ANNUAL REPORT - Parliament of Victoria · 2 Glenelg Hopkins CMA Annual Report 2011-2012 About us...

G l e n e l g H o p ki n s C M A An n u a l Re p o r t 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 21

Section heading

G l e n e l g H o p ki n s C M A • 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

ANNUAL REPORT


Contents

GlenelG Hopkins CMA Vision, Mission and Values.........................................01

Financial Performance at a Glance ............................01

Highlights ...................................................................02

About Us ....................................................................02

Our Region.................................................................02

Report from the Chairperson

and Chief Executive Officer .......................................04

Corporate Plan Activities and Performance Indicators ......................................06

CAtCHMent HeAltH Biodiversity ................................................................09

Land Health................................................................ 13

FloodplAin MAnAGeMent ...............15

WAterWAy HeAltH ..............................18

tHe CoAstAl proGrAM ......................22

ConneCtinG CoMMunities WitH environMent ............................24

Condition And MAnAGeMent report .......................28

our people, our Business Governance Structure ................................................36

Board .........................................................................36

Board Committees ....................................................37

Board Directors ..........................................................39

Organisational Structure ...........................................40

Reporting Requirements ........................................... 41

Glenelg Hopkins CMA Workforce .............................42

Legislative Compliance and Disclosures ...................43

Financial Compliance and Analysis ...........................45

Certification to the Financial Statements .................. 47

Auditor General’s Certificate .....................................48

FinAnCiAl stAteMents ......................50 Disclosure Index ........................................................78

Glossary .....................................................................79

AnnuAl report ForMAt

This Annual Report has been produced for online distribution and is available on the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority website – www.ghcma.vic.gov.auDisclaimer: While every effort is made to provide a high quality publication, Glenelg Hopkins CMA does not give any guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up-to-date nature of the information in the document and, therefore, disclaims all liability from error, loss or other consequence that may arise from reliance on this publication. ISSN 1837 - 1078© State of Victoria, Glenelg Hopkins CMA 2012. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.

tHis report:

• coverstheperiodfrom1July2011to30June2012

• isthe14thAnnualReportforGlenelgHopkinsCMA

• ispreparedfortheMinisterforEnvironmentandClimateChange,theMinisterforWater, Parliament of Victoria and the community

• isapublicdocumentfreelyavailableonourwebsite,easilyaccessed,easilyunderstoodandrelevanttoreaders

• ispreparedinaccordancewithgovernmentandlegislativerequirements.ThisincludestherequirementundertheCatchment and Land Protection Act (1994) for Glenelg Hopkins CMA to submit “…a report on the condition and management of land and water resources in its region and the carrying out of its functions”

• providesanaccuraterecordoftheCMA’sperformanceandfinancesagainstitscorebusinessstrategy, the Corporate Plan, which can be accessed online at www.ghcma.vic.gov.au

• acknowledgesthesupportofourcommunity.

ABC Actions for Biodiversity Conservation

AVIRA Aquatic Value Identification and Risk Assessment

Ceo Chief Executive Officer

C4oC Caring for our Country

CMA Catchment Management Authority

CVA Conservation Volunteers Australia

DAFF Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

DBCP Discovery Bay Coastal Park

DPI Department of Primary Industries

Dse Department of Sustainability and Environment

eBMP Environmental Best Management Practice

eeMss Estuary Entrance Management Support System

ePBC Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation

eVC Ecological Vegetation Communities

eWR Environmental Water Reserve

FMCF Financial management compliance framework

FReP Flood Recovery Employment Program

GMPP Gundity Mirring Partnership Project

GWMWater Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water

HeVAe High Ecological Value Aquatic Ecosystem

IeC Index of Estuary Condition

IeK Indigenous Ecological Knowledge

InFFeR The Investment Framework for Environmental Resources

IsC Index of Stream Condition

IWC Index of Wetland Condition

KPI Key Performance Indicator

LGnP Lower Glenelg National Park

MeR Monitor, evaluate and report

nDRRA National Disaster and Recovery Relief Arrangements

nRIP Natural Resources Investment Program

nRM Natural Resource Management

PV Parks Victoria

RCs Regional Catchment Strategy

RWMs Regional Waterway Management Strategy

RsHRW Regional Strategies for Healthy Rivers and Wetlands

sFs Sustainable Farming Systems

sPRA Securing Priority Riparian Area

tFn Trust for Nature

VCMC Victorian Catchment Management Council

VeFMAP Victorian Environmental Flows Monitoring Assessment Program

VeWH Victorian Environmental Water Holder

VIF Victorian Investment Framework

VsHReW Victorian Strategy for Healthy Rivers, Estuaries & Wetlands

VVP Victorian Volcanic Plains

VWMs Victorian Waterway Management Strategy

WAP Waterway Action Plan

Glossary

Our Values

We behave towards people and conduct our business by displaying:

• Respect – towards al l individuals, the

community and the environment

• Accountability – for what we do and set out to achieve

in an ethical manner

• Teamwork – in the way we work and support each

other to strive for outstanding NRM outcomes

• Fairness and Transparency – in considering different needs

and views of stakeholders

• Honesty and Trust – in our interactions and

communications with our clients and the community

• An Outcomes Focus – that recognises the ultimate objective

of achieving positive NRM outcomes in everything we do.

Our Vision

A healthy and sustainable relationship between the natural environment and the community.

Our Mission

Improving relationships between the environment and the community to achieve wise use of our regional natural resources in partnership with the government.

1

GlenelG Hopkins CMA

Financial Performance at a Glance

Financial Summary 2007-08 to 2011-12

2012($ ‘000)

2011($ ‘000)

2010($ ‘000)

2009($ ‘000)

2008($ ‘000)

Victorian Government contributions 7,001 7,602 7,457 7,079 4,324

Federal Government contributions 3,970 4,085 2,541 3,786 7,191

Other revenue 687 954 913 1,136 977

Total revenue 11,658 12,643 10,911 12,001 12,492

Total expenditure 11,889 10,238 11,086 13,054 12,415

Surplus/(deficit) for the year (231) 2,405 (175) (1,053) 77

Current assets 7,205 7,057 4,349 4,713 5,723

Non-current assets 1,448 1,556 1,913 2,186 2,299

Total assets 8,653 8,613 6,263 6,899 8,022

Current liabilities 754 616 467 956 1,089

Non-current liabilities 292 159 164 136 73

Total liabilities 1,046 775 631 1,092 1,162

Net assets 7,607 7,838 5,632 5,807 6,860

2 G l e n e l g H o p ki n s C M A An n u a l Re p o r t 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2

About us And our region

Highlights

• GlenelgHopkinsCMAanditspartnersattractedinvestment of $11.6 million in 2011-12 for natural resourcemanagementinourcatchments,withsignificantcontributionsfromtheCommonwealth($3.9 million) and the Victorian Government ($7 million)

• TheCMAanditspartnersplantedmorethan300,000treesandotherplantsacrosstheregionin2011-12

• TheCMAhostedtheGlenelgHopkinsEnvironmentalAchievementAwards.TwoGlenelgHopkinsregionwinnerstookfirstprizesattheVictorianLandcareAwards

• TheVictorianGovernmentfundedeightCommunityLandcareFacilitatorpositionswithintheGlenelgHopkinsregion

• GlenelgHopkinsCMAreceivedcompetitive CaringforourCountry(C4oC)fundingof$646,000andVictorianGovernmentfundingof$646,000toundertakeaGrasslandsTenderintheVictorian Volcanic Plains

• GlenelgHopkinsRegionalCatchmentStrategy draft released for public comment

• ImplementationofaneworganisationalstructureandtheassociatedchangestotheCMA’sbusinessoperation

• GlenelgHopkinsCMAreceivedcompetitiveBiodiversityFundingfromtheAustralianGovernmenttoprotectandrevegetatekey‘biolinks’inthe Zone1ofHabitat141.H141isoneofsixkey wildlifecorridorstobeplacedunderanewWildlife Corridors Act

• 1,000kmofriparianfencingprotectswaterwaysin theGlenelgHopkinsregionagainstmajorthreats likesevereerosionandsedimentation

• GlenelgHopkinsCMAcompletedthefencingcomponentoftheNaturalDisasterRecoveryandReliefArrangement(NDRRA)with54kmofnewfencingand21kmofrepairedfencingachieved

• Approximately20GL(giga-litres)ofenvironmentalwaterdeliveredfromRocklandsReservoirtotheGlenelgRiver–thelargestannualvolumereleased forenvironmentalflowssinceRocklandsReservoir wasbuilt

• TheFloodRecoveryEmploymentProgram(FREP)supportedlandholders,communitygroupsandlocalgovernmenttoclearflooddebris,fencestreams,manageweeds,andestablishandprotectnativevegetation

• MinisterforClimateChangeandEnvironment TheHonRyanSmithMPtouredtheregionin June2012,hostedbyGlenelgHopkinsCMA.

About Us

GlenelgHopkinsCatchmentManagementAuthoritywasestablished in July 1997 under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.TheresponsibleMinistersduringthe2011-12reportingperiodwereTheHonRyanSmithMP,MinisterforEnvironmentandClimateChangeand TheHonPeterWalshMLA,MinisterforWater.

Theannualfinancialreportingrequirementsareembodied in the Financial Management Act 1994. GlenelgHopkinsCMAisalsoresponsibleforspecificfunctions under the Water Act 1989 and for these functionsreportstotheMinisterforWater,TheHonPeterWalsh,MLA.

Aspersection12oftheCALP Act,GlenelgHopkinsCMAisresponsible,withothers,fornaturalresourcemanagementwithintheregion.Ittakesanintegrated,whole-of-catchmentapproachbycombiningstrategicplanningwithco-ordinationformanagementofnaturalresources.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAisanimportantlinkbetweencommunityandgovernment.Inparticular,itistheregionalcommunity’svoiceonissuesinvolvingland andwatermanagement.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAhas49.1full-timeequivalentemployeesandagrossturnoverof$11.6million.

Our Region

TheGlenelgHopkinsregionliessouthoftheGreatDividingRangeinVictoria’ssouthwest.Theregionisrenownedforitsscenicbeauty,dramaticcoastlineandrich biodiversity.

Itcoversapproximately26,910sqkm,extendingfromBallaratintheeasttotheSouthAustralianborderinthewest,andfromthesoutherncoastofVictoriatothetownshipsofHarrowandAraratinthenorth.

Therearefourbasinsthatoccurwithintheregion:Glenelg,Hopkins,PortlandCoastandMillicentCoast.Theboundariesoftheregionincludemarineandcoastalwatersouttothestatelimitofthreenauticalmiles. Theregionischaracterisedbyflatvolcanicplainsinthesouth,whiletheGrampians,DundasTablelands,andCentralHighlandsaredominantinthenorth.

Catchment Facts

AreaoftheRegion 26,910sqkm

AreaoftheGlenelgBasin 12,370sqkm

AreaoftheHopkinsBasin 9,897sqkm

AreaoftheMillicentCoastBasin 431sqkm

AreaofthePortlandCoastBasin 3,965sqkm

LengthofCoastline 220km

Waterways

3nm limit (coastline)

CrownLand

3

Theregionattractslargenumbersofvisitorstoitsworld-classtouristattractionsandboastsavarietyofeducationalandresearchinstitutions.AdeepwaterportislocatedinPortlandandtheregionisstrategicallylocatedwithroadaccesstoMelbourneandAdelaide.

Theregionsupportsapermanentpopulationof130,000withyear-roundtourismaddingsignificantlytothisnumber.MajorcitiesandtownsincludeWarrnambool,Hamilton,Portland,Ballarat,Ararat,Casterton, PortFairyandBeaufort.Morethan33,000oftheregion’sresidentsresideinWarrnambool,andstrongpopulationgrowthisforecastforthisarea.

TheGlenelgHopkinsregionhasarichresourcebasethatsupportsdiverseandgrowingindustry.Themaineconomicdriversareagriculture,fisheries,retail,manufacturing,healthandcommunityservices,educationandconstruction,whileagriculture,forestryandfishingarethemajoremployers.

Manufacturingintheregionisalsosignificant. Itgeneratesalmost$4billion,aheadofagricultureatnearly $2 billion annually. Four of the most important industriesinsouthwestVictoria–agriculture,fisheries,forestryandtourism–dependonmaintainingahealthynatural resource base.

SouthwesternVictoriahasarangeofnaturalassetsintheformofbiodiversity,waterways,wetlands,soils,forests and coast. These natural resources support auniquequalityoflife.TheGlenelgHopkinsregioncontains natural features of national and international significance,including:

• BudjBimNationalHeritageLandscape (MtEccles/LakeCondah/TyrrendarraArea)

• partsoftheGrampiansNationalPark

• KanawinkaGeopark(UNESCOlisted),encompassingsitesofgeologicsignificancesuchasWannonFalls,TowerHill,MtNooratandPrincessMargaretRoseCaves

• GlenelgRiver–thelowersectionoftheGlenelgRiverisheritage-listedduetoitsenvironmentalsignificance

• WesternDistrictRamsarlakes–onelakeintheregionisrecognisedasinternationallyimportantundertheRamsarConventiononWetlands

• InternationalBirdArea(IBA)betweenPortFairyandWarrnamboolandtheYambukLakes,whichsupportanon-breedingpopulationofthecriticallyendangeredOrange-belliedParrotandabreedingpopulationofthenear-threatenedHoodedPlover

• significantareasoftwoof15recognisedAustralianGovernment‘biodiversityhotspots’

• 13endangeredEcologicalVegetationCommunities

• theiconicRed-tailedBlackCockatoo,Orange-belliedParrotandendemicGlenelgSpinyCray,and173ofVictoria’sthreatenedspecies.

TheGlenelgRiveranditstributariessupportdiverseaquaticandriparianecosystemsandprovidehabitatfor a number of rare and threatened species. The lowerGlenelgisheritage-listedforitsenvironmentalsignificance.Salt-wedgeestuariesatthemouthofriversenteringtheseaareenvironmentallysignificant.

Waterisabundantandreliableinmanyparts.Numerouswetlandscomprising44percentofVictoria’stotalarespreadthroughouttheregion.Thecatchmentcontainssubstantialreservesofgroundwaterwithvaryingsalinities.Threegroundwatersystemsunderlietheregion-theOtway,MurrayandHighland-withothershallowlocalaquiferspresent.

Thecoastalareashavenoparallel.Toweringcliffs,extensivedunesystems,broadvegetationremnantsanduniquemarinehabitatsarehometodiverseandrichecosystems.Waterenvironments,togetherwithextensiveareasofpubliclandandnativevegetation,providethebasisforoneofAustralia’sbiodiversity ‘hotspots’.

YeAr in review


Report from the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer

On behalf of the Board of Directors, management and staff, we are pleased to present the 14th Annual Report of Glenel g Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.

Thewidespreadrainfallofthepasttwoyearshasreplenishedsoilmoistureandwaterstoragesinourregion.Thishasbeenpositiveforouragriculturalproducers.Farmersthisyearhaveexperiencedhighlivestockandcommodityprices,alongwithstrongexport demand and so many of our producers have beenrebuildingflocksandherds.Thelong-termsustainability of rural enterprises relies on continued profitabilityaswellasincreasedknowledgeandpracticeofsustainablelandmanagementpractices.Insouthernpartsoftheregionwheredairyingisconcentrated,oursoilhealthprogramhasbeenanimportantsourceof information for landholders to improve their land managementpracticesandreducetheimpactsofsoilacidity.Thebenefitsflowthroughtolowercoststofarmers,improvedproductivityandimprovedwaterqualityinourwaterways.ThishasonlybeenpossiblethroughtheAustralianGovernment’sCaringforourCountryProgramandstrongrelationshipswithdairyindustrybodies,particularlyWestVicDairy.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAanditspartnersattractedinvestment of $11.65 million in 2011-12 for natural resourcemanagementintheregion,withsignificantcontributions from the Victorian Government ($7 million) andAustralianGovernment($3.97million).

Themajorfloodsof2010-11damagedtownships, rural areas and many natural features of the catchment. FortunatelywiththestimulusoftheVictorianGovernment’sFloodRecoveryEmploymentProgram,theCMAhasbeenabletohelpmanyfarmersrepair orreplacedamagedfencing,cleanupwaterway debrisandweeds,andreplantriparianvegetation. Thisprogramhasbeenextremelywellreceivedbyfarmers and has been extended by the Government, to continue until December 2012. Further flood reparationwillalsocontinuein2013throughtheNaturalDisasterReliefandRecoveryArrangementsProgramfundedbytheVictorianandAustraliangovernments.

Whilefloodrecoverycontinuestobeaveryimportantactivityforthisregion,themajorimprovementstoincrease our preparedness for and resilience to future floodswillbeofgreatsignificance.WewelcomedtheMinisterforWater,TheHonPeterWalshMLA,whenhevisitedtheregiontoannouncegovernmentfundingfortheMiner’sRest,WickliffeandSkiptonfloodinvestigations.Floodstudiesidentifyingfloodlevelsandmitigationoptionsareproceedingforfivetownsintheregion,planningschemeamendmentsarebeingpreparedtobetterincludefloodinformationinplanning,municipalfloodplansarebeingupdated,andimprovedfloodwarninginfrastructureisbeingintroduced.AllofthesewillbepossiblethroughincreasedVictorianGovernmentsupportandwillcontinueoverthenextthreeyears,workingclosely withourLocalGovernmentpartners.

Below L-R: Minister for Climate Change and Environment The Hon Ryan Smith toured the region in June. Photo Credit: Deb Howcroft.

100ha of waterways were fenced under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements project. Photo Credit: Dion Borg.

Our natural coastal assets were promoted under the Coastal Communuity Grants program. Photo Credit: James Pevitt.

5

glenelg Hopkins CMA

Floodingin2011andhigherflowsthroughouttheregionhavedramaticallyimprovedthehealthofourriversystemsandtheirestuaries.IntheGlenelgRiverhighernaturalflowshavebeencombinedwithincreasedwaterallocationsfortheriverfromtheWimmeraandGlenelgRiversEnvironmentalEntitlement,gazettedlastyear.InmanagingthereturnofenvironmentalwatertotheGlenelgRivertheCMAhasmonitoredtheimpactofenvironmentalflowsandhasdocumentedtheimprovementstoriverhealth,althoughtheflowshavealsoenabledCarptoexpandtheirrangefurtherdownstream.Amorecost-effectiveprogramisrequiredtomanageCarpinthehighvaluereachesofthissystem.

Itisalsogoodtoseethecontinuedprotectionofwaterwayreaches,wetlandsandsignificantvegetationthroughourgrantsandincentivestolandholders.GlenelgHopkinsCMAhasdevelopedmoretargetedcommunityeducationandawarenessprogramsinrecentyearswithaclearfocusonidentifyingactivitiesthatbenefit both farm production and the environment in priority areas. This approach has successfully increased theuptakeofincentiveprogramsbylandmanagersinthese areas.

TheLandmateprogramcontinuedthisyearandachievedgoodresultsinaddressingenvironmentalthreatsonfarmsandonpublicland.RehabilitationforsomeinmatesoftheAraratandLangiKalKalPrisons,workingonsitesarrangedbytheLandcarenetworkgroupProjectPlatypus,illustrateswhatcanbeachievedwithasuccessfulcommunitypartnership.

PlanningforthefutureofnaturalresourcemanagementfortheregionisoneofthemostimportantactivitiesthattheGlenelgHopkinsCMAundertakes.TheRegionalCatchmentStrategy,theguidingNRMframeworkfortheregion,willberenewedin2012-13.ThenewRCShasbeendraftedwithinputfromourmajorpartnersandmembersofthecommunity,andwasissuedforpubliccommentduringJune.ItwillbefinalisedandsubmittedtotheMinisterforEnvironmentandClimateChangeandtheMinisterforWaterinAugust.Astheregion’sthirdRCSitwillshowhowwearetrackinginachievingourvisionanditwillprovidecleardirectionfortheCMAandotherswithintheregion,tocontinuetoimprovethestateofournaturalresourceswhilecontributingtoincreased prosperity.

Wecelebrated25yearsofLandcareinVictoriain2011,togetherwiththemanyLandcaregroupsandtheirmembers.ThissignificantmilestonewasacknowledgedinAugustbytheMinisterforWaterTheHonPeterWalshMLAattheCMA’sdisplayatSheepventioninHamilton.AnumberofLandcaregroupsandmemberswerealsoacknowledgedfortheirmanyyearsofdedicatedworkinprotectingourproductivelandscapesattheGlenelgHopkinsEnvironmentalAchievementAwardsinAugust.Itwastrulyheart-warmingtoseesuch an impressive collection of innovative and effective environmentalchampionsshowcasedinoneevening.

ThecontributionofLandcaretothemanagementof ourregion’senvironmentwasalsoenhancedthough theVictorianGovernment’sLandcarefacilitatorsinitiativewhichprovidedfacilitatorstosupportthe greatworkofeightLandcarenetworksinourregion.

InrecognitionoftheeffectivewayGlenelgHopkinsCMAgoesaboutitswork,wewerepleasedtoreceivetwomajorgrantsfromtheAustralianGovernmenttocontinueourwork.Wewillsupplementprogramstoconserve threatened habitats on the Victorian Volcanic PlainwithGrasslandsTenderfundswonthroughtheC4oCcompetitivegrantsprogram.ThesefundswereaugmentedbytheVictorianGovernmenttomakethisamajorareaofactivityfortheCMAoverthenextthreeyears.TheCMAwasalsosuccessfulinattractinginvestmentthroughtheAustralianGovernment’sBiodiversity Fund to increase and connect habitat infivemajorbiolinksintheHabitat141areainourregion’sfarwest.

LastOctoberwewelcomedfournewDirectorsto theBoard;RomaBritnell,MichaelCraig,VinGannonandJasonRitchie.WefarewelledNaomiPye,DougPhillipsandGrahamLeanwhofinishedtheirterms,andMarkWoottonwhoresignedfromtheBoardonFebruary1,2012.WethankthoseDirectorsfortheircontributionduringachallengingperiod,andforensuringtheCMAhasasolidfoundationforsuccess in future years.

Over the past 12 months our people have continued tobuildareputationforeffectiveandwelltargetedprojectsthatcontributetothenaturalresourcemanagementobjectivesofbothAustralianandVictoriangovernments.InaccordancewiththeFinancial Management Act 1994wearepleasedtopresenttheReportofOperationsforGlenelgHopkinsCMAfor theyearending30June2012.

Kevin WoodChiefExecutiveOfficer

Michael WaggChairperson

24thAugust2012


CorporAte plAn ACtivities And perforMAnCe indiCAtors

Ourcorebusinessispartneringandrelationshipmanagement,securinganddivestingmoneyandinvestinginourpeople.Thisissupportedbyplanning,deliveringprojectsandorganisationalcapacityandsystemstoensureeffectiveoperations.

Governance

overarching policy

performance Area

performance indicators Targets Achievement Reporting

Ou

r P

eo

ple

, O

ur

Bu

sin

ess

Board performance

Complete and submit an annual board performance assessment report,accordingtoanyMinisterialguidelinesissued

By31Augustannually ThisreportisbeingconductedexternallybySEDconsultingandwillbeendorsedattheAugust24BoardmeetingforsubmissiontoDSEbeforeAugust31

Participation by board members in development activities

Allboardmembersparticipate in development activities

AllDirectorsparticipatedinaStrategicWorkshopinFebruary2012.BoardDirectors participated in Financial TrainingforCMABoardsinJune,exceptDirectorRitchie,whoisonleavegrantedfrom1April2012 to 14 January 2013

Board charter

Develop and implement a board charterthatasaminimum:• includesarequirementfortheregularreviewoftheboard’seffectiveness

• establishesappropriateboardcommitteesincludingariskandcompliance committee

• featuresaprovisionthattheboardwillcomplywithMinisterialguidelines

• requirestheboardtomonitortheCMA’sfinancial,socialandenvironmental performance

ABoardCharter withthesefeatures wasestablishedby 31March2012

ABoardCharterwithperformanceindicatorswasestablishedinMay2010andwillbereviewedbyJune30,2013OverarchingpolicieswerereviewedinFebruaryandendorsedattheMarchBoardmeeting

Riskandfinancialmanagement

Compliancetoriskmanagementplansforeachprogram

Allprogramshaveriskmanagementplansinplace.Nil non-compliances withriskmanagementplan

Theriskregisterthatappliesforallprogramsandareasofoperationwasendorsed by the board in 2011, and is reviewedbytheBoardAuditandRiskCommitteeTherewerenonon-complianceswithriskmanagementplansidentifiedduringtheyear

Annualreviewofgovernancepoliciesand procedures

Reviewallgovernancepolicies and procedures by 30 June annually

Governance policies and procedures arereviewedinlinewiththescheduleofpolicyandproceduralreviews

7

glenelg Hopkins CMA

overarching policy

performance Area


Ou

r P

eo

ple

,

Ou

r B

usi

ne

ss

Expenditureversusbudget

VariationofactualtobudgetedexpenditurefortheCMA

Total actual expenditure is less thanorequaltobudgetedexpenditureForeachprogram,actual expenditure iswithin+/- 10 per cent of the budgetedexpenditure

Total actual $11.88 million expenditureagainstbudgetedexpenditure $12.77 million26projectswithactualexpendituremorethan10percentbelowthebudgetexpenditure4projectswithactualexpendituremorethan10percentabovethebudgetexpenditure

Grant management

Administrationcostsofgrants are minimised

10 per cent or less of grantfundsisspentonadministration

Administrationchargeongrantsisanaverageof10percent

Co

nn

ect

ing

Co

mm

un

ity

an

d E

nvi

ron

me

nt

Grant management

Minimisetimetakentodeterminegrantapplications

Grant applications aredeterminedwithinonemonthofbeingreceived

AveragetimetoprocessPartnershipProjectsapplicationsisthreeweeks;averagetimetoprocessLandcaregrantsisonemonth.

Regulatorywaterway/waterfunctions

Numberofdaystoprocessworksonwaterwayspermits

Not more than 20workingdays

82percentofWorksonWaterwayspermitswereprocessedinunder20days.

Number of days to process referrals foranyworksonorinrelationtoadam


Nil received

Number of days to process referrals fromlocalgovernmentonfloodingandcontrolsonplanningschemeamendments,andplanningandbuildingapprovals


Therewere152referralsreceived,includingplanningschemeamendments. 78 per cent responded within20workingdays

Numberofdaystoprocessenquiriesfromlocalgovernmentandthecommunityonflooding


88percentrespondedwithin10workingdays.12percentrespondedwithin20workingdays.Totalfloodadvicerequestsreceivedwere284Niltookmorethan20workingdaystoprocess

Number of days to process referrals forWaterUseLicencesthatdon’tmeetthestandardwater-useconditions


Average10daysforcommerciallicences (four referrals in total)Niltookmorethan20workingdaystoprocess

NumberofdaystoprocessenquiriesfromRuralWaterCorporationsonirrigationanddrainageplansandseasonaladjustmentstoannualuselimits


Average10daysforirrigationreferrals(11 referrals in total)Niltookmorethan20workingdaystoprocess

NumberofdaystoprocessenquiriesfromRuralWaterCorporationsissuingTakeandUseLicences


Average10Days(15referralsintotal)Niltookmorethan20workingdaystoprocess

eFFiciency and orGaniSational perFormance


eFFectiveneSS and environmental outcomeS

overarching policy

performance Area


Hea

lth

y L

an

dsc

ap

es

IntegratedRiverHealthManagement

ReviseRegionalWaterwayManagementStrategytoplanforwaterwaysinrelationtotheireconomic, social and environmental values

RegionalWaterwayManagementStrategyrevisedeveryeightyears

ThenewRegionalWaterwayManagementStrategywillbedeveloped in 2012-13, for release in late 2013

DevelopandreviseEnvironmentalOperatingStrategiesandSeasonalWateringPlanstomanagetheenvironmentalwaterreserveinaccordancewithobjectives

EnvironmentalOperatingStrategiesdeveloped or revised every five yearsSeasonalWateringPlans approved for allEnvironmentalEntitlements

TheEnvironmentalOperatingStrategieshasbeensupersededbyEnvironmentalWaterManagementPlans.FundingfortheEWMPisexpected for the 2013-14 financial yearTheSeasonalWateringPlanwasapprovedbytheBoardonApril20

Implementannualriverandwetlandhealthprogramsandactivitiestoimprove environmental values and healthofwaterecosystems

Allannualriverandwetlandhealthtargetsandworksprogramsachieved

94 per cent of annual river health targetsandworksprogramsachievedRemaining6percentpercentdelayedduetofloodingandaccessissues

RegionalCatchment Strategy(RCS)implementation

PercentageofRCSannualactionsimplemented

AllRCSannualactionsimplemented

ThedraftRCShasbeenreleasedforpublic comment

RegionalNativeVegetationPlan(RNVP)implementation

PercentageofRNVPannualactionsimplemented

AllRNVPannualactions implemented

TheRNVPisnolongercurrent,andwillbeupdated,pendingfunding

Invasiveplantand animal management

RegionalInvasivePlantandAnimalStrategiesincorporatingrelatedpriorities in all land tenures in the region

InvasivePlantandAnimalStrategiesrevised by 30 June every five years

RegionalInvasivePlantandAnimalStrategyrevisedJune2011RegionalWeedPlan2007-2012will be revised in 2013

Salinity management

ImplementationandperiodicreviewofRegionalSalinityManagementPlans(RSMP)andLandandWaterManagementPlans(LWMP)

RSMPandLWMPcompletedRSMPandLWMPperiodicallyreviewedRSMPandLWMPinclude annual actions

TheRegionalSalinityManagement Plan2005-08isnolongercurrentItisincludedinthedraftRCS(2012-18)as an action to be updated

Progressagainstannualactiontargets AllannualRSMPandLWMPactionsandtargetsachieved

TheRegionalSalinityManagement Plan2005-08isnolongercurrentItisincludedinthedraftRCS(2012-18)as an action to be updated

Co

nn

ect

ing

Co

mm

un

ity

an

d E

nvi

ron

me

nt Regional

and statutory planning

Provide advice on dryland salinity, irrigationmanagement,soilerosion,oranyotherlandmanagementissueidentifiedinthelocalMunicipalStrategicStatementasthereferralbody

100 per cent of referral responses provided for each issue

100 per cent response for sixirrigationreferrals

RegionalLandcaregroups,networksandother community groups

DelivertheRegionalLandcareSupportStrategy,including co-ordinationofLandcareataregionalscale

Evaluateandrevisethestrategyevery five years

The2007-12strategywillbeevaluatedand revised by December 31, 2012

glenelg Hopkins CMA

9

CATCHMenT HeAlTH

regionAl biodiversitY proteCtion And MAnAgeMent

Key Objective:

To improve the quality of native vegetation on private land and improve protection and management of significant biodiversity assets.

Highlights

• TheHonPeterWalsh,MinisterforWaterMLAlaunchedtheGlenelgHopkinsRegionalInvasiveAnimalStrategyatSheepvention,August2011

• Morethan250,000plantsandtreeswereplantedacrosstheregionin2011-12,withthefloodrecoveryprogrammakingamajorcontribution

• NewpopulationsoftheCorangamiteWaterSkink(Eulamprus tympanum marnieae) werefoundon the Victorian Volcanic Plains.

Woodland Protection

TheWoodlandProtectionProjectaimstoprotectremnantvegetationonprivatelandbyincreasingawarenessandknowledgeofbiodiversityvaluesandadoptingsustainablefarmpractices.Thefocusin 2011-12forthisfour-yearC4oC-fundedproject, hasbeenonlandscape-scaleRedGumprotectionin thePanyyabyr(Dunkeld/VictoriaValley)andWandoRiver(WandoVale/Nareen)Landcaregroupareas.

Bothgroupswereselectedduetotheirlargemembershipandpreviouson-groundactivities.

achievementS

• Adaptingcommunicationmethodstosuitthegroups,withPanyyabyrLandcareGroupusingtheirstrongemailnetworkandWandoRiverLandcareGroupmailingoutaflier

• Well-attendedfielddaysincludedaRedGuminformationnightandfieldday,andaBlackberrycontrol information session

• 157haofremnantvegetationprotectedand 80harevegetation.

Partnership Projects

During2011-12thePartnershipProjectSchemewas theprimarydeliverymechanismforthefollowingnaturalresourcemanagementinvestmentprograms:

• Woodlands(C4oC)

• CoastalCommunityGrants(NRIP)

• LowerSouthWest(NRIP)

• LowerGlenelgHEVAE(C4oC)

•MidG3WaterwayActionPlan(WAP)Implementation

•NRFloodProject(NRIP)

• C4oCFloodProject(C4oC).

ThePartnershipProjectsSchemedeliveredtwowaterwayactionplans,individualpropertymanagementplans,coastalcommunitygrouppriorities,whilealsosupportingfloodrecoveryeffortsincludingtheGlenelgHopkinsCMAFloodRecoveryEmploymentProgram.

ThePartnershipProjectSchemeisadevolvedgrantprogramthataimstoprovideindividuals,communitygroupsandindustrywithtechnicaladviceandfinancialassistancetoprotecttheregion’sbiodiversityassetsandimprovewaterwayhealth.Theoverridingprinciplesaretocreatepartnershipsanddevelopskillsoflandmanagersthatwillresultinimprovedconditionofbiodiversity and river health areas.

Generallyfundingisdollar-for-dollar,withtheCMAofferingtechnicalassistanceandfundingforprojectmaterials,whilelandmanagersprovidein-kindlabourandongoingsitemanagement.

achievementS

• 97.6kmofwaterwaysfencedforstockexclusion

• 188.2kmofbiodiversityfencingerected

• 580haofremnantvegetationprotected

• 220,650seedlingsplanted

• 477haofrevegetation

• 69.3haofweedcontrol

• 954haofperennialpastureestablished

• 2183haoflandmanagementprojects

• 158landholderagreementsestablished.


CAtCHMent HeAltH

Threatened Species Recovery Plans

TheThreatenedSpeciesRecoveryPlansprojectenhances the condition, connectivity, resilience and knowledgeofpopulationsandhabitatsofthreatenedspeciestoreducecriticalthreatsthroughspecific high-priorityactionsacrossthecatchment.

Theseactionswillprovideinformationonspeciespopulation,habitatandthreatsthroughBayesianBeliefNetworks,enablingtheCMAtoincludethreatenedspecies in its analysis of catchment condition.

The Victorian Government provided $292,550 and $163,000camefromtheAustralianGovernment’sCaringforourCountry(C4oC)program.

coranGamite Water Skink

GlenelgHopkinsandCorangamiteCMAsconductedtheCorangamiteWaterSkinkprojectwithfundingfromCaringforourCountry.

GroWlinG GraSS FroG

The‘DamstoHabitat’projectisinvestigatinghowtoincreaseGrowlingGrassFrogpopulationsbyenhancingfarmdams.LandownersandDSEarecollaboratingtoimprovethehabitatindamsclosetoknownGrowlingGrassFrogpopulations.

SouthWeSt Striped leGleSS lizard

TheSouthwestStripedLeglessLizardprojectleadbyDSE,isworkingtosavethethreatenedLizard(Delma impar)byidentifyingpopulationsandimplementingactionstomanageandrecoverthespeciesanditshabitat.ItisintoitssecondphasefollowingsevenyearsoftargetedsurveysacrosssouthwestVictoria.

achievementS

• InpartnershipwithDSEandBirdsAustralia,theprojectdeliveredThreatenedSpeciesRecoveryPlansfor49floraand10faunaspeciesathigh-prioritylocationsacrosssouthwestVictoria

• SeveralnewpopulationsoftheCorangamiteWaterSkink(Eulamprus tympanum marnieae) werefound on the Volcanic Plains.

BushTender

GlenelgHopkinsCMABushTenderhasmanagementagreementswith28landholders,committing$1.747milliontowardlandholderpaymentsoverafive-yearperiod.Thelandholdershavecommittedtoimprovingthequalityofnativevegetation,includingretention ofnativetrees,logsandorganiclitter,stockexclusion,fencingandtargetedweedcontrol.

Agreementscover43EcologicalVegetationClasses(EVCs)acrosssixbioregionsandincludevegetationtypessuchasgrasslands,wetlands,woodlandsandforests.

Ninerareandthreatenedfloraspecieswererecorded intheinitialsurvey.Actualorpotentialhabitatfor 50rareandthreatenedfaunaspecieswerediscovered at various sites.

achievementS

• BushTenderagreementscover78sitesencompassing2,800haofnativevegetation

• 1,982haor71percentofthetotalarea,compriseendangeredorvulnerableEVCs

• TheBushTenderagreementsareenteringtheirfifthandfinalyear.Complianceratesarehigh,withabout80percentoflandholderscompletingtheactionsintheirmanagementplansontime

• Twelvelandholderscontributedtothereport“OutcomesandStoriesofChangefromWetlandTenderandBushTender”.Thefindingsofthisreportwillbeusedtoimprovelandholderengagementinfuturetenderprojects.

Trust for Nature

TrustforNaturestewardshipprograms’experttechnicaladvicehasbeenprovidedonspecies,grasslandsandwetlandmanagement.

Agreedmanagementplanscovering541hahavebeeneithercompletedorreviewed.

ThePlainsTenderProgramandothertenderprograms,haveprovidedgoodincentivesforlandholderstoconserveremnantnativevegetationandhaspositivelyinfluencedtheirlandusechoices.Additionally,theresourcesprovidedhaveenabledimprovedgrasslandmanagementwhichwouldnothaveoccurredotherwise.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• 363.7haconvenantedwithnewmanagement planswritten

• Sixcovenantagreementcoveringgrasslands, wetlandsandriparianzones

• Revisedmanagementplansfor150ha.

11

CAtCHMent HeAltH

Wetland Tender

WetlandTenderhastargetedwetlandsandadjacentremnantvegetationonprivatelandforthelastthreeyears.

ThethirdroundofWetlandTender(2011-12)receivedmoreexpressionsofinterestfromlandholders,whichcamethroughwordofmouthfrompastparticipants,demonstratingthevalueofbuildingandmaintainingrelationshipsandrunningtheprojectoveranumber of years.

achievementS

• Allsevenlandholdersfromroundonewerecompliantandreceivedtheirfirstyear’spayments

• ThefirsttworoundsofWetlandTender(2009-10and2010-11)resultedin12landholdersmanaging328haofnativevegetation,including217haofwetlands-mostofwhichwereshallowandatriskofbeingdrained

• Landholdersmanaging111haofterrestrialvegetationsurroundingorjoinedtothewetland.

Habitat Connectivity in the Glenel g Basin

ThehabitatconnectivitydevolvedgrantsprojecthasprotectedvegetationandimprovedvegetationcorridorsfornativeanimalsintheGlenelgBasin.

WorkswereundertakenaroundtheLindsay-WerrikoowetlandsystemandtheArdnowetlandchainwestoftheGlenelgRiverandsouthwestofCasterton.Theseareascontainsignificantbiodiversityaswellasrareandthreatened flora and fauna.

Theprojectestablishedagreementswithsixlandholderstoachieve:

• 20.1haofwetlandsprotected

• 20.2haofweedcontrolinremnantvegetation

• 3kmofwaterwayfrontagefenced

• 2,900nativeplantsestablished.

Invasive Animal Strategy

TheGlenelgHopkinsRegionalInvasiveAnimal StrategywascompletedinJune2011andlaunched byTheHonPeterWalsh,MinisterforWateratSheepvention,August2011.

Thestrategyratesassetsintheregionaccordingtotheirriskofimpacts.Itguidesstakeholdersandthecommunityontacklinginvasiveanimalsandoutlines theprinciplesbehindgovernmentinvestmentand thecostsandbenefitsofimplementingstrategies.

Thekeystrategiesformanagementofinvasive animalsare:

• preventionofestablishment

• earlyinterventionanderadicationandcontainment

• asset-basedprotection.

Below L-R: Grasslands Management Plans were conducted across the Victorian Volcanic Plains. Photo Credit: Leeanne Fairbairn.

More than 300,000 plants and trees were planted in 2011-12. Photo Credit: James Pevitt.

Limestone Spider orchid (Caladenia bicalliata) from Discovery Bay Coastal Park. Photo Credit: David Pitts.


CAtCHMent HeAltH

Second Generation Landcare Grants

GlenelgHopkinsCMAreceived$330,000throughtheVictorianLandcareGrantsprogramin2011-12toassistLandcaregroupsandnetworksprovidefundsforlandholderstoprotectprioritywetlands,riparianareasandterrestrialvegetation,asidentifiedthroughstateandregionalpriorities.TheLandcarecommunitycontributed an additional $390,000 to complete projects.

achievementS

• Riparianplantings

- 14.2kmfencing

- 7.8kmofriverprotectedorenhanced

- 25,679 trees planted

- 19.3kmdirectseeding

- 53.7harevegetated

• Biolinkplanting

- 25.8kmfencing

- 29,471 trees planted

- 128.5kmdirectseeding

- 69.7harevegetation

• Pestplantandanimals

- 103ha of invasive plants sprayed

- 30.4harabbitwarrenripping

• Administrationgrantstogroups

- 38groupsassistedwithgrants

- 13 field days/information sessions.

Victorian Volcanic Plains project

TheVictorianVolcanicPlains(VVP)projectaimstoimprovetheconditionoftargetEcologicalVegetationCommunities(EVCs)withintheNaturalTemperateGrasslandsandGrassyEucalyptWoodlandsoftheVVP.Bothoftheseecologicalcommunitiesarelistedasthreatened under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) 1999.

In2011-12theCMAadapteditswaterwayactionplanningprocesstothisproject.Twenty-sixsiteswereassessedbyecologistsfortheirbiodiversityvaluesinMay2012,whichequatestoapproximately905haoftargetEVCswithinthetwoEPBC-listedcommunities. AlllandholderswillreceiveGrasslandsManagementPlansandfloraandfaunasurveyswillbeconductedinSpring-Summer2012.Landholderswillbeofferedapaymenttomanagetheirgrasslandsandgrassywoodlandsforbiodiversityforthreeyears.

Theultimatechallengewithagrasslandsprojectisfindingsuitablesites.Aerialandsatelliteimagerydoesnotpickupnativegrasslandsverywell,sotheonlyreliablewaytopopulatedatabasesisbycostlyandtimeconsuminggroundtruthingofsites.Usingavarietyofmethods,theCMAhasfoundsitesfortheproject.

achievementS

• Abrandedcommunicationsandengagementcampaignincludingabrochuredirectmailedto 2,900landholders,printmedia,Landcareand CMAwebsitesandsocialmedia

• UsingpreviousresultsmorepotentialsiteswerefoundthroughtheEVCgroundtruthingproject

• RaisingtheprofileofNaturalTemperateGrasslandsandGrassyEucalyptWoodlandcommunities

• Afielddayattendedby32landmanagersshowcasingDPI’stwoyearsofpasturemeasurementfieldworkandtheCMA’sGrasslandGrantsprojectandtheGrasslands Tender.

13

CAtCHMent HeAltH

Key Objective:

Maintain healthy and stable soils by addressing threats such as erosion, acidification and salinity.

Highlights

• Thirteenbiologicalfarmingandcompostingworkshopswereattendedby632participantshighlightingtheincreasinginterestinfarmingalternatives

• Nurturingpartnershipswithruralindustrygroups,particularlytheDepartmentofPrimaryIndustries(DPI),WestVicDairyandSouthernFarmingSystemshasenabledGlenelgHopkinsCMAtosupportfarmmanagementpracticechangeinareasaffectedbyacid soils and salinity.

TheLandHealthprogramhasbeenunderpinnedbyfourprogramsin2011-12,partneringwithDPI,WestVicDairy,SouthernFarmingSystemsandcommunityLandcareandproductiongroups.Theprogramhasprovidedindustry-relevanttraining,cateringforincreasinginterestininnovativefarmingpractices.

Reducing the Risk of Soil Acidification

SoilacidificationisidentifiedbytheAustralianGovernment’sCaringforourCountry,astheprioritythreattosustainablefarmproductionintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.

2011-12wasyearthreeofthefour-yearC4oCprojecttoincreasefarmers’knowledgeandskillsinfarmingpracticesthatreducetheriskofsoilacidification.TheCMAhasengagedwithmorethan1,200farmerstoincrease capacity and supported 200 farmers to adopt improvedsoilmanagementmethodscovering5,600hathroughpartnershipswithDPI,industrybodies(WestVicDairy,SouthernFarmingSystems),Landcareandproductiongroups.

RoyalMelbourneInstituteofTechnology(RMIT)independentlymonitor,evaluateandreportonprojectachievement.

achievementS

• 823farmersattended21workshopsandtwo field days

• 80dairy,croppingorgrazing(meatandwool)farmersdemonstrated adoption of farm practices to reduce soilacidificationrisks

• Basedonsurveyresponses,farmerswillbeimplementingimprovedfarmingpracticesover more than 200,000ha

• 632farmersandserviceprovidersattended 13SoilHealtheventscoveringsoilbiology,composting,perennialpastures,biologicalfarmingpractices and alternative soil ameliorants.

lAnd HeAltH - prepArAtion for eMerging tHreAts

Below L-R: The DAFF Regional Landcare Facilitator presented at Carbon Farming Initiative workshops to more than 500 people. Photo Credit: DemoDAIRY.

Over the year 632 people attended biological farming and composting workshops. Photo Credit: Gill Fry.


DAFF Regional Landcare Facil itator

ThethreeyearRegionalLandcareFacilitator(RLF)position,nowinitssecondyear,wasinitiatedbytheAustralianGovernmenttoimprovetheuptakeofsustainablelandmanagementpractices.TheRLFisalinkbetweenregionalnaturalresourcemanagementandagriculturalgroupsincludingproducergroups,agribusinessgroups,Landcaregroups,governmentagenciesandNRMprograms.

The facilitator has developed partnerships and identified opportunities for collaboration, supported C4oC-funded projectsandpromotedfederalfundinginitiatives.TheCMAhasconducted15CarbonFarmingInitiative(CFI)seminarsthroughoutthecatchmentspeakingtoalmost500 primary producers.

CollaborationwithDemoDAIRYandmajordairycompanieswithintheregionresultedincontributionstoworkshopsandfielddaysaimedatnaturalresourcemanagementactivitiesandthroughtheGreenTriangleForestryPlantationNRMsubcommittee,theCMAhasassistedrevisingbuffersandsetbacksforwetlands,remnantvegetationandriparianareas.

achievementS

• 15CarbonFarmingInitiativepresentationstoover500 people

• Contributedtoareviewofforestrysetbacksandbuffersfromnativevegetationandwaterways

• SignificantcontributionstowardstheNRMand landhealthextensionprogramofDemoDAIRY.

Whole Farm Planning

GlenelgHopkinsCMAandtheDPIprovidedfarmextensionandwholefarmplanningservicesthisyear.Farmplanningusinganaerialphotographorcomputerimage,helpsfarmerstodeterminelong-termgoals,recogniseinformationgapsanddeveloppriorityactionplanstoadapttoachangingoperatingenvironment,improveproductivityandnaturalresourcemanagement.

TheFarmPlan21course,asafarmplanningtool,isastructuredtrainingprogramdeliveredbyspecialistfacilitatorsfromDPI.TheiFarmGISmappingtool,linkedwithFarmPlan21,hasenabledfarmerstocreatedetailedmapsofexistingfarminfrastructureandproposedimprovements.

TheflexibilityofiFarmmappingandprioritisedactionsallowsfarmerstomodifytheirplaninresponsetoneedandopportunity.ImprovedelectronicrecordingofproposedactionsenhancesDPI’scapacitytoremainconnectedwithparticipatingfarmersforfollow-upopportunities.

Farmmanagementplansoutputtargets,under2011-12VictorianInvestmentFrameworkLandHealthprojects,weretodevelop50newplansusingFarmPlan21covering26,600haandsupport30farmersintheimplementationofexistingfarmmanagementplansover16,650ha.DPIdeliveredtheseactivitiesasprojectpartners.

achievementS

• 89farmersproducedwholefarmplanscovering44,867hawithFarmPlan21andiFarmGISmapping

• 55farmersprogressedtheimplementationofexistingfarmplanscovering27,672ha.

CAtCHMent HeAltH

Below L-R: Soil biology workshops were well attended in 2011-12.Photo Credit: Graeme Hand.

Grassmere dairy farmers Kim and Liam Ryan won the Great South West Dairy Award Natural Resource and Sustainability Managers, sponsored by Glenelg Hopkins and Corangamite CMAs. Photo Credit: WestVic Dairy.

Extreme rainfal l events which occurred in the Glenel g Hopkins region from August 2010 to January 2011 resulted in various levels of f looding, causing damage to property and infrastructure. Extensive agricultural areas were inundated resulting in erosion and damage to fencing, pasture, crops and creek crossings.

TheCMA,withfundingassistancefromtheAustralianandVictoriangovernmentsisundertakinganextensiveprogramofworksinresponsetothedamagecaused by floods.

FloodRecoveryisfundedthroughinitiativessuchas$2.5 million over three years from the Natural Disaster ReliefandRecoveryArrangements(NDRRA),$400,000fromCaringforourCountry(C4oC)and$375,000fromthe Victorian Government.

ThemajorityoffloodrecoveryprojectsinGlenelgHopkinsareexpectedtobecompletedby December 2013.

FloodRecoveryworksinvolveremediatingdamagecausedbyfloodwaterssuchas:

• erosion

• damagetofencing

• damagetoerosioncontrolstructures

• debrisbuildup.

Flood Recovery Assistance

InadditiontotheNDRRAprogram,theVictorianGovernmentprovided$1.5milliontotheGlenelgHopkinsregionFloodRecoveryEmploymentProgram(FREP),tosupportflood-affectedindividualsandassistpeopletostayinregionalcommunities,keepfarmersonthe land and alleviate stress and other health issues.

Theprogramaddressednaturalresourcemanagementissuesarisingfromthefloodssuchasgullyerosion,reactivatedlandslipsandemergingweedissues. Theworkswillcontinuetospringof2012concentratingonriparianrevegetationprojects.

In2011-12theprogramemployedupto20peopleinfourcrews,whichwerebasedinHamilton,WarrnamboolandArarat.

Afurther$375,000wasprovidedbytheVictorianGovernmentformaterialsforlocallandmanagers,primarilyfencingmaterialsandindigenousplantstorepairnewerosionpointsorreplacedamagedriparianvegetation.

FREPassisted121landholders,andcouncilsandcommunitygroupsintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.Mostassistancehasbeenprovidedtoflood-affectedmunicipalities–AraratRuralCity,andSouthernGrampians,CorangamiteandMoyneShires.

Flood recovery employment proGram achievementS to June 30, 2012

15

FloodplAin MAnAGeMenT

Fencing–clearedandrepaired 158km

Fencing–new 107km

Weedremoval 366ha

Areaofrevegetation 80ha

Below: (Right) Maroona farmer Trevor Perry was assisted by the Glenelg Hopkins CMA flood recovery crew (pictured Left) to reinstate fences destroyed by floods. Photo Credit L-R: David Nichols, Dion Borg.


floodplAins MAnAgeMent

Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA)

TheNaturalDisasterReliefandRecoveryArrangements(NDRRA)projectbeganinJuly2011.ItwasfundedbytheAustralianGovernmentandadministeredbyDSEtoassistfarmersandotherlandmanagersinrecoveringcostsassociatedwithrepairingflood-damagedCMAandpublicinfrastructure,includingCMA-fundedfencesconstructedalongwaterways.

Therewere51erosioncontrolandstructurerepairsitesapprovedforfundingwith20completed,includingrepairandremediationof:

• 7leveeanderosionworks

• 1rockchute

• 1fishway

• 2fishpassages/crossings

• 5tricklepipesandassociatederosionworks

• 1dropstructure

• 1bridge

• 2crossings

• 23sitesarecurrentlyinthedesignphase withon-groundworksplannedfortheupcomingconstruction season.

Flooddebrisremovalhasalsobeenundertakenatfivesites.AsignificantnumberoflandholdershadpreviouslyundertakenCMAwaterwayprotectionprojectsinthefloodimpactareas.Theselandholderswerecontacted,resultingin39individuallandholdersexpressinginterestforassistance.Projectinquiriesvariedsignificantly fromsmallscalefencecleanupjobs(upto$2,000), tocompletefencereplacementscostingover$40,000.

achievementS

• Morethan120landholderscontactedand 60 sites visited

• 38propertyprojectssubmitted

•29propertieswithre-establishmentofprojectworksthroughNDRRA

• 14projectshavecompleted54kmofriparianfencing

• 21kmfencingrepaired

• 41.5kmwaterwaysfenced

• 100haofwaterwaysfenced

• 10harevegetated.

Flood Investigations

GlenelgHopkinsCMAisundertakingfourfloodinvestigations,inpartnershipwiththeVictorianGovernmentandlocalgovernment.

• WickliffeFloodInvestigation(RuralCityofArarat)

• HamiltonFloodInvestigation (Southern Grampians Shire)

• SkiptonFloodInvestigation(CorangamiteShire)

• BurrumbeetCreek(BallaratCityCouncil).

TheMinisterforWater,TheHonPeterWalshMLAvisitedWickliffe,SkiptonandMinersRestin2011toannouncethefundingforthosefloodinvestigations.

Hamilton Flood investigation received $44,000 from theAustraliaGovernment,$44,000fromtheVictorianGovernment, $22,000 from Southern Grampians Shire Counciland$22,000in-kindprojectmanagementfromtheCMA.CARDNOPtyLtdwasappointedtoconducttheinvestigationinJuly2011.

TwocommunityconsultationsessionswereheldinAugust2011andMay2012.Thefirstinvolvedmeetingmembersofthecommunityandcapturinginformationregardinghistoricpeakfloodheightsandextents.

AtthesecondcommunitymeetinginMay2012thecommunityviewedthepreliminaryfloodextentsandprovidedfeedback.

TheinvestigationhasproduceddetailedhydrologicalandhydraulicmodelsofthestudyareaforkeyfloodinformationfortheHamiltoncatchment.

The models have been used to assess and predict a rangeofhistoricfloodanddesignfloodeventsandgeneratefloodmaps.

Acostbenefitanalysisoffloodmitigationoptionswasalsoundertaken.ThefloodmapswillassisttheSouthernGrampiansShiretoamendtheplanningschemezonesandoverlays.TheinvestigationalsolookedatpossiblewaystoimprovethefloodwarningsystemforHamilton.TheprojectisexpectedtobecompletedbyJuly2012.

Wickliffe Flood investigation received $7,408 from theAustralianGovernment,$85,192fromtheVictorianGovernment,$26,900fromAraratRuralCityCounciland$19,400in-kindprojectmanagementfromtheCMA.CARDNOPtyLtdwasappointedthroughatenderprocessinNovember2011toconducttheinvestigation.

TheinitialcommunitymeetingtointroducethestudyandgathercommunityfloodinformationwasheldinDecember 2011.

17

floodplAins MAnAgeMent

Theinvestigationhasgatheredinformationfromthecommunityandagenciesandexaminedhistoricalrainfall events, flood levels and extents to produce a rangeofrainfallmodellingscenarios.Thenextstepistoreproducefloodeventsthrougharangeoffloodmodellingscenarios.Thisinformationwillbeusedtoimproveplanningforbothdevelopmentandemergencyresponse.

KeyfindingsarethattheJanuary2011floodeventinWickliffeisthelargesteventonrecordatthispointontheHopkinsRiversincemeasurementsbeganinthe1920s.Theinvestigationisexpectedtobecompletedby November 2012.

skipton Flood investigation received $7,408 from theAustralianGovernment,$85,192fromtheVictorianGovernment,$27,500fromCorangamiteShireCounciland$18,800in-kindprojectmanagementfromtheCMA.WaterTechnologyPtyLtdwasappointedthrougha tender process in November 2011 to conduct the investigation.

TheinitialcommunitymeetingtointroducethestudyandgathercommunityfloodinformationwasheldinDecember 2011 and attended by 27 residents. This year theinvestigationhasgatheredallrequiredinformationbothfromthecommunityandagencies,andexaminedhistorical rainfall events, flood levels and extents to producearangeofrainfallmodellingscenarios.

Theprojectwillreproducefloodeventsthrougharangeoffloodmodellingscenarios.Thisinformationwillbeusedtoimproveplanningforbothdevelopmentandemergencyresponse.Theinvestigationisexpectedtobe completed by November 2012.

Burrumbeet Creek Flood investigation received $12,768fromtheAustralianGovernment,$146,832from the Victorian Government, $57,400 from Ballarat CityCounciland$22,400in-kindprojectmanagementfromtheCMA.WaterTechnologyPtyLtdwasappointedthroughatenderprocessinNovember2012toconducttheinvestigation.

AcommunitymeetingwasheldinMarch2012to launch the study and collect local information and photosregardingrecentfloodevents.Themeeting wasattendedbyapproximately120people.

Thisyeartheinvestigationhasgatheredallrequiredinformationbothfromthecommunityandagencies,examined historical rainfall events, flood levels and extentstoproducearangeofrainfallmodellingscenarios.Theprojectwillreproducefloodeventsthrougharangeoffloodmodellingscenarios. Thisinformationwillbeusedtoimproveplanning forbothdevelopmentandemergencyresponse. TheinvestigationwillbecompletedbyApril2013.

Floodplain Management

WorkS on WaterWayS permittinG proceSS For 2011-12

planninG reFerralS

Number of referrals received (sections 55 and 52) 135

Percentagerespondedbyduedate 78%

Numberoffloodlevelenquiries 284


Number of certifications of plans (subdivision) 4


Overall response 78%

Number of applications received 160

Number of applications approved 140

Numberofapplicationsrejected 1

Numberofinvestigations(drainageenquiries) 33

Numberofillegal/unauthorisedworks 2

Number of field/site inspections 78

Number of permits inspected on expiry 33


WATeRWAy HeAlTH

River Health Resil ience – Waterway Planning GlenelgHopkinsCMAinconjunctionwithDSEandotherCMAshasbeenworkingonthedevelopmentofthenewVictorianWaterwayManagementStrategy(VWMS)whichwillbereleasedin2013,toimprovethemanagementframeworkofaquaticecosystemsforthenexteightyears.

TheVWMSwill:

• integratethemanagementofrivers,estuariesandwetlands

• describethenewadaptiveapproachtomanagementunderdroughtandclimatechange

• focusontheprotectionofhighvaluesites

• incorporaterecentVictorianGovernmentlegislationamendments and policy

• setstate-widetargetsforriver,estuaryandwetlandhealth.

Inconjunction,theCMAisdevelopingaRegionalWaterwayManagementStrategy(RWMS)toprovidearegionalplanningdocumentandworkprogramforriver,estuaryandwetlandmanagement.Itwillbedevelopedinpartnershipwithregionalagencies,localcommunitiesandkeystakeholders.ThestrategywillidentifykeywaterwayassetsandthethreateningprocesstothoseassetswhichwillbeanalysedusingtheAquaticValuesIdentificationandRiskAnalysis(AVIRA)tooltosetprioritiesfortheregionalworkplan.Theworkprogramswilloutlineprioritymanagementactions,managementactivitiesforhighvaluewaterwaysandthedeliveryandmanagementofenvironmentalwater.

Key Objective:

Maintain and enhance the ecological health of the region’s water resources and waterways while maintaining economic and social development.

Highlights

• GlenelgHopkinsCMAhostedthe23rdAnnualVictorianWaterwaysFieldStaffConferencein Port Fairy attended by 70 field staff from natural resourcesmanagementagenciesacrossVictoria

• Approximately20GL(giga-litres)ofenvironmentalwaterdeliveredfromRocklandsReservoirtotheGlenelgRiver–thelargestannualvolumereleasedforenvironmentalflowssinceRocklandsReservoirwasbuilt in 1953

• RiverTenderManagementAgreementssignedwith 15landholdersfor16sites,18kmofriverfrontageand206ha of riparian land

• EstuaryperchhavebeencapturednearHarrowforthefirsttimeinseveraldecades,thoughttobearesponsetoenvironmentalflowsimprovingwaterquality.

Below L-R: The Large Scale River Restoration project was completed in 2012, with good results, such as a tributary of Mathers Creek, in 2009 and following works, in 2012. Photo Credit: Rob Addinsall.

Opposite Page L-R: The Grange Burn project will exclude stock from 74 per cent in a 7km reach. Photo Credit: Sophie Cameron.

176 carp were caught in the Glenelg River during the monitoring program. Photo Credit: Stephen Ryan.

Greater Grampians Flagship Wetland Protection Project

TheGreaterGrampiansFlagshipWetlandProtectionProjectbeganin2010.Severalwetlandswereassessedforenhancement,inwhichmosthadbeenmodifiedduetodrainageforagriculturalpurposes.

Thewetlandsincludedintheprojectwere:

• Brady’sSwamp

• Bryan’sSwamp

•GooseneckSwamp

• LakeMuirhead

•NekeeyaSwamp

•MtWilliamSwamp.

Basedonhistoricalinformation,potentialprojectsforthesewetlandswereassessedthroughtheInvestmentFrameworkforEnvironmentalResources(INFFER)process.AdditionalsurveyandmodellingworkonGooseneckSwampstrengthenedtheprojectassessment.LakeMuirheadandMtWilliamSwamprecordedapositivecost-benefitwhenconsidering landpurchasetoprotectthewetlands.

GooseneckSwamphadapositivecost-benefittocompletedrainblocking,whichcouldenhancebreedinghabitatformanywaterbirdsandprovidebetterconditions for the rare Callistemon wimmerensis found atthesite.Theinformationfromthisproject(includingtheINFFERassessments)willbeusedtohelpseekfundingtocompletetheprojectsandenhancesomeofthewetlands.

Environmental Water Reserve

TheCMAdeterminestheenvironmentalwaterrequirementsofwaterwayswithintheregionandadvocatesfortheenvironmentduringnegotiations forwaterdiversionandextractioncaps.EnvironmentalwaterrequirementsarealsousedtoguideenvironmentalflowreleasesfromRocklandsReservoirintotheGlenelgRiver.

EnvironmentalwatermanagementhasimprovedconditionsintheGlenelgRiverdownstreamofRocklandsReservoirthisyearasevidencedbysignificantrecruitmentofnativefishandregenerationofin-streamandriparianvegetation.

In2012-13theCMAwillworkwiththeVictorianEnvironmentalWaterHolder(VEWH)andWimmeraCMAtoinvestigateoptionsforsplittingtheWimmeraandGlenelgRiversenvironmentalentitlementbetween thetwosystems.

achievementS

• EstuaryperchcapturednearHarrowforthe first time in several decades

• CommunicationsthroughtheCMAwebsite, socialmediaandSMSalertsimprovedpublicaccesstoenvironmentalwaterplanninganddeliveriesinformation

• Nine“TakeandUse”licencereferralswereassessedforecologicalimpacts

• StorageoperationruleshavebeendevelopedtosecureaccesstooutletcapacityatRocklandsReservoirforenvironmentalreleases.

19

wAterwAY HeAltH

wAterwAY HeAltH


Carp

HigherflowsintheGlenelgRiveroverthelasttwoyearshavemadetheRivermoreconducivetoCarpbreeding.CarpmonitoringdownstreamofRocklandsReservoirhasshownthatpopulationsremainsmall,howeverdownstreammovementhasbeendetectedwithCarpfoundforthefirsttimebelowHarrow.

ThroughtheLargeScaleRiverRestorationProjectCarphavebeenmonitoredupstreamofHarrow,butthishasbeenextendeddownstreamsincethemostrecentidentifications.Thismonitoringinvolveselectrofishingandnettingateightwaterholes.

IfCarparefoundintheRiver,controlmeasuresareimplemented.PreliminaryresultsfromCarpmonitoringinFebruary2012showedcaptureshaveincreased. 176Carpwerecaughtusingboatelectrofishing,gillnets,andFykenetsfromeightsites.CluniesHole(southofHarrow)and5-milehole(northofBalmoral)asin previous years, seem to hold most fish - 54 and 62 respectively.Thesesiteswillbetargetedduringspring2012.AllfishcaughtwereintheupperreachesandnofishwerecaughtdownstreamofDergholm.

achievementS

• Testingoftagsandtelemetrystationscomplete andsuccessfulfortrackingprogram

• Technicalpaperwasproduced-“GlenelgRiverAcousticRangeFindingExperiment.ATechnicalReportfortheGlenelgHopkinsCatchmentManagementAuthority”

• Carpmonitoringfieldworkcompleted

• 176Carpremoved.

Securing Priority Riparian Areas

SecuringPriorityRiparianAreas(SPRA)isa$4.4millionthree-yearpartnerprojectbetweenDSE,Victoria’s 10CMAsandMelbourneWatertoimproveandprogressthemanagementofthestate’sriparianareas.

Theprojectdevelopssystemsandknowledgetounderpinthereviewofriparianareas,tosupportstafftoinspectanddevelopmanagementplansandagreementsforupto3,000riparianpropertiesacrossVictoria.TheprojectisfundedthroughNRIP.

Thesecondyearofthepartnership(2011-12)saw 96riparianmanagementagreementsdevelopedintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.Aspartofthesenegotiationslandholdershaveagreedtoeithertakeuplicencesorchangetheconditionsoftheexistinglicencesonsixoccasions.Thiswillensureimprovedlong-termmanagementoftheseriparianCrownfrontages.

Grange Burn

During2011-12theCMAhassupportedtheenvironmentalimprovementoftheGrangeBurnandLakeHamiltonthroughtheurbanandsurrounding areasofHamilton,whichhavehighsocialandrecreational value.

TheCMAstartedtoimplementactionsfromtheImprovementofWaterQualityofLakeHamiltonreport,commissioned by Southern Grampians Shire. The report identifiedriparianprotectionoftheinflowingwaterstotheLakeasakeyactivity.

achievementS

• TheFloodRecoveryEmploymentProgram(FREP)removedpoplarandelmsuckersandplantedindigenousgroundcovers,treesandshrubsalong theGrangeBurn.Theseworkshaveaugmented theeffortsofConservationVolunteersAustraliaoverrecent years

• Streamsurveying,landholderengagementand on-groundworkscommenced.Whenworksarefinishedtheywillresultineffectivestockexclusion to74percentoftheGrangeBurnina7kmreach, upfrom47percent12monthsago.

River Tender

RiverTenderaimstoprotectandconnectremnantriparianandfloodplainvegetationandimprovewaterwayhealth.Eligiblelandholdersareprovidedwiththeopportunitytocompetitivelybidforfinancialassistancetomanageriparianandfloodplainareasontheirproperties.TheCMAsignedManagementAgreementswith15landholders,committing $356,828foron-groundworksandlandusechanges.

achievementS

• Agreementsfor16sites,encompassingmorethan18kmofriverand206haofriparianland

• Agreementscover11ecologicalvegetationclasses(EVCs)acrossthreebioregionsand199ha (97percentofthearea)containsvegetationthat isclassedasEndangeredorVulnerable.

wAterwAY HeAltH

21

The Glenel g Al l iance

TheGlenelgAllianceisafour-yearprogramwhichbeganin2009toaddresskeyprioritypestplantandanimal threats on 34,603ha of public and private landaroundthelowerGlenelgRiverHighEcologicalValueAquaticEcosystem(HEVAE)region.Namedinrecognitionofthecollaboration,theGlenelgAlliancehasseenaconcertedeffortbyagenciesandlocallandholderstomapandtreatweedsandprotectwaterwaysinsouthwestVictoria.

ThealliancecomprisesGlenelgHopkinsCMA,AustralianGovernment,DSE,ParksVictoria,DPI,GlenelgShireCouncil,ConservationVolunteersAustralia,GunditjMirringTraditionalOwnersandlandholders.Asteeringcommitteehasguidedthestrategicdirectionoftheproject.

During2011-12,aWaterwayActionPlanwaspreparedfortheGlenelgRiverbetweenitsconfluencewiththeStokesRiverandthenorthernborderoftheLowerGlenelgNationalPark.PriorityworksonprivatelandwithintheUpperHEVAEareawereidentifiedandpinewildlingworksforDSEandParksVictoriawerecompleted.

achievementS

During2011-12(yearthreeofafour-yearprogram):

• DSEundertook:

- treatment for foxes and cats across 4,000ha of land at Discovery Bay

- 53hanewweedareastreated

- 143haweedareasretreated

- pinewildlingsremovedover40ha

• ParksVicundertook:

- pinewildlingremovalover200ha

- pigcontrolover70ha

- blackberry/bridalcreepertreatedover65ha

• 47propertieswerevisited

• Findingspresentedto25peopleat Dartmoorpublicmeeting

• 200haofpinewildlingsand1,619maturetrees werefelledalonga20kmsectionoftheGlenelgRiver (both sides of river).

Wetlands of the Wannon

TheWetlandsoftheWannonpilotprojectaimstomaximisethefilteringcapacityprovidedbytheWannonRiver’sfloodplainwetlandsandrestorethemasthe‘kidneys’oftheGlenelg/Wannonsystem.Italsoaimsto reduce nutrient and saline inputs to the river from surroundingagriculturallandthroughimprovedfarmingpractices.

During2011-12thethirdannualgrazingexclusionperiodwasimplementedandthethirdroundofecologicalandagriculturalmonitoringwasundertaken.

achievementS

• 465haareunderconservationagreementandgrazedinaccordancewithtrialrequirements

• Ecologicalmonitoringatfoursitesshowsincreasednativeplantregenerationandreducedweedswheregrazinghasbeenreduced

• Ecologicalsurveysacross19sitesshowedthatnativewetlandvegetationisinfluencedbylanduse,andwetlandhealthcanbeimprovedbychanginglandmanagementpractices

• Agriculturalmonitoringfollowingtheextremelywetperiod of 2010 and early 2011 indicated increased summerpastureinareaswheregrazinghasbeenseasonally excluded.

Large Scale River Restoration Project

GlenelgHopkinsCMAisfinalisingitseight-yearLargeScaleRiverRestoration(LSRR)projectintheupperGlenelgBasin.

TheprojectaimedtoimprovethehealthoftheGlenelgRiverandinwardsrunningstreamsbetweenRocklandsReservoirandtheWannonRiverconfluence,withthetwomajoremphasesonCarpcontrolandstreamrestorationthroughtheexclusionofstockfromwaterways.

In2011-12thelastoftheWaterwayActionPlanswascompletedfortheprojectarea,withaplanbeingdevelopedfortheWandoRiverandsurrounds. Therewasstronguptakeofriverfencingworksfrom thepreviousyear’sWAPwith24landholdersparticipating.

achievementS

• WaterwayActionPlanforWandoRiverandsurrounds

• 42kmofwaterwaysintheDergholmareaprotectedwith74kmoffencingandmorethan110harevegetationand260haofremnantprotection.

Key Objective:

Protect and enhance the coastal areas of the catchment while providing opportunities for sustainable use and development along the coast.

Highlights

• DSEandGlenelgHopkinsCMA,onbehalfof theothercoastalCMAsdevelopedmarineenvironmentprojects

• 13.8hakeyenvironmentalassetsprotectedandenhancedthroughsixprojectsinpartnershipwithlocallandholders,landmanagersandcommunitygroups.

Estuary Management and Monitoring

TheCMA’sEstuaryManagementandMonitoringprogramhassupportedtheco-ordinationofestuaryentrancemanagementandthemonitoringofphysicochemicalparametersacrosstheregion’ssixintermittently-closedestuaries.Theyaretheheritage-listedGlenelgRiver,Surry,Fitzroy,YambukLake,MerriandHopkinsestuaries.

Thisprogramhasresultedintheregulationandadministrationofartificialrivermouthopenings,implementationofmanagementactionswhereneededandidentificationofemergingissuestoestuaryhealth.TheCMAhastakenaproactiveapproachtocommunityandagencyconsultationandincreasedlocalknowledgeandcommunicationbetweenkeystakeholders.

Managementoftheintermittently-closedestuarinesystemshasbeentopical.Balancingenvironmental,social and economic assets can be complex and controversial;highlightingtheneedforaccurateanddetailed information to understand the physical and biologicalprocesseswithinourestuaries.

achievementS

• Waterqualitymonitoringdatahasbeenaddedtoalong-termdata-setfortheregion’sestuaries,throughtheEEMSS(EstuaryEntranceManagementSupportSystem)database.Thisdataisusedwhendeterminingtrends in potential estuary condition measures and usedinresearchprojectsincludingthetrial‘IndexofEstuaryCondition’

• Hydroshare(remotemeasurementandreportingofinformation)hasimprovedknowledgeoneachestuarinesystem,particularlyinregardtofluctuatingwaterlevelsduringtimesofintermittentopeningsandextremeweatherevents

• Estuarinewaterqualityresultsandobservationshavebeenincorporatedinto12editionsoftheCMA’s‘CoastalConnections’e-newsletter.

THe CoAsTAl pRoGRAM


Below: Glenelg Hopkins CMA hosted the 23rd Annual Victorian Waterways Field Staff conference at Port Fairy. Photo Credit: Leonard Cooper.

tHe CoAstAl progrAM

23

Estuary Entrance Management Support System (EEMSS) TheEstuaryEntranceManagementSupportSystem(EEMSS)guidesthedecisionwhetherornottoartificiallyopenanestuary.Itensuresallassetsareconsideredandopeningsoccursafelyandeffectively.

Toensureitsintegrity,theEEMSSdatabaseispopulatedwithkeysocio-economic,environmentalandculturalassetssuchasroads,walkingtracks,publicamenities,agriculturalland,fishandplantcommunitiesandsitesofculturalandEuropeanheritage.Informationiscollectedthroughresearchprojects,waterqualitymonitoringprogramsandcommunityinformationsessions.

EEMSSisabletoconstantlyevolve,storingnewandemerginginformationonanon-goingbasis,ensuringcontinuousimprovementinestuaryentrancemanagementdecisions.

achievementS

• Co-ordinatedreviewandupgradeoftheEEMSS inpartnershipwithotherCMAs

• PopulatedtheEEMSSwithinformationaboutthesocioeconomic, environmental and cultural assets of each estuary

• On-goingmonitoringsitesacrossourregion’ssixintermittentlyclosedestuaries(Hopkins,Merri,YambukLake,Fitzroy,SurryandGlenelg).

Coastal Community Grants

TheCoastalCommunityGrantsprogramprovidesopportunitiestolandholders,landmanagersandcoastalcommunitygroupstoprotectandenhancewetlands,riversandvegetationcommunitiesthroughoutthecoastalregion.ThishasbeenthethirdandfinalyearoftheprogramfundedthroughtheAustralianGovernment’sCaringforourCountryinitiative.

Grantswereprovidedforactivitiessuchascommunityrevegetationdays,fencing,weedcontrolandculturalheritageinformationandengagementactivities.

achievementS

• 13.8hakeyenvironmentalassetsprotectedandenhancedthroughsixprojectsinpartnershipwithlocallandholders,landmanagersandcommunitygroups

• 3hapriorityweedtreatment,4.25harevegetationand0.45kmofwaterwayfrontageprotectedthroughstockexclusionfencing

• Communityawareness-raisingofournaturalcoastalassetsthroughthree‘CoastalConnections’communityinformationsessionsandmonthlye-newsletter.

Marine Assets Project

TheCMAandDSEhavedevelopedamapofmarineassetareasinwesternVictorianwaters(hightideto3nmlimit).TheprojectusedanapproachandcriteriadevelopedbyDSEtoidentifymarineassetsthatareimportantatastateorbioregionallevelformarinebiodiversityand/orecologicalprocesses.

TheassetmapswillhelpNRMplanningandinvestmentprocessesstate-wideandhavebeenincorporatedintotherelevantregionalcatchmentstrategies.Thisisa‘first-pass’assessmentandthereforethefirststepinidentifyingmarineassetsanddevelopingaprocessforassessingriskandprioritisingworksinthemarineenvironment.ThisprojectimplementedactionsfromtheVictorianCoastalStrategy(2008)whichsupportdevelopmentofastate-widemarineassetconditionprioritisationandmonitoringframework.

Marine Vulnerability Project

GlenelgHopkinsCMAandDSE,onbehalfoftheothercoastalCMAs,developedaclimatechangevulnerabilityassessmentforVictoria’smarineenvironment.

AnexposurestudybyWaterTechnologyfocusedonlikelychangestothephysicochemicalparameters;meansea level, sea surface salinity, sea surface temperature, tides,oceancurrents,wavesandupwellingevents. The report collated information and summarised predictedtrendsforWesternVictoria,CentralBassStrait,EasternVictoriaandmajorembayments(PortPhillipBay,WesternportandCornerInlet).

The study provided a foundation for the sensitivity and vulnerabilityassessmentswhichdocumentedthelikelyimpactofthepredictedphysicochemicalchangesonmarinemammals,fishandbiotaassociatedwithrockyreefsandseagrass.Eachchapterwaswrittenbyanexpertintherelevantfield.Theprojectwillprovideinformationtosupportfutureriskassessmentsandmanagementactions.


ConneCTinG CoMMuniTies WiTH enviRonMenTKey Objective:

Strengthen community capacity in natural resource management by developing and maintaining key regional relationships.

Highlights

• MinisterforClimateChangeandEnvironment TheHonRyanSmithMPtouredtheregionin June2012,hostedbyGlenelgHopkinsCMA

• CarbonFarmingInitiativepresentations deliveredto14groups

• MinisterforWaterTheHonPeterWalshMLAlaunchedthe25YearsofLandcarecelebration atSheepvention,August2011

• Ofthe20inspiringrolemodelsinductedtotheinauguralIndigenousHonourRoll,fivehavefamily tiestotheGunditjmaranation

• RegionalCatchmentStrategy2012-2018,draftreleasedforcommunityfeedback

• LandholdersrespondpositivelytotheLandmateprogramdeliveredinpartnershipwithDepartment ofJustice–CorrectionsVictoriaandProjectPlatypus.

Strong PartnershipsRelationshipsandcommunicationwithourcommunityarecentraltotheGlenelgHopkinsCMAethos.Accordingly,closeworkingpartnershipswithresidents,landholdersandinvestorsthreadthroughallCMAobjectives.

IntegralandrespectedrelationshipshavedrivenengagementbetweentheCMAandthesouthwestVictorian community for more than 14 years.

Activitiesinpartnershipwithourcommunityhaveincludedtreeplanting,revegetation,farmplanning,soiltesting,catchmenthealth,faunaprotection,floodrecovery,Landcareandfundingassistance.ThisyearthedevelopmentoftheRegionalCatchmentStrategyhadastrongcommunityengagementfocus,andwaspreparedincloseconsultationwiththeregionalcommunity,local,stateandfederalgovernmentrepresentativesandotherstakeholders.

StrongpartnershipsalsohavebeenforgedwithorganisationsinthepublicandprivatesectorsandassistedtheCMAinfulfillingitsnaturalresourcemanagementresponsibilities.

Regional Catchment Strategy

GlenelgHopkinsCMAiscurrentlydevelopinganewRegionalCatchmentStrategy(RCS)accordingtoguidelinesfromtheVictorianCatchmentManagementCouncil and other specified standards provided by the VictorianDepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironment.

TheGlenelgHopkinsRCS2012-2018willbetheprimaryplanningframeworkforland,waterandbiodiversitymanagementwithintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.TheRCSwillaimtoprovideaframeworkfortheco-ordinatedmanagementofcatchments,whichwillmaintainandenhancelong-termproductivitywhilealsoconservingtheenvironment.Thiswillensurethatthequalityoflandandwaterresourceswithintheregionand their associated plant and animal life are maintained and enhanced.

TheRCSisastrategythatbelongstotheregion –tothepeopleofGlenelgHopkins.Thestrategyisbeingdevelopedbypeoplelivingandworkinginthearea,incloseconsultationwiththeregionalcommunity,local,stateandfederalgovernmentrepresentativesandotherstakeholders.

Partnershipswithcommunity,individualsandorganisationswithintheregionwillbethefoundationforeffectivedeliveryoftheRCS.TheRCSencouragesand supports the participation of the community, landholdersandresourcemanagersinlandprotectionandcatchmentmanagement.

TheRCSwillprovideanintegratedframeworkforinvestinginandprioritisingon-groundworksandprojectswithintheregion.ItwillcontinuetobuildonthesuccessofearlierworkwithinthecatchmentandimplementinitiativesthatwillbeimportantdriversinachievingtheRCSvision.

TheGlenelgHopkinsRCS2012-2018willbesubmittedtotheMinisterforEnvironmentandClimateChangeandtheMinisterforWaterinOctober2012.

In Our Community2011-12communityengagementactivitiesincluded:

• draftRCS(2012-2018)communityworkshops

• Landcare25thbirthdaycelebrations

•GlenelgHopkinsEnvironmentalAchievementAwards

• LakeBolacEelFestivalandSheepvention

• environmentalandfloodrecoveryprojectsinpartnershipwithConservationVolunteersAustralia

• supportVicSEStopromoteFloodSafeawareness andFloodSafeWeek

• fielddaysandenvironmentalsponsorships

• Regulare-news.

25

Community Advisory Groups TheGlenelgHopkinsCMACommunityAdvisory GroupsprovideadvicetoCMAmanagementand,throughthem,totheBoardonthedevelopmentofregionalstrategiesandplans,emergingcommunityconcernsandissuesandthreatsthatimpactonNRMassetsacrosstheregion.ThetwoadvisorygroupsaretheBiodiversityandLandHealthAdvisoryGroupandtheRiverandWetlandHealthAdvisoryGroup.Atthebeginningofthefinancialyearwewelcomedanumberofnewandcontinuingmembersonboththesegroupswhowillbeinplaceforthenexttwoyears.

CommunitymembersfortheBiodiversityandLandHealthAdvisoryGroupareMichaelWaite(chair),RodMarshall,Prof.MartinWestbrooke,DonRowe,RobinJackson,andKayeScholfield.AgencymembersincludeMarkFarrer(DPI),AndyGovanstone(DSE),RalphCotter(DPI)andMichaelMcCarthy(localgovernment).TheBoard nominee is Director Debbie Shea.

CommunitymembersoftheRiverandWetlandHealthAdvisoryGroupareMichelleCasanova(chair),RodBird,BrianMurrell,JanBarton,IanRossandLisetteMill.AgencymembersincludeAngusRamsay(SouthernRuralWater),RaeleneMibus(localgovernment),JodieHonan(DSE)andCraigMurdoch(DPI).TheBoardnomineeisDrJohnSherwood.

Overtheyear,bothAdvisoryGroupshaveprovidedextensiveinputandfeedbackonthedevelopment oftheregion’sthirdRegionalCatchmentStrategy(2012-2018).KeyareasoffocusincludedtheprovisionofadviceontheregionalvisionfortheRCS,andassociatedobjectivesandactionsforcatchmentassets.Feedbackwasalsoprovidedonassetprioritisation,condition and threats.

TheBiodiversityandLandHealthAdvisoryGrouphasalsoprovidedadviceontherenewaloftheRegionalLandcareSupportStrategy;whiletheRiverandWetlandHealthAdvisoryGrouphasprovidedadviceandfeedbackoncommunityengagementmethodssurroundingEnvironmentalWateringandisinvolvedinthedevelopmentoftheRegionalWaterwayManagementStrategy.

Environmental Achievement Awards

TheGlenelgHopkinsEnvironmentalAchievementAwardswereheldinAugust2011.Theyareheldbiannuallytorecognisecontributionstoimprovingtheregion’senvironment.Therewere41entriesineightcategories,withthewinnersselectedbyanindependentjudgingpanel.

ThecategorieswereCoastcare,Education,Rivercare,PrimaryProducer,LandcareandCommunityGroup,IndigenousGroup,IndividualorPartnershipAchievementandBusinessandGovernmentPartnerships.Theawardswereattendedby120people,andtheguestspeakerwasAustralia’sfirstLandcarefacilitatorProfessorAndrewCampbell.Theevent alsocelebrated25yearsoftheLandcaremovement in Victoria.

TwocategorywinnersfromtheGlenelgHopkinsawardswentontosuccessattheVictorianLandcareAwards.ShaunandLisaMcIntyrewontheAustralianGovernmentIndividualLandcarerAwardandTheFriendsoftheGreatSouthWestWalkwontheAustralianGovernmentCoastcareAward.

ConneCting CoMMunities witH environMent

Below L-R: VicSES and Glenelg CMA raised community awareness around keeping safe in floods. Photo Credit: Johanna Theilemann.

The Glenelg Hopkins Environmental Achievement Awards were held in August 2011. Photo Credit: Naomi Annett.



Victorian Landcare GatewayTheVictorianLandcareGatewayisawebsiteforLandcareandNRMgroupstocommunicatewithmembers and non-members. Groups promote activities and source information about activities, photos, history, achievementsandoperationalmethodsofothergroups.

There has been a 62 per cent increase in visits to the GlenelgHopkinsGatewayportalovertheprevious 12monthswitheventsandgrantsthemostpopularpages.TengroupshaveactivelyusedtheirGatewaywebsitethisyear.

Local Government Liaison

GlenelgHopkinsCMAcovers11municipalities.LocalgovernmentpartnershipsaimtostrengthenrelationshipsandlinksbetweenlocalgovernmentcommunitiesandtheCMA.

Localgovernmentinvolvementinnaturalresourcemanagementisseenasakeystrategicalliancethat:

• recognisesthecontributionoflocalgovernmentinNaturalResourceManagement

• supportslocalgovernmentandpartneragenciesinthecontinuousreviewofplanningschemes

• developsanunderstandingofcommongroundbetweenlocalgovernmentandGlenelgHopkinsCMA

• buildsnewandexistingrelationshipsconducivetoasharedrespectforeachothers’rolesandresponsibilities

• assistsinlocalgovernmentNaturalResourceManagementbyprovidingadviceandsupport.

The anticipated outcome is collaborative partnerships betweentheCMAandregionalmunicipalities.Thiswillencompassintegratedandco-ordinatedworkingarrangements,improvedcommunications,ashareddecision-makingforumandamoreproductiveplanningandimplementationenvironmentforNRM.

During2011-12,CEOKevinWoodmetwithseniorstafffromGlenelgShire,BallaratCity,CorangamiteShire,SouthernGrampiansShireandAraratRuralCity.Floodswithintheregionrequiredcloserrelationswithlocalgovernment,particularlyintheupgradingofwarningsystems,sourcingoffundingandmanagementofremedialworks.Theseactivitiesareprogressing.

Flood Awareness Partnership

TheFloodAwarenessandEducationModelreceived$40,000 from the Victorian Government under the VictorianEmergencyManagementGrants.Afurther$40,000in-kindcontributionisattributedtotheGlenelg,WarrnamboolandMoynecouncils,theSESandtheCMA.TheprojectwhichwasmanagedbytheCMAhadastrongemphasisonincreasingcommunityawarenessandunderstandingofthefloodingriskinthelocal area.

Deliveryofthisprojectsawtheinstallationofeightcommunityfloodeducationsignswhichexhibitlocalfloodphotographs,floodlevelsandgeneralfloodplaininformation.TheCMAandtheSESdeliveredFloodSafeprogramsforbothWarrnamboolandPortFairy.TheinvestigationwascompletedinJune2012.

Indigenous Relations

TheGunditjMirringPartnershipProject(GMPP)isacollaborationbetweentheGunditjMirringTraditionalOwnersAboriginalCorporationandGlenelgHopkinsCMA.TheprojectisfocusedonenhancingGunditjMirring’scapacitytorecorditsindigenousecologicalknowledgeandtoapplythisknowledge,whereappropriate,tonaturalresourcemanagement.

TheGMPPisinyearthreeofafouryearproject,fundedbytheAustralianGovernment’sC4oC.TheprojectprovidestheGunditjmaracommunitywiththecapacity to identify, collect, analyse and practice advice intraditionalandcontemporarylandmanagementpracticesandIndigenousEcologicalKnowledge(IEK) tootherlandowners,communitygroupsandgovernmentagencies.

AnextensionprogramaspartoftheGMPPhasbeeninitiatedthroughpartnershipandsecondmentwithRMITHamiltontoundertaketrialsiteactivities,landownersurveysprocesses,collateextensivedataandknowledgefortoolkitdevelopmentandinvolveexternalconsultantsinresearchandNRM.

achievementS

• IncorporatingIndigenouscommunities’interestsintheredevelopmentofthedraftRegionalCatchmentStrategy

• InterpretativesignageatHarrow’sGlenelgRiverwalk

• BudjBimRangersnominationforVictorianStatewideLandcareawardforasecondtime

• TheIndigenousEcologicalKnowledgePartnershipProjecthasengagedanIndigenousresearchertoassistwiththeproject’sMER


27

• Auser-friendly‘UteGuide’,acomponentoftheIndigenousEcologicalKnowledgePartnershipProjecttoolkit,isaquickreferenceforuseinthefield

• InitiatingtheIEKextensionprogramaspartof theGunditjMirringpartnershipproject

• StaffsecondmentstoenhancepartnershipsbetweenIndigenousandnon-Indigenousorganisations

• Recognitionandacknowledgementfrom state-wideIndigenousNRMstaffoftheGunditjMirringpartnershipproject.

Events

GlenelgHopkinsCMAsupportskeyenvironmental-focusedeventsinthesouthwestregionthroughsponsorship,personnelormaterials.In2011-12, theCMAsponsoredNationalWaterWeekcommunityawarenessinpartnershipwithWannonWaterandSouthernRuralWater,TreeTalesArtCompetition,GreatSouthWestDairyAwards-NaturalResourceandSustainabilityManager,andtheLakeBolacEelFestival.TheCMAattendedSheepvention(Hamilton)andthe EelFestival.Communityengagementalsooccursthroughfielddays,whichareorganisedbyCMAstaff orsupportedthroughCMAprograms.

Media

Themedia,particularlyprint,communitynewslettersandregionalradio,isaprimarytoolindeliveringtheCMAmessagetothewidercommunity.WhiletheCMAunderstands the important role print and electronic mediaplaysinconnectingitwiththecommunity,greatereffortisbeingdirectedtowardcommunicationthroughourwebsiteandsocialmedia.

DPIandtheCMApublishaweeklycolumnintheHamiltonSpectator,helpingtoreinforcetheconnectionbetweentheCMAandenvironmentalmanagementanditspartnershipwithagriculture.

Throughregionalnewspapers,theCMAhasstronglypromoted many events and received favourable coverageofactivitiesacrosssouthwestVictoria.

Landcare Group Health Survey

During2011-12,theCMAconductedaGroupHealthSurveyonthe125activeLandcareandNRMgroupsacrosstheregion.Ofthe125groups,35responded tothesurveyandappliedfortheAdministrationSupport Grant.

Landcaregroupsself-assesstheirhealtheachyearwhichformsaLandcaregrouphealthscoreandprovidestrendinformationonLandcare.

Thesurveyindicatedthatgroupsweremoreactiveandfeltmoreconfidentwiththeiroutput.TheCMAwillcontinuetoencouragegroupstocompletetheGroupHealthSurvey,toassistinidentifyingissuesandrequiredsupport.

ThefollowingscoresrepresenttheaveragegrouphealthscorefortheGlenelgHopkinsregion.DataiscollectedviaasurveyundertakeninAugust–Novemberoverthepast four years. 1=grouphasstalledupto5=groupthriving:

• 2008-09–2.94

• 2009-10–3.41

• 2010-11–3.15

• 2011-12–3.48

Landcare Group Health Survey for 2011-2012

Group Health element

strong to Thriving

(%)ok(%)

surviving to stalled

(%)

OverallHealth 45 42 11

Landcare Administration Grants

Administrationgrantstotaling$20,750wereallocatedto38LandcareandNRMgroupsandfivenetworkstoassistwithinsuranceandadministrationcosts.Thefundingassistedgroupstocontinueoperating,initiateprojectsandprovideinformationandmotivationtoimprovegrouphealth.

Email, Print and Web Newsletters

Thisyear,theCMAsentitsMonthlyUpdateviaanemaildatabasetostakeholdersandpartners,enablingtheCMAtocommunicateitsactivitiesinabrief,easy-to-read format.

Landlifeisaregion-widepublicationwhichhighlightsnaturalresourcemanagementachievementsintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.Thee-magazinewasdistributedquarterlyin2011-12,withcontributionsfrompartnerorganisationsbroadeningthecontent.Landlifeisavailableonlineinkeepingwithenvironmentalpracticesandreducingcostsandresources.

TheLandcareteamhasimprovedcommunicationwithLandcareandNRMgroupsandthewidercommunitythroughitsmonthlyLandcarenewsletterwhichprovidesasnapshotofnews,grantsandenvironmentalandsustainableagriculturalactivities.Activitiesarepromotedfromarangeoforganisations,includingtheCMA,DPI,LandcareandNRMgroups.


CondiTion And MAnAGeMenT RepoRT

Condition and management highlights are reported against six headline themes in accordance with DSE guidelines:

• Biodiversity

• Inland aquatic ecosystems

• Marine and coastal

• Land health

• Community capacity

• Environmental stewardship

It should be acknowledged that while management highlights have been attributed to a particular headline theme, many address multiple themes – thereby achieving multiple benefits.

overview

29

• theWetlandsoftheWannonseasonalgrazingtrialcontinuedsuccessfullywith465haoffloodplainwetlandsbeingmanagedwithachangedgrazingregime

• theCoastalCommunityGrantsprogramhasledto the protection and enhancement of 13.8ha of prioritycoastalland.Thisprojecthasalsoincreasedthecommunity’sunderstanding,involvementandappreciation of the coastal environment

• wholefarmplanshavebeenproducedby89farmerscoveringanareaof44,867ha.Theseplansincorporatenaturalresourceandeconomicfactorstoassistwithfarmmanagement,improveproductivityandincludeecologicalissuesindecisionmaking

• permanentprotectionof363.7haofwetlands,terrestrialandriparianvegetationthroughtheestablishmentofsixlegalagreements.

Therewerealsoanumberofchallengesinthereportingyearincluding:

• projectdeliverywasoftenaffectedbyseasonalconditions.Duetothenatureoffundingcyclesandprojectdelivery,projectsoftenneedtobevariedtoalignwithSpringplantingswhichoccurafter30June

• compliancewithstatutorytimelinesinthefirsthalfof2011-12wasachallenge.Thiswascausedbyreducedstaffinglevelsandadditionalworkloadsfromthe2010-11 flood events.

Figure 1: Location of management activities in the Glenelg Hopkins region for 2011-12

Figure1showsthemajorityofprojectlocationsforthe2011-12year.Highlightsforthereportingyearinclude:

• implementationoftheWaterwayActionPlanforthemidG3sub-catchment.Implementationwashighlysuccessfulandexceededoutputtargetswiththefencingof264haofremnantvegetation

• landcaregroupscontinuetoplayastrongroleintheregionwithgroupsundertaking40,130metresoffencing,55,150treesplanted,123.43haofrevegetationundertakenand147,835metresofdirectseedingwithfundingthroughLandcaregrants

• thehighestannualcountoftheRed-tailedBlackCockatoorecordedtodatewith1,468birdssighted

• firstconfirmedsightingoftheOrange-belliedParrotinthreeyearswithintheGlenelgHopkinsregion

• theVictorianVolcanicPlainsprojectledto2,784haofbiodiversity protection and condition improvement throughthedevelopmentofgrasslandmanagementplansandtheprovisionofmanagementpayments

• theremnantwoodlandsprojectinitiated21fundedprojectswithfarmerstoadoptbiodiversityprotectionpractices

• theGlenelgAllianceprojectcontinuestoproduceanumberofongroundachievementsfortheLowerGlenelgareaincluding1,752haofpestplantcontroland 10,020ha of pest animal control


Bio

div

ers

ity

Management highlights

Implementationofthered-tailed Black cockatoo recovery plancontinued.ThekeyachievementoftheRed-tailedBlackCockatooRecoveryTeamwasthesuccessfulannualcountwithatotalof1,468birdssighted.Thisisthehighestcountsincerecordingcommencedandinvolved160volunteersover2,735km².Otherkeyachievementsincludehabitatimprovement,includingpine-wildlingremovalon93haand8haofrevegetationatCastertontoenhancehabitatquality.

HabitatenhancementsfortheGrowling Grass Frog ‘dams to habitat’ project weresuccessfulatthreeofthefourenhancementsites.ThefourthsitewasnotsuccessfulbecausenoGrowlingGrassFrogsweredetected.Ahabitatenhancementfactsheetgeneratedinterestfromlandholdersaboutmodifyingfarmdamstoprovidehabitatforfrogs.

orange-bellied parrot monitoringresultedinthefirstconfirmedsightingoftheparrotintheGlenelgHopkinsregioninoverthree years.

ExtensivehabitatenhancementworkswereconductedatkeyStriped legless lizardsites.Alargenumberofindividualswerecaptured.Thishassignificantlyincreasedknowledgeonthespecies’populationdemographics.

AbiannualhealthcheckoftheBrush-tailed rock Wallaby populationintheGrampiansNationalParkwasconducted. Thefourremaininganimalswerefoundtobeinexcellenthealthwiththefemalecarryingoneweekoldpouchyoung.

The threatened Flora projectcontinuedtheworkofprotectingthreatenedfloraspeciesandtheirhabitatsfromcriticalthreatssuchaspestplantandanimalinvasionsandinappropriatedisturbances,aswellasidentifyingappropriatemanagementmeasures.TheprojectcontinuedtheimplementationofNationalRecoveryPlans,ActionStatementsandassociatedactionsfromtheActionsforBiodiversityConservationdatabase.

The victorian volcanic plain (vvp) projecthasledto2,784haofbiodiversityprotectionandconditionimprovementthroughthedevelopmentofgrasslandmanagementplansandtheprovisionofmanagementpayments.Inaddition26sitescovering905haofnativegrasslandhavebeenassessedandhavehadgrasslandmanagementplansdevelopedforthem.Providinglandholderswithmanagementplansandmanagementpaymentswillleadtobothbiodiversityprotectionandconditionimprovementofthegrasslandandgrassywoodlandsitesunderagreement.

AsacomponentoftheVVPproject,theDepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironment(DSE)continuedtoimplementhabitatenhancementactionsfor17EPBC-listedthreatenedspeciesacrosstheVVP,raisingawarenessatalllevelsaboutthesignificanceofthesespeciesandtheirhabitat.

The remnant Woodlands projectinitiated21fundedprojectswithfarmers,whichwillleadtotheadoptionofbiodiversityprotectionpracticestoprotectandenhancewoodlandvegetationandthecreationoflinkagesbetweenremnants.Outputsincludetheprotectionof273haofremnantvegetation,establishmentof32,000plantstoenhanceexistingwoodlandhabitat,5kmofdirectseedingand30kmoffencing.

landcare activitieshavemadeanumberofcontributionstoregionalbiodiversityincludingthefollowingkeyachievementsinnon-riparianareas:

• 25,880metresoffencingtoprotectremnantvegetationandnewtreesplanted

• 29,471treesplanted • 69.72haofrevegetation

• 128,520metresofdirectseeding • 37.6haofweedspraying.

Condition statement

Theecosystemsthatprovidehabitattothreatenedfloraandfaunaspeciesandcommunitiesrangefromhighlyfragmented(VolcanicPlain)tolargelyintact(Grampians)andoccuracrossprivateandpublicland.Since2003,DSEandGlenelgHopkinsCMAhaveimplementedarecoveryprogramfor57nationallyand/orstate-listedthreatenedspecies(47floraand10fauna)acrosstheGlenelgHopkinscatchment.Thesespeciesrangefromthewell-knownBrush-tailedRockWallaby,Eastern-barredBandicoot,Orange-belliedParrotandRed-tailedBlackCockatoo,tothelittleknownCorangamiteWaterSkink,SouthernBent-wingBat,BasaltGreenhood,PortlandLong-tongueShellOrchid,SquareRaspwortandtherecentlydiscoveredDrunkenTussock-grass.

CentraltothedeliveryoftherecoveryprogramhasbeentheActionsforBiodiversityConservation(ABC)database –aweb-basedinformationsystemadministeredbyDSEasarepositoryforknowledgeaboutthreatenedspeciesandcommunitiesinVictoria.Ittrackstheprogressofmanagementactionsdocumentedinactionstatementspreparedunderthe Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act and in recovery plans prepared under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.TheABCsystemisavitalreportingtoolthatenablesDSEtodeliverdetailed,qualitativereportstotheCMAandinvestors,whileprovidingatooltomonitorandmanagedeliveryoftherecoveryprogram.

Priorityactionssuchasthreatabatement,habitatmanagementandenhancement,andinsomecasesspeciesreintroduction,havebeenimplementedaspartoftheGlenelgHopkinsthreatenedspeciesrecoveryprogram.Overthepastsevenyearstheseactionshavestabilisedthedeclineandledtoagradualrecoveryofmostofthethreatenedspeciescoveredbythisprogram.

Partnershipsandcommunityinvolvementhaveplayedasignificantroleinthesuccess,withover5,500communitymembers,landholdersandvolunteersparticipatinginon-groundactionssuchassurveys,threatassessment,seedcollection,weedingandhabitatrevegetation.Theprogramhasbridgednumerouskeyknowledgegaps,suchasspeciesdistributions,habitatrequirements,lifehistoriesandbehaviours.Thisknowledgeisnotonlybeingusedtoboostspeciesrecoveryandhabitatmanagement,butiscontributingtootherbiodiversityprograms,includingfireandnativevegetationmanagement,majorprojectdevelopments,andwaterwaysandwetlandprograms.

Condition And MAnAgeMent report

31

Inla

nd

Aq

ua

tic

Eco

syst

em

s


Delivery of the Waterway action plan (Wap) forthemidG3sub-catchmentexceededalloutputtargetswiththefencingof261haofremnantvegetation(27kmofriver),110haofrevegetationwithindigenousplantspeciesandtheestablishmentof34off-streamwateringpoints.

The Glenelg alliance high ecological conservation value aquatic ecosystem (hevae) projectisruninpartnershipwithDSE,ParksVictoriaandtheCMA.In2011-12theprojectresultedin1,752haofpestplantcontrolincludingthetreatmentofkeypestspeciessuchasBlackberry,BridalCreeper,GorseandPineWildlings.Treatmentofpestanimalsoccurredover10,020haandtargetedfoxes,catsandpigs.Inadditiontotheseon-groundachievements,theCMAproducedanactionplanforprivatelandwithintheCrawfordRiver,StokesRiverandasectionoftheGlenelgRiver.Theplanincludesrecommendationsforhighprioritymanagementactionsonprivateproperties.

The Wetlands of the Wannon seasonal grazing trial continuedsuccessfullythisyearwith465haestablishedunderagrazingregimechange.Seasonalgrazingexclusionhasbeenfoundtohaveapositiveinfluencewithreducedgroundcompaction,morenativevegetationandlessexoticvegetationpresentinthetrialsites.Intermsofbenefitstoagriculturalproduction, theresultsarenotyetclear.Therearepotentialbenefitsarisingthroughreducedsoilcompactionandthetrialhasbeenusefulinassessingthepracticalityofseasonalgrazingexclusion.

carp monitoringcontinuedin2011-12.Capturesofcarphaveincreasedfromthepreviousyearwith176caught.AllfishcaughtwererestrictedtotheupperreachesoftheGlenelgRiver.Resultsfromthesemonitoringactivitieswillbeusedtofocusfuturecarpremovaleffortsontheprimaryspawningandrefugesites.

landcarehascontributedtoimprovinginlandaquaticecosystemsthoughanumberofactivitiesinriparianareas.Somekeyachievementsinclude:

• 14,250metresoffencingtoprotectvegetationalongwaterways

• 25,679treesplantedtoenhancenativevegetationalongwaterways

• 53.71haofrevegetationtoenhancenativevegetationalongwaterways

• 19,315metresofdirectseedingtoenhancenativevegetationalongwaterways.

Flood recovery effortshavebeenongoingsincethefloodeventsofAugust2010toJanuary2011.Theseeffortshavebeenfundedbyboththestateandfederalgovernmentsandhaveinvolvedremediatingfloodimpactssuchaserosion,damagetofencing,damagetoerosioncontrolstructuresanddebrisbuildup.TheFloodRecoveryEmploymentProgram(FREP)supportedlandholders,communitygroupsandlocalgovernmenttoclearflooddebris,fencestreams,manageweeds,andestablishandprotectnativevegetation.FREPassisted121landholders,andcouncilsandcommunitygroupsintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.Mostassistancehasbeenprovidedtoflood-affectedmunicipalities–AraratRuralCity,andSouthernGrampians,CorangamiteandMoyneShires.

Condition statement

The2004IndexofStreamCondition(ISC)assessmentindicatedthatmostriverreachesintheGlenelgHopkinsregionareinmoderatetoverypoorcondition.Thisisgenerallyduetomodifiedflowregimes,degradedriparianvegetation,poorbankconditionandlowwaterqualityfromelevatednutrientsandsalinity.SomeriverreachesintheGlenelgandPortlandbasinswereassessedasbeingingoodcondition.UpdatedISCdataisduetobereleasedinlate2012.Despitelowflowsinunregulatedwaterwaysoverthesummer,waterqualityintheregion’sriversandestuariesin2011-12wasstillbenefitingfrom2010-11 floods.

ThereweretwoconfirmedbluegreenalgaeoutbreaksintheregionatLakeHamiltonandLakeLearmonth.

EnvironmentalflowtargetsfortheGlenelgRiverhavebeenmetandexceededthisyear.

TheIndexofWetlandCondition(IWC)revealsthat64percentoftheregion’swetlandswhichweresurveyedareingoodtoexcellentconditionwith21percentbeingpoor.InferencesfromtheIWClikelyoverstatetheproportionofregionalwetlandsthatareingoodconditionastheassessmentstendtoonlyfocusonhighervaluewetlandsorthosewithperceivedconservationvalue.Themajorityofwetlandsidentifiedasbeinginpoorconditionweremeadowswhicharehighlysusceptibletostockaccessandhydrologicalmodificationthroughdrainage.Amajorityoftheregion’swetlandsaremeadowsandthisobservationisconsistentwithawidertrendwherebytheextentoftheregion’swetlandshasdeclinedbyapproximately50percentsinceEuropeansettlementthroughdrainageandconversiontoagriculture.

AVictorianIndexofEstuaryCondition(IEC)isindevelopment.TheIECwillidentifypotentialmeasuresforuseinaconsistent,systematicassessmentofestuarineecologicalcondition.Thisdata,togetherwithinformationaboutthesocial,economicandculturalvaluesofeachestuary,willcontributetoacomprehensiveriskassessmentthatidentifiesthevaluesandthreatstoeachoftheestuariesinthisregion.



Condition And MAnAgeMent reportL

an

d H

ealt

h


Aspartoftheland health programmultipleoutcomeswereachievedfrommanagementactivities.Inthesouthwestoftheregion,habitatwasimprovedforbiodiversitythroughthefencingof138haoflandfornaturalregenerationofnativegrassesandtrees,6haofindigenousvegetationwasestablishedonprivatelandand10haofwetlandswerefenced.

Toreducetheriskofdrylandsalinitydegradinglandandfreshwaterassets,1,205haweresowntonon-indigenousvegetation(perennial pasture).

Landmateworkcrewsplantedover300haofprivatelandtoindigenousvegetation,eradicatedrabbitinfestationsfrom24haandtreatedover26hatoeradicateregionallycontrolledweeds.

DPI’simplementationofthespecies-led approach to invasive plants and animalshasfurtherminimisedtheriskofhighriskinvasiveplantsandanimalsfromestablishingandadverselyimpactingonregionalenvironmental,economicandsocialassets.Achievementsfromthisapproachinclude:

• 30infestationsofStateProhibitedWeedshavebeenmonitoredand/orsuccessfullytreatedtowardseradication

• seven(ofthe30)StateProhibitedWeedinfestationshavebeeneradicatedintheregion

• DPIcomplianceoperationsensuredallknown121infestationsofRegionallyProhibitedweedshavebeenmonitored,successfullytreatedandpreventedfromspreading.SpeciesincludeSerratedTussock,GoldenThistle,Amsinkia, SilverLeafNightshadeandSpinyBurrGrass.

DPI’simplementationoftheasset-basedprotectionandimprovedenforcementprogramhascontributedtotheprotectionofseveralhighpriorityregionalassetsandsupportofsustainedcommunityledactiononpests.Achievementsfromthisprograminclude:

• WarrnamboolCoastrabbitcomplianceaudit–protectingtheGlenelgHopkinscoastalzonefromtheadverseimpacts ofrabbitsonvegetation,threatenedspecieshabitatandsoil

• Glenbraerabbitcomplianceproject–protectingtheBeaufort(MtEmuCreek)WatershedZoneassetfromtheadverseimpactsofrabbitsonvegetation,soilandwaterquality

• MacarthurRagwortcomplianceproject–supportingsustainedcommunity-ledactioninRagwortmanagementandtheprotectionofagriculturalassets

• implementationofthefoxbountytosupportsustainedintegratedfoxmanagement.

Condition statement

Toformaconditionstatementforlandhealth,twoaspectsmustbeconsidered–soilhealthandtheprevalenceofpestplants and animals.

Soil health

SouthwestVictoriaisrecognisedashavingsomeofthemostfertileandproductivesoilsinAustralia.Historicalwidespreadremovalofindigenousvegetation,rabbitinfestationsandagriculturalproductionhaveeachcontributedtoadeclineinsoilhealth.Lossinsoilandenvironmentalhealthcontinuestodayunderpoorlandmanagementpractices.

Thelonghistoryofagricultureintheregionandincreasingeconomicpressureonproducershasmeantthatnutrientdecline,soilacidificationandlossofsoilstructureremainprioritythreatstosoilhealth.Declineofsoilorganicmatterisanemergingthreatthatislinkedtodryingconditionsassociatedwithclimatechange.

A2008reviewoftheGlenelgHopkinsSalinityPlanidentifiedsignificantgainsmadeinsalinitymitigationandincreasedlandholderawarenessofsalinityprocessesandmanagementskills.Adecadeoflowerthanaveragerainfallandfuturepredictionsofreducedmeanannualrainfallshavereducedconcernforsalinityasalong-termthreat.Anyrecurrenceofsalinityintheregionplaceshighvalueassetsatconsiderablerisk.

Recenthighrainfallandfloodingeventsduringseasonalperiodsoflowgroundcoverhasresultedinincreasederosionanddemonstratedtherisksofchangingrainfallpatternsfromclimatevariation.Reducedsoilhealthincreasessusceptibilityofsoilstoerosionwithsignificantoff-farmimpactsonwaterways.

Occurrencesofcoastalacid-sulphatesoilshavebeenidentifiedwithintheregion.Theseareashavebeenmappedandthisinformationisusedtoinformlocalgovernmentplanningprocesses.

prevalence oF peSt plantS and animalS

Invasiveplantsandanimalsposesomeofthemostsignificantthreatstoregionalassets.InvasiveanimalsdeclaredundertheCatchment and Land Protection Act 1994,suchasrabbitsandfoxes,arewellestablished.Inaddition,feralgoats,carpandpigsarepresentinsmallerisolatedpopulations.Thesepestanimalshavecausedwidespreadeconomicandenvironmentaldamageandhavesignificantpotentialforfurtherimpact.

TheGlenelgHopkinsRegionalWeedPlan2008-2012describesweedsasamongthemostseriousandcostlythreattoprimaryproductionandnativebiodiversity.Only13percentoftheregionsupportsremnantvegetation,andenvironmentalweedsarethoughttoaffectmostoftheseremnantstovaryingdegrees.

TheDPIspecies-ledapproach(preventionandearlyintervention)hasminimisedtheriskofhighriskinvasiveplantsandanimals.DPI’simplementationoftheasset-basedprotectionapproachtoinvasiveplantsandanimalshascontributedtotheprotectionofseveralhighpriorityregionalassets.

33

Ma

rin

e a

nd

Co

ast

al


TheEstuaryManagementandMonitoringProgramhassupportedtheco-ordinationofestuaryentrancemanagementandtheongoingmonitoringofphysiochemicalparametersacrossallsixoftheregion’sintermittentlyclosedestuaries(Glenelg,Surry,Fitzroy,Yambuk,MerriandtheHopkins).Thishasbeenachievedbydeliveryofthefollowing:

• estuarywaterqualityprofilingforsixestuariesonamonthlybasis

• operationandmaintenanceofsixestuarytelemetrystations

• fourauthorisedartificialrivermouthopenings.

InformationobtainedthroughestuarywaterqualitymonitoringhasenabledtheCMAtosuccessfullyregulateandadministerartificialrivermouthopenings,implementmanagementactionwhereneededandidentifyemergingissuestoestuaryhealth.

Waterqualitymonitoringdatahasbeenaddedtoalong-termdatasetthroughtheEstuaryEntranceManagementSupportSystem(EEMSS)database.

The coastal community Grants programhasledtothedevelopmentofsixon-groundworksprojects.Projectshavetargetedkeyestuariesandcriticalcoastalareas.Keyachievementsofthegrantsprograminclude:

• theprotectionandenhancementof13.8haofprioritycoastallandthroughstockexclusionfencingandindigenousrevegetationworksalongkeycoastalwaterwaysincludingtheMerriRiveratDennington,theShawRiveratYambukandtheGlenelgRiveratNelson

• 3haofpriorityweedtreatment,including1haofAfricanBoxthornatGriffithIslandPortFairyand1haofAfricanBoxthorn,Pines,ItalianBuckthornandWillowsalongtheShawRiveratYambuk

• 4.25haofindigenousrevegetation

• 0.45kmofwaterwayfrontageprotectedthroughstockexclusionfencing.

Amonthly‘CoastalConnections’e-newsletterprovidesinformationonengagementactivities,grantopportunities,coastalasset condition and estuarine status updates.

The Glenelg alliance high ecological conservation value aquatic ecosystem (hevae) projecthasdeliveredmanagementactivitiesrelevanttoanumberheadlinethemes.Actionsthatareofbenefittothecoastalzoneincludetrappingoffoxesandcatsin400haadjacenttoLongSwampintheDiscoveryBayCoastalPark.

The Southern right Whale programsupportstheWarrnamboolwhalewatchvolunteerprojectwhichcomprises 22volunteerswhospendtwohoursadaynotingwhalesightings,numbers,numberofcalvesandarrivalanddeparturedates.Twophotoidentificationflightswereconducted,resultingin20newandtwoknownSouthernRightWhalesbeingidentified.

Condition statement

Thecoastalzoneencompassesanumberofvaluesincludingestuarinehealth,wetlandhealth,extentofnativevegetationand the presence of threatened species. Based on these considerations, it could be determined that, overall, the coastal environmentisunderextremepressureandmaybeconsideredtobeinmarginalcondition.Somespecificassetareasmaybeconsideredtobeinmarginaltogoodconditionbutgenerallythiswouldberelatedtotheprotectionthatisaffordedtothem(forexample,areasofnationalpark).Akeychallengeforimprovingormerelymaintainingtheconditionofthecoastalzoneiscoastaldevelopment.Whereareasofthecoastlineareunderhighdemandandaresubjecttodevelopmentpressures,coastalhabitatstendtograduallyfragmentorarelost.Inaddition,muchofthecoastalareaishigh-valueagriculturalland,particularlydairy;thereisachallengetomanagethislandforproductionandenvironmentalbenefits. Thelikelyimpactsofclimatechangewilladdfurtherchallengesandposeseriousimpactsonbiodiversityandecosystemhealth.

TheGlenelgHopkinsmarineenvironmentprovidesarangeofecosystemservicesandiscriticalhabitatforanumberofrareandthreatenedspecies.KeymarineassetareasandassociatedthreatswererecentlyidentifiedforwesternVictoriaaspartoftheWesternMarineAssetsIdentificationProject.Thisworkprovidesafoundationforfutureinvestigationsofmarinecondition.However,thereareclearlychallengesindescribingandmonitoringmarineconditiongiventhehighlydynamicnatureoftheenvironment,understandingofmarinebiotaanditslikelyresponsetovariousthreatsthatoftenactoverlargespatialscales.Forthesereasonsitisalsochallengingtomeasuretheeffectivenessofregulationsinplacetomitigatetheimpactofthreateningactivitiesonthemarineenvironment.



Condition And MAnAgeMent reportC

om

mu

nit

y C

ap

aci

ty


The landcare programprovidesimportantsupporttoLandcaregroupsacrosstheregionintermsofco-ordination,strategicadviceandthemanagementofthegrantsprogram.Thegrantsprogramforthe2011-12yearwaswellsupportedbytheLandcarecommunity.Grantapplicationsexceededfundsthatwereavailable.

The coastal community Grants programhasincreasedthecommunity’sunderstanding,involvementandappreciation ofourcoastalenvironmentthroughthedeliveryof:

• on-groundworksprojectsandcommunityengagementactivities

• ‘CoastalConnections’e-newsletters

• directengagementwithvariouscommunitygroups,landholdersandagencies.

The Gunditj mirring partnership projectprovidesresourcestoallowtheGunditjmaracommunitycapacitytoidentify,collect,analyseandpracticeadviceinlandmanagementpracticesandIndigenousEcologicalKnowledge(IEK).Theadviceandknowledgeisavailabletootherlandowners,communitygroupsandgovernmentagencies.

Aspartoftheland health program,DPIhasworkedwithfarmerstodevelopwholefarmplanscoveringanareaof44,867ha.Existingfarmplansovermorethan24,000hawereprogressedtowardsimplementationwithDPIassistance.StructuredFarmPlan21courseshaveplacedemphasisonsoilmanagement,resultinginasignificantincreaseinthearea oflandmanagedforsoilhealthimprovementto32,767ha.DPIprovided42workshopsandpresentationsworkingwith 16Landcaregroups.29newslettersandmediareleaseswereproducedand303farmersreceivedtechnicaladvicethatwillsignificantlyimprovetheircapacitytomanagetheirlandsustainably.

DPIhascontinuedtomonitorvegetationandsoilcharacteristicsaspartoftheWetlands of the Wannon project. To maintain currentdataonsalinitytrends,DPIhasmaintainedmonitoringofkeyboresintheGlenelgcatchment.ThisdataisessentialtoenableGlenelgHopkinsCMAandpartnerstoevaluatesuccessofexistingprogramsandmakeinformeddecisionsonsalinitymitigation.

AWaterway action plan (Wap),identifyingpriorityactionswascompletedfortheLowerG3sub-catchment.Thisplaninvolvedtheassessmentof222sitesunder37propertyowners,along223kmofstreamfrontage.Communitymeetingswereheldduringplandevelopmentwithanadditionalmeetingtopromotethefindings.

AWap for the lower Glenelg areahasprovidedanoverviewofthecatchmentoftheLowerGlenelg,CrawfordandStokesrivers.Thishasidentifiedknowledgegapsandputforwardamanagementstrategyfortreatingthreatstooverallriverhealth.TheplancontributestofillinganinformationvoidforthisimportantpartoftheGlenelgHopkinsregion.

The development of the draft Glenelg hopkins regional catchment Strategy 2012-2018wasundertakenincloseconsultationwithadvisorygroups,keypartnersandtheregionalcommunity.AnumberofimportantengagementeventsandworkshopswereheldtodraftkeyRCScontentareasandtotestthestrategy’slogic.

Flood studiesidentifyingfloodlevelsandmitigationoptionsareproceedingforfivetownsintheregion,planningschemeamendmentsarebeingpreparedtobetterincludefloodinformationinplanning,municipalfloodplansarebeingupdated,andimprovedfloodwarninginfrastructureisbeingintroduced.

Condition statement

TheGlenelgHopkinscommunityplaysanintegralroleinthedeliveryofnaturalresourcemanagementactionsandthemaintenanceandimprovementofnaturalassets.Thereisastrongcommunityandlandmanagercommitmenttoimprovenaturalresourceoutcomesacrosstheregion.Thisisclearlyevidentwiththeuptakeinpartnershipprojects,Landcareandparticipationatcommunityforumsandfielddaysoverthelastdecade.TheStatewideSocialBenchmarkingresultsforwaterwaysshowedthattheHopkinsbasinhadthehighestscoreacrossallthestatebasinsforpeoplethatareinvolvedwithrehabilitatingnativehabitat.

Landmanagerswithintheregionarecharacterisedbytheirstronglandstewardship,withthemajorityaspiringtopassontheirpropertytofuturegenerationsinbettercondition.ThisaspirationisillustratedbythestrongLandcarenetworkandvolunteerismwithintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.Programsconductedbyarangeofnaturalresourcemanagementorganisationsattractvolunteersthatplayasignificantroleindatacollection,on-groundworksorfeedbackonissueidentification.

Landcaregroupswithintheregionself-assesstheirhealtheachyear.ThisformsaLandcaregrouphealthscore, whichprovidestrendinformationonLandcareovertime.Thefollowingscores(outoffive)havebeenrecordedfor thepastfouryears:

2009–2.94

2010–3.41

2011–3.15

2012–3.48

Awiderangeofprogramscentredonculturalheritage,culturallysustainabledevelopmentandIndigenousEcologicalKnowledgeareworkingtowardsmaintainingandimprovingpartnershipsandoutcomesforcommunitywithintheregion.OfnoteistheGunditjMirringPartnershipProjectwhichbuildsonrelationshipswithTraditionalOwnerstocollatetraditionalIndigenousEcologicalKnowledgeandtotrialpracticeswithinacontemporarysetting.Theimportanceofintegratingtraditionalknowledgeandpracticesintolandmanagementisrecognisedintheregion.Thecollaborativenatureoftheprojecthasresultedinalargenetworkoforganisationscontributingtotheoutcomes,includingagencies,universities,Indigenouscorporationsandcommunity.

35

Condition And MAnAgeMent reportE

nvi

ron

me

nta

l S

tew

ard

ship


Environmentalstewardshipactivitiesincludeconservationcovenantsandpropertymanagementplans. Themainstewardshipactivitiesthatwereundertakenduring2011-12weretheTrustforNature(TFN)stewardshipandcovenantingprogram,WetlandTenderandwholefarmplans.

Wetland tender 3willincreaseprotectionandmanagementofwetlandsonprivatelandanddeliverinvestmentprioritiesforhigh-prioritynativevegetationwetlandsover210ha.Theareathathascurrentlybeenassessedforprotectionsurpassestheaimsoftheproject.

Apermanent protection and stewardship projectdeliveredbyTrustforNaturesoughttoaddressthelossofandincreasingfragmentationofnativevegetationandwetlandsontheVictorianVolcanicPlain(VVP).Thiswasundertakenthroughtheprovisionofinperpetuitylegalagreementsontitlewithprivatelandholders,aspartofthePlainsTenderProgram.Sixagreementscovering363.7haofwetlands,terrestrialandriparianvegetationhaveensuredpermanentprotection.VegetationcommunitiesprotectedarePlainsGrasslandandStonyKnollShrubland,bothofwhicharetargetEVCswithin theEPBC-listedcriticallyendangeredNaturalTemperateGrasslandcommunity.Someofthesitescovenantedadjoinexistingcovenants,buildingonpreviousworkresultingingreaterenvironmentalbenefits.

ViatheTrustforNaturestewardshipprograms,experttechnicaladvicehasbeenprovidedonspecies,grasslandsandwetlandmanagement.Agreedmanagementplanscovering541hahavebeeneithercompletedorreviewed.

TrustforNaturenotesthatthePlainsTenderProgramandothertenderprograms,hasprovidedgoodincentivesforlandholderstoconserveremnantnativevegetationandhaspositivelyinfluencedtheirlandusechoices.Additionally, theresourcesprovidedhasenabledimprovedgrasslandmanagementwhichwouldnothaveoccurredotherwise.

Wholefarmplanshavebeenproducedby89farmerscoveringanareaof44,867ha.55farmershaveprogressedtoimplementationofexistingfarmplanscoveringanareaof27,672ha.Implementationoftheseplansleadstoimprovednaturalresourcemanagementandfarmproductivity.

Condition statement

Environmentalstewardshipreferstothelevelofparticipationbypublicandprivatelandmanagerstoprotecttheregion’snaturalresources.Therearenotargetsormeasuresavailabletoguideaconditionassessmentforenvironmentalstewardship.Therearehoweveranumberofobservationsthatcanbemadetoprovideanindicationoftheeffectivenessofstewardshipactivities.

AsatDecember2011,TFNhad3,568.636haofprivately-ownednativevegetationandwetlandsintheGlenelgHopkinsregionunderlegalagreement.ByJune2013,TFNwouldhaveengagedwithhundredsoflandholdersviatheConservation,CovenantingandStewardshipProgram,raisingawarenessofthebenefitsofon-titleagreementsandotherNRMmanagementactivities.

BushTenderisavoluntarytender-basedincentiveprogramdesignedtohelpimprovemanagementandprotectionof nativevegetationforbiodiversityonprivateland.Itensuresthatprioritynativevegetationonprivatelandistargetedin acost-effectivemannerandprovideslandholderswithanopportunitytogenerateincomefromtheirnativevegetation. SinceitbeganintheGlenelgHopkinsregionin2007,38conservationagreementshavebeenestablished,covering2,800ha. Anumberoflandholdershaveoptedtopermanentlyprotecttheirsitesinadditiontothestandardfiveyearmanagementagreement,resultinginover600haofnewpermanentlyprotectedremnantvegetationonprivateland.Themajorityoflandunderagreementisendangeredorvulnerable.

Manyoftheregion’swetlandsoccuronprivatelandwherelandmanagersoftendonothavetheeconomicincentivetoconservethem.Recognisingtheimportanceofconservingwetlandswithintheregion,GlenelgHopkinsCMAhasimplementedtheWetlandTenderprogram.

WetlandTenderhasbeenrunningintheGlenelgHopkinsregionsince2009-10andaimstohelplandholdersbetter protecttheirwetlandswiththeprovisionofamanagementplanandfunding.IntwoyearsWetlandTenderhasresultedin 12conservationagreementscovering328ha.Managementactionsonthislandcanincludefencing,revegetation,vegetationenhancement,wetlandrestorationandpestplantandanimalcontrol.

PubliclandintheregionisdominatedbyNationalParks,coveringover220,000ha.StateParks,CoastalParksandReferenceAreascombinetocomprisealmost35,300hathroughouttheregion.

Farmplanninghelpsfarmerstodeterminelong-termgoals,recogniseinformationgapsanddeveloppriorityactionplanstoadapttoachangingoperatingenvironment,improveproductivityandnaturalresourcemanagement.Since2009-10,whentheVictorianInvestmentFrameworkLandHealthprojectscommenced,therehasbeen168,064haoflandcoveredbywholefarmplanningwith133,815hacoveredbyimplementedwholefarmplans.


ouR people, ouR Business

governAnCe struCture

Board

ABoardofninecommunityrepresentativesgovernsGlenelgHopkinsCMA.Directorsareappointedby theMinisterforClimateChangeandEnvironmentandtheMinisterforWaterfollowingapubliccallforpeoplewithskillsandcatchmentexperience.ThepreviousBoardappointmentswereextendedtoSeptember30,2011andnewBoardappointmentswereeffective October 1, 2011.

TheChairpersonMichaelWaggwasappointedon July 1 2011.

The Board is responsible and accountable for the goodgovernance,strategicdirectionandeffective andefficientoperationoftheorganisation.

KeyobjectivesfortheBoardareto:

• representtheinterestsofthecommunityin naturalresourcemanagement

• achieveintegratedcatchmentmanagement (as measured by improvement in resource condition)

• actasastewardforthenaturalresourcebase

• createeffectivepartnerships

• developappropriateactionplansandsupporttheirimplementation,includingdevelopmentoftargetsand measurement of achievement

• provideregionalleadershipinnatural resourcemanagement.

Governance

GlenelgHopkinsCMAisgovernedbyarangeofrequirementsstatedinlegislation,includingtheWater Act 1989, the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, the Financial Management Act 1994 and the Public Administration Act 2004.

TheBoardreportstotheMinisterforEnvironmentandClimateChange,TheHonRyanSmithMP,andtotheMinisterforWater,TheHonPeterWalshMLA.MinistersareaccountabletoParliamentandthecommunity.AccountabilityisfurtherstrengthenedbytheAuditor–GeneralandDepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironment.

GovernanceinvolvestherelationshipsbetweentheVictorianGovernment,theBoard,ExecutiveTeamandstakeholders.

GovernanceinGlenelgHopkinsCMAencouragesstrongperformanceandprovidescommunityconfidenceintheorganisation.ThisallowstheCMAtooperateefficientlyandeffectivelyaswellasrespondingstrategicallytochangingdemands.

TheChiefExecutiveOfficeristhemainconduitbetweentheBoardandstaff.TheChiefExecutiveOfficerisresponsiblefordailyoperationalmanagementoftheCMAinaccordancewiththelaw,decisionsoftheBoardandgovernmentpolicies.

PlanningwithinsouthwestVictoriabeginswiththeRegionalCatchmentStrategy.ThestrategyformstheframeworkfornaturalresourcemanagementactionwithinthecatchmentandassistsStateandFederalgovernmentstodirectfundingintotheregionfor this purpose.

TheAnnualReportprovidesinformationonachievement of business results and the implementation of the Corporate Plan.

The 2011-12 to 2015-16 Corporate Plan reinforces theorganisation’scommitmenttosustainability,adaptivemanagementandresponsibleenvironmentalstewardship.Itcallsforinnovationandcontinuousimprovementwhilemeetinglegislativeandcorporategovernancerequirements.

AframeworkisprovidedfortheCMAtobestfacilitateworkstowardahealthiercatchment,sustainableproductionandprotectionofournaturalheritage.

Thethreespecificfocusareasareachievingnaturalresourcemanagementresults,partnerships/regionalcapability and internal capability.

TheseareencapsulatedintheGlenelgHopkinsCMA’sthreeoverarchingpolicies:

• HealthyLandscapes

• ConnectingCommunityandEnvironment

•OurPeopleOurBusiness.

Board memBer meetinG attendance

37

namenumber of

Meetings out of 11explanatory note

Michael wagg 11 of 11

dr John sherwood 9 of 11

roma britnell 4 of 8director since october 2011 - leave granted for 26 March 2012 to 3 June 2012

Coralie Coulson 10 of 11

Michael Craig 7 of 8 director since october 2011

vin gannon 7 of 8 director since october 2011

Jason ritchie 5 of 8director since october 2011 - leave granted for 1 April 2012 to 14 January 2013

debbie shea 10 of 11

Mark wootton 6 of 6 resigned 1 february 2012

graham lean 2 of 3 director from 1 July 2011 to 30 september 2011

doug phillips 1 of 3 director from 1 July 2011 to 30 september 2011

naomi pye 3 of 3

Apologies from directors for non-attendance at meetings are received by the Chair prior to the meeting and approved by the board.

our people, our business

boArd CoMMittees

Audit and Risk Committee

TheAuditandRiskCommitteemetfourtimesin the2011-12yearasrequiredbyitscharter.

Thecommittee’sprimaryobjectiveistoassisttheBoardtofulfillitscorporategovernanceandoversightresponsibilities(includingdecisionmaking)inrelation tofinancialreporting,managementofrisk,maintainingareliable system of internal controls, internal and external auditfunctionsandfacilitatingethicaldevelopment.

The main focus of the committee for the 2011-12 yearwasto:

• assisttheBoardinfulfillingitscorporategovernanceandoversightresponsibilitiesinrelationtotheorganisation’sfinancialreporting,managementofrisk,system of internal controls, internal and external audit responsibilities and ethical development

• developaformat,assessandreporttheperformanceofthecommitteeagainsttheAuditandRiskCommittee Charter

• clarifythepolicyreviewrolewithinthecharterandestablisharenewedscheduleandguidelinesfor thereviewofpolicywiththemergernotproceeding.

WhiletheReportingCommitteeoversawthedevelopmentofthedraftRegionalCatchmentStrategy,theAuditandRiskCommitteealsoassumedtheresponsibilityofoverseeingthereportingframework oftheorganisation.

ThecommitteecomprisestwoBoardDirectorsandtwocommunityrepresentatives,onebeingtheChairoftheAuditandRiskCommittee,GrahamShiell.

BoardrepresentativesareMichaelCraigandMikeWagg.Non-votingstaffmembersareBusinessandFinanceProgramManagerMarieMcDonaldandexecutiveofficer(non-voting)-StrategyandInvestmentManagerPhilPerret(1July2011–7June2012)andPartnershipandInvestmentProgramManagerMichaelRees(8June2012–30June2012).



boArd CoMMittees

Remuneration and Performance Committee

TheChairoftheRemunerationandPerformanceCommitteeisBoardChairpersonMikeWaggandincludesBoardDirectorsDrJohnSherwoodandMarkWootton.DirectorWoottonresignedfromtheBoard on1February2012andwasnotreplaced,however thiscommitteehasnotmetsincehisresignation.

Thecommittee’sprimaryobjectiveistoadvisetheBoard on senior staff appointments, remuneration and performance evaluation.

Inparticular,thecommitteeadvisestheBoardon:

• staffremunerationandperformanceevaluationpolicy

• appropriateexecutivelevelremunerationandemploymentagreements

• specificationofCEOperformancemeasures

• evaluationofCEOperformance

• awardingofCEOperformancebonus

• successionplanning.

Theexecutiveofficer(non-voting)isBusiness andFinanceProgramManagerMarieMcDonald.

Reporting Committee

From1July2011to17November2011,theReportingCommitteeincludedBoardDirectorsMichaelWaggandDebbie Shea. Directors Debbie Shea (Chair), Coralie CoulsonandRomaBritnellwereappointedtotheReportingCommitteeonNovember18,2011.DirectorBritnellwasgrantedleaveinFebruary2012andDirectorVin Gannon assumed membership of the committee.

ChairoftheBiodiversityandLandHealthAdvisoryGroupMichaelWaiteandChairoftheRiverandWetlandHealthAdvisoryCommitteeDrMichelleCasanovaweremembersoftheReportingCommitteefor 2011-12.

CMAexecutiveofficer(non-voting)onthecommitteewereStrategyandInvestmentManagemerPhilPerret(30June2011–7June2012)andPartnershipandInvestmentProgramManagerMichaelRees(8June2012–30June2012).

Thecommittee’sprimaryrolethisyearwastomonitor,reviewandendorsethestageddevelopmentofthe2012-2018RegionalCatchmentStrategydraftinlinewithrequirementsfromtheVictorianCatchmentManagementCouncilandDSE.

ThepreviousroleofmonitoringandevaluatingthereportingframeworkoftheorganisationwastransferredtotheAuditandRiskCommitteeduring2011-12.

Investment and Funding Committee

TheInvestmentandFundingCommitteeChairisDirector Coralie Coulson and includes Board Directors VinGannonandJasonRitchie.Theexecutiveofficer isChiefExecutiveKevinWood.

ThecommitteesupportsGlenelgHopkinsCMA’sinvestmentprocessesthroughaforumthatprovidesstrategicleadership.ThecommitteeadvisestheBoardon:

• developinghigh-levelstrategicinvestmentprocessesthat define investment priorities

• providingleadershipanddirectionforGlenelgHopkinsCMAinvestmentplanningandadvice tothestaffStrategicInvestmentGroup

• reviewingtheannualinvestmentplan.

39


Chairperson

Mr Michael WaggholdsaDegreeinAgriculturalScience,DiplomainProjectManagementandisagraduateoftheAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors.ConcurrentwithrunningsheeppropertiesnearCavendishandChetwyndfor25years,hehasworkedinvariousnaturalresourcemanagementandcommunityengagementpositionswithgovernmentagencies.HeisnowaDirectorwithJarrapoolProjectManagementandConsultingPtyLtd,workingmainlywithruralresearchanddevelopmentorganisations.

Deputy Chairperson

dr John sherwoodholdsqualificationsinscience,philosophy, education and environmental studies, withextensiveexperienceasaresearchscientistinfreshwater,marineandestuarinesystemsandenvironmentalmanagement.

HeisHonoraryAssociateProfessorintheSchoolof LifeandEnvironmentalSciencesatDeakinUniversity inWarrnambool.

Mrs Roma Britnell istheownerandmanagerofthreedairypropertiesinWesternVictoria.ShehasanAdvancedDiplomaofAgricultureandisaGraduateoftheAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors.Romaisanactiveadvocateforagricultureandisoncommitteesforagriculturalinareassuchaseducation,extensiontoregionalplanningfortheindustry.SheistheregionalrepresentativefortheUnitedDairyFarmersofVictoriaandisalsoboardmemberoftheNationalorganisation -AustralianDairyFarmers.

Ms Coralie CoulsonholdsqualificationsinHealthSciences (Orthoptics) and is involved in community services and development. She has extensive experience instrategicandbusinessplanning,includinginbusinessmanagementandlocalgovernment.ShehasgrassrootsinvolvementinnaturalresourcemanagementandisagraduateoftheAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors.

Mr Michael CraigholdsadegreeinCommerce/InternationalBusinessandaDiplomainFinancialMarkets.Heisaself-employedfarmeratHarrow,alongtheGlenelgRiver.HeisVicePresidentoftheVictorianFarmersFederationLivestockCouncil,TreasureroftheSouthWestSireEvaluationSchemeandontheSheepmeatCouncilofAustralia.(BoardDirectorfromOctober 1, 2011).

Mr vincent Gannon is a self-employed primary producer,withexperienceinfisheriesandmarineresourcemanagementandcommunityengagement.HeistheGeneralManagerofOperationsWinda-MaraAboriginalCorporation,memberoftheMinisterialFisheriesCostRecoveryStandingCommittee, adirectorofSeafoodIndustryVictoriaandadirector ofCobbobooneeHorseRiding.Heisagraduateof theAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors. (Board Director from October 1, 2011).

dr Graham leanholdsqualificationsinVeterinaryScience and has extensive experience in farm managementconsultancy,landmanagementandfinancialadvice.Heisself-employedasPrincipalConsultantofGrahamLean&Associates.HehascompletedtheAustralianInstituteofCompany Directors course. (Board Director from July 1 to September 30, 2011).

Mr doug phillips has extensive experience in natural resourcemanagementandisManagerofGreeningAustralia,Victoria’sSouthWestSeedbankandRevegetationCentre.MrPhillipshasbeenaBoardmember since 2006. (Board Director from July 1 to September 30, 2011).

Ms naomi pyeholdsqualificationsinagricultureandprimaryeducationandhascompletedtheAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectorscourse.Shehasextensiveexperienceinruralbusinessmanagement,landmanagementandeducationandisinvolvedinseveraladvisorygroupsandsteeringcommitteesacrosstheregion.ShehasbeenaBoardmembersince2006.(Board Director from July 1 to September 30, 2011).

Mr Jason RitchieholdsadegreeinMechanicalEngineering.Heisaself-employedfarmerat“Blackwood”,oneofthelargestcroppingoperationsinsouthwestVictoria.(BoardDirectorfromOctober1,2011).

Ms debbie sheaholdsarangeofqualificationsinprimaryindustryandbusinessmanagementandhashadextensiveexperiencemanagingalarge-scalewoolenterpriseatherproperty,balancingproductionandconservationissues.SheisactiveinseveralArarat-regioncommunitygroupsandisagraduateoftheAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors.

Mr Mark WoottonholdsaBachelorofArtsandaGraduateDiplomainEducation.Hehasbeentheprincipal/managerofJigsawFarmssince1996.HeisamemberoftheMinisterialReferenceCouncilforClimateChangeAdaptationandChairoftheClimateInstitute.HeisamemberoftheAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors. (Board Director from July 1, 2011 to February 1, 2012).

boArd direCtors



orgAnisAtionAl struCture

Minister for environMent and CliMate Change

The Hon Ryan Smith MP

Minister for Water

The Hon Peter Walsh MLA

• AuditandRisk

• Reporting

• RemunerationandPerformance

• InvestmentandFunding

Board SuB committeeS

• Strategy

• Policy

• Monitoring

• Accountability

cma Board

internal audit

chieF executive

oFFicer

Kevin Wood

• BiodiversityandLandHealth

• WetlandandRiverHealth

adviSory GroupS

Responsibilities:

• Floodplainmanagement

• Worksonwaterwaysanddrainageregulationwithintheregion

• MaintenanceoftheEnvironmentalWaterReserve

Statutory Water proGram manaGer

Brad Henderson

Responsibilities:

• Businesssupportfor the Board, Chief ExecutiveOfficerandtheorganisation

• HumanResources

• FinancialManagement

BuSineSS and Finance proGram

manaGer

Marie McDonald

Responsibilities:

• Develophigh-levelstrategies

• Co-ordinationofregionalNRMinvestment

• Co-ordinatelandhealthand biodiversity service delivery,includingsupportfortheregionalLandcareprograms

• Publicrelationsandcommunityengagementsupport

• Indigenouspartnerships

partnerShipS and inveStment

proGram manaGer

Michael Rees

Responsibilities:

• Co-ordinateregionalstream,wetlandandcoastal health

• Maintenanceof relationswithkeycatchment health and waterwaystakeholders

WaterWay and catchment health proGram manaGer

Adam Bester


41

reporting requireMents

Program Definition

partnerShip and inveStment:

Strategyandinvestment.Sustainableandintegratedmanagementofsoils,floraandfauna,pestplantsandpestanimalsthroughpartnershipstoachieveahealthyecosystem.Engagementanddeliveryofcommunity-basedworks,monitoringandreportingofintegratedcatchmentmanagementacrossthewholeregion. Policyandstrategicdirectionsetting,consultation andpartnershipswithcommunityandgovernment.Public affairs.

WaterWay and catchment health:Sustainableandintegratedmanagementofwaterways,wetlands,terrestrialhabitatsandbiodiversity.Preserveandenhancetheecologicalhealthoftheregion’swaterwaysandterrestrialsystemswhilemaintainingeconomic and social development. Protect and enhance thecoastalareasofthecatchmentwhileprovidingopportunities for sustainable use and development alongthecoast.Deliveryofdevolvedgrantand tenderprojects.

Statutory Water:Statutoryservicesincluding:flood,waterwayandwaterresourceadviceandworksandactivitiesonwaterwayslicensing.Floodplainmanagementincluding:strategicandstatutoryplanning,floodresponseplanning,floodinvestigationsandfloodrecoveryprograms.

WaterResourcesPlanningincluding:regulatedandunregulatedwaterplanning,environmentalflowsmonitoring,surfacewatermonitoringandCarpmanagement.

BuSineSS and Finance:Finance and business, human resources, administrationandinformationtechnology.

Values and Behaviours

Staffconductstronglyreflectspublicsectorvaluesasprescribed in the Public Administration Act, 2004. Thevaluesandbehavioursarereportedagainstperformancereviewsaspartofemployeereviewanddevelopment. The benefit of this approach is toencourageindividualbehaviourstowardadesiredorganisationalculture.

Human Resource Management

GlenelgHopkinsCMAhascontinuedtoimproveemploymentrelationsthroughthefollowingactions:

•WorkplaceObligationsTraining

• continuousimprovementofHRprocedures.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAsubmittedthemanagementlogforthenewEBAinOctober2011.Asthemanagementloghasnotyetbeenapproved,theCMAisunabletostartnegotiations.AsaresulttheCMAstillfollowstheWorkplaceAgreement(2010-11),withanintentiontoimplementanewthreeyearagreement.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAsupportsaStaffManagementWorkGroup,whichmeetsquarterlytodiscussimprovementstotheworkenvironment,promotesocialinteractionandinitiatesaferworkpractices.

Occupational Health and Safety

GlenelgHopkinsCMAiscommittedtoensuringalllegislativerequirementsundertheOH&S Act 2004 are beingmetandthatasafemanagementsystemisinplacetoprovideapreventativeapproachtoOH&S.

AnOccupationalHealthandSafetyManagementSystem has been implemented. The main focus is to provideasafeworkplaceandincreaseawarenessforallstaff.Thisisparticularlyrelevantforfieldstaffoperatingin remote locations.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAhascontinuedtoimprovehealthandsafetythrough:

• OH&SCommitteetraining(Worksafe-accredited)

• independentreviewofpoliciesandprocedures

• internalreviewandupdateinductionofpolicies and procedures

• workplaceinspections

• upgradingfirst-aidfacilitiesforallbuildings, vehicles and field staff

• first-aidtrainingforallstaff

• defensivedrivertrainingforallstaffrequiredtouseaCMAvehicleorsalary-packagedvehicleaspartoftheir duties

• specifictrainingforallstaffrequiredtouse a4WDvehicle,includingtheuseofsafety recoveryequipment

• installationofariskassessmentprocessusing aSafeWorkMethodStatementTemplatetool

• ReturntoWorkguidelines.



AllexternalcontractorswhoundertakeworkfortheGlenelgHopkinsCMAareprovidedwithaContractorInduction.TheyarerequiredtoproduceevidenceoftheirWorkCoverstatusbeforestartingworkaswellasaSafeWorkMethodStatementthatmustmeetalevelofcompliancethatequals,asaminimum,therequirementsinourownRiskAssessmentfortheproject.

AllOH&SpoliciesandproceduresareavailabletostaffthroughanelectronicshareddocumentspointontheCMAintranet.

ThereweretwonewWorkCoverclaimsfor2011-2012.

Merit and EquityGlenelgHopkinsCMAstaffareappointedfollowing a comprehensive selection process. People are selected for vacancies and other employment opportunities solelyontheirmerit.Meritischoosingpeoplefortherightreasons:

• attractingqualifiedpeople

• objectiveassessmentagainstfaircriteria

• selectionforemploymentopportunitieson individual ability.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAselectsonmeritforanyopportunitiesthatgiveonepersonanemploymentadvantageoverothers,forexample:

• selectingstaffforappointment,transferorpromotion

• fillingplacesondevelopment/trainingprograms

• determiningstaffprojects

• rewardinggoodstaffperformance.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAiscommittedtothe EqualEmploymentOpportunityprinciples.

WomenarestronglyrepresentedinmanagementroleswithintheCMA.OneoffourProgramManagersandthreeoffourseniormanagementrolesareheldbywomen.TheCMAemploysfourfemaleEnvironmentalEngineers.TheBoardandtwoAdvisoryGroupshavewomenrepresentingtheinterestsofthecommunityinnaturalresourcemanagement.TheCMAemploysanIndigenousCommunityCo-ordinator.

Staff Technology SupportAnincreasingnumberofGlenelgHopkinsCMAstaffliveintheWarrnamboolarea,whichhasresultedinincreasedtravelofstafftoourHamiltonmainoffice. ToreducethetravelcoststoHamilton,stafffrom theWarrnamboolareacannowworkfromtheWarrnambooloffice.

ThepreviousITinfrastructurewasnotadequatetosupporttheincreasednumberofstaffworkingfromWarrnambool.TheCMAhasinstalledanewADSL2connectioninHamiltontoimproveconnectivity,betweentheHamiltonandWarrnamboolsites.

GlenelG hopkinS cma WorkForce (Fte) aS at June 30 2012

2011-12 2010-11

ExecutiveOfficers 5 3

SeniorManagers 4 7

AdministrationStaff 8 13

Field Staff 29 32

Total 46 55

Male 27.8 29

Female 21.33 26

Total 49.13 55

Workforce Data

GlenelgHopkinsCMAemployed49.1full-timeequivalent(FTE)staffin2011-12comparedto55FTEstaff in 2010-11.

executive oFFicer data

TheAnnualisedEmployeeEquivalentfor2011-12 was2.2.


43

CoMpliAnCe And disClosures

National Competition Policy

GlenelgHopkinsCMAisnotcomprisedofbusinessunits and its operations do not restrict competition. Noallegationsofnon-compliancewithgovernmentpolicywerelodgedwiththeorganisationin2011-12.

Freedom of Information

operation

GlenelgHopkinsCMAisconsidereda“GovernmentAgency”underthetermsoftheFreedom of Information Act 1982.Accordingly,GlenelgHopkinsCMAcomplieswiththeproceduresprescribedunderwhichmembersofthepublicmaygainaccesstoinformationheldbyagencies.

RequestsforinformationshouldbeforwardedtotheFreedomofInformationOfficer,

michelle dahl, POBox502or79FrenchStreet,Hamilton,3300,accompanied by an application fee of $25.10.

application

GlenelgHopkinsCMAreceivednorequestsforinformationduring2011-12undertheFreedom of Information Act 1982.

Whistleblowers Protection Act

The Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 came into effect on January 1, 2002. The ActisdesignedtoprotectpeoplewhodiscloseinformationaboutseriouswrongdoingwithintheVictorianpublicsectorandtoprovideaframeworkforinvestigationofthesematters.

GlenelgHopkinsCMABoardadoptedtheDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentWhistleblowers Protection Act 2001proceduresonMarch20,2002 -ResolutionNumber0270.00.

TherehavebeennodisclosuresmadetoGlenelgHopkinsCMAsincecommencementofthisAct.

DisclosuresofimproperconductbyGlenelgHopkinsCMAoritsemployeesmaybemadetothefollowing:

marie mcdonald Protected Disclosure Co-ordinator, GlenelgHopkinsCMA, 79FrenchStreet,Hamilton,Vic3300 Telephone:(03)55712526 Email:[email protected]

the ombudsman victoria Level3,459CollinsStreet,Melbourne,Vic3000 Telephone:(03)96136222 Tollfree:1800806314

availaBility oF other inFormation

GlenelgHopkinsCMAhasavailablethefollowingdocuments as specified in the Financial Management Act 1994,subjecttotheFreedom of Information Act 1982:

• publicationsproducedbyGlenelgHopkinsCMA andtheplaceswherethepublicationscanbeobtained

• relevantofficershavedulycompleteddeclarations of pecuniary interests. These are treated as confidential documents

• majorexternalreviews

• changesinprices,fees,charges,ratesand leviescharged

• majorresearchanddevelopmentactivitiesundertaken

• overseastravelundertaken,includingasummary oftheobjectivesandoutcomesofeachvisit

• majorpromotional,publicrelationsandmarketingactivitiesundertakenbytheCMAtodevelopcommunityawarenessoftheorganisationanditsservices

• assessmentsandmeasurestoimprovetheOH&S of employees

• StatementofIndustrialRelationswithintheCMA,includingtimelostthroughindustrialaccidentsanddisputes

• listofmajorcommitteessponsoredbytheentity, the purposes of each committee and the extent towhichthepurposeshavebeenachieved.

community incluSiveneSS

GlenelgHopkinsCMAiscommittedtopolicies,programsandstrategiesdeliveringculturallyappropriate services to the Victorian community. Currentpracticesofinclusiveandthoroughpublicconsultationensureallpeoplewhohaveaninterestininvestigationsarekeptinformedandhavetheopportunitytohaveaninputintotheorganisation’sdeliberations.

ThisalsoincludestheworkcarriedoutbyourIndigenousCommunityFacilitator.InformationandguidelineshavebeendevelopedtoassistGlenelgHopkinsCMAstaffinteractorengagewithindigenouspeopleandorganisations.



Consultant purpose of Consultancy start date end date

Total Approved project Fee (excl. GsT)

expenditure 2011-12

Future expenditure(excl. GsT)

EnvironousPty Environmentalflowsandfishmonitoring 3/01/2011 31/10/2011 75,540 30,216 nil

Thiess Services EstuaryManagementandMonitoring 1/07/2011 30/06/2012 71,137 62,664 nil

Charophyte Services

Springsurvey -EcologicalMonitoring 1/10/2011 30/06/2012 33,000 33,000 nil

KnowledgeOneCo TechnicalConsultancyandRecFind6UpgradeConsultancy 26/09/2011 31/05/2012 11,679 11,679 nil

RMITUniversity ReviewandupgradeextensiontoolkitfortheGunditjMirringParnershipProject 1/08/2011 30/06/2012 34,120 28,160 5,690

Cardno Victoria HamiltonFloodInvestigation 20/07/2011 31/12/2012 103,020 96,260 6,760

EcologyAustralia FloraandFaunasurveysforHawkesdaleRacecourseandRecreation 7/11/2011 26/06/2012 18,640 18,640 nil

WaterTechnology GreaterGrampiansFlagshipWetlandsProtection 5/12/2011 30/06/2012 26,650 20,092 6,558

SinclairKnightMertz

NDDRAFlood ProjectAdministration 28/02/2011 28/07/2011 67,740 67,740 nil

WaterTechnology BurrumbeetCreekFloodInvestigation 5/12/2011 31/03/2012 175,535 21,720 153,815

WaterTechnology SkiptonFloodInvestigation 5/12/2011 30/09/2012 99,715 44,447 55,268

MayfairGroupManagement

FacilitatorfortheBoardStrategicWorkshop 20/01/2012 9/03/2012 11,710 11,710 nil

PIRSACorporate Carpmonitoringandcontrol 30/10/2011 30/11/2011 10,894 10,894 nil

WaterTechnology MarineClimateChangeVulnerability 7/11/2011 28/02/2012 27,270 21,232 6,038

EnvironousPty FishVEFMAPdataanalysis 1/01/2012 30/06/2012 79,600 79,600 nil

Cardno Victoria WickliffeFloodInvestigation 8/12/2011 1/09/2012 96,539 38,110 58,429

AlluviumConsulting Geomorphreportinganddataexchange 1/03/2011 30/06/2012 24,400 24,400 nil

AlluviumConsulting WaterwayActionPlanning 13/03/2011 30/06/2012 109,995 98,354 11,641

AustralianEcosystems Grantsforgrasslandimprovement 1/03/2012 30/06/2012 49,440 49,440 nil

DeakinUniversity MarineClimateChangeVulnerability 4/04/2012 27/06/2012 15,000 15,000 nil

Department of PrimaryIndustries MarineClimateChangeVulnerability 16/04/2012 30/06/2012 10,000 10,000 nil

LitePCTechnology 2011-12PopulatingEEMSS 1/05/2012 30/06/2012 12,000 12,000 nil

NatureGlenelgTrust 2011-12PopulatingEEMSS 1/06/2012 31/12/2012 13,000 10,400 2,600

EnicsSolutions EVCGroundtruthing 1/06/2011 28/02/2012 58,990 58,990 nil

AlluviumConsulting NDRRAfloodprojectContract 1/04/2012 31/12/2012 16,500 11,807 4,693

CatchmentHealthEngineering NDRRAandworksonwaterways 1/07/2011 30/06/2012 65,157 65,157 nil

PSIAsiapacificPtyLtd Projectsprobityadvice 1/07/2011 30/06/2012 11,732 11,732 nil

Consultancies

Therewere57consultanciestoatotalvalueof$1,052,445.Therewere20exceeding$10,000during2011-12.

In2011-12GlenelgHopkinsCMAengaged37consultancieswherethetotalfeespayabletotheconsultantswere lessthan$10,000,withatotalexpenditureof$89,001(excl.GST).


45

maJor chanGeS or FactorS aFFectinG perFormanceNomajorchangesimpactedontheperformance ofGlenelgHopkinsCMAduring2011-12.

SiGniFicant chanGeS in Financial poSitionIn2011-12,therewerenosignificantchangesin financialposition.GlenelgHopkinsCMA’sbudget was$15.05millionandexpenditureachievedwas $11.88million.Thenetlosswas$231,000compared toanetprofitof$2.2millionduring2010-11.

eventS SuBSequent to Balance dateTherewerenosignificanteventssubsequenttothebalancedatethatwouldhaveamaterialimpacton theoperationsofGlenelgHopkinsCMA.

maJor contractS

TherewerenomajorcontractsenteredintobyGlenelgHopkinsCMAduring2011-12.

accountaBle oFFicer diScloSureSRemunerationreceivedorreceivablebytheAccountableOfficer,inconnectionwiththemanagementoftheAuthority,wasintherange:

2011-12:$170,000–$179,999

2010-11:$160,000–$169,999

compliance With BuiLding ACt 1993

Duringthereportingperiod,allbuildingsmettherelevant compliance provisions of the Building Act 1993 exceptfortheMaintenanceofEssentialSafetyMeasures,Section1214ontheBuildingRegulations2006.TheCMAwillprepareanannualreportofEssentialSafetyMeasuresin2012.GlenelgHopkinsCMAistheownerofbuildingsat79and84FrenchStreet,Hamilton,andleasesabuildingat241LavaStreet,Warrnambool.

ViCtORiAn industRy PARtiCiPAtiOn POLiCy ACt 2003

Therewerenotendersover$1,000,000enteredinto byGlenelgHopkinsCMAduring2011-12.

Objectives, Functions, Powers and Duties

TheObjectives,Functions,PowersandDutiesof theGlenelgHopkinsCMAarelargelycontainedwithinthefollowingActs:

•Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994

•Water Act 1989

• Financial Management Act 1994

•Audit Act 1994

• Freedom of Information Act 1982

• Information Privacy Act 2000

• Public Administration Act 2004.

Risk Management Compliance Attestation

I,MichaelWagg,certifythatGlenelgHopkinsCMAhasriskmanagementprocessesinplaceconsistentwiththeAustralian/NewZealandRiskManagementStandard AS/NZISO31000-2009(oritssuccessor)andaninternalcontrol system is in place that enables the executive to understand,manageandsatisfactorilycontrolriskexposures.Aspartofitscontinuousimprovementprocess,theGlenelgHopkinsCMAriskmanagementframeworkwillbereviewedinthecomingyearwithafocusonaddressingimprovementopportunitiesidentifiedwithintheVMIARiskFrameworkQualityReview.

TheauditandriskcommitteeverifiesthisassuranceandconfirmsthattheriskprofileofGlenelgHopkinsCMAhasbeencriticallyreviewedwithinthelast12months.

Michael WaggChairperson 24thAugust2012

Total Revenue and Expenditure 2011 - 2012

-2,000

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

2008

($000’s)

Year

Total Revenue Total Expenditure Surplus (Deficit)

2009 2010 2011 2012-2,000

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000



Environmental Report – Reducing Our Environmental Impact

DuetoareductioninstaffnumberstheGlenelgHopkinsCMA’sresourcesmartplanhasnotbeenmonitoredduringthisfinancialyear.However,consideringthislimitationstaffhavebeencommittedtoreducingtheirenvironmentalimpactonadailybasiswiththebelowobjectivesinmind:

objective Measureuse for 2010-11

(55 FTe)use for 2011-12

(49.1 FTe)difference

%

ReduceEnergyUse(Electricity)

kWhusedperannum(x3offices) 96,860kWh 96,175kWh 0.01% Decrease

kWhusedperFTEperannum (x3 offices) 1,761.09kWh 1,957.6kWh 0.11%Increase

ReducePaperUse

WhiteA4reamsperannum 610 reams 270 reams 56% Decrease

WhiteA4reamsperFTEperannum 11.1 reams 0.92 reams

WhiteA3reamsperannum 17 reams 18 reams 0.06%Increase

WhiteA3reamsperFTEperannum 0.31 reams 0.4 reams 0.22%Increase

Changefromstandardcopy paper to Carbon Neutral Paper

WhiteA4andWhiteA3reams 100% 100% 100%Changeover

PaperRecyclingLitresusedperannum 28-250Lbins 38–250Lbins 0.26%Increase

LitresusedperFTEperannum 0.51-250Lbins 0.8–250Lbins

TonerCartridges

TonerCartridgesReceivedperannum 91 78 14% Decrease

TonerCartridgesReceiver perFTEperannum 1.65 1.6

ReduceFuelUse

Litresperannum(fleetx12) 25,673 litres 47,770 litres 36%Increase

Litresusedpervehicle 2,139 litres (x12 vehicles)

2,985 litres (x16 vehicles)

28%Increase (IncreasedFREPCrewsitevisits)

FlightstoMelbourne

NoFlightstoMelb. per annum 161–oneway 111–oneway 31% Decrease

NoFlightstoMelb. perFTEperannum 2.9–oneway 2.3–oneway

ReducedWaterConsumption

kl used per annum:

241LavaStreet,Warrnambool 21Kl 21Kl Nochange

79FrenchStreet,Hamilton MeterinstalledinMay2011 107 Nobasefigure

84FrenchStreet,Hamilton 64KI 127KI 50%Increase (suspectedleak)

• FTE=Averagestaffthroughoutthereportingperiod:FTE:2010-11=55staff2011-12=49.1staff• Offices(x3)=79and84FrenchStreets,Hamiltonand241LavaStreet,Warrnambool• FREP=FloodRecoveryEmploymentProgram

WecertifythattheattachedfinancialstatementsofGlenelgHopkinsCatchmentManagementAuthority,havebeenpreparedinaccordancewiththeFinancial Management Act 1994,applicableAustralianAccountingStandardsandothermandatoryprofessionalreportingrequirements.

Wefurtherstatethat,inouropinion,theinformationsetoutintheoperatingstatement,balancesheet,statementofchangesinequity,cashflowstatementandnotestoandformingpartofthefinancialstatements,presentsfairlythefinancialtransactionsduringtheyearended30June2012andthefinancialpositionofGlenelgHopkinsCatchmentManagementAuthorityasat30June2012.

Wearenotawareofanycircumstancesthatwouldrenderanyparticularsincludedinthefinancialstatementstobemisleadingorinaccurate.

SignedinaccordancewitharesolutionoftheBoardofManagement24thAugust2012.

Michael Wagg kevin WoodChairperson ChiefExecutiveOfficer (AccountableOfficer)

Marie Mcdonald

BusinessandFinanceProgramManager

24thAugust2012

47

CertifiCAtion to tHe finAnCiAl stAteMents

50 F i n a n c i a l S ta te m e n t s Yea r En d ed 3 0 J u n e 2 0 1 2

note

2012$

2011$

revenue from operating activities

victorian government Contributions 3(a) 7,000,915 7,602,504

Commonwealth government 3(a) 3,970,218 4,085,000

other income 3(a) 349,463 722,950

total revenue from operating activities 11,320,596 12,410,454

revenue from non-operating activities

interest 337,156 210,591

net profit/(loss) on disposal of non-Current Assets 3(b) 472 22,115

total revenue 11,658,224 12,643,159

expenses from operating activities

depreciation 3(c) 123,490 119,463

employee benefits 3(c) 4,682,433 4,049,397

repairs & Maintenance expenses 3(c) 80,446 40,607

suppliers 3(c) 6,597,132 5,743,766

other 3(c) 406,407 284,797

11,889,908 10,238,030

net reSult For the period (231,684) 2,405,130

other comprehensive income

gain/(loss) on revaluation of property, plant and equipment - (198,800)

comprehenSive reSult (231,684) 2,206,330

CoMpreHensive operAting stAteMentFor the reportinG period ended 30 June 2012

TheaboveComprehensiveOperatingStatementshouldbereadinconjunctionwiththeaccompanyingnotes.

51

bAlAnCe sHeetaS at 30 June 2012

TheaboveBalanceSheetshouldbereadinconjunctionwiththeaccompanyingnotes.

note

2012$

2011$

current assets

Cash and cash equivalents 4 7,109,882 6,882,772

receivables 5 87,093 152,858

prepayments 6 7,868 22,313

total current assets 7,204,843 7,057,943

non-current assets

property, plant and equipment 7 1,448,736 1,556,024

total non-current assets 1,448,736 1,556,024

total aSSetS 8,653,579 8,613,967

current liabilities

payables 8 326,871 284,898

employee benefits 9 427,835 331,783

total current liabilities 754,706 616,681

non-current liabilities

employee benefits 9 292,075 158,805

total non-current liabilities 292,075 158,805

total liaBilitieS 1,046,781 775,486

net aSSetS 7,606,798 7,838,482

equity

Contributed Capital 10 3,156,946 3,156,946

reserves 11 495,624 495,624

Accumulated funds 12 3,954,228 4,185,912

total equity 7,606,798 7,838,482

52 F i n a n c i a l S ta te m e n t s Yea r En d ed 3 0 J u n e 2 0 1 2

stAteMent of CHAnges in equitYFor the reportinG period ended 30 June 2012

TheaboveStatementofChangesinEquityshouldbereadinconjunctionwiththeaccompanyingnotes.

contributed capital

$

accumulated Funds

$reserves

$total

$

balance at 1 July 2010 3,156,946 1,780,782 694,504 5,632,232

net result for the period - 2,405,130 - 2,405,130

revaluation decrement - - (198,880) (198,880)

Balance at 30 June 2011 3,156,946 4,185,912 495,624 7,838,482

net result for the period - (231,684) - (231,684)

Balance at 30 June 2012 3,156,946 3,954,228 495,624 7,606,798

CAsH flow stAteMentFor the reportinG period ended 30 June 2012

TheaboveCashFlowStatementshouldbereadinconjunctionwiththeaccompanyingnotes.

note

2012$

2011 $

cash Flows from operating activities

receipts

interest received 315,556 199,815

gst received from Ato 261,148 143,365

government Contributions 10,790,441 11,898,896

other Contributions and Charges 356,373 724,425

payments

payments to suppliers (6,926,659) (5,983,754)

employee benefits (4,487,096) (3,990,708)

financial institution Charges (1,643) (1,361)

gst paid to Ato (65,280) -

net caSh provided By operatinG activitieS 18 242,840 2,990,678

cash Flows from investing activities

payments for property, plant & equipment (16,202) (18,005)

proceeds from property plant & equipment 472 79,157

net caSh (uSed in) inveStinG activitieS (15,730) 61,152

net increaSe / (decreaSe) in caSh and caSh equivalentS 227,110 3,051,830

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year 6,882,772 3,830,942

caSh and caSh equivalentS at the end oF the Financial year 4 7,109,882 6,882,772

53

1(a) Basis of Accounting

General

ThisfinancialreportoftheGlenelgHopkinsCMAisageneralpurposefinancialreportthatconsistsofa,ComprehensiveOperatingStatement,BalanceSheet,StatementofChangesinEquity,CashFlowStatementandnotesaccompanyingthesestatements.ThegeneralpurposefinancialreportcomplieswithAustralianAccountingStandards(AAS),InterpretationsandotherauthoritativepronouncementsoftheAustralianAccountingStandardsBoard,andtherequirementsofthe Financial Management Act 1994 and applicable MinisterialDirections.Whereapplicable,thoseparagraphsoftheAAS’sapplicabletonot-for-profitentities have been applied. This financial report has beenpreparedonanaccrualandgoingconcernbasis.

TheannualfinancialstatementswereauthorisedforissuebytheChiefFinanceOfficeron24August2012.

accountinG policieS

Unlessotherwisestated,allaccountingpoliciesappliedareconsistentwiththoseoftheprioryear.

Functional and preSentation currency

ThefinancialstatementsarepresentedinAustraliandollars,whichisGlenelgHopkinsCMA’sfunctionalandpresentation currency.

claSSiFication BetWeen current and non-current

Inthedeterminationofwhetheranassetorliabilityiscurrentornon-current,considerationisgiventothetimewheneachassetorliabilityisexpectedtoberealisedorpaid. The asset or liability is classified as current if it is expectedtobeturnedoverwithintwelvemonths,beingtheAuthority’soperatingcycle.SeeNote7forvariationin relation to employee benefits.

roundinG

Unlessotherwisestated,amountsinthereporthavebeen rounded to the nearest dollar.

hiStorical coSt convention

These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of financial assets and certain classes of propertyplantandequipment.

critical accountinG eStimateS

The preparation of financial statements in conformity withAASrequirestheuseofcertaincriticalaccountingestimatesthataffecttheapplicationofaccountingpolicies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, incomeandexpenses.Actualresultsmaydifferfromtheseestimates.Italsorequiresmanagementtoexerciseitsjudgementintheprocessofapplyingtheentity’saccountingpolicies.

1(b) Changes in Accounting Policy

Theaccountingpoliciesareconsistentwiththoseofthepreviousyear,unlessstatedotherwise.

1(c) Comparative Amounts

Wherenecessary,figuresforthepreviousyearhavebeen reclassified to facilitate comparison.

1(d) Revenue Recognition

Government GrantS and contriButionS

Governmentgrantsandcontributionsarerecognisedasoperatingrevenueonreceiptorwhentheentityobtainscontrol of the contribution and meets certain other criteriaasoutlinedbyAASB1004,whicheveristhesooner,anddisclosedinthecomprehensiveoperatingstatementasgovernmentcontributions.However,grantsandcontributionsreceivedfromtheVictorianStateGovernment,whichwereoriginallyappropriatedbytheParliamentasadditionstonetassetsorwheretheMinisterforFinanceandtheMinisterforWaterhaveindicatedareinthenatureofowners’contributions,areaccountedforasEquity-ContributionsbyOwners.

intereSt and leaSe income

Interestisrecognisedasrevenuewhenearned. Incomefromoperatingleasesisrecognisedinincome onastraight-linebasisovertheleaseterm.

partnerShip contriButionS

PartnershipContributionsarerecognisedasoperatingrevenuewhentheentitlementisestablishedorreceipt,whicheveristhesooner,anddisclosedinthecomprehensiveoperatingstatement.

note 1 - Accounting Policies

54 N OT ES TO T H E F I N A N CI A L STAT E M E N TS Fo r t h e Yea r En d ed 3 0 J u n e 2 0 1 2

1(e) Recognition and Measurement of Assets

Property,plantandequipmentrepresentnon-currentphysicalassetscomprisingland,buildings,plant andequipment,motorvehicles,informationtechnologyandfurnitureandfittingsusedbytheAuthorityinitsoperations.Itemswithacostorvalueinexcessof$1,000.00 and a useful life of more than one year arerecognisedasanasset.Allotherassetsacquired are expensed.

AssetsacquiredatnocostorfornominalconsiderationbytheAuthorityarerecognisedatthefairvalueatthedateofacquisition.

repairS and maintenance

Routinemaintenance,repaircostsandminorrenewalcostsareexpensedasincurred.Wheretherepairrelatesto the replacement of a component of an asset and the cost exceeds the capitalisation threshold, the cost is capitalised and depreciated.

meaSurement oF non-current phySical aSSetS

Allnon-currentphysicalassetsarerecognisedinitially atcostandsubsequentlylandandbuildingsarerevalued at fair value, less accumulated depreciation andimpairment.Plant,equipmentandmotorvehiclesaremeasuredatfairvalue.Fortheplant,equipment andvehiclesassetclass,wheretheAuthorityisable to demonstrate that there is no evidence that a reliable marketbasedfairvalue(orotherfairvalueindicators)exist for these assets, depreciated replacement cost could represent a reasonable approximation of fair value.

revaluation oF non-current phySical aSSetS

Landandbuildingsaremeasuredattheamountsforwhichtheassetcouldbeexchangedbetweenknowledgeable,willingparties,inanarm’slengthtransaction.Plant,equipmentandmotorvehiclesaremeasured at fair value.

Revaluationincrementsarecrediteddirectlytoequityin the revaluation reserve, except that, to the extent that an increment reverses a revaluation decrement in respectofthatclassofassetpreviouslyrecognisedasexpenseindeterminingthenetresult,theincrementisrecognisedasrevenueindeterminingthenetresult.

Revaluationdecrementsarerecognisedimmediatelyas expenses in the net result, except that, to the extent that a credit balance exists in the revaluation reserve in respect of the same class of assets, they are debited to the revaluation reserve.

Revaluationincreasesandrevaluationdecreasesrelatingtoindividualassetswithinaclassofproperty,plant andequipmentareoffsetagainstoneanotherwithinthat class but are not offset in respect of assets in different classes.

Revaluationreservesarenottransferredtoaccumulatedfundsonderecognitionoftherelevantasset.

impairment oF aSSetS

Intangibleassetswithindefiniteusefullivesaretestedannuallyastowhethertheircarryingvalueexceedstheirrecoverableamount.Allotherassetsareassessedannually for indicators of impairment, except for financial instrument assets.

Ifthereisanindicationofimpairment,theassetsconcernedaretestedastowhethertheircarryingvalueexceedstheirrecoverableamount.Whereanasset’scarryingamountexceedsitsrecoverableamount,thedifferenceiswritten-offbyachargetothecomprehensiveoperatingstatementexcepttotheextentthatthewrite-downcanbedebitedtoanassetrevaluation reserve amount applicable to that class of asset.

The recoverable amount for most assets is measured atthehigherofdepreciatedreplacementcostandfairvaluelesscoststosell.Recoverableamountforassetsheldprimarilytogeneratenetcashinflowsismeasuredatthehigherofthepresentvalueoffuturecashflowsexpected to be obtained from the asset and fair value lesscoststosell.Itisdeemedthat,intheeventofthelossofanasset,thefutureeconomicbenefitsarisingfromtheuseoftheassetwillbereplacedunlessaspecific decision to the contrary has been made.

Areversalofanimpairmentlossonarevaluedassetiscrediteddirectlytoequityundertheheadingrevaluationreserve.However,totheextentthatanimpairmentlossonthesameclassofassetwaspreviouslyrecognisedintheoperatingstatement,areversalofthatimpairmentlossisalsorecognisedintheoperatingstatements.

1(f) Depreciation and Amortisation of Non-Current AssetsAllnon-currentphysicalassetsthathavealimitedusefullifearedepreciated.Whereassetshaveseparateidentifiable components that have distinct useful lives and/or residual values, a separate depreciation rate is determined for each component.

Depreciationiscalculatedusingthestraightlinemethodto allocate their cost or revalued amounts, net of their residual values, over their estimated useful lives, commencingfromthetimetheassetisheldreadyforuse.Theassets’residualvaluesandusefullivesarereviewed,andadjustedifappropriate,ateachbalancesheet date.


55

Majordepreciationperiodsusedarelistedbelow andareconsistentwiththeprioryear,unlessotherwisestated:

Assets 2012 2011

Buildings 8-47 50

PlantandEquipment 4-5 4-5

FurnitureandFittings 5-10 5-10

MotorVehicles 5 5

Thedepreciationratesforbuildingshavebeenchanged in2012from2011toaligntheusefullivesasrecognisedin the revaluation at 30 June 2011.

1(g) Leased assets

operatinG leaSeS

Leasesinwhichasignificantportionoftherisksandrewardsofownershipareretainedbythelessorareclassifiedasoperatingleases.Paymentsmadeunderoperatingleasesarechargedtotheoperatingstatementonastraight-linebasisovertheperiodofthelease, intheperiodsinwhichtheyareincurred,asthisrepresents the pattern of benefits derived from the leased assets.

1(h) Cash and cash equivalents

Cashandcashequivalentsincludecashonhand,depositsheldatcallwithfinancialinstitutions,othershort-term,highlyliquidinvestmentswithoriginalmaturities of three months or less that are readily convertibletoknownamountsofcash,whicharesubjecttoaninsignificantriskofchangeinvalue.

1(i) Receivables

Tradereceivablesarerecognisedinitiallyatfairvalueandsubsequentlymeasuredatamortisedcost,lessanallowanceforimpairedreceivables.Tradereceivablesare due for settlement no more than 30 days from the dateofrecognition.

Collectabilityoftradereceivablesisreviewedonanongoingbasis.Aprovisionforadoubtfuldebttothevalueof$5,000hasbeenmade,basedonareviewof all receivables at balance date.

1(j) Payables

Payables consist predominantly of trade and sundry creditors.TheseamountsrepresentliabilitiesofgoodsandservicesprovidedtotheAuthoritypriortotheendofthefinancialyearandwhichareunpaidatfinancialyear end. The amounts are unsecured and are usually paidwithin30daysofrecognition.Payablesareinitiallyrecognisedatfairvalue,beingthecostofthegoodsandservices,andsubsequentlyatamortisedcost.

1(k) Financial Instruments

recoGnition

Financial instruments are initially measured at fair value, plus in the case of a financial asset or financial liability notatfairvaluethroughprofitandloss,transactioncoststhataredirectlyattributabletotheacquisitionortheissueofthefinancialassetorliability.Subsequenttotheinitialrecognition,thefinancialinstrumentsaremeasuredassetoutbelow:

loanS and receivaBleS

Loansandreceivablesarenon-derivativefinancialassetswithfixedordeterminablepaymentsthatarenotquotedinanactivemarket.Theyareincludedincurrentassets,exceptforthosewithmaturitiesgreaterthan 12monthsafterthereportingdatewhichareclassifiedasnon-currentassets.Loansandreceivablesareincluded in trade and other receivables and other receivables in the balance sheet.

held-to-maturity inveStmentS

These investments have fixed maturities and it is the Authority’sintentiontoholdtheseinvestmentstomaturity.Anyheldtomaturityinvestmentsheldby theAuthorityarestatedatcost.

Fair value

Fair Value is determined based on current prices forallquotedinvestments.Valuationtechniquesareapplied to determine the fair value for all unlisted securities,includingrecentarm’slengthtransactions,referencetosimilarinstrumentsandoptionpricingmodels.

impairment

Ateachreportingdate,theAuthorityassesseswhetherthereisobjectiveevidencethatafinancialinstrumenthasbeenimpaired.ImpairmentlossesarerecognisedintheOperatingStatement.



1(l) Employee Benefits

These expenses include all costs related to employment (otherthansuperannuationwhichisaccountedforseparately)includingwagesandsalaries,fringebenefitstax, leave entitlements, redundancy payments and WorkCoverpremiums.

WaGeS and SalarieS, annual leave and Sick leave

Liabilitiesforwages,salariesandannualleaveexpectedtobesettledwithin12monthsofthereportingdatearerecognisedinemployeebenefitliabilitiesinrespectofemployees’servicesuptothereportingdateandaremeasuredattheamountsexpectedtobepaidwhentheliabilitiesaresettled,attheirnominalvalues.Employeebenefitswhicharenotexpectedtobesettledwithin12 months are measured as the present value of the estimatedfuturecashoutflowstobemadebytheentity,in respect of services rendered by employees up to the reportingdate.Regardlessoftheexpectedtimingofsettlements, provisions made in respect of employee benefits are classified as a current liability, unless there isanunconditionalrighttodeferthesettlementoftheliabilityforatleast12monthsafterthereportingdate,inwhichcaseitwouldbeclassifiedasanon-currentliability.

lonG Service leave

current liability – unconditional lSl (representing3ormoreyearsofcontinuousservice)isdisclosedasacurrentliabilityevenwheretheAuthoritydoesnotexpecttosettletheliabilitywithin12monthsbecauseitdoesnothavetheunconditionalrighttodefer the settlement of the entitlement should an employeetakeleavewithin12months.

ThecomponentsofthiscurrentLSLliabilityaremeasuredat:

• Presentvalue–componentthattheAuthority doesnotexpecttosettlewithin12months;and

• Nominalvalue–componentthattheAuthorityexpectstosettlewithin12months.

non-current liability – conditional lSl (representinglessthan3yearscontinuousservice)is disclosed as a non-current liability. There is an unconditionalrighttodeferthesettlementoftheentitlement until the employee has completed the requisiteyearsofservice.ConditionalLSLisrequired to be measured at present value.

Incalculatingpresentvalue,considerationisgiventoexpectedfuturewageandsalarylevels,experienceofemployeedeparturesandperiodsofservice.Expectedfuturepaymentsarediscountedusingmarketyieldsatthereportingdateonnationalgovernmentbondswithterms to maturity and currency that match, as closely aspossible,theestimatedfuturecashoutflows.

Superannuation

Theamountchargedtothecomprehensiveoperatingstatement in respect of superannuation represents thecontributionsmadebytheAuthoritytothesuperannuation plan in respect to the current services of entity staff. Superannuation contributions are made to the plans based on the relevant rules of each plan.

employee BeneFit on-coStS

Employeebenefiton-costs,includingpayrolltaxandworker’scompensationarerecognisedandincludedinemployeebenefitliabilitiesandcostswhentheemployeebenefitstowhichtheyrelatearerecognisedas liabilities.

1(m) Goods and Services Tax

Revenues,expensesandassetsarerecognisednetofgoodsandservicestax(GST),exceptwheretheamountofGSTincurredisnotrecoverablefromtheAustralianTaxationOffice(ATO).Inthesecircumstances,theGSTisrecognisedaspartofthecostofacquisitionoftheasset or as part of an item of expense.

ReceivablesandpayablesarestatedinclusiveofGST.The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to,theATOisincludedasacurrentassetorliabilityintheBalanceSheet.CashflowsarisingfromoperatingactivitiesaredisclosedintheCashFlowStatementonagrossbasis–i.e.,inclusiveofGST.TheGSTcomponentofcashflowsarisingfrominvestingandfinancingactivitieswhichisrecoverableorpayabletothetaxationauthorityisclassifiedasoperatingcashflows.


57

1(n) New Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued that are not yet effective

Certainnewaccountingstandardsandinterpretationshavebeenpublishedthatarenotmandatoryforthe30June2012reportingperiod.Asat30June2012,thefollowingstandardsandinterpretationshadbeenissuedbutwere notmandatoryforfinancialyearending30June2012.TheAuthorityhasnotanddoesnotintendtoadoptthesestandards early.



Standard / interpretation Summary

applicable for annual reporting periods beginning or after

impact on departmental Financial Statements

AASB9FinancialInstruments,AADB2010-7Amendments toAustralianAccountingStandardsarisingfromAASB9(December 2010)

AASB9FinancialInstrumentsaddressesthe classification and measurement andderecognitionoffinancialassetsand financial liabilities. The standard is not applicable until 1 January 2013 but is available for early adoption. The derecognitionruleshavebeentransferredfromAASB139FinancialInstruments:RecognitionandMeasurement andhavenotbeenchanged.

1 January 2013 The entity is yet to assess its full impact

AASB1053ApplicationofTiersofAustralianAccountingStandardsandAASB2010-2AmendmentstoAustralianAccountingStandardsarisingfromReducedRequirements

On30June2010theAASBofficiallyintroducedareviseddifferentialreportingframeworkinAustralia.Underthisframework,atwo-tierdifferentialreportingregimeappliestoallentitiesthatpreparegeneralpurposefinancialstatements.

1 July 2013 The impact of this standardwilldependoninstructions provided by DTF on its applicability to the entity. The entity willassessitsimpactonce DTF has provided guidanceonthisstandard

AASB2010-8AmendmentstoAustralianAccountingStandards–DeferredTax:RecoveryofUnderlyingAssets[AASB112]

InDecember2010,theAASBamendedAASB112IncomeTaxestoprovideapracticalapproachformeasuringdeferredtax liabilities and deferred tax assets wheninvestmentpropertyismeasuredusingthefairvaluemodel.AASB112requiresthemeasurementofdeferredtax assets or liabilities to reflect the tax consequencesthatwouldfollowfromthewaymanagementexpectstorecoverorsettlethecarryingofrelevantassetsorliabilities,thatisthroughuseorthroughsale. The amendment introduces a rebuttable presumption that investment propertywhichismeasuredatfairvalueisrecovered entirely by sale.

1 January 2012 GHCMAdoesnotmakeany investment property. The amendment is therefore not expected to have any impact on theGHCMA’sfinancialstatements


59

Standard / interpretation Summary

applicable for annual reporting periods beginning or after

impact on departmental Financial Statements

AASB2010-10FurtherAmendmentstoAustralianAccountingStandards–Removalof Fixed Dates for FirsttimeAdopters [AASB2009-11&AASB2010-7]

AASB1FirsttimeAdoptionofAustralianAccountingStandardswasamendedinDecember2010byeliminatingreferencesto fixed dates for one exemption and one exceptiondealingwithfinancialassetsandliabilities.TheAASBalsointroducedanewexemptionforentitiesthatresumepresentingtheirfinancialstatementsinaccordancewithAustralianAccountingStandardsafterhavingbeensubjecttosevere hyperinflation.

1 January 2013 These amendments are not expected to have anysignificantimpactonGHCMA’sdisclosures

AASB2011-4AmendmentstoAustralianAccountingStandards to removeIndividualKeyManagementPersons Disclosure Requirements

RemovestheindividualkeymanagementpersonneldisclosurerequirementsfromAASB124RelatedPartyDisclosures, toachieveconsistencywiththeinternationalequivalentstandardandremovesaduplicationoftherequirementswiththeCorporationAct2001.Theamendment cannot be adopted early.

1 July 2013 This amendment is expected to have limited impact

AASB2011-9AmendmentstoAustralianAccountingStandards–Presentation of ItemsofOtherComprehensive Income

Requirementforentitiestogroupitemspresented in other comprehensive income onthebasisofwhethertheymayberecycled to profit or loss in the future.

1 July 2012 Thegroupwillappythisamendment from 1 July 2012.Thiswillonlyhave an impact on disclosure and presentation

AASB2011-13Amendments toAustralianAccountingStandards–Improvementsto AASB1049

The amendments clarify some of the requirementsinAASB1049WholeofGovernment and General Government SectorFinancialReportingandwillimprovetheharmonisationoffinancialreportingrequirementsoftheCommonwealth,StateandTerritoryGovernments.Applicableonlytonot-for-profit entities and/or public sector entities.

1 July 2012 This amendment is expected to have limited impact

TheAuthority’sactivitiesexposeittoavarietyoffinancialrisks:marketrisk,creditriskandliquidityrisk.ThisnotepresentsinformationabouttheAuthority’sexposuretoeachoftheserisks,andtheobjectives,policiesandprocessesformeasuringandmanagingrisk.

TheAuthority’sBoardhastheoverallresponsibilityfortheestablishmentandoversightoftheAuthority’sriskmanagementframework.TheAuthority’soverallriskmanagementprogramfocusesontheunpredictabilityoffinancialmarketsandseekstominimisepotentialadverse effects on the financial performance of the Authority.TheAuthorityusesdifferentmethodstomeasuredifferenttypesofrisktowhichitisexposed.These methods include sensitivity analysis in the case ofinterestrate,foreignexchangeandotherpricerisks,ageinganalysisforcreditandbetaanalysisinrespectofinvestmentportfoliostodeterminemarketrisk.

RiskmanagementiscarriedoutbytheAuditandRiskCommittee under policies approved by the Board of Directors. The finance department identifies, evaluates andhedgesfinancialrisksincloseco-operationwiththeAuthority’soperatingunits.TheBoardprovideswrittenprincipalsforoverallriskmanagement,aswellaspoliciescoveringspecificareas,suchasforeignexchangerisk,interestraterisk,creditrisk,useofderivative financial instruments and non-derivative financialinstrument,andinvestmentofexcessliquidity.

ThemainriskstheAuthorityisexposedtothroughfinancialinstrumentsareasfollows:

2(a) Market Risk

MarketriskistheriskthatchangesinmarketpriceswillaffectthefairvalueorfuturecashflowsoftheAuthority’sfinancialinstruments.Marketriskcomprisesofforeignexchangerisk,interestrateriskandotherpricerisk.TheAuthority’sexposuretomarketriskisprimarilythroughinterestraterisk,thereisnoexposuretoforeignexchangeriskandinsignificantexposuretootherpricerisks.

Objectives,policiesandprocessesusedtoassesstheserisksaredisclosedintheparagraphsbelow:

(i) interest rate risk

TheAuthority’sexposuretomarketinterestratesrelatesprimarilytotheAuthority’sfundsinvestedonthemoneymarket.

TheAuthorityhasminimalexposuretointerestrateriskthroughitsholdingofcashassetsandotherfinancialassets.TheAuthoritymanagesitsinterestrateriskbymaintainingadiversifiedinvestmentportfolio.

(ii) Foreign exchange risk

TheAuthorityhasnoexposuretochangesintheforeignexchangerate.

(iii) other price risk

TheAuthorityhasnosignificantexposuretoother pricerisk.

note 2 - Financial Risk Management Objectives and Policies


market riSk SenSitivity analySiS

ThefollowingtablesummarisesthesensitivityoftheAuthority’sfinancialassetsandliabilitiestointerestrate andotherpricerisk.

note 2 - Financial Risk Management Objectives and Policies

61

carrying amount

$

interest Rate Risk other price Risk

-1% +1% -10% +10%

result $

equity $

result $

equity $

result $

equity $

result $

equity $

30 June 2012

Financial assets

Cash and Cash equivalents 7,109,882 (71,099) (71,099) 71,099 71,099 - - - -

receivables 43,234 - - - - - - - -

Financial liabilities

payables 326,871 - - - - - - - -

total increase/(decrease) (71,099) (71,099) 71,099 71,099 - - - -

30 June 2011

Financial assets

Cash and Cash equivalents 6,882,712 (68,828) (68,828) 68,828 68,828 - - - -

receivables 48,693 - - - - - - - -


payables 284,898 - - - - - - - -

total increase/(decrease) (68,828) (68,828) 68,828 68,828 - - - -

2(b) Credit Risk

CreditRiskistheriskoffinanciallosstotheAuthorityas a result of a customer or counterpart to a financial instrumentfailingtomeetitscontractualobligations.CreditriskarisesprincipallyfromtheAuthority’sreceivables.

TheAuthorityhasnosignificantexposuretocreditrisk.

AnanalysisoftheageingoftheAuthority’sreceivablesatreportingdatehasbeenprovidedinNote5.

2(c) Liquidity Risk

LiquidityRiskistheriskthattheAuthoritywillnotbeabletomeetitsfinancialobligationsastheyfalldue.TheAuthority’spolicyistosettleobligationswithin 30daysandintheeventofdisputemakepaymentswithin30daysfromthedateofresolution.

TheAuthoritymanagesliquidityriskbymaintainingadequatereservesandbankingfacilitiesbycontinuouslymonitoringforecastsandactualcashflowsandmatchingthe maturity profiles of financial assets and financial liabilities.

2(d) Fair value measurements

Thecarryingvaluelessimpairmentprovisionoftradereceivables and payables is a reasonable approximation of their fair value due to their short-term nature.

Thecarryingamountsandaggregatenetfairvaluesoffinancial assets and financial liabilities at balance date have been provided in Note 13.

note 3 - Operating Statement Disclosures


3(a) Revenue from operating activities 2012

$2011

$

3(a)(i) Government GrantS and contriButionS

Catchment planning 1,095,615 2,109,598

land Health program 170,000 170,000

river Health 1,959,200 2,121,906

natural resources investment program (nrip) 2,571,000 2,621,000

other state funding 1,205,100 670,000

total 7,000,915 7,602,504

3(a)(ii) commonWealth Government

Caring for our Country 2,841,000 2,541,000

Caring for our Country - Competitive 365,000 -

natural disaster resilience 174,218 1,544,000

national landcare program 100,000 -

other Commonwealth revenue 490,000 -

total 3,970,218 4,085,000

3(a)(iii) other income

partnership Contributions 174,930 134,153

sundry 174,533 588,797

total 349,463 722,950

total revenue 11,320,596 12,410,454

3(b) Net Gain/(Loss) on disposal of non-current assets2012

$2011

$

proceeds from disposal of non-current assets

plant and equipment 472 1,564

Motor vehicles - 77,593

total 472 79,157

Written down value of non-current assets disposed

Motor vehicles - 57,042

plant and equipment - -

total - 57,042

net Gain/(loSS) on diSpoSal 472 22,115

note 3 - Operating Statement Disclosures

63

3(c) Expenditure from operating activities2012

$2011

$

employee Benefits

salaries and wages 3,815,721 3,477,193

other employee expenses 516,781 288,234

superannuation 349,931 283,970

total 4,682,433 4,049,397

other

auditor remuneration

Auditor-general for audit of financial statements 8,750 8,650

internal audit 29,540 31,727

rental expenses - operating leases 363,117 244,420

Bad and doubtful debts 5,000 -

total 406,407 284,797

depreciation

buildings 40,443 19,467

plant & equipment 54,580 60,948

furniture & fittings 21,252 22,686

Motor vehicles 7,215 16,362

total 123,490 119,463

Suppliers 6,597,132 5,743,766

repairs and maintenance 80,446 40,607

total expenditure 11,889,908 10,238,030

note 4 - Cash and Cash Equivalents


2012

$

2011

$

Cash at bank 109,882 282,772

deposits at call 1,000,000 1,600,000

term deposit 6,000,000 5,000,000

total caSh and caSh equivalentS * 7,109,882 6,882,772

2012

$

2011

$

balance as per Cash flow statement 7,109,882 6,882,772

*$4,644,563of$7,109,882cashandcashequivalentsheldatbalancedatearecommittedtospecificprojectsfor whichfundinghasbeenprovidedtotheAuthority.RefertoNote14fordetailsofprogramswithfundscommitted at balance date.

4(a) Reconcil iation to cash at the end of year

TheabovefiguresarereconciledtocashattheendoffinancialyearasshownintheCashFlowStatement,asfollows:

4(b) Cash at Bank and on hand

Thesedepositsarebearingfloatinginterestratesaround1%

4(c) Deposits at cal lThedepositsareinterestbearingwithfloatinginterestratesbetween4.75-3.50%(2011average4.50%)

4(d) Term DepositThedepositsareinterestbearingwithvaryinginterestratesbetween3.54-5.08%(20114.50-4.84%)

note 5 - Receivables

note 6 - Other Assets

65

2012

$

2011

$

gst receivable 43,859 104,165

debtors 15,857 37,917

provision for doubtful debts (5,000)

Accrued revenue 32,377 10,776

total receivaBleS 87,093 152,858

2012

$

2011

$

over 6 months 5,000 -

2012

$

2011

$

up to 6 months - 4,114

over 6 months 9,720 16,061

2012

$

2011

$

prepayments - operations 7,868 22,313

total other aSSetS 7,868 22,313

5(a) Provision for doubtful debts

Asat30June2012,currentreceivablesoftheAuthoritywithanominalvalueof$5,000wereimpaired. Theamountoftheprovisionwas$5,000.Itwasassessedthataportionofthereceivablesinexpectedtoberecovered.

The creation and release of the provision for doubtful debts has been included as an expense in the comprehensive operatingstatement.Amountschargedtotheprovisionaccountaregenerallywrittenoffwhenthereisnotexpectationofrecoveringadditionalcash.

5(b) Past due but not impaired trade receivables

Asat30June,2012,theAuthorityhad$9,720receivableswerepastduebutnotimpaired.Theserelatetoanumber ofindependentcustomersforwhomthereisnorecenthistoryofdefault.Theageinganaylsyisofthesereceivables isasfollows:

Theotheramountswithinreceivablesdonotcontainimpairedassetsandarenotpastdue.Basedoncredithistory, itisexpectedthattheseamountswillbereceivedwhendue.

RefertoNote13foranalysisofinterestraterisk,netfairvaluesandcreditraterisk.


note 7 - Property, Plant & Equiptment

7(a) Classes of assets2012

$

2011

$

land

At fair value 555,000 555,000

555,000 555,000

Buildings

At fair value 739,000 739,000

less Accumulated depreciation 40,443 -

698,557 739,000

motor vehicles

At fair value 36,025 36,024

less: Accumulated depreciation 32,099 24,883

3,926 11,141

plant & equipment

At fair value 236,135 800,408


96,924 135,302

Furniture & Fittings

At fair value 210,025 161,296


94,329 115,581

total property, plant & equipment 1,448,736 1,556,024

details of the revaluation

LandandBuildingshavebeenrevaluedat30June2011byEganNationalValuers(Vic)

ThebasisforthevaluationisFairValueinaccordancewithAASB116andFRD103D.

67

note 7 - Property, Plant & Equiptment

7(b) Movements during the reporting period

2011-2012

opening Wdv 1 July

2011

$

additions

$

disposals

$

revaluations

$

depreciation

$

closing Wdv 30 June 2012

$

land 555,000 - - - - 555,000

buildings & improvements

739,000 - - - 40,443 698,557

Motor vehicles 11,141 - - - 7,215 3,926

plant & equipment 135,302 16,202 - - 54,580 96,924

furniture & fittings 115,581 - - - 21,252 94,329

total 1,556,024 16,202 - - 123,489 1,448,736

2010-2011

opening Wdv 1 July

2010

$

additions

$

disposals

$

revaluations

$

depreciation

$

closing Wdv 30 June 2011

$

land 603,250 - - (48,250) - 555,000

buildings & improvements

909,098 - - (150,630) 19,467 739,000

Motor vehicles 84,545 - 57,042 - 16,362 11,141

plant and equipment 180,663 15,587 - - 60,948 135,302

furniture & fittings 135,849 2,418 - - 22,686 115,581

total 1,913,405 18,005 57,042 (198,880) 119,463 1,556,024

2012

$

2011

$

Trade Creditors 235,584 159,625

AccruedExpenses 91,287 125,272

total payaBleS 326,871 284,898

note 8 – Payables

(a) ForeiGn currency riSk and intereSt rate riSk For trade and other payaBleS

ThecarryingamountsoftheAuthority’stradeandotherpayablesaredenominatedinAustralianDollars

Forananalysisofthesensitivityofpayablestointerestraterisk,refertoNote2.


2012

$

2011

$

current

Annual leave and unconditional long service leave entitlements, representing 3 years of continuous service:

• employeebenefitsexpectedtobesettledwithin12months, measured at nominal value 353,128 331,783

• employeebenefitsexpectedtobesettledafter12months, measured at present value 74,707 -

total current 427,835 331,783

non-current

Conditional long service leave, measured at present value 292,075 158,805

total non-current 292,075 158,805

total employee BeneFitS 719,910 490,588

The following assumptions were adopted in measuring the present value of long service leave entitlements:

weighted average increase in employee costs 4.3125% 4.600%

weighted average discount rates 3.058% 5.278%

weighed average settlement period 12 yrs 12 yrs

2012

$

2011

$

opening balance at 1 July 3,156,946 3,156,964

closing Balances at 30 June 3,156,946 3,156,946

note 10 – Contributed Capital

note 9 - Employee Benefits

69

2012

$

2011

$

opening balance at 1 July 495,624 694,504

decrement for year - (198,880)

closing Balance at 30 June 495,624 495,624

represented by

land 340,000 340,000

buildings 155,624 155,624

total 495,624 495,624

2012

$

2011

$

opening balance at 1 July 4,185,912 1,780,782

net result for the year (231,684) 2,405,130

closing Balance at 30 June 3,954,228 4,185,912

AssetrevaluationreserveisusedtorecordAssetrevaluationincrementsanddecrementsinvalueofnon-current physical assets.

note 11 - Asset Revaluation Reserve

note 12 - Accumulated Funds


note 13 - Financial Instruments

13(a) Interest rate risk exposure

GlenelgHopkinsCMA’sexposuretointerestratriskandtheeffectiveinterestratesoffinancialassetsandfinancialliabilitiesbothrecognisedandunrecognisedatthebalancedateareasfollows:

30 June 2012

non interest Bearing

$

Floating interest rate

$

Fixed interest 1 year or less

$

total carrying amount as per Balance Sheet

$

Weighted average effective

interest rate %

Financial assets

Cash and Cash equivalents - 1,109,882 6,000,000 7,109,882 4.55

receivables 43,234 - - 43,234

total Financial assets 43,234 1,109,882 6,000,000 7,153,116


payables 326,871 - - 326,871

total Financial liabilities 326,871 - - -

30 June 2011

non interest Bearing

$

Floating interest rate

$

Fixed interest 1 year or less

$

total carrying amount as per Balance Sheet

$

Weighted average effective

interest rate %

Financial assets

Cash and Cash equivalents - 282,772 6,600,000 6,882,772 4.75

receivables 48,693 - - 48,693

total Financial assets 48,693 282,772 6,600,000 6,931,465


payables 284,898 - - 284,898

total Financial liabilities 284,898 - - 284,898

71

note 13 - Financial Instruments

13(b) Net Fair Values

Thecarryingamountsandaggregatenetfairvaluesoffinancialassetsandfinancialliabilitiesatbalancedateare:

2012 2011

carrying amount

$Fair value

$

carrying amount

$Fair value

$

Financial assets

Cash and Cash equivalents 7,109,882 7,109,882 6,882,772 6,882,772

receivables 43,234 43,234 48,693 48,693

total Financial assets 7,153,116 7,153,116 6,931,465 6,931,465


payables 326,871 326,871 284,898 284,898

total Financial liabilities 326,871 326,871 284,898 284,898

ThefollowingcommitmentsareexclusiveofGST.

14(a) Capital commitments

Asatthe30June2012,theAuthorityhadnooutstandingcapitalcommitments.(2011nil).

14(b) Commitments against current year balancesTheAuthorityreceivesfundingforspecificprojects.Suchfundingisallocatedto,andmustbeexpendedon thoseprojects.Thefollowingtabledisplaysmoniesheldandcommittedattheendofyearinrespecttoprojectscurrentlyinprogress.


note 14 - Commitments

Funding categories - 2011-12

opening Balance

$

amount received

$

amount expensed

$

closing Balance

$

committed Funds

$

uncommitted Funds

$

business & finance program 102,425 255,500 199,897 158,029 158,029 0

waterways & Catchment program 2,933,756 6,448,582 6,482,838 2,899,499 2,899,499 0

partnership & investment program 538,583 3,125,443 3,264,562 399,464 399,464 0

statutory water program 1,886,070 846,280 1,544,779 1,187,571 1,187,571 0

total committed Funds 5,460,835 10,675,804 11,492,076 4,644,563 4,644,563 0

Funding categories - 2010-11

opening Balance

$

amount received

$

amount expensed

$

closing Balance

$

committed Funds

$

uncommitted Funds

$

business & finance program 101,873 366,420 365,868 102,425 102,425 0

waterways & Catchment program 2,377,144 6,149,535 5,592,923 2,933,756 2,933,756 0

partnership & investment program 330,607 2,344,016 2,136,039 538,583 538,583 0

statutory water program 294,510 1,848,308 256,748 1,886,070 1,886,070 0

total committed Funds 3,104,134 10,708,279 8,351,579 5,460,834 5,460,834 0

motor vehicle

2012

$

2011

$

outstanding lease commitments are to be paid as follows:

within one year 213,186 245,563

one to five years 199,974 45,846

over five years - -

413,160 291,409

properties

2012

$

2011

$

outstanding lease commitments are to be paid as follows:

within one year 5,000 20,000

one to five years - -

over five years - -

5,000 20,000

14(c) Operating Lease Commitments

At30June2012,theAuthorityhadthefollowingoperatingleasecommitments:

73

note 14 - Commitments

note 15 - Contingent Assets and Contingent Liabil ities

TheAuthorityisunawareofanycontingentliabilitiesorassetsasat30June2012.(2011nil).


note 16 - Superannuation

GlenelgHopkinsCMAmakesemployersuperannuationcontributions in respect of most employees to the Vision Superannuation Fund and other authorised superannuationentitiesonbehalfofeligibleGlenelgHopkinsCMAemployeesaspersuperannuationchoiceoffundlegislation.

TheFund’saccumulationcategory,VisionSuperSaver,receives both employer and employee contributions on aprogressivebasis.Employercontributionsarenormallybasedonafixedpercentageof9percentofemployeeearningsinaccordancewiththeSuperannuationGuaranteeLegislation.Nofurtherliabilityaccruestotheemployerasthesuperannuationbenefitsaccruingtothe employees are represented by their share of the net assets of the Fund.

TheamountchargedtotheComprehensiveOperatingStatement in respect of defined benefit plan superannuation represents the contributions made by GlenelgHopkinsCMAtothesuperannuationplaninrespect to the current services of current staff members.

Inaccordancewithstatutoryrequirements,GlenelgHopkinsCMAcontributesamountsdeterminedbytheFund’sActuaryforitsdefinedbenefitmembersintheVision Superannuation. On the basis of the results of themostrecentfullactuarialinvestigationconductedbytheFund’sActuaryasat31December2008,GlenelgHopkinsCMAcontributes9.25percentofmembers’salaries.

TheAuthoritydoesnotrecogniseanyliabilityforanyoftheState’sdefinedbenefitliabilitiesbecausetheentityhasnolegalorconstructiveobligationtopayfuturebenefitsinrelationtoitsemployees;itsonlyobligationis to pay superannuation contributions as they fall due and if the entity ceases to employ members of the State’splan(s),itwillhavenoobligationtopaythebenefits earned by the employees in previous years. Instead,theDepartmentofTreasuryandFinanceadministersanddisclosestheState’sdefinedbenefitliabilities in its financial report.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAcontributesinrespectofitsemployeestothefollowingssuperannuationschemes:

There are no unfunded superannuation liabilities attributabletotheAuthorityinrespecttotheonedefined benefit scheme.

TheAuthorityhadnooutstandingsuperannuationcontributions payable at 30 June 2012 nor did it have any loans to or from any of the above funds.

type of schemerate

%

2011-12

$

2010-11

$

vision super defined benefit 9.25 6,757 9,752

vision super Accumulation 9.00 132,072 149,498

vic super Accumulation 9.00 43,401 22,893

other Accumulation 9.00 167,701 101,827

349,931 283,970

75

note 17 - Responsible persons and executive officer disclosures

17(a) Responsible Persons

ThenamesofpersonswhowereResponsiblePersonsatanytimeduringthefinancialyearwere:

17(a)(i) remuneration oF reSponSiBle perSonS

RemunerationpaidtoMinistersisreportedintheAnnualReportoftheDepartmentofPremierandCabinet. OtherrelevantinterestsaredeclaredintheRegisterofMembers’InterestswhicheachmemberofParliamentcompletes.

Remunerationreceived,ordueandreceivable,fromtheAuthorityinconnectionwiththemanagementof theAuthority(includesterminationpaymentsandbonusespaid).

2012

$

2011

$

reMunerAtion 266,835 323,423

ThenumberofResponsiblePersonswhoseremunerationfromtheAuthoritywaswithinthespecifiedbands, isasfollows:

income Band ($) 2012 no.

2011 no.

0 - 9,999 8 2

10,000 - 19,999 3 9

20,000 - 29,999 1 1

170,000 - 179,999 1 1

17(a)(ii) other tranSactionS With reSponSiBle perSonS and their related entitieS

Otherthantravelandotherreimbursements,therewerenotransactionsbetweentheAuthorityandResponsiblePersonsandtheirrelatedpartiesduringthefinancialyear.

name position period

TheHonPeterWalshMLA MinisterforWater 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012

TheHonRyanSmithMP MinisterforEnvironment andClimateChange 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012

MikeWagg Chairman 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012

DrJohnSherwood Deputy Chair 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012

Coralie Coulson BoardMember 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012

Debbie Shea BoardMember 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012

MarkWootton BoardMember 1 July 2011 to 1 February 2012

DrGrahamLean BoardMember 1 July 2011 to 20 September 2011

Naomi Pye BoardMember 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2011

DougPhillips BoardMember 1 July 2011 to 30 September 2011

RomaBritnell BoardMember 1 October to 30 June 2012

MichaelCraig BoardMember 1 October to 30 June 2012

JasonRitchie BoardMember 1 October to 30 June 2012

Vincent Gannon BoardMember 1 October to 30 June 2012

KevinWood CEO 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012


note 17 - Responsible persons and executive officer disclosures (cont.)

17(b) Executive Officer’s RemunerationThenumberofexecutiveofficers,otherthanresponsiblepersons,whosetotalremunerationfallswithinthe specifiedbandsabove$100,000areasfollows:

BaseremunerationisexclusiveofBonuspayments,LongServiceLeavepayments,Redundancypayments andRetirementBenefitpayments.

total remuneration Base remuneration

income Band ($) 2012 no.

2011 no.

2012 no.

2011 no.

130,000 - 139,999 - 0 - 1

140,000 - 149,999 - 2 - 1

total Amount - $289,000 - $273,638

total numbers 0 2 0 2

77

note 18 - Reconcil iation of net result for the year to net cash from operating activities

note 19 - Events occuring after the balance sheet date

2012

$

2011

$

net result for the period (231,684) 2,405,130

add/(less) non-cash Flows in net result

depreciation 123,490 119,463

(profit) loss from disposal of non-current assets (472) (22,115)

change in assets and liabilities

decrease (increase) in receivables 65,765 345,456

decrease (increase) in other financial assets 14,445 (1,643)

increase (decrease) in payables 41,973 67,931

increase (decrease) in provisions 229,323 76,457

net caSh inFloW From operatinG activitieS 242,840 2,990,678

NomattersorcircumstanceshavearisensincetheendofthereportingperiodwhichsignificantlyaffectedormaysignificantlyaffecttheoperationsoftheAuthority,theresultsofthoseoperationsorthestateofaffairsoftheAuthorityin future financial years.

TheAnnualReportofGlenelgHopkinsCMAispreparedinaccordancewithallrelevantVictorianlegislation.This indexhasbeenpreparedtofacilitateidentificationoftheauthority’scompliancewithstatutorydisclosurerequirements.

78 F i n a n c i a l S ta te m e n t s

disClosure index

legislation disclosure Required page no.

report of operAtions – frd guidAnCe

charter and purpose

frd 22C Manner of establishment and the relevant Ministers 2, 40, 75

frd 22C objectives, functions, powers and duties 2

frd 22C nature and range of services provided 2, 36

management and structure

frd 22C organisational structure 40

Financial and other information

frd 10 disclosure index 78

frd 12A disclosure of major contracts 45

frd 15b executive officer disclosures 45

frd 22C five-year summary of financial results 45

frd 22C statement of workforce data 42

frd 22C summary of financial results for the year 1

frd 22C significant changes in financial position during the year 45

frd 22C Major changes or factors affecting performance 45

frd 22C employment and conduct principles 41, 42

frd 22C occupational health and safety 41

frd 22C subsequent events 45

frd 22C Application and operation of Freedom of Information Act 1982 43

frd 22C Application and operation of Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 43

frd 22C Statement of National Competition Policy 43

frd 22C building and maintenance provisions of the Building Act 1993 45

frd 22C Environmental Performance 46

frd 22C details of consultancies over $10,000 44

frd 22C statement of availability of other information 43

frd 25 victorian industry participation policy disclosures 45

sd 4.5.5 risk management compliance attestation 45

sd 4.2(g) general information requirements 1 – 47

sd 4.2(j) sign off requirements 47

Financial Statements required under part 7 of the Financial Management Act 1994

SD 4.2(a) StatementofChangesinEquity 52

SD 4.2(b) OperatingStatement 50

SD 4.2(b) Balance Sheet 51

SD 4.2(b) CashFlowStatement 53

SD 4.2(b) Notes to the financial statements 54

SD 4.2(c) CompliancewithapplicableAustralianaccountingstandardsandotherauthoritative 58

SD 4.2(c) CompliancewithMinisterialDirections 47

SD 4.2(c) AccountableOfficer’sdeclaration 47

SD 4.2(d) Roundingofamounts 54

other disclosures in notes to the financial statements

FRD21B Responsibleperson-relateddisclosures 75

FRD112C Defined Benefit 74

FRD120F AccountingandReportingPronouncementsApplicabletothe2011-12ReportingPeriod 58

legislation

Financial Management Act 1984 47

Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 43

Freedom of Information Act 1982 43

Building Act 1983 45

Glenelg Hopkins CMA makes employer superannuation contributions in respect of most employees to the Vision Superannuation Fund and other authorised superannuation entities on behalf of eligible Glenelg Hopkins CMA employees as per superannuation choice of fund legislation.

The Fund’s accumulation category, Vision Super Saver, receives both employer and employee contributions on a progressive basis. Employer contributions are normally based on a fixed percentage of 9 per cent of employee earnings in accordance with the Superannuation Guarantee Legislation. No further liability accrues to the employer as the superannuation benefits accruing to the employees are represented by their share of the net assets of the Fund.

The amount charged to the operating statement in respect of defined benefit plan superannuation represents the contributions made by Glenelg Hopkins CMA to the superannuation plan in respect to the current services of current staff members.

In accordance with statutory requirements, Glenelg Hopkins CMA contributes amounts determined by the Fund’s Actuary for its defined benefit members in the Vision Superannuation. On the basis of the results of the most recent full actuarial investigation conducted by the Fund’s Actuary as at 31 December 2008, Glenelg Hopkins CMA contributes 9.25 per cent of members’ salaries.

The Authority does not recognise any liability for any of the State’s defined benefit liabilities because the entity has no legal or constructive obligation to pay future benefits in relation to its employees; its only obligation is to pay superannuation contributions as they fall due and if the entity ceases to employ members of the State’s plan(s), it will have no obligation to pay the benefits earned by the employees in previous years. Instead, the Department of Treasury and Finance administers and discloses the State’s defined benefit liabilities in its financial report.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA contributes in respect of its employees to the followings superannuation schemes:

There are no unfunded superannuation liabilities attributable to the Authority in respect to the one defined benefit scheme.

The Authority had no outstanding superannuation contributionspayableat30June2011nordidithaveany loans to or from any of the above funds.

Type of schemeRate

%2010-11

$2009-10

$

vision super defined Contribution 9.25 9,752 9,557

vision super accumulation 9.00 149,498 201,842

vic super accumulation 9.00 22,893 20,187

other accumulation 9.00 101,827 182,092

283,970 413,678

79

ABC Actions for Biodiversity Conservation

AviRA Aquatic Value Identification and Risk Assessment

CEO Chief Executive Officer

C4oC Caring for our Country

CMA Catchment Management Authority

CvA Conservation Volunteers Australia

dAFF Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

dBCP Discovery Bay Coastal Park

dPi Department of Primary Industries

dsE Department of Sustainability and Environment

EBMP Environmental Best Management Practice

EEMss Estuary Entrance Management Support System

EPBC Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation

EvC Ecological Vegetation Communities

EWR Environmental Water Reserve

FMCF Financial management compliance framework

FREP Flood Recovery Employment Program

GMPP Gundity Mirring Partnership Project

GWMWater Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water

HEvAE High Ecological Value Aquatic Ecosystem

iEC Index of Estuary Condition

iEk IndigenousEcologicalKnowledge

iNFFER The Investment Framework for Environmental Resources

isC Index of Stream Condition

iWC Index of Wetland Condition

kPi KeyPerformanceIndicator

LGNP Lower Glenelg National Park

MER Monitor, evaluate and report

NdRRA National Disaster and Recovery Relief Arrangements

NRiP Natural Resources Investment Program

NRM Natural Resource Management

Pv Parks Victoria

RCs Regional Catchment Strategy

RWMs Regional Waterway Management Strategy

RsHRW Regional Strategies for Healthy Rivers and Wetlands

sFs Sustainable Farming Systems

sPRA Securing Priority Riparian Area

TFN Trust for Nature

vCMC Victorian Catchment Management Council

vEFMAP Victorian Environmental Flows Monitoring Assessment Program

vEWH Victorian Environmental Water Holder

viF Victorian Investment Framework

vsHREW Victorian Strategy for Healthy Rivers, Estuaries & Wetlands

vvP Victorian Volcanic Plains

vWMs Victorian Waterway Management Strategy

WAP Waterway Action Plan

gloSSarY

79 french Street, hamilton, vic 3300

t: 03 5571 2526 f: 03 5571 2935

www.ghcma.vic.gov.au

deSigned bY gSdM 10773_aug printed on 100% recYcled poSt-conSuMer waSte

ANNUAL REPORT - Parliament of Victoria · 2 Glenelg Hopkins CMA Annual Report 2011-2012 About us...

Documents

Transcript of ANNUAL REPORT - Parliament of Victoria · 2 Glenelg Hopkins CMA Annual Report 2011-2012 About us...