NT

S

With the challenges of climatechange, drought, and a growingglobal population, the work of NRM groups is vital to the future of Australia as a thriving food-producing nation.

The tremendous skills, knowledgeand hard work of all involved –particularly the volunteers whoselflessly dedicate their time torestoring our landscape – is greatlyvalued by the Rudd Government.

Catchment management groups in NSW achieve excellent resultsthrough engaging and buildingpartnerships with local groups,farmers and other landholders.They have delivered significantoutcomes such as enhancing thesoil condition on more than twomillion hectares of land.

Seventy per cent of the Australianlandscape is managed by farmers,which is why capacity building and engaging with our nation’sproducers is so critical. Theinvolvement of local Landcare,Indigenous, and industry groups is also absolutely essential todelivering productive agriculture in Australia.

Congratulations on the impressiveresults achieved over the last fiveyears and I look forward tocontinuing to work with farmers,community groups and CMAs toachieve a landscape that ishealthier and more productive inthe years to come.

THE HON. TONY BURKE MPMinister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

I am delighted to present theachievements of the thirteenCatchment Management Authorities(CMAs) in NSW during their first fiveyears of operation. The NSW Government establishedthese regional bodies in 2004 with avision to empower local communitiesto take responsibility and leadcatchment planning and practicalimprovements to natural resourcesin their region.I am proud to say this regionalapproach is working effectively, as evidenced by the significantoutcomes outlined in this report. Improvements have been made toimprove the extent of nativevegetation, river health, wetlands,soils, and estuary and marinehabitats, as well as buildingcommunity skills. A major key to this success has been the effectivepartnerships that CMAs havedeveloped with the community,partner organisations, industriesand individuals.I am pleased to see how successfullythe NSW CMAs have been inleveraging government funding andattracting further investments to seean impressive total of $2.1 billioninvested in natural resourcemanagement in this State during thepast five years.Today the CMAs in NSW have becomeintegral and trusted partners inregional and rural communities;they also continue to play a criticalrole in delivering on environmentaltargets in the NSW State Plan.The NSW Government now looksforward to the fruits of their workover the next five years.

THE HON. JOHN ROBERTSON MPMinister for the Environment andClimate Change

All Australians recognise ourresponsibility to protect theremarkable biodiversity andstunning landscapes which make upthis amazing country. As we confrontthe challenges of climate change,this has never been more important,both now, and in the future.

Catchment Management Authorities(CMAs) are at the forefront ofnatural resource management,engaging and working with thecommunity across NSW to conserve,rehabilitate and strengthen ourunique ecosystems. From coastalhabitat to rangelands, grassy plainsto woodlands and rainforests, CMAshave been providing support andresources to thousands ofindividuals and volunteer groupsworking to increase the resilience ofour landscapes.

Over the past five years CMAs haveenabled the enhancement andrehabilitation of at least 2.6 millionhectares of native vegetation. This is a substantial achievement bycommitted staff and a committedcommunity, including landholders,community environment groups,coastcare, landcare and Indigenousgroups. I congratulate the CMAs ontheir efforts.

I am confident that with the supportof CMAs and their communities wewill continue to make significantachievements towards our goal of anenvironment that is healthy, betterprotected, well managed, resilientand providing essential ecosystemservices in a changing climate.

THE HON. PETER GARRETT AM MPMinister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

MINISTERS’ FOREWORDS

THE CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT

AUTHORITIES OF NSW

CENTRAL WEST

BORDER RIVERS-GWYDIR

HAWKESBURY-NEPEAN

HUNTER-CENTRAL RIVERS

LACHLAN

LOWER MURRAY DARLING

MURRAY

MURRUMBIDGEE

NAMOI

NORTHERN RIVERS

SOUTHERN RIVERS

SYDNEY METROPOLITAN

WESTERN

02

01 Ministers’ Forewords

04 Executive SummaryIntroductionJoint Achievements

08 CMAs in Review• The Regional Approach• Reaching Targets• Environment• Funding• Partnerships• Community Ownership• Our People• The Future for NSW CMAs

15 Case Studies

21 E4 State Plan Targets01 Native Vegetation02 Native Animals03 Threatened Plants, Animals

and Populations04 Weeds and Pests05 Rivers06 Groundwater07 Marine08 Wetlands09 Estuaries and Coastal Lakes10 Soils11 Sustainable Land Management12 Community Wellbeing13 Community Capacity

48 Contributors

49 Endnotes

03

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

INTRODUCTIONOver the past five years, thirteen Catchment ManagementAuthorities (CMAs) in NSW, together with their localcommunities, have made significant achievements inprotecting and improving natural landscapes across theState. These regional organisations have motivated,supported and funded local communities to deliver over13,000 projects, large and small.

Against a backdrop of the worst drought in living memory,the combined positive impact of this work is impressive.Projects have taken place in virtually every corner of theState, as communities and individuals have applied localknowledge, skills and their own resources to improve thenatural environments in which they live.

This document celebrates the successes of the CMAs andtheir communities over the past five years, and showcasessome inspiring tales from the people of NSW who, throughinnovation and hard work, have turned significantgovernment investment into real environmental action.

4

JOINTACHIEVEMENTS

YEARSOF ACTION5

Since the NSW CMAs began in 2004, thousands oflandholders, local councils and community volunteers have responded to significant government investment bycontributing their own time, effort and money to repair pastdamage and change the way things are done to improve theresilience of NSW landscapes.

“NSW CMAs HAVEMORE THAN DOUBLED RETURNS ON GOVERNMENTINVESTMENT”Since 2004, NSW CMAs have delivered $2.11 billion ofinvestment (CMA funds and partner contributions) in practicalenvironmental works, building on the $659.8 millioncontributed by the Australian and NSW Governments for on-ground projects. In other words, for every $1 invested bygovernment, NSW CMAs have attracted a further $2.20 incash and in-kind support from landholders, private sector,industry and organisational partnerships, with almost 80 percent of all funding invested directly on the ground.

These funds were delivered through partnerships withindividual landholders, landcare and community groups,Aboriginal networks, industry groups, businesses,contractors, local councils and other agencies to targetcatchment priorities.

05

$659.8MILLION

$1.45BILLION

M

B

$M$M

B

$MM

B

$M

B

$

$$

$$$$$$$

$

$

I

66666

1

6

L

6666666

11

6

1

66

LLI

I

O

I

5O555OONNNNNNN

8NNNNNNNN

CMA INVESTMENTIN ON-GROUND

WORKS

PARTNER INVESTMENTIN ON-GROUND

WORKS$2.11BILLIONCMA & PARTNERINVESTMENTIN ON-GROUNDWORKS

In total, almost five million hectares of land, equivalent to six per cent of the area of NSW, has been protected, repaired,enhanced, treated and/or rehabilitated by NSW CMAs andtheir communities since 20041. This enormous effort is due,in no small part, to the partnerships CMAs have fostered todeliver practical environmental outcomes at the local level.

A critical first step in the NSW CMA success story was to earnthe support of private landholders to undertake practicalworks on their land. In just five years, NSW CMAs havenegotiated 13,206 voluntary management agreements whereprivate landholders committed to activities that address localenvironmental issues. That’s 10 agreements signed withlandholders every working day for five years. In addition, 1,064 conservation covenants were negotiated with landholderscommitted to managing at least part of their property for theprotection and conservation of native flora and fauna.

“NSW CMAs AND THEIRLOCAL COMMUNITIESENHANCED ANDREHABILITATED 2.6 MILLION HECTARES OF NATIVE VEGETATION,AN AREA MORE THAN TEN TIMES THE SIZE OFTHE A.C.T.”

Protection and repair of native vegetation was a key originalpurpose in the formation of the NSW CMAs. In the last fiveyears, NSW CMAs have supported their communities toenhance and rehabilitate 2.6 million hectares of nativevegetation, an area more than ten times the size of the A.C.T.This equates to six per cent of the entire 40.5 million hectaresof native vegetation on private land in NSW.

Significant species and ecological communities have beenspecifically protected through CMA support and activity, with306,035 hectares of habitat protected by fencing to excludeeither stock, human traffic or vehicles.

The NSW Government has now substantially built upon theachievements of the former state-wide Native VegetationManagement Fund, which protected or improved 79,000hectares from 1999 to 20032. By implementing a regionalmodel, where CMAs develop close working relationships withtheir communities, the NSW Government has significantlyboosted protection of native vegetation in the State.

“SOILS IMPROVED ON AN AREA EQUIVALENT TO THREE MILLIONFOOTBALL FIELDS”In an effort to protect one of the State’s most valuable naturalassets, NSW CMAs and their communities have jointlyimproved soil condition on over 2 million hectares, an areacovering three million football fields. Activities in this areaincluded increasing organic matter, soil acidity treatmentsand conservation farming practices aimed at improving soilhealth. In addition, soil erosion has been prevented on afurther 66,516 hectares by engineering works such as theconstruction of flumes, rock ramps, contour banks, salinityworks and waterponding.

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

TOTAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS INVESTED IN NSW CMAs

TOTAL CMA FUNDS INVESTED ON THE GROUND

$659.77 m$838.49 mTOTAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS INVESTEDIN NSW CMAs

TOTAL CMA FUNDS INVESTEDON THE GROUND

0

$50 m

$100 m

$150 m

$200 m

$250 m

$300 m

NNTEDD

N$$$$$$$888333338 4444499

2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09

$202

.32

m

$241

.04

m

$149

.66

m

$188

.27

m

$170

.65

m

$206

.34

m

$53.

21 m

$84.

17 m

$83.

93 m

$118

.67

m

9

mmmmmmmm7 77779995955655

8

66666$$$$

0000

DDDDEE

NE

NTTTNNU

SA

NC

SF

00

06

TERRESTIAL2,424,341 haTEN TIMES THE SIZEOF THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

NATIVE VEGETATION ENHANCED AND REHABILITATED BY NSW CMAs SINCE 2004

WETLANDS80,850 haSURFACE AREA OF650,000 OLYMPICSWIMMING POOLS

RIPARIAN137,611 haONE HECTARE EVERY 21MINUTES FOR FIVE YEARS

COASTAL9,451 haALMOST FIVE PERCENTOF THE NSW COASTLINE3

07

“OVER ONE MILLIONHECTARES OF WEEDSCONTROLLED”Invasive weed species pose a major threat to the State’sbiodiversity and agricultural production capacity, and are anissue that crosses CMA boundaries. To date, over one millionhectares of weeds have been controlled in NSW as a result ofCMA investment.

“9,000 COMMUNITYEVENTS INVOLVINGOVER 140,000PARTICIPANTS”Not only have CMAs and their communities achievedsignificant practical outcomes in a very short space of time,there now exists a legacy of communities who are betterinformed, trained and skilled in natural resourcemanagement. Since their inception, NSW CMAs haveorganised almost 9,000 events to increase the capacity ofcommunities to manage their natural resources sustainably.These events have involved 141,039 participants.4

The positive influence of CMAs has been felt far beyond theboundary fence. CMA investment has generated localemployment and new business opportunities, and hasboosted many regional economies at a time when the droughtand floods have had a devastating impact.

Apart from the direct employment of over 500 full and part-time local staff, NSW CMAs have contributed significantly tolocal employment and business in regional areas through thepurchase of goods and services such as fencing, plants,machinery and training. Contractors, including Aboriginalwork crews, and local suppliers, are also engaged to conductearthworks, fencing, soil assessments, stream rehabilitation,scientific surveys, soil restoration works and tree planting. All CMAs have made it a priority to use local supplierswherever possible.

There is also evidence from a number of CMAs thatvolunteerism has increased, with more opportunities toparticipate in community groups due to a funding boost from CMA investment. In addition to direct financialinvestment, NSW CMAs directly support networks ofcommunity organisations, such as 1,363 NSW landcaregroups, by providing practical advice and information,investing in projects and fostering partnerships betweenindividual groups.

NSW CMAs HAVE ACHIEVED VERYSIGNIFICANT OUTCOMES IN A VERY SHORTSPACE OF TIME. SOME OF THESEACHIEVEMENTS ARE EASILY MEASURED, BUT OTHERS SUCH AS SOCIAL, ECONOMICAND COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS, ARE MUCHHARDER TO QUANTIFY. THE FIGURESPRESENTED HERE TELL ONLY PART OF THESTORY, BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR - CMAsHAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO ANUMBER OF CRITICAL LAND AND WATERDEGRADATION ISSUES IN NSW, WITH LASTINGENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS TO BE SEEN FORYEARS TO COME.