South West NRM Annual Report 2014-2015

Annual Report 2014 -2015

South West NRM Annual Report 2014 -2015

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Contents Page

Table of contents 1

Thank you 2

Introduction 3

From the Chair, Mark O’Brien 4

Our Board 5

General Manager’s Report 6

Our Programs 7

Other Projects during this period 10

Early Warning Flood System 11

Case Study: Business Diversity meets Biodiversity 12

Case Study: Collaborative Area Management 13

Financial Report 14

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A note of thanks to our community from our staff

We would like to start our report by thanking all the community members who contributed to the success of South West NRM. Without your participation with our State and Federal Government funded projects we

would not have achieved the outcomes we have.

South West NRM is working with the community, Landcare groups, Traditional Owners, local, state and federal government and industry groups to progress projects to completion and we are now well placed,

because of your commitment, for an exciting and productive year ahead.

There is no one person who stands out over another. All have contributed in some way to the sustainable natural resource management of our landscape, and all have worked to bring about positive outcomes for

our region. Whether it be spraying of invasive weeds, management of feral pests, participating in our ‘Caravan of Collaboration’ workshops, working on cluster fencing or sending us information and photos and

sharing success stories within the community… it’s your support that makes the difference.

Thank you.

South West NRM team (L-R): K Collins, C Crowden, R Newson, M Healy, L Mackie, S Parker, J Sommerfield, J Frousheger, L Burrell, D Jennings, C Burgess, C Alison.

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Introduction

South West NRM Ltd is a community based organisation and the designated regional body for natural

resource management in South West Queensland (refer to figure 1). South West NRM works with land

managers, schools, Landcare groups, Traditional Owners, Local Government, industry groups, state

agencies and a range of other business groups to support community growth, profitable land use and

environmental enhancements in the region.

Our vision is: Achieving sustainable landscapes for rural communities.

This report details South West NRM’s achievements for the financial year 2014/2015. Funding has come

primarily through the Federal Government’s Caring for our Country (CFOC) program (which transitioned to

the National Landcare Programme in March 2015) and the Queensland Government’s NRM Program and

Drought Assistance Program. Additionally, the report showcases landmark activities for South West NRM.

Figure 1: South West NRM Region

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Message from the Chair

Mark O’Brien

Independent Chair

Flux, change, renewal.....all words I would use to describe what we are going through at South West NRM. In spite of a general contraction of government funding opportunities in NRM, South West NRM has held its own and is doing more this year than last. We look forward to hopefully doing even more for the next few years. As our funders priorities have changed so has the need for the organisation to change with it. In spite of all this upheaval the company is in a strong financial position to address the looming headwinds. Please enjoy the detail in this report outlining the extensive work we have been involved in as we strive to keep our landscape a sustainable and profitable environment. I am particularly grateful to the staff for their patience and understanding. I would like to acknowledge Mary-Anne Healy, our acting General Manager for her determination and skill as well as her friendly disposition and support for the Board and myself. Andrew Drysdale, CEO of the Regional Groups Collective, our peak body in Queensland, has been of tremendous support in both his time and the sharing of his wisdom. The Board members have also been outstanding in their dedication and support of the company's endeavours. I look forward with great confidence to a productive year ahead. Mark

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South West NRM Ltd Board Members

Karen Tully,

Conservation Director and Chair, Finance and Audit Committee

South West NRM continues to unroll a myriad of programs and projects across the length and breadth of

our landscape and it is a privilege to be part of the governance team which provides strategic direction and

accountability to this work. I would like to commend the dedicated staff team at South West NRM for their

commitment to the work undertaken by the company for the landholders and residents of South West

Queensland. The immense passion and boundless energy that is demonstrated in the pursuit of caring for

our natural soil, water, flora and fauna resources is endless. I look forward to serving South West NRM in

the coming year as it continues to implement an array of projects that preserve and manage our natural

diversity in our semi-arid landscape. Karen

John Parsons, Industry Director Keelen Mailman, Indigenous Director

Stewart Sargent, Local Government Rep Cathy Zwick, Community/Landcare Director

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Mary-Anne Healy

General Manager

Having only started in July 2015, it is difficult for me to comment on the achievements for 2014-15 year.

Suffice to say, since my arrival I have come to understand and appreciate the breadth of programs run by

the organisation and the commitment and passion of the staff working for South West NRM.

I would like to thank and acknowledge all the staff listed below who worked for South West NRM during

the 2014-15 year.

Craig Alison – Programme Manager

Carol Burgess – Business Support Officer

Leanne Burrell – Administration Assistant

Kevin Collins – Project officer

Beryl Couchy – Former Administration Assistant

Catherine Crowden – Collaboration Area Management Officer

Leanne Day – Former Senior Project Officer

Julie Frousheger – Weed Project Officer

Bernard Holland – Former Chief Executive Officer

Ric Newson – Senior Project Officer

Susan Parker – Administration Assistant

Heather Smith – Former Regional Landcare Facilitator

Jed Sommerfield – Landcare Project Officer

The remainder of this report runs through some of the key programs and achievements of South West NRM

during the year. I’d like to also highlight the development of our regional NRM plan which many of you

have contributed to by participating in community consultation or providing feedback online. The plan will

be finalised and ready for public release by the end of 2015 and will guide our work as well as external

funding investment in the region.

There will be some changes in this coming year as we work to improve our operational effectiveness and

efficiency. I thank you for your patience as the changes come into place and look forward to an even more

successful year.

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Our Programs

It has been a busy year for South West NRM with its numerous investment themes from the state and

federal governments.

Through state government investment, South West NRM has auspiced funding for the projects of:

1. Collaborative Area Management. This funding has enabled five regional clusters of land managers to

undertake total grazing pressure (TGP) control fencing projects, coupled with pest and weed mitigation

works. This investment has seen over 1,000km of TGP fence erected to protect 1,131,554 hectares of

landscape from further wild dog incursion, with over 50 land managers involved in collaborative area

management for the landscape challenges of pest and weeds. Anecdotal evidence points towards an

increase and re-introduction of sheep into areas previously forced out of sheep grazing due to wild dog

predation.

2. Everyone’s Environment Grant funding for the Tomoo Creek Cluster Group to undertake feral pest

works to reduce the impacts that feral pests have on agricultural and ecological values within the

project area. This investment has seen over 5,000 hectares of landscape treated for feral pests and at

least 30 wild dogs removed.

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Through the federal government’s Caring for our Country/National Landcare Programme, South West NRM

has auspiced funding for the following projects:

1. Regional Landcare Facilitator – whose role it is to engage and empower regional communities with

educational aspects and exposure to best practice techniques for sustainable landscapes within south

west Queensland. This investment has seen over 10 regional workshops delivered across the region to

educate and inform the local community of new and emerging technology and information with over

240 land managers attending.

2. The Mulga Graze project that focusses on the sustainability of grazing enterprises through improved

management techniques. This investment has seen four properties assisted with funding support to

improve landscape management for sustainability and has included:

780 acres of clay pan rehabilitation

30 km of riparian fencing

10 km of open bore drain replaced by polypipe

3 replacement watering points

Installation of a number of cameras to remotely monitor water levels in storage tanks.

3. The Ramsar Project that focusses on the Paroo catchment area to help protect “matters of national

significance” and improve the resilience of the Paroo high ecological value aquatic ecosystem. This

investment has supported:

over 200,000 hectares of Paroo catchment area with wild dog control through baiting and

trapping,

over 2,000 hectares of landscape treated for regionally important invasive weeds

over 20km of riparian fencing to reduce uncontrolled grazing in riparian zones to

improve water quality,

30km pipeline and approximately 10 replacement water points

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the use of FULCRUM for recording feral animals.

Installed a number of cameras to monitor feral animal population and movements.

4. The Three Rivers Three Creeks investment theme is funded to support and engage the regional

community with information of the National Landcare Programme activities. This investment has

supported publication of our quarterly magazine of the same name that reaches over 1,000 community

members across the South West area and over 2,000 ‘hits’ on the South West NRM website, Facebook

page and other social media delivery tools.

5. The Ecosystem Services programme supports pest and weed mitigation works through community

grants to land managers, traditional owners and other community groups as well as direct investments

with local councils. This investment activity has resulted in numerous environmental and social

outcomes such as:

2,000 hectares of mesquite treated in the Bulloo catchment by the Mardigan people

over 20 km of fencing erected in the Bulloo catchment by the Mardigan people

over 50 land managers supported for feral pest mitigation works across 300,000 hectares

at least 30 land managers supported with equipment and herbicide to treat regionally

important Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) weeds across 5,000 hectares

over 2 ton of invasive carp removed from our inland water ways

provided employment opportunities to 6 Indigenous identified people.

6. Ten different 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants to support land managers and community groups in

addressing localised pest and weed challenges with a collaborative approach for agricultural and

environmental enhancement. The investments have supported over 20 land managers and have

addressed core infestations of invasive weeds on over 500 hectares and reduced feral pest populations

across at least 10,000 hectares.

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Other projects during this period…

1. DAFF Drought Response Funding has supported the 4

shires with feral pest control as well as three secondary

projects of north Murweh, the gas pipeline and lower Paroo

feral pigs. This investment has added value to current

efforts being undertaken by local shires and syndicate areas

with over 15 ton of bait meat delivered, over 50 land

managers supported with trapping equipment and over

500000 hectares of landscape with secondary and tertiary

treatment through baiting and trapping processes.

2. The successful applications to the Casino Gambling fund provided funds for mid Paroo pest and

weed control equipment and a cool room for bait meat in the Murweh shire region.

3. Business Diversity meets Biodiversity investment into

areas with listed Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC)

to support their renewal for environmental values. This

investment has seen over 600,000 hectares of TEC

landscape treated with secondary and tertiary activities for

feral pests, 16km of fencing erected to protect zones of

TEC and supported 27 land managers with direct

investment activities for the above outcomes.

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Early Warning Flood System

In addition to our government funded programs, South West NRM works with the four shires of Bulloo,

Murweh, Paroo and Quilpie to operate and maintain the Early Warning Flood System. In 2010 it was

identified that existing monitoring stations in south west Queensland were not adequate to correctly

monitor regional rainfall events and river heights. Funding was provided to establish a network of 35 real

time remotely accessible monitoring stations to provide information to decision makers, emergency

workers and residents of south western Queensland.

Once the sites were established and the system operational, in 2014-15 South West NRM commenced

providing a maintenance service at each of the 35 sites which includes:

Battery and solar panels checked (cleaned, maintained, replaced as necessary)

Signal strength checked

Sensors flushed and height tested

Other maintenance as required

South West NRM also maintains a website service for the data collected so that it is accessible to all, via

either the South West NRM website or the individual shire websites.

The four shires have a total of 12 NextG sites and 23 satellite sites (where NextG not available)

Shire NextG Sites Satellite Sites

Murweh Shire 6 10

Paroo Shire 2 6

Quilpie Shire 2 6

Bulloo Shire 2 1

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Case Study: Business Diversity meets Biodiversity

The Business Diversity meets Biodiversity project has invested in projects that will maintain or improve the

health and resilience of Threatened Ecological Communities (TEC) in the South West NRM region. The

project has funded weed, pest animal and grazing pressure control projects and threatened species surveys

in the priority areas.

A group of motivated landholders with a Cactus infestation in common has been established in the Morven

area to work on Harrisia Cactus, Harrisia martinii control. The project aims to reduce the threat of this

cactus in Weeping Myall Woodlands and Brigalow communities as well as reduce its negative impact on

agricultural productivity. The 7,000 hectares of scattered infestation will be treated with coordinated

herbicide application during the growing season.

Pest animal trapping has occurred across 600,000 hectares of land to protect Threatened Ecological

Communities. Feral pigs, foxes, cats and wild dogs have been targeted with baiting and trapping programs

on 27 pastoral properties.

The Business Diversity meets Biodiversity project has funded fencing projects to control grazing pressure

from cattle in Weeping Myall Woodlands. The 16km of fencing will assist with the restoration of this

Threatened Ecological Community and ensure biological diversity is maintained.

Boobook Ecological Consultants completed a survey of ecological values at the indigenous managed

property, Mt Tabor in September 2014. Mt Tabor’s diverse range of land types which in turn supports an

equally diverse number of vegetation communities makes it a special place for wildlife populations. It was

significant to record the presence of the Squatter Pigeon, Geophaps scripta listed as vulnerable under State

and Federal legislation at Mt Tabor and two Threatened Ecological Communities: Brigalow (Acacia

harpophylla dominant and co-dominant) and Semi-evergreen vine thickets of the Brigalow Belt and

Nandewar bioregions. South West NRM and the Bidjara traditional owners can use this survey data to seek

further funds for projects to protect and sustainably use the land types on this unique parcel of land.

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Case Study: Collaborative Area Management

The collaborative area management or ‘cluster fencing’ project started in 2013 with the Morven and

Mungallala clusters receiving funding towards building materials from South West NRM. Since this initial

stage, a further five clusters have been funded through a Queensland State Government initiative.

The South Tambo cluster was completed in early 2015 and the Tomoo Creek cluster is due for completion

in the coming weeks. The three newest clusters of Wyandra, Quilpie and Woodstock (South of Cunnamulla)

are all under construction and are due for completion in 2016.

This project is focused on landholders working together to build and maintain an exclusion fence with the

aim of reducing predation by wild dogs and feral pigs and reducing a total grazing pressure that is largely

contributed to by unsustainable kangaroo and feral goat numbers.

Ongoing monitoring is looking at changes in numbers of pest animals both inside and outside of the cluster

areas. Landholders are reporting positive changes including increased lambing rates and decreased

predation.

In April 2015, the project was presented at the Australian Rangelands Society conference in Alice Springs.

The presentation can be viewed at:

https://youtu.be/-Eb26Hun-KE?list=PLrlXhHkpDzd2YuVpR5m7QI4LXF4nwe0Qi

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Financial Report

South West NRM showed a decrease in retained earnings for the Financial Year 2014-2015. This was largely

due to the company assisting with the cluster fencing costs, purchasing of vehicles for project staff, and an

increase in operational funding required to run the projects. The retained earning still more than cover the

Board policy to retain 3 months operational costs.

The total Revenue for 2014-2015 Financial Year was $5,042,185 - an increase of $616,517.

South West NRM’s retained earnings decreased by $350,187 in the 2014-2015 financial year.

State Government funding includes Collaborative Area Management, Drought Assistance Program,

Tomoo Creek –EEG Grant and Community Gambling Benefit Funds.

Commonwealth Government includes: Caring for our Country, NLP Grants, Spatial Hub, and

Business Diversity meets Bio-Diversity, 25th Australian Landcare Grants, NRM Plan

Other Grants/Income includes Auspice Funds and operational income, which includes Early Flood

Warning System Maintenance.

38%

51%

11%

SWNRM Funding Breakdown 2014-2015

State Government Commonwealth Government Other Income

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2011-122012-13

2013-142014-15

SWNRM Retained Earnings

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25 ALG Grants3%

Business Diversity meets Bio Diversity 7%

NLP Grants

13%

Caring For Our Country

19%

Community Gambling Benefit

Grants1%

NRM Planning 1%

Drought Assistance Program11%

Collaborative Area Management

29%

Spatial Hub15%

Everyones Environment Grants1%

Other Grants/Income

0%

SOUTH WEST NRM INCOME 2014 - 2015

25 ALG Grants Business Diversity meets Bio Diversity NLP Grants

Caring For Our Country Community Gambling Benefit Grants NRM Planning

Drought Assistance Program Collaborative Area Management Spatial Hub

Community Landcare Grant Everyones Environment Grants Other Grants/Income

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Full financial details are available in the audited accounts on the South West NRM website:

www.swnrm.org.au

Employment Epenses20%

Onground/Community Project Costs

44%

Capital Purchases3%

Travel Expenses7%

Audit Legal & Consultancy

11%

Project Administration Costs

13%

Other Operational Costs

2%

SWNRM EXPENSES 2014-2015

Employment Epenses Onground/Community Project Costs

Capital Purchases Travel Expenses

Audit Legal & Consultancy Project Administration Costs

Other Operational Costs