GLENELG HOPKINS CMA ANNUAL REPORT€¦ · The Glenelg Hopkins CMA Works Crew were deployed...

G L E N E LG H O P K I N S C M A

ANNUAL REPORT2 0 1 7 -2 0 1 8

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This Report:• covers the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018

• is the 20th Annual Report for Glenelg Hopkins CMA

• is prepared for the Minister for Water, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Parliament of Victoria and the community

• is a public document freely available on our website, easily accessed, easily understood and relevant to readers

• 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,theCorporatePlan,whichcanbeaccessedonlineatwww.ghcma.vic.gov.au

• containstheCatchmentConditionandManagementReport2017-18

• acknowledgesthesupportofourcommunity.

©StateofVictoria,GlenelgHopkinsCMA2018.Thispublicationiscopyright.Nopartmaybereproducedbyanyprocessexceptinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthe Copyright Act 1968.

COVER: "Glenelg River". Image courtesy of Ockert Le Roux

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YEAR IN REVIEW 4ReportfromtheChairpersonandChiefExecutiveOfficer 4

Highlights 6

Our Vision 8

Mission 8

Values 8

Manner of Establishment and Ministers 9

NatureandRangeofServicesProvided 9

Objectives,Functions,PowersandDuties 9

OperationalandBudgetaryObjectives 10

OUR REGION 11

CATCHMENT CONDITION AND MANAGEMENT REPORT 2017-18 121.0 Overview 12

2.0 ImplementingtheRegionalCatchmentStrategy 12

3.0 ConditionAssessmentandManagementReport 16

4.0 RegionalActionsandAchievementsReporting 48

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITH ENVIRONMENT 54GlenelgHopkinsAdvisoryGroup 54

Glenelg Hopkins Environrmental Water Advisory Group 55

Glenelg Hopkins Community Advisory Group 55

LocalGovernmentrelations 55

Media 55

Email,printandwebnewsletters 55

PERFORMANCE REPORTING (FINANCE) 56FiveYearSummary–FinancialPerformanceataGlance 56

CurrentFinancialReview 56

SignificantChangesinFinancialPosition 56

SignificantChangesorFactorsAffectingPerformance 56

Capital Projects 56

SubsequentEvents 56

DisclosureofGrantsandTransferPayments 56

GOVERNANCE AND ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 58GoverningBoard 59

AuditandRiskCommittee 61

BoardCommittees 62

LongTermAccommodationWorkingGroup 62

OrganisationalChart 63

OUR PEOPLE, OUR BUSINESS 64Reportingrequirements 64

WorkforceData 65

Public Sector values and employment principles 65

WorkforceInclusionPolicy 66

OccupationalHealthandSafety 66

ExecutiveOfficerData 67

OtherDisclosures 67

LocalJobsFirst–VictorianIndustry ParticipationPolicy 67

GovernmentAdvertisingExpenditure 67

ConsultancyExpenditure 67

ICTExpenditure 67

Major Contracts 67

FreedomofInformation 68

Compliance with Building Act 1993 68

CompetitiveNeutralityPolicy 68

Protected Disclosure Act 2012 68

AdditionalInformationAvailableonRequest 69

OfficeBasedEnvironmentalImpacts 70

FinancialManagementComplianceAttestation 71

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 72

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 80

DISCLOSURE INDEX 108

GLOSSARY 110

ENDNOTES 111

CONTENTS

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On behalf of the Board of Directors, management and staff, we are pleased to present the 20th Annual Report of the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.

ThisyearwesawthedepartureofKevin Wood and the arrival of Adam Bester as CEO.WebelievethatAdamwillbeabletocontinueandgrowourcommunityofpartners, stakeholders and landholders todelivergoodNRMoutcomesintheregion.

TheCMAsincomefor2017-18was$11.7millionwhichwascomprisedofinvestment primarily from the Victorian GovernmentandAustralianGovernment.Thisincomeishigherthan2016-17,largelyduetoinvestmentforfloodrecoveryactivities.

Overthe2017-18financialyeartheCMA has used this investment to largely: Engage with the community in natural resource management; Protect and improvetheenvironmentalconditionof the region’s waterways, land and biodiversity; Provide good governance andleadership.ThenumberofparticipantsthattheCMAengagedwithwasreportedat5,285in2017-18. Over 320 ha of land has been revegetated or maintained, 119 km offencesinstalled,33,764haofpestanimals controlled, 5,635 ha of weeds controlledand19,434haoflandthathasimprovedagriculturalpractices.TheCMAalso provided 312 approvals and referrals aspartofitsstatutoryresponsibilities.

During2017-18GlenelgHopkinsCMAcoordinated a regional wide approach tocatchmentpartnerships.Afternegotiationsanddiscussionswithagencystakeholders, the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Partnership Agreement wassignedinMay2018,resultingin13agencysignatoriesand17non-signatoriessupportingtheAgreement.ThisAgreementidentifiestheprinciples,expectationsandrolesofNRM agenciesinworkingtogethertoidentifyregionalprioritiesthatneedcross-organisationalcollaboration.

Thisagreementbuildsontheextensivepartnership arrangements already in place through the Community Advisory Group, Environmental Water Advisory Group and otherMOUsandforums.

Oneofthemostexcitingannouncementsfor the Glenelg Hopkins CMA region thisyearwasthelistingoftheGlenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar Site.Withcommunitysupport,theCMAfinalisedtherequireddocumentationinpartnership with Parks Victoria and the DepartmentofEnvironment,Water, LandandPlanning.Thisdocumentationwas forwarded through the Minister forWaterHon.LisaNevilletotheCommonwealth Minister for Environment Hon.JoshFrydenbergforreviewandendorsement.Receivingtheendorsementin April 2018, the Glenelg Estuary and DiscoveryBaysiteisnowthe66thWetlandofInternationalImportanceundertheinternationallyrecognisedRamsarConvention.

The2018southwestfiresweredevastatingtomanycommunitiesacrosstheGlenelgHopkinsregion.Fourfiresresulted in over 15,000 hectares, 26homesand63shedsbeingburnt. ThesouthwestVictoriancommunityrallied together to support the farming andextendedeffectedcommunity. TheGlenelg Hopkins CMA Works Crew weredeployedimmediatelyafterthefiresto help with stock containment fencing andcleanup.Furtherrecoveryworkwillbeundertakenoneffectedproperties in2018-19.

Asaresultoffloodsin2016,GlenelgHopkins CMA was funded through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements to provide assistance to thoseaffectedbywidespreadflooding.In2017-18,76floodrecoverysiteswerelistedforrehabilitationwithanestimatedprojectrestorationcostof$7.7million.

TheCMAcontinuedtoworkwithlocalgovernment during the year to improve thequalityoffloodinformationavailabletothecommunitywiththecompletionofthe Glenelg Hopkins Regional Floodplain Management Strategy.Inaddition,thefloodinvestigationscommencedforColeraine and Cudgee in partnership with the Southern Grampians and MoyneShireCouncils.

TheCMAalsosupportedthedevelopment of the Draft Victorian Rural Drainage Strategy, which is due to be finalisedinlate2018.

TheBallarat C178 Planning Scheme AmendmentwasgazettedinJuly2017afterconsiderablecollaborationbetweenBallaratCityCouncilandtheCMA.TheHarrow Flood Investigationwasfinalisedin July 2017, in partnership with West WimmeraShireCouncil.

ThefirstphaseoftheNational Landcare ProgramconcludedinJune2018.Ourstaffhaveworkedwithcommunityandindustrytoachievesignificanton-groundoutcomes, developing strong networks andrelationshipsthatstandourCMAingood stead for the second round of the NationalLandcareProgram.Withthesuccessful submission announcements expectedfromtheAustralianGovernmentearlyinthe2018-19financialyear,theNationalLandcareProgramisanticipatedtoprovidefundingforadditionalenvironmental and sustainable agriculture projectsacrosstheregion.

Our CMA has worked very hard with ourIndigenouspartnerstopromoteandrecognise indigenous culture and land managementpracticesintheregion.TheCMAdevelopedanAboriginal Partnership Framework to be used as a guiding strategy for how we partner andsupportTraditionalOwnersandAboriginalcommunitieswithinourcatchmentoverthenextdecade (2017-27).ThepurposeoftheAboriginalPartnershipFrameworkistosupportthefull,effectiveandequitableparticipationofTraditionalOwnersandAboriginalcommunitiesinnaturalresourcemanagement(NRM)designanddelivery.Examplesofthesepartnershipsin 2017-18includetheBudj Bim Connections Project, Junior Ranger Program, Platypus eDNA monitoring and Towards Cultural Flows – Glenelg River Aboriginal Water Values.

TheCMAcontinuesitsstrategicfocuson developing stronger links with landholders, agencies and industry groups to promote sustainable agricultural practices.TheGlenelgHopkinsregionisoneofAustralia’smajoragriculturalareas.

YEAR IN REVIEW

REPORT FROM THE CHAIRPERSON AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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In2016-17,producingagriculturalcommoditieswithagrossvalueof $2,184million,GlenelgHopkinswasthe4thhighestproducerofAustralia’s56NRMregionsandthelargestofVictoria’s10NRMregions.GlenelgHopkinsCMAworks hard to engage and support the farmingcommunityinourregion.In2017-18 we partnered with Agriculture Victoria, SouthernFarmingSystems,GrasslandSociety of Southern Australia, WestVic Dairy,VictorianNo-TillAssociationandotheragenciestoprovidebestpracticeandadviceacrossamultitudeofareas.InonecollaborationwiththeGrasslandsSociety of Southern Australia we hosted the Converting Blue Gums to Pastures Day to increase knowledge of land conversionpracticeswithover200communitypeopleattending.

TheCMAandtheGrasslandsSocietyofSouthern Australia established Pasture Tech, which is a group of 15 farmers to road test new technologies to make informed decisions for sustainable farm management.Overthelasttwelvemonthsthegrouphavebeenroadtesting‘PasturesFromSpace’andtheuseofprecisionagricultureandvariablefertilizerapplicationratesonpastures.

TheCMAplaysanessentialroleinsupportingLandcare,particularlythroughtheVictorianLandcareGrants.Keyachievements with this program included 23kmoffencing,93haofrevegetationand47haofweedcontrol.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA working with Parks VictoriaandConservationVolunteersjoined together to treat pine wildlings in the south west of Victoria as part of the Pine Wilding Control Project, to protect thehabitatoftheendangeredSouth-easternRed-tailedBlack-Cockatoo.Withlessthan1,000oftheseiconicbirdsleftsuch work is important for the future survivalofthisspecies.

SignificantprogresshasbeenmadetowardsimplementingtheGlenelgHopkinsWaterwayStrategy.Majorprojectsimplementedin2017-18includedtheBudjBimConnectionsProject,Glenelg River Environmental Watering Program,MtEmuCreekRestorationProject,GrangeBurnRestorationProject,MerriRiverRestorationProjectandvariouswetlandrestorationworks.

Stage 2 of the Wannon Waterway Action Plan was implemented this year withwaterwayfencingandrevegetationundertakentostabilisewaterways.

IntheHopkinsBasin,the Mt Emu Creek Waterway Action Plan has successfully fenced 20 km of waterway, planted 13,000 trees and protected123haofremnantvegetation.FurtherprogresshasalsobeenmadeonrehabilitatingurbanwaterwaysinHamilton,MacarthurandWarrnambool.TheMerri River Restoration Project hasmadesignificantimprovementsto the Merri River removing willows, plantingnativetreesandinstallingfishhabitattoincreasefishpopulations.Theestablishment of the Merri Alliance has enabled agencies and community groups to come together with a common vision and plan for improving the environmental, culturalandrecreationalvaluesoftheMerriRiver.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA also partnered withNatureGlenelgTrustandHamiltonFieldNaturalistClubtoundertakeasignificantstepintheprotectionofWalker Swamp.ThroughsupportfromtheOurCatchmentsOurCommunitiesProgram,NatureGlenelgTrustpurchased500acresoftheiconicfloodplainnearDunkeld.Theaimoverthecomingyearsis to restore this important wetland to its former glory with support from the communityandagencies.

Environmental water delivered to the Glenelg River from Rocklands Reservoir totalled10,207MLin2017-18.Ecological monitoring undertaken during environmentalwateringhascontinuedtodemonstrateapositiveresponseinthedistributionandrecruitmentofarangeoffishspecies.RecordnumbersofyoungTupongwererecordedmovingupstream from the estuary to the freshwater reaches of the Glenelg River infishsurveysundertakenduringanenvironmental water release in summer 2018.ThisyearGlenelgHopkinsCMApartnered with GWMWater to coordinate a trial water release from Moora Moora ReservoirintotheUpperGlenelgRiver.Thiswasthefirsttimewaterfortheenvironment has been released from Moora Moora Reservoir and helps to build anoperationalunderstandingofhowwatercanbedeliveredintothisreach.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA has also implementeditsfirstDiversity and Inclusion Plan.Guidelinesdevelopedby VicCatchments set the minimum standards for all CMAs to address genderequity,diversityandinclusionin their workforce, and form the basis for CMAs to manage their performance in improving diversityandinclusion.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAiscommittedtobuildingonfoundationalworktoprovideaworkplaceandworkpracticesthatbothembraceandreflectthediversityofourcommunity and support inclusion and participationbyeveryonethrough ourPlan.

TheLongTermAccommodationWorking Group have approved the new accommodationarrangementsfortheWarrnambool Office and we are pleased to have signed an agreement with DeakinUniversitytoshiftourLavaStreetOfficetotheWarrnamboolCampus laterin2018.

ThereweresignificantchangesinOctober 2017 when Mike Wagg, KarenWalesandIanHastingsleftourBoard.IncomingDirectorsChrisGilesand Phil Saunders have embraced theresponsibilitywithexcellentskillstocomplementthecontinuingBoardDirectors–MichelleCasanova,DameinBell,GeorginaGubbins,JohnSherwoodandDebbieShea.MsKateCalvertwasappointedtotheBoardinOctober2017,howeverwasonleaveuntilJune2018when she resigned due to personal reasons.OurBoardhasworkedtogetherover the year reviewing and assessing our strategicdirectionsandmaintainingcloseoversight of our compliance, culture and businessperformance.

InaccordancewiththeFinancial Management Act 1994 we are pleased topresenttheReportofOperationsforGlenelgHopkinsCMAfortheYearended30June2018.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Adam Bester ChiefExecutiveOfficer Glenelg Hopkins CMA 30 June 2018

Antony Ford Chairperson Glenelg Hopkins CMA 30 June 2018

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The Glenelg Hopkins Regional Floodplain Management Strategy was completedandapprovedbytheBoardinDecember2017.TheStrategyisthefirstupdatedfloodplainmanagementstrategyfortheregionin18years.

TheCMAisworkinginPartnershipwithSouthern Grampians Shire Council and Moyne Shire Council on the Coleraine and Cudgee Flood Investigations respectively.Theseinvestigationswillproducehighqualityfloodmapping,along with planning and emergency responseoutputs.Communityconsultationshavebeenwellattendedfor both projects and the community providedvaluableintelligenceonfloodimpacts and provided feedback on theprojectoutputs.BothprojectsarescheduledforcompletioninDecember2018.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA has developed an Aboriginal Partnership Framework which will be used by the CMA as a guiding strategy for how we partner withandsupportTraditionalOwnersandAboriginalcommunitieswithinourcatchmentoverthenextdecade (2017-2027).ThepurposeoftheAboriginalPartnershipFrameworkistosupportthefull,effectiveandequitableparticipationofTraditionalOwnersandAboriginalcommunitiesinnaturalresourcemanagement(NRM)design anddelivery.

TheTowards Cultural Flows – Glenelg River Aboriginal Water Values Scoping Projectwasoneofthethreefinalists intheRiverBasinManagementSocietyAwards in 2017, for the category InvolvingCommunityinWaterwayManagement.

InpartnershipwithGunditjMirringTraditionalOwnerAboriginalCorporationandBaimbridgeCollegeHamiltonthefourthandfinalyearoftheJunior Ranger Program was delivered as part oftheImprovedNRMproject. Atotalof120studentsparticipatedinthe program this year, which included classroom studies on Gunditjmara Country, a stone knapping workshop, TraditionalAboriginalGamesworkshopandaBudjBimlandscapestour.Overthe four years, nearly 500 students have been involved in the program which has raised awareness and improved understandingofIndigenouscultureandlandmanagementpracticesintheregion.

TheIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) project conducted by the Upper Hopkins Land Management Group is a real successstoryandasignificanthighlightfortheRegionalLandcareFacilitatorprogram.

Overafour-yearperiod,theIPMprojectdevelopedfourfielddemonstrationsites,held 10 workshops catering for farmers andprofessionalindustryorganisations,andestablishedtheproductionofaquarterlyIPMnewsletterwhichwasdistributedtoa300-strongnetwork. Theprojectalsoestablisheda“BugHotline” to support farmers with insect identification.

ThroughtheAustralianGovernmentfunded Sustainable Agriculture project, a partnership with the Grasslands Society of Southern Australia has resulted in morethan200farmersattendingthe'Converting Blue Gums to Pastures Day' at Cavendish in July 2017, as well as the initiationofapilotPastureTechprojectutilisingsmartfarmdigitalandspatialtechnologies.Thisprojecthassupported15youngfarmersfrom11farmentitiestoadoptspatialanddigitaltechnologytoimprovemonitoringofpasturesandsoil.

ApartnershipbetweenNatureGlenelgTrust(NGT),GlenelgHopkinsCMAandtheHamiltonFieldNaturalistClubhasenabledNGTtopurchasethe500acreWalker Swamp, situated in the Wannon RiverfloodplainnearDunkeld. Thispurchasewassupportedbythe Our Catchments Our Communities project.

As part of the Victorian Government funded Our Catchments Our Communities,aLandholderIncentivesProgram across the Greater Grampians region has been established for the improvement of wetlands on private land.Eightlandholdersarecurrentlyparticipatingintheprogramwith 374.2haofwetlandsbenefitingfromimprovedmanagementpractices.

In2017GlenelgHopkinsCMAimplementeditsfirstDiversity and Inclusion Plan. Guidelines developed by Vic Catchments set the minimum standards for all CMAs to address genderequity,diversityandinclusionintheir workforce, and form the basis for CMAs to manage their performance in improvingdiversityandinclusion.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAiscommitted tobuildingonfoundationalworktoprovideaworkplaceandworkpracticesthatbothembraceandreflectthediversity of our community and support inclusionandparticipationbyeveryonethroughourPlan.

Budj Bim Connections project supports the increased knowledge sharing between landholders and the GunditjmaraTraditionalOwnersandimprovestheconditionandconnectionof waterways across this culturally significantlandscape.Thisprojectisoneofthetenflagshipwaterwayprojectsacross Victoria and a key component ofWaterforVictoria.

YEAR IN REVIEW

HIGHLIGHTS

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Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay receivedRamsarlistinginApril2018. TheGlenelgEstuaryandDiscoveryBaysitemeetsfiveoftherequiredcriteria forlistingontheConventiononWetlandsofInternationalImportanceand received endorsement from the VictorianMinisterforWatertheHon.LisaNevilleandtheCommonwealthMinisterforEnvironmenttheHon.JoshFrydenbergtobecomethe66thAustralian site listed ensuring greater protectionoftheuniquearea.

TheWetland Defence Program, funded through the Victorian Water for Victoria, providedinformationandfundingopportunitiestohelpimprovewetlandsand protect the tens of thousands of wetlands, swamps, bogs and lakes in thewesternVictoriaregion.

Mount Emu Creek Protection project provided landholders in the upper Mount EmuCreekandTrawallaCreekareastheopportunitytodevelopon-groundactivitiestoprotectandenhancethehealth of these creeks through funding andprotectionofnativevegetation.

TheNatural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) is aimed at providing assistance to thoseaffectedbywidespreadfloodingexperiencedacrosstheregionin2016.Therearecurrently76floodrecoverysiteslistedforrehabilitationwithanestimatedprojectcostof$7.7million.

TheGlenelg River Crossing project will investigatehowbesttonegatethelastmajorfishbarrierontheGlenelgRiver.Thiswillbenefitbothmigratoryandnon-migratoryfishpopulationsintheGlenelg River by ensuring upstream and downstreammigrationoffishspeciesunderlowflowconditions.

Workundertakenin2017-18hasincluded landholder engagement and the development of a concept and detailed designforafishwaystructuretoinformfutureworks.

TheRiparianCrowdfundingProjectwasaninnovativetrialfortheVictorianCMA,launchingourfirstcrowdfundingcampaignaptlynamed‘FundsforFish’.Duetothegeneroussupportfromthe local community and business the CMAwassuccessfulinexceedingitsfundraising target of $12,000 for the Big Fish Hotel ProjectinWarrnambool.

During2017-18theCMAcommencedtheimplementationoftheBigFishHotelProject.ThegoalwastoenhancerecreationalfishingintheMerriRiver,Warrnambool.Thiswasundertakenthroughtheintroductionoflargewoodydebris(logs/branches),fishhotelsandlargerocks.Thisprojectculminatedwiththe public being invited along to watch some of the habitat get placed in the MerriRiver.

TheNational Landcare Program Coastal Connections is funded through theAustralianGovernment’sNationalLandcareProgram.In2017-18,theCoastalConnectionsprojectworkedwith community groups and private land managers to protect and restore coastal, estuarineandwetlandhabitat.Thisincluded sharing knowledge and skills, protectingandrestoringhabitats,andundertakingconservationmanagementofthesevaluablecoastalareas.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA has been working in partnership with the Wimmera CMA to deliver a Habitat Tender project. Theprojectaimstoimprovetheprotectionofnativevegetationonprivate land by providing landholders withfundingtoundertakeconservationactions.Theprojectisfocusedonimprovingtheconnectionsbetweenforest in southwest Victoria and the MalleeCountrywhichiscriticalhabitatforspeciessuchastheRed-tailedBlack-CockatooandtheSouthernBrownBandicoot.Landholderswhoparticipatein the project agree to protect areas of nativevegetationfortenyears.IntotalGlenelgHopkinsCMAundertookfieldassessmentson21properties. TheprojectwasfundedbytheVictorianGovernmentsBiodiversityStrategy.

YEAR IN REVIEW

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OUR VISION

Achieving a healthy and sustainable relationshipbetweenthenaturalenvironment and the community's use oflandandwaterresources.

MISSION

Improvingrelationshipsbetween the environment and the community to achieve wise use of our regional natural resources in partnership with thegovernment.

VALUES

Glenelg Hopkins CMA operates under fourstrategicobjectivesdevelopedbytheBoard.Theobjectives,associatedsub-objectivesandtheRegionalCatchment Strategy provide guidance fortheorganisationinestablishingourbusinessdirectionsandactivities.

YEAR IN REVIEW

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Productive partnerships for a healthy catchment

• Fosteractivepartnershipstostrengthen the region’s capacity in natural resource and waterway management

• Strengthen structures and processes for community engagement in regional strategies and plans

• Promoteadaptationandknowledgesharing to build stakeholder capacity and resilience

Integrated and sustainable catchment management

• Facilitateandcoordinatethemanagement of catchments in an integrated and sustainable manner

• Targetinvestmenttoenhancebiodiversity,sustainableproductionand community resilience

• Adviseonnaturalassetconditiontrendstoinformresourceallocationandmanagementactions

Effective waterway and floodplain management

• Manage environmental water effectively

• Provideefficientbusinessprocessforstatutoryfunctions

• Provide regional leadership in floodplainmanagement

A respected and accountable organisation

• Recruit and sustain a professional, proactiveandinnovativeworkforce

• Deliverinvestmentprogramseffectivelyandefficiently

• Managebusinessriskconservatively

• OptimisefundingforNRMprojectsbyminimising corporate overheads

MANNER OF ESTABLISHMENT AND MINISTERS

Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority is established under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. TheresponsibleMinisters for the period from 1 July 2017 to 30June2018weretheHon.LisaNevilleMP,MinisterforWaterandtheHon.LilyD’AmbrosioMP,MinisterforEnergy,EnvironmentandClimateChange.

NATURE AND RANGE OF SERVICES PROVIDED

Glenelg Hopkins CMA is responsible, with others, for natural resource managementwithintheregion.Ittakesanintegrated,whole-of-catchmentapproach by combining strategic planning withco-ordinationformanagementofnaturalresources.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA is an important link between community and government, providing advice to the Australian and State Governments on environmental conditions,prioritiesanddirectionwithintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.

OBJECTIVES, FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES

TheObjectives,Functions,PowersandDutiesoftheGlenelgHopkinsCMA are largely contained within the following Acts:

• 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; and

• Public Administration Act 2004.

Thefunctions,powersanddutiesofGlenelgHopkinsCMAareidentifiedintheStatementofObligationsundersection19E(1)(a)oftheCatchment & Land Protection Act 1994 (CaLP Act).

TheseObligations:

• provide clarity on the way CMA activitiesshouldbeundertakenandtheleveltheseactivitiesshouldbeperformed.Itspecifiestheobligationsas to the performance of broad legislativefunctionsandpolicyresponsibilities;

• specifywhichobligationswillbefunded out of annual Corporate AllocationsandStatutoryLandAllocationsandwhichobligationsare to be funded by contracts or agreementsbetweentheDepartmentof Sustainability & Environment and the CMA; and

• reflectanintegratedandsustainableapproachtocatchmentmanagement.

ThisStatementshouldbereadinconjunctionwiththeStatementsofObligationsforCMAsissuedunderthe Water Act 1989,whichidentifyadditionalobjectives,functions,powersanddutiesinwaterwaymanagement,floodplainmanagement and regional drainage conferredunderPart7andPart10.

YEAR IN REVIEW

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YEAR IN REVIEW

OPERATIONAL AND BUDGETARY OBJECTIVES

Performance Area Performance Target

Businessmanagement and governance

Submit annually, a board performance assessment reportaccordingtoanyguidelinesissued.

Submittedelectronicallyon14September2017to Hon.LisaNevilleMinisterforWater.

A risk management strategy / plan approved by theboardandbeingimplemented.

TheCMAhasariskmanagementplanthatisapproved bytheBoardandisbeingimplemented.ThePlanis updatedannuallyandwaslastapprovedbytheBoard on22June2018.

100% of the CMA’s policies and procedures reviewedeverythreefinancialyears.

95%ofBoardpolicieshavebeenreviewedinthelastthreeyears.65%ofOperationalProcedureshavebeenreviewedinthelastthreeyears(40of61–allproceduresnotreviewedinthelastthreefinancialyearsareconsidered‘underreview’andmostlyconsistofHRandIT-relatedprocedures).

FullcompliancewithallapplicableStandingDirectionsundertheFinancialManagementComplianceFrameworkChecklist.

Fullycompliantwithallstandingdirectionswiththeexceptionofone,ofwhicharepartiallycompliant,withnomaterialnon-compliance.

Regional planning and coordination

ARegionalCatchmentStrategy(RCS)approved bytheMinister.

TheGlenelgHopkinsRCS(2013-2019)wasgazettedon 16May2013.

A stakeholder and community engagement framework/planapprovedbytheBoard.

TheGlenelgHopkinsPartnership&EngagementStrategy isscheduledforupdatingin2018-19.

A Regional Landcare support plan approved by theBoard.

TheGlenelgHopkinsRegionalLandcareSupportStrategywasapprovedbytheBoardon14December2012andisbeingimplemented.

A Regional Waterways Strategy approved by theMinister.

TheGlenelgHopkinsWaterwayStrategy2014-22wasapprovedbytheMinisterAugust2014.

ARegionalFloodplainStrategyapprovedby theBoard.

TheGlenelgHopkinsRegionalFloodplainManagementStrategywasapprovedbytheBoardinDecember2017 andwasacceptedbyDELWPonApril,2018.

Regional delivery

ProgresswithimplementationoftheRCS(anditsmajorsub-strategies)isreviewedbytheBoardannually.

TheGlenelgHopkinsCMABoardreviewedtheimplementationoftheRCSandmajorsub-strategiesat itsAugust2017BoardMeeting.

Projects/activitiestoimplementtheRCSaredelivered and reported according to associated fundingagreements.

Projects to implement the RCS were delivered and reported accordingtoassociatedfundingagreements.

Projects/activitiestoimplementtheregionalwaterwaysstrategyandtheregionalfloodplainmanagement strategy delivered and reported accordingtoassociatedfundingagreements.

TheGlenelgHopkinsWaterwayStrategyisreviewedannuallybytheboard.19actionshavebeencompleted, 35areinprogressand17areyettocommence.AllactionsaretobecompletedoverthelifeoftheStrategy.TheRegionalFloodplainManagementStrategyhasbeencompleted.7of80actionshavebeencompleted, 10actionsinprogressand63notstarted.

StatutoryfunctionsunderPart 10 of the Water Act

90%ofstatutoryrequirements(permits,referrals,adviceandlicences)associatedwithwaterwayandfloodplainmanagementarerespondedtowithintheprescribedperiod.

92%ofFloodAdvicewererespondedtowithintheprescribedperiod.

95%ofFloodReferralswererespondedtowithintheprescribedperiod.

96% of Works on Waterways Licences were issued within theprescribedperiod.

91% of Works on Waterways Advice were issued within theprescribedperiod.

100% of Works on Waterways Referrals were responded towithintheprescribedperiod.

StatutoryfunctionsunderPart 11 of the Water Act

90%ofstatutoryrequirements(permits,referrals,adviceandlicences)associatedirrigationmanagement are responded to within the prescribedperiod.

100%ofirrigationmanagementresponseswerewithin theprescribedresponseperiod.

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OUR REGION

The Glenelg Hopkins region lies south of the Great Dividing Range in Victoria’s south west.

Theregionisrenownedforitsagriculturalproduction,scenicbeauty,dramaticcoastlineandrichbiodiversity.

Itcovers26,910sqkm,extendingfromBallaratintheeasttotheSouthAustralian border in the west, and from the southern coast of Victoria to the townships of Harrow and Ararat in thenorth.

Therearefourmainbasinsthatoccurwithin the region: Glenelg, Hopkins, PortlandCoastandMillicentCoast. Theboundariesoftheregionincludemarine and coastal waters out to the statelimitofthreenauticalmiles. Theregionischaracterisedbyflatvolcanic plains in the south, while the Grampians,DundasTablelands,andCentral Highlands are dominant in thenorth.

Catchment facts

Theregionattractslargenumbersofvisitorstoitsworld-classtouristattractionsandboastsavarietyofeducationalandresearchinstitutions.

A deepwater port is located in Portland and the region is strategically located with road access to Melbourne and Adelaide.

Theregionsupportsapermanentpopulationof130,000withyear-roundtourismaddingsignificantlytothisnumber.MajorcitiesandtownsincludeWarrnambool, Hamilton, Portland, part ofBallarat,Ararat,Casterton,PortFairyandBeaufort.Morethan35,000oftheregion’s residents reside in Warrnambool, andstrongpopulationgrowthisoccurringinthecity.

TheGlenelgHopkinsregionhasarichresource base that supports diverse and growingindustries.Themaineconomicdriversareagriculture,fisheries,retail,manufacturing, health and community services,educationandconstruction,whileagriculture,forestryandfishingarethemajoremployers.

TheregionisoneofAustralia’smajoragriculturalareas.In2016-17,producingagriculturalcommoditieswithagrossvalueof$2,184million,GlenelgHopkinswasthe4thhighestproducerofAustralia’s56NRMregionsandthelargestofVictoria’s10NRMregions.

South western Victoria has a range of natural assets in the form of biodiversity, rivers,wetlands,soils,forestsandcoast.Thesenaturalresourcessupport auniquequalityoflife.

TheGlenelgHopkinsregioncontains a number of natural features that are of nationalandinternationalsignificance,including:

• BudjBimNationalHeritageLandscape (Mt Eccles / Lake Condah /TyrendarraArea)

• TheGrampiansNationalPark

• KanawinkaGeopark(UNESCOlisted),encompassing sites of geologic significancesuchasWannonFalls,TowerHill,MtNooratandPrincessMargaret Rose Caves

• GlenelgRiver–thelowersectionoftheGlenelgRiverisheritage-listedduetoitsenvironmentalsignificance

• WesternDistrictRamsarlakes–onelake in the region is recognised as internationallyimportantundertheRamsarConventiononWetlands

• GlenelgEstuaryandDiscoveryBaylistedundertheRamsarConventionon Wetlands

• ThreeInternationalBirdAreas(IBA)betweenPortFairyandWarrnambool,YambukandtheDiscoveryBayCoastal Park

• SignificantareasoftwoAustralianGovernment ‘biodiversity hotspots’

• 13endangeredEcologicalVegetationCommunities

• TheiconicRed-tailedBlack-Cockatoo,Orange-belliedParrotandendemicGlenelg Spiny Cray, and 173 of Victoria’sthreatenedspecies.

Water is abundant across the southern part of the region and reliable in muchoftherest.Numerouswetlandscomprising44percentofVictoria’stotalarespreadthroughouttheregion.Thecatchmentcontainssubstantialreservesofgroundwaterwithvaryingsalinities.Threeregionalgroundwatersystemsunderlietheregion–theOtway,MurrayandHighland–withothershallowlocalaquiferspresent.

Thecoastalareashavenoparallel.Toweringcliffs,extensivedunesystems,broadvegetationremnantsanduniquemarine habitats are home to diverse and richecosystems.Offshoreareasarerichinmarinelife,withthecontinentalshelfclose to the shore and bringing in whales andlargeschoolsofbluefintuna.

Area of the Region 26,910 sq km

AreaoftheGlenelgBasin 12,370sqkm

AreaoftheHopkinsBasin 9,897sqkm

AreaoftheMillicentCoastBasin 431sqkm

AreaofthePortlandCoastBasin 3,965sqkm

Length of Coastline 220 km

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ThisConditionandManagementReportfor2017-18fulfilsGlenelgHopkinsCMA’sresponsibilitiesunderSection 19BoftheCatchment and Land Protection Act 1994 to submit to the Minister and Victorian Catchment Management Council:

“A report on the condition and management of land and water resources in its region and the carrying out of its functions”.

Thereportprovidesasummaryofregionalmanagementactivitiesundertakenduringthereportingyear by the CMA, regional partners and localcommunitiestoimprovetheconditionoftheregion’sland,water andbiodiversityresources.Asnapshotof outputs delivered by Glenelg Hopkins CMAin2017-18inpartnershipwith thecommunityisalsopresented.

Thereportprovidesastatementonconditionatacatchmentlevel,andasummary of issues and events that may impactonthelonger-termcondition of land and water resources in the region.Conditioninformationispresented in accordance with the headline indicator themes of community, waterways, biodiversity, land and coasts,asidentifiedintheFramework for Catchment Condition and Management Reporting in Victoria.i

TheGlenelgHopkinsRegionalCatchmentStrategy(2013-2019)istheprimary integrated strategic planning mechanism for the management of land, water and biodiversity resources within the Glenelg Hopkins region, and is an important building block in improving the conditionoftheseresourcesovertime.Itprovidesanintegratedframeworkforinvestinginandprioritisingon-groundworksandNRMprojectswithintheregion, and was developed using an asset-basedapproach.

RegionalCatchmentStrategy(RCS)objectives(20-yeartimeframe)andmanagementmeasures(six-yeartimeframe)havebeensetataregionallevel, for nine asset classes: community participation,riversandfloodplains,wetlands, estuaries, coasts, marine, terrestrialhabitat,speciespopulationsandcommunities,andsoil/land.Managementmeasures(actions)havebeen set for achievement within the life oftheRCS.

Anumberofsub-strategieshavebeen developed to support RCS implementationincludingtheGlenelgHopkinsWaterwayStrategy(2014-22),SoilHealthStrategy(2014-19),andRegional Landcare Support Strategy (2012-2018).Thesesub-strategiesplayan important role in shaping regional worksprogramsandsupportingtheimplementationofRCSactions.

Overall,goodprogresscontinuestobemadeontheimplementationofthe RCSandsix-yearmanagementactions.As of 30 June 2018, 25 per cent of RCS actionswereassessedascompleted, 67percentinprogress(orongoing), 3 per cent not started, and 5 per cent abandoned.ThenumberofcompletedRCSactionshasincreasedby9percentsince2016-17,whichhasalsoaffectedthepercentageofactionsrecordedasinprogress(reducedby9percent).

Table1presentsthekeyprogramsandprojectsthatarecontributingtotheachievementofRCSobjectivesandactionsin2017-18.

2.0 IMPLEMENTING THE REGIONAL CATCHMENT STRATEGY

1.0 OVERVIEW

CATCHMENT CONDITION AND MANAGEMENT REPORT 2017-18

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OUR REGION – CATCHMENT CONDITION AND MANAGEMENT REPORT 2017-18

Table 1: Key programs and projects contributing to achievement of RCS objectives and actions in 2017-18

RCS objectiveNo. of 2017-18

actions implemented1

Key programs/projects contributing to achievement of RCS objectives and actions2

Objectives that relate to all or multiple asset themes

Objective1.1:Protectandimprove the region’s waterways, wetlands and estuaries

2 of 2 • VWPIFWorksPrograms(Glenelg,Hopkins,CoastalandRegional)• VWPIFEnvironmentalWaterProgram• EnvironmentalWater:TechnicalInvestigations,WorksandMeasuresProgram• VWPIFOurCatchmentsOurCommunities• VWPIFRegionalRiparianActionPlan(RRAP)–LandcareGrants• Landcare(VictorianLandcareGrantsandRegionalLandcareCoordination)• NLPCoastalConnections

Objective1.2:Reducetheimpact of pest plants and animals on the region’s natural resources and agricultural industries

1 of 3 • BOGAWilkenPineWildlingControlprojects• BOGAGlenelgEstuaryandDiscoveryBayWeedControl• BOGALowerGlenelg-DiscoveryBayWeedManagement• NLPProjects(ThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesProgram,CoastalConnections,RegionalLandcareFacilitator)

• VWPIFWorksPrograms(Glenelg,Hopkins,CoastalandRegional)

Objective1.3:Maximisebiodiversitybenefitsofsequesteringcarboninthelandscape and minimise adverseeffects

4of4 • VWPIFOurCatchmentsOurCommunities

Objective1.4:Protectandmanage the visual character of the landscape

2 of 2 • Partner led

Community participation

Objective2.1:Maintainandenhance community capacity, awareness and involvement in natural resource management with the region

6 of 6 • VWPIFWorksPrograms(Glenelg,Hopkins,CoastalandRegional)• VWPIFRegionalRiparianActionPlan(RRAP)-LandcareGrants• VWPIFOurCatchmentsOurCommunities• VWPIFEnvironmentalWaterCommunityEngagementProject• VWPIFRegionalFloodplainManagementStrategyImplementation• Landcare(VictorianLandcareGrantsandRegionalLandcareCoordination)• NLPProjects(SustainableAgriculture,RegionalLandcareFacilitator,ThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesProgram,CoastalConnections,IndigenousPartnershipsforNRM)

Objective2.2:FacilitateacollaborativeapproachtoNRM

3 of 3 • VWPIFWorksPrograms(Glenelg,Hopkins,CoastalandRegional)• VWPIFRRAP-LandcareGrants• VWPIFOurCatchmentsOurCommunities• VWPIFEnvironmentalWaterProgram• Landcare(VictorianLandcareGrantsandRegionalLandcareCoordination)• NLPProjects(SustainableAgriculture,RegionalLandcareFacilitator,ThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesProgram,CoastalConnections,IndigenousPartnershipsforNRM)

Objective2.3:Supportlandmanagersinmeetingtheirresponsibilitiesasactivestewards of the Catchment’s land, water and biodiversity

1 of 1 • NLPProjects(SustainableAgricultureProject,RegionalLandcareFacilitator, IndigenousPartnershipsforNRM)

Objective2.4:Supportfarmersto incorporate environmental outcomes into their farm systems

2 of 2 • VWPIFRRAPLandcareGrants• Landcare(VictorianLandcareGrantsandRegionalLandcareCoordination)• NLPProjects(SustainableAgriculture,RegionalLandcareFacilitator,ThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesProgram,CoastalConnections,IndigenousPartnershipsforNRM)

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Rivers and Floodplains

Objective3.1:Waterwaysclassifiedasgoodorexcellent intheIndexofStreamCondition(ISC3)willremainassuch in 2033

1 of 1 • VWPIFWorksPrograms(GlenelgandRegional)• VWPIFImprovingFlowsintheUpperGlenelg• NLPCoastalConnections

Objective3.2:Theconditionofspecifiedwaterwayscurrentlyclassed as poor to moderate in theIndexofStreamCondition(ISC3)isimprovedby2033

1 of 1 • VWPIFHopkinsWorksProgram• VWPIFEnvironmentalWaterProgram

Objective3.3:Improveriverhealthinrelationtoriparianextent,connectivity,hydrological regime and waterquality

2 of 2 • VWPIFWorksPrograms(Glenelg,Hopkins,CoastalandRegional)• VWPIFOurCatchmentsOurCommunities• VWPIFEnvironmentalWaterProgram• VWPIFCatchmentScaleSedimentMonitoring

Objective3.4:Increaseprovisionofreliablefloodinformationforsettlements

6 of 6 • VWPIFStatutoryWaterFunctions(FloodplainandWaterwayManagement)• VWPIFRegionalFloodplainManagementStrategyImplementation• Floodinvestigations

Objective3.5:Improveriver andfloodplainmanagement

2 of 2 • VWPIFStatutoryWaterFunctions(FloodplainandWaterwayManagement)• Floodinvestigations

Wetlands

Objective4.1:By2033,improvetheconditionofwetlands, and maintain the diversity of wetland types (usingIWC1assessmentforcomparison)

7 of 9 • VWPIFOurCatchmentsOurCommunities• VWPIFEnvironmentalWaterProgram• NLPThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesProgram• VWPIFRamsarSiteManagementandMonitoring• VWPIFImprovingFlowsintheBudjBimLandscape• VWPIFPermanentRestorationofLongSwamp• NLPCoastalConnections

Estuaries

Objective5.1:By2033improvetheconditionofestuariesacross the region as compared withthe2018IECassessment

6 of 8 • VWPIFCoastalWorksProgram• VWPIFGlenelgRiverEstuaryFlowRequirements• BOGAGlenelgEstuaryandDiscoveryBayWeedControl• BOGALowerGlenelg-DiscoveryBayWeedManagement

Coasts

Objective6.1:By2033maintaintheconditionofthecoastandmanagespecificthreatstoimproveconditionwhere appropriate

7 of 9 • NLPCoastalConnections• VWPIFEnvironmentalWaterProgram• VWPIFCoastalWorksProgram• BOGAGlenelgEstuaryandDiscoveryBayWeedControl• BOGALowerGlenelg-DiscoveryBayWeedManagement

Marine

Objective7.1:By2033maintaintheconditionofthe marine environment and managespecificcatchment-based threats to improve conditionwhereappropriate

4of8 • VWPIFWorksPrograms(Glenelg,Hopkins,CoastalandRegional)• NLPCoastalConnections• CleanOceansInitiative


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Terrestrial Habitat

Objective8.1:Maintainextentandimproveconditionofterrestrial habitat

6 of 10 • VWPIFWorksPrograms(Glenelg,Hopkins,CoastalandRegional)• Landcare(VictorianLandcareGrants)• NLPProjects(ThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesProgram,CoastalConnections)• BOGAProjects(HabitatTender,WilkenPineWildlingControl,GlenelgEstuaryandDiscoveryBayWeedControl,LowerGlenelg-DiscoveryBayWeedManagement)

Objective8.2:Improveconnectivityofhabitatforspeciespopulationsandcommunities

3of4 • NLPCoastalConnections• NLPProtectionofEcologicalCommunities

Objective8.3:Publiclandismanaged as the core of resilient ecosystems

1 of 3 • NLPCoastalConnections

Threatened Species and Communities

Objective9.1:Improvethehealthofkeypopulationsof threatened species and communities

10 of 11 • VWPIFEnvironmentalWaterProgram• NLPProjects(ThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesProgram,CoastalConnections)• GlenelgArk,GlenelgEdenandGrampiansArkprojects(partnerled)• VWPIFCoastalWorksProgram

Soil and Land

Objective10.1:Animprovementinsoilconditionas measured by key indicators by 2033

2 of 2 • NLPSustainableAgricultureProgram• NLPRegionalLandcareFacilitator

Objective10.2:Anincreaseinthe area of soils managed within their capability

9 of 10 • NLPProjects(SustainableAgriculture,RegionalLandcareFacilitator)

Objective10.3:By2033reducethe impact of soil based threats, including salinity and erosion, on waterways and wetlands as measuredbyimprovedISCandIWCscores(turbidityandEC)


Objective10.4:By2033soilsaremanagedforprotectionandenhancementofthebeneficialecosystem services provided by soils


Note:NLP=NationalLandcareProgram,VWPIF=VictorianWaterProgramInvestmentFramework

1. A number of RCS actions are designed to be implemented over the life of the strategy. This column refers to the number of actions that were scheduled to occur in 2016-17, that were assessed as being implemented to the level intended.

2. Initiatives may contribute to one or more RCS objectives / actions. Achievements for programs / projects marked * are discussed elsewhere in this report.

ImplementationoftheRCShasbeensupportedthroughanumberoffundingsources,includingtheAustralianGovernment’sNationalLandcareProgram(NLP)andtheVictorianGovernment’sVictorianWaterProgramInvestmentFramework,theCMA’stwomainsourcesofprojectfundingfor2017-18.

ThelocationofmanagementactivitiesassociatedwithCMAledprogramsfor2017-18isshowninFigure1(page 16).

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Figure 1: Location of management activities in the Glenelg Hopkins region for 2017-18

Thissectionofthereportincludesanassessmentofcatchmentconditionacross the headline indicator themes of community, waterways, biodiversity, land and coasts; and a report on progressandactionstowardsRCSimplementation.ItincludesanoverviewofregionalinitiativesundertakentowardsimplementingRCSobjectivesandactionsin2017-18,andasummaryofkeyprojectachievementsfor2017-18.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA strategies and initiativesaredesignedtosupportintegratedcatchmentmanagement.As a result, programs and projects may contributetoRCSobjectivesandactionsassociated with more than one RCS assetclass.Intheseinstances,initiativeshave been outlined under the headline indicator theme that relates most closely tothemanagementactivitiesbeingundertaken.

Annualcatchmentconditionassessmentsarebasedonavailablescienceandexpertadvice as well as evidence gained during thereportingperiod,andarebasedonthecriteriadetailedinTable2.Apositiveassessmentindicatesalevelofoptimismaboutfuturedirection;aconcernedorhighly concerned assessment indicates a morepessimisticviewofthedirectionofenvironmentalchange.

3.0 CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT REPORT

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Table 2: Assessment criteria for annual condition reporting

Assessment Criteria

1. Positive Anoptimisticfuturewithevidencethateventsduringtheyearwillhaveapositiveimpactonthelongerterm.

2. Neutral Alargelyneutralstate,whereeventsduringtheyearmayhavebeensignificantbutarewithinexpectedvariationandwillhavelittleimpactinthelongerterm.

3. Concerned Alevelofconcernthatsignificanteventsduringtheyearmayhaveanadverseimpactinthe longerterm.

4. Highly concerned Ahighlevelofconcernthatsignificanteventsduringtheyeararelikelytohaveanadverseimpactinthelongerterm.

Detailsforeachcatchmentindicatorthemearepresentedseparatelyinthisreport.AnoverallsummaryisprovidedinTable3.

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Table 3: Summary of catchment condition assessment

Indicator Theme 2016-17 Assessment

2017-18 Assessment Key Evidence

Waterways Concerned Concerned • Reportsandincidentsofwetlandlossduring2017-18,duetocroppingofephemeral wetlands

• Extensivefiredamagetoriparianvegetationon3majorwaterways• Possiblelong-termimpactfromfireintwopeatwetlands

Biodiversity Neutral Neutral • Wildfiresburntover14000haofpredominantlypasturegrassesbutalsoimpacted on riparian land and peat wetlands

• Positiveoutcomesobservedforsomethreatenedspeciesacrosstheregion• Aboveaveragerainfallsince2016benefitedmanyterrestrialandaquaticspecies,andvegetationcommunities

• Over-browsingbyKoalasinthemixedEucalyptwoodlandsofthefarsouth

Land Neutral Neutral • LargegrassfiresatGarvoc,Gazette-HawkesdaleandTerang• Nomajorerosioneventsreportedonfarmland• Annual average ground cover rates remained stable• Significantlong-termchallengesremaininmanagingtheimpactoflanduseon

waterway health and managing soil health at the farm scale

Coasts Concerned Concerned • Withtheexceptionoflandprotectedwithinparksandreserves,thecoastalenvironmentremainsundersignificantpressurefromagriculture,anddevelopment near urban centres

• Coastalareasareexperiencingincreasesinpopulationandtourismactivity.Pollution,erosionandlossofcoastalhabitataremajorthreats

• Coastalsettlementinfrastructurelocatedinlow-lyingareaswithintheregionarealreadyexperiencingoccasionalinundation

• Thedistributionandextentofcoastalweedinfestationsisthreateningsomehigh value coastal areas

Community Neutral Neutral • CommunityparticipationratesinCMANRMpartnershipprojectshaveremainedrelativelysteady

• Landcaregrouphealthscoreshaveremainedrelativelystable

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3.1 COMMUNITY

Condition Statement

Thecommunityheadlineindicatorthemereportsoncommunityparticipationinnaturalresourcemanagement(NRM)andLandcareGroupHealthresults.

Regional context

TheGlenelgHopkinscommunityand landholders play an integral role inthedeliveryofNRMactionsandin maintaining and improving the conditionoftheregion’sland,waterandbiodiversityresources.Thereisastrong community and land manager commitment to improve natural resource outcomesacrosstheregion.

ThisisevidentwiththeuptakeforLandcare grants, the CMA’s partnership projectsandparticipationatcommunityforumsandfielddaysoverthelastdecade.

TraditionalOwnergroupsandIndigenouscommunitiesplayacentralroleinregionallandmanagement.Forexample,BudjBimNationalParkiscooperativelymanaged by Parks Victoria and GunditjmaraTraditionalOwnersthroughtheBudjBimCouncil.

TheGunditjMirringTraditionalOwnerAboriginalCorporationalsomanagessignificantparcelsoflandofhighenvironmental, historical and cultural value,whichformpartoftheBudjBimNationalHeritageLandscape.

Community Benchmark – Community Participation Rates and Landcare Group Health Survey Results

CurrentlevelsofcommunityparticipationforarangeofactivitiesareoutlinedinTable4(page 19).Thistablealsomakesacomparisontoratesofparticipationrecordedfor2016-17whichindicatesthatlevelsofparticipationacrossallmeasuresisslightlylowerthan2016-17butrelativelysteady,withtheexceptionof the ‘working as collaborators in planning and decision making category’, which varies between years, depending ontheprojectsbeingundertaken.

TheGlenelgHopkinsregionhas111LandcareGroups.Ofthesegroups,59wereassessedasactiveand52inrecess.Thesefigureshaveremainedrelativelyconstantoverthepastthreeyears.Theregionishometoafurther49CommunityBasedNaturalResourceManagementgroupsandfiveLandcarenetworks.

Each year, groups are invited to complete a Group Health Survey, which records groupperceptionsoftheircurrenthealthandactivitylevels.

TheresultsofthemostrecentGroupHealthSurveyareshowninTable5 (page 19) (rankedfromascoreof1-stalled,to5-thriving)andFigure2.Thesurveyis completed by regional groups that participateintheVictorianLandcareGrantsProgram.In2017-18,therewerelessgroupsthatself-ratedassurviving orstalled,comparedto2016-17and2015-16;witharound48percentofrespondentsratingtheirgroupasstrongorthriving.Thelevelofgroupsself-ratingasOKwassimilartopreviousyears.

InadditiontoLandcareprojects,theCMA supports private landholders and community groups to deliver partnership projects in targeted areas oftheregion.In2017-18,theseincludedimplementationoftheWannonWaterwayActionPlan,theGrangeburnRestoration,theMerriRiverRestoration,implementationoftheMtEmuCreekWaterwayActionPlanandimplementationoftheBudjBimWaterwayActionPlan.


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Table 4: Current level of community participation

Activity Participation in 2016-17

Participation in 2017-18*

Approximate Hours 2017-18

Contributing to on-ground works(CMApartnershipactivities)

179 management agreements

146management agreements N/A

Attending skills and training events(CMApartnershipactivities) 714people 676 people 5,760

Taking part in awareness raising activities(CMApartnershipactivities) 3,501 people 3,281 people 19,094

Working as collaborators in planning and decision making(CMApartnershipactivities) 1,778 people 1,280 people 9,313

Note: *The same person may have attended one or more events.


Table 5: Landcare Group Health Survey Results 2015-16 to 2017-18

2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

Group Health Score 3.26 3.46 3.51

Respondents 42 47 37

Figure 2: Landcare Group Health Survey Results 2015-16 to 2017-18ConservationVolunteersAustralia(CVA)throughitsSouthWestVictoriaofficedelivered a total of 299 project days and 11,368 volunteer hours across public landduringthe2017-18year.Inadditionto this, two Green Army programs were delivered, one based at the Hamilton EasternBarredBandicootenclosureandone along the Warrnambool coast line targetedatimprovingtheconditionofOrangeBelliedParrothabitat.AsummaryofCVAprojectsisprovidedinTable6(page 20).

Thriving Strong Ok Surviving Stalled

Perc

enta

nge

2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

0

10

20

30

40

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Table 6: CVA projects for 2017-18

Project Location Project Partners Key OutcomesTotal

Project Days

Total Volunteers

Days

Total Volunteer

Hours

Farmer Shelter Belts BasalttoBayLandcareNetworkInc

12,560Indigenoustubestockplantedand guarded 9 48 384

Fitzroy River Estuary, Tyrendarra Glenelg Hopkins CMA

Cleanupdays,andselectiveweedcontrol to prevent the establishment of spiny rush

7 37 296

Fitzroy River weed control and planting Glenelg Hopkins CMA

Selectiveweedcontrolinfencedreserves,furtherdiversificationandenhancementplanting

12 42 336

Glenelg Eden Project DELWPSelectiveinterventionandcontrolona range of emergent environmental weeds in the region

42 184 1,472

Green Line, Koroit BasalttoBayLandcareNetworkInc

Implementedarangeoflandmanagementactivitiesincludingtreeplanting,weedcontrol,preparationforcontrol burn

8 41 328

Hamilton Eastern Barred Bandicoot Enclosure

Glenelg Hopkins CMA, DELWP,ZoosVictoria,Wannon Water

Upgraded5.5kmofperimeterfenceandrealignedasmallsectionoffencetoimprovefenceintegrity.Volunteersconduct regular patrols of fence perimeter to check integrity and provide maintenance

63 142 568

Mocambaro State Park Glenelg Hopkins CMAMapped, pulled out, lopped or stem injectedover2,044pinewildlingsacross 250 ha reserve

36 224 1,792

Pretty Hill Flora Reserve BasalttoBaylandcareNetworkInc

Implementedarangeofactivitiesincludingweedcontrolandpreparationoffirebreaksforcontrolburn

3 17 136

Salvana Conservation Reserve Greening Australia Located and mapped rabbit warrens

inpreparationfortreatment 5 15 120

Strathdownie revegetation Glenelg Hopkins CMA17,050 indigenous tubestock planted and guarded in the Strathdownie district

34 242 1,936

Tyrendarra Streamside Reserve Glenelg Hopkins CMA Commencement of environmental

restorationofstreamsidereserve 5 52 416

Revegetation maintenance works 2017-18 Glenelg Hopkins CMA

Maintenance on a range of sites in thesouth-westthathadbeenpreviously revegetated

24 119 952

Research Project establishment Melbourne University Providedassistancewithsettingup

two separate research projects 11 92 736

Wilkin Flora Reserve Glenelg Hopkins CMAMapped, pulled out, lopped or stem injected over 6,071 pine wildlings across314hareserve

40 166 1,328

Totals 299 1,421 11,368

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Annual community indicator theme assessment 2017-18

Annual Assessment Rating Key Evidence

Neutral A largely neutral state, where events during the yearmayhavebeensignificantbutarewithinexpectedvariationandwillhavelittleimpactinthelongerterm.

• CommunityparticipationratesinCMANRMpartnershipprojectshaveremainedrelativelysteady.

• Landcaregrouphealthscoreshaveremainedrelativelystable.

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Reason for assessment:

• CommunityparticipationratesinCMANRMpartnershipprojectshaveremainedrelativelysteady.

• Landcare group health scores have remainedrelativelystable,withaslight increase in average group health scoresfor2017-18.

• TherewasasmallchangeinthenumberofactiveLandcareGroupsataregionallevel(58to59).TheWoorndooLandProtectionGroupre-activatedaftermorethanfive yearsinrecess.

MANAGEMENT REPORT

MostCMAprogramscontainactivitiesthat are aimed at increasing community participationinNRM.Thefollowingsectionprovidesasnapshotofkeyprograms and projects that were undertakenin2017-18tosupportandimprovecommunityparticipationinNRM.InitiativeswerefocussedonthefollowingRCSactions:

• collaboratingwithIndigenouscommunities,communityorganisations,localgovernmentagencies,tertiaryinstitutionsand industry groups to develop partnership projects and joint initiatives(tosupportRCSimplementation);

• communityeducationprogramstoincrease awareness of natural assets within the region and encourage actionsthatimproveland,waterandbiodiversity outcomes;

• implementingprogramstobuildcommunitycapacityinNRM;

• undertaking community awareness andextensionactivitiestopromoteNRMandbestmanagementpracticesin agriculture; and

• implementingtheGlenelgHopkinsRegionalLandcareSupportStrategy.

KEY INITIATIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Our Catchments, Our Communities

Our Catchments, Our Communities–Victoria’sfirststate-widestrategyforintegrated catchment management was launchedinBeaufortinMay2016.Thestrategyreaffirmstheregionallyfocusedandcommunity-basedapproachtocatchmentmanagement.

TheGlenelgHopkinsregionfour-yearOur Catchments, Our Communities (OCOC) Project will support the delivery of RCS priorities,andcontributetoactions3.1,1.2,2.1,3.2,4.1,4.2and5.1inthe Our Catchments, Our Communities Strategyoverfouryears.Itisoneofthe major programs being undertaken regionallytosupportRCSObjective2.1and2.2:

• Objective2.1:Maintainandenhancecommunity capacity, awareness and involvement in natural resource management within the region; and

• Objective2.2:FacilitateacollaborativeapproachtoNRM.

Theprojectwillworkwithpartnersacross the catchment to strengthen regional investment processes, coordinationandpartnerships;andtorefinecatchmentreportingprocessesatastateandregionallevel.Theprojectwillalsodeliveron-groundprojectsinpartnershipwithregionalstakeholders.

Keyactivitiesundertakenin2017-18include:

• ThedeliveryoftheWaterandCountry series of engagement events.Theseriesaimedtoincreasecommunity awareness of the region’s uniquewetlands,includingtheirbiodiversityandculturalvalues. 214communitymembersparticipatedin the series, which was funded by the Victorian Government and the AustralianGovernment’sNationalLandcareProgram.

• Thecommencementofanextensionprogram delivered by Agriculture Victoria to promote sustainable land andwetlandmanagementpracticesacross the greater Grampians region ofthecatchment.

• ThecommencementofthePanyyabyrLandcaregroupFoxBaitingProgramintheVictoriaValley.TheprojectisprovidingfundingcontributionstotheexistingGrampiansArkFoxBaitingProgram on private land, covering a totalof32,000ha.

Supporting Landcare

Regional Landcare Coordinator and Victorian Landcare Grants

TheVictorianGovernmentsupportstheregion’s Landcare and community based natural resource management groups by funding a Regional Landcare Coordinator (RLC)inGlenelgHopkinsCMA.TheRLCassists Landcare groups with training, preparationoffundingapplicationsandprovision of relevant resources; and assists in building community knowledge ofregionalandstateNRMplans,prioritiesandprograms.

TheRLCalsomanagestheVictorianLandcareGrants(VLG)Programataregionallevel.Thedevolvedgrantsprogram is funded by the Victorian Government and has supported groups toundertakearangeofactivitiesthatincludeon-groundworks,awareness-raisingeventsandproductionofpublications.AnoverviewoftheVictorianLandcare Grants Projects completed in2017-18isprovidedinFigure3 (page 22). On-groundworksfocussedonprotectingpriority wetlands, riparian areas and terrestrialvegetation,asidentifiedthroughstateandregionalpriorities.

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TheVLGshavebeensupplementedbyalargein-kindandfinancialcontributionbyLandcaremembers.KeyachievementsforVLGprojectscompletedin2017-18included:

• over23.1kmoffencing;

• 93.9haofrevegetation;

• 46.7haofweedcontrol;

• fiveworkshops/fielddaysattracting270participants;and

• In-kindcontributionsfromlandholders,valuedatapproximately$262,000.

South West Landcare Gathering

The8thAnnualSouthWestLandcareGathering was held in Hamilton at the HamiltonInstituteofRuralLearning andattendedbyaround40people. TheeventwashostedbyGlenelgHopkins CMA and focused on groupgovernance.

Speakers presented on a number of themes including Child Safe Standards, Group Governance and Group OH&S responsibilities,andCulturalHeritageprotection.Thisprojectwassupported by Glenelg Hopkins CMA, through funding from the Australian Government'sNationalLandcareProgramandLandcareVictoria.

Regional Riparian Action Plan Landcare Grants

AspartoftheRegionalRiparianActionPlan, Landcare grants were provided tosixgroupsintheregion: Hamilton Coleraine Railway Line LandcareGroup,BeyondBolacCommunityActionGroup,EumerallaLandcare Group, Lake Goldsmith LandcareGroup,MADfortheMerri andBeaufortLandcareGroup.

Thesegrantssupportgroupsinundertakingon-groundriparianworksinpriorityareas(e.g.fencing,revegetationandvegetationenhancement,weedmanagement).

Figure 3: Overview of Victorian Landcare Grants Projects completed in 2017-18

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Aboriginal Water Values Project

TheAboriginalWaterValuesprojectisapilotprojectinvestigatingTraditionalOwner values and uses for the Glenelg River.TheprojectaimstoenabletheintegrationofAboriginalvaluesandtraditionalknowledgeintoenvironmentalwater planning and delivery through documentingTraditionalOwnerinterests,aspirations,challengesandopportunitiesforwatermanagementandculturalflowinterestsfortheGlenelgRiversystem.Documentationoftheproject’sprocessand outcomes have contributed to the AboriginalWaterFrameworkforVictoria.

In2017-18,theprojectwaslistedasoneofthreefinalistsfortheRiverBasinManagementSocietyAwardsforthe ‘involving community in waterway management’category.

Other key achievements include the project being promoted at key water forumsandthe2017InternationalRiverSymposium,andhostinganAboriginalwaterandculturalflowsknowledgesharing event in partnership with Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC), West Gippsland CMA,BarengiGadjinLandCouncilandGunditjMirringTraditionalOwnerAboriginalCorporationinOctober2017.

National Landcare Program Projects

NLP Indigenous Partnerships for Improved Natural Resource Management

GlenelgHopkinsCMAisassistingTraditionalOwnergroupsandAboriginalcommunitiestoparticipateinsustainablenatural resource management and agriculturalactivities.Thisprojectissupported through funding from the AustralianGovernment’sNationalLandcareProgram.Akeyfocusistosupport Aboriginal people to build capacity, knowledge and skills, where appropriate, for resource management inthecatchment.

Keyactivitiesundertakenin2017-18aspart of this project included:

• Involvementofapproximately58Year8andYear9studentsfromBaimbridgeCollegeinthe‘Learningabout Gunditjmara Country’ program withtheCMAandGunditjMirring.

• AnevaluationoftheWiyn-murrup Yangarramelajointfireprojectthatwill contribute to Aboriginal burning inclusionwithinVictoria.

• TraditionalOwnerdeliveryofculturalawarenesstrainingtotheCMABoardandstaff.

• AnAboriginalArtCompetitionwhichincluded nine Aboriginal community membersoftheGlenelgHopkins.regionsubmittingworks,withwinners announced at the ‘Water and Country’ArtExhibitioninFebruary2018whichwasattendedbyaround100people.

• DevelopmentoftheGlenelgHopkins CMA Aboriginal Partnership Framework.

• Twenty-fourlandholdersandmanagers from across the region engagedinthe‘YarnsonFarms’extensionprogramincollaborationwithGunditjMirringTraditionalOwnerAboriginalCorporation.

NLP Threatened Species and Communities – Community Engagement Project

As part of this project, Glenelg Hopkins CMA is working with a range of partners and community groups to: promotethecontinueduse,supportandreinvigorationofecologicalknowledgetounderpinbiodiversityconservation;and to build community capacity and connectionwiththeenvironmentthroughactivitiesthatre-establishurbanbushland,areasofIndigenoussignificanceandthehealthofurbanwaterways.

Keyachievementsfor2017-18include:

• GlenelgHopkinsCMAcontinuedto partner with the Upper Hopkins Land Management Group and the Panyyabyr Landcare Group tofacilitatetheWoodlandBirdMonitoringprogram.Sixty-sixcommunitymembersparticipated in the four monitoring sessions held in2017-18.

• AnAboriginalCulturalHeritageDayheld at Woorndoo to discuss how Grassy Woodlands were managed by TraditionalOwnersandthechangesthathaveoccurredtopresentday.Seventyparticipantsattendedon theday.

• TheFriendsoftheForgottenWoodlands project was established to raise awareness of the trees and shrubs historically found across the VictorianVolcanicPlain.Thereisevidence to suggest that the focus species,remnantSilverBanksia(Banksia marginate),DroopingSheoak (Allocasaurina verticillata) and SweetBursaria(Bursaria spinosa), aregeneticallydifferenttootherpopulationsandhaveadaptedtotheregion.During2017-18,thegroupcollected seeds to propagate from 20knownlocationsofBanksia,38Bursariapopulationsand29Sheoakpopulations,topreservelocalgeneticdiversityandre-establishthelong-termviabilityofthesepopulations.

Community monitoring of platypus in the Glenelg River

TherationalefortheprojectistoundertakeinitialmonitoringforplatypusinsectionsoftheupperGlenelgRiver to support environmental water communicationsandengagementactivities.

Theprojectaimsto:

• build public awareness of this species and support for environmental water management through community participationandcommunication;

• improveknowledgeofthedistributionofplatypuspopulationstohelpinformenvironmental water management;

• providetrainingopportunitiesforBudjBimandBarengiGadjinLandCouncilRangersandTraditionalOwnersinbestpracticemonitoringtechniques;and

• provideopportunitiesforknowledgeexchangebetweenRangergroups,TraditionalOwners,communitygroupsandschools.

Keyachievementsfor2017-18includethecompletionofafaunaassessmentusingenvironmentalDNAtechniquesto establish the presence/absence of Platypus in townships along the Glenelg River.TheeDNAsamplingandfykenet trapping workshops also supported thetrainingofRangersandTraditionalOwners, two community engagement fieldeventswith85participantsinattendance,andthedevelopmentoftwovideospromotingtheproject.

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Twinning Project

TheWaterwayManagementTwinningProgram is a structured mentoring program, focussing on improving the on-grounddeliveryofVictorianriparianrestorationprojects.Theprogramprovides an opportunity for sharing andadoptionofeffectiveapproachesin waterway management between all those working in waterway management acrosstheState.

TheWaterwayManagementTwinningProgramisbeingcollaborativelydeliveredby Glenelg Hopkins CMA and the AustralianRiverRestorationCentre(ARRC)andisoverseenbyaSteeringCommitteewithrepresentativesfromGlenelg Hopkins CMA, ARRC and the VictorianDepartmentofEnvironment,Water,LandandPlanning.TheTwinningProgramisbasedonindustry-basedmentoringprinciplesandpracticesthathavebeentailoredfortheNRMsector.Implementationofthisprogramhasbeen supported through funding from theVictorianGovernment(VWPIFprogram)andtheAustralianRiverBasinManagementSociety.

Tenmentor/menteepartnershipswereestablishedinearly2018.Participantscome from a diverse range of organisationsincludingCMAs,Landcare,DELWP,WaterAuthorities,TraditionalOwnerorganisationsandprivateconsulting.Therangeofprojectsbeingworkedonareequallyasdiverseandincludecommunicatingthesuccessofthe Living Murray program, developing a prospectus of Aboriginal Water projects,innovativewaysofengagingthe community in urban waterway restorationandapplyinganoffsetmodelfor reducing the impact of treated wastewateronreceivingwaterways.

Environmental Water Communications

Strategicriver-communityengagementeventsaroundenvironmentalflowstothe Glenelg River have occurred as part of the Glenelg River Seasonal Watering Plan.KeyachievementsassociatedwiththeimplementationoftheEnvironmentalWaterCommunicationsStrategyin2017-18included:sixmediareleases, 26publishedarticles,fourradio

interviews,43Facebookposts,threevideos,flownotifications,implementationofthemythbusterscampaign, and a successful Glenelg Riverphotocompetitionwhichhad54contributionsfrommembersof thepublic.

CASE STUDY

WATER AND COUNTRY

CHALLENGE: The Glenelg Hopkins catchment has approximately 44 per cent of Victoria’s total number of wetlands3. These wetlands provide important habitat for numerous species in the region, including endemic and threatened or endangered species such as the Little Galaxias, Growling Grass Frog and the Australasian Bittern, as well as a range of other important or iconic species such as the Brolga and White-bellied Sea Eagle. The extent of the region’s wetlands has declined by approximately 50 per cent since European settlement4 and further declines are likely to occur without intervention and modification to current agricultural practices in the region.

APPROACH: ‘Water and Country’ was a series of community engagement events held across the Glenelg Hopkins catchment between November 2017 and February 2018, to showcase the regions unique wetlands for their rich biodiversity, and social and cultural values.

RESULTS: Over 200 community members were involved in the Water and Country series, which included:

• Two field trips with Gunditjmara Traditional Owners to Lake Condah, the Mission and the Tyrendarra Indigenous Protected Area in November 2017. The field trips involved discussions on wetland restoration and the biodiversity and cultural values of the Budj Bim landscape.

• A country visit to the National Heritage listed Budj Bim Landscape with Hamilton OSH Club’s school holiday program. Thirty-three children participated in a tour of the Lake Condah wetland to learn about its iconic plants and animals, and how Traditional Owners lived on the land.

• A wetland themed song writing workshop with local children’s entertainer Barry Peters. Sixteen children attended the workshop and learnt about the regions wetlands through song, specifically in relation to brolgas and habitat protection.

• The ‘Water and Country’ Art Exhibition held in February 2018. The event was attended by over 100 community members and included Aboriginal and local art under the theme ‘Water and Country’.

KEY PARTNERS: Victorian Government, Australian Government’s National Landcare Program, Gunditj Mirring TOAC, Budj Bim Rangers and Hamilton OSH Club.

3. Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Glenelg Hopkins Regional Catchment Strategy 2013-2019, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Hamilton, 2013. 4. Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Glenelg Hopkins Regional Catchment Strategy 2013-2019, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Hamilton, 2013.

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3.2 WATERWAYS (RIVERS, ESTUARIES, WETLANDS)

Condition Statement

Thissectionprovidesanoverviewoftheconditionoftheregion’srivers,wetlandsandestuaries.

Regional context

TheGlenelgRiveristhelargestriverinsouth-westVictoriaandcontainssomeofthebestconditionriverreachesintheregion.Significanttributariesofthe Glenelg River include the Wannon, Chetwynd, Stokes, Crawford and Wandorivers.Thefourmaincatchmentswithin the Portland Coast basin are the Moyne,Eumeralla-Shawsystem,DarlotCreek-FitzroyRiversystemandtheSurryRiver.Thesearerelativelyshortrivers, which drain the immediate inland areasandflowtotheSouthernOcean.TheHopkinsRiverisamajorwaterwaydraining the eastern part of the region and enters the Southern Ocean at Warrnambool.TheHopkinsbasinislargelyclearedandusedforagriculture.All basins have high value environmental reaches, which support rare and threatenedfloraandfauna.

Theregion’sriverssupportarangeofsocialvaluesincludingfishing,boating,camping, swimming, picnicking and bushwalking.Riverscontributetotheregion’s economy and are valued for the supply of water for agriculture, sand mining, drinking water, tourism andfishing.

Theregionhasmorethan5,400wetlands, covering 73,000 ha or three percentoftheregion’sarea.Thisrepresents14percentofVictoria’s totalareaofwetlandsand44percentof the state’s total number of wetlandsii.Theregion’swetlandsvarygreatly,ranging from large and permanent freshwater lakes to small and ephemeral (non-permanent)freshwatermeadows.Seasonal herbaceous wetlands, which are ephemeral, isolated freshwater wetlands, areparticularlywellrepresented. Thiswetlandtypeislistedascriticallyendangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999(Cwlth)(EPBC).Sixteenofthe region’s wetlands are listed in the DirectoryofImportantWetlandsinAustralia(DIWA).

Theextentofwetlandsintheregionhasdeclinedbyapproximately60percentsinceEuropeansettlement,primarilydue to drainage and conversion to agricultureiii.Arecentstudyconductedonawetlandclusterinthesouth-easternGrampiansareashoweda45percentincrease in incidences where wetlands have been impacted by cropping between 2010 and 2015iv.Allwetlandtypes within the Glenelg Hopkins region currently face a range of threats that will beexacerbatedbyclimatechange.

ThereareeightmajorestuariesintheGlenelg Hopkins region: Glenelg River estuary,FawthropLagoon,SurryRiverestuary,FitzroyRiverestuary,YambukLake, Moyne River estuary, Merri River estuaryandtheHopkinsRiverestuary.Most estuaries within the region close intermittentlyfollowingtheformationofasandbarattheestuarymouth.BothMoyne estuary and the smaller outlet associatedwithFawthropLagoonareartificiallykeptpermanentlyopen.

Rivers benchmark – Index of Stream Condition 3

TheenvironmentalconditionofriversinVictoriaisassessedusingtheIndexofStreamCondition(ISC).ThelastISCassessment in the region was undertaken in2010(ISC3).Theconditionofwaterways in the region varies from goodtoverypoor,reflectingthelevelofmodificationofthewaterwaysandtypesoflanduse.Waterwaysinnearnaturalconditionwithhighenvironmentalvaluesare generally found in the more forested areasofthecatchment.Forty-eightpercent of assessed reaches in the region wereinmoderatetogoodcondition,with the remainder in poor to very poor condition(Figure4).

Thebestconditionreachesweretypicallyin the Glenelg and Portland Coast basins in the west of the catchment, and those inthepoorestconditionintheHopkinsbasin,whichhasthelargestproportionclearedforagriculture.

ISCresultsshowedthatstreamconditionvaried considerably between the three main basins in the region, with streams of theGlenelgBasinbeinginbestcondition(Figure5).Allreachesingoodcondition(14percentofreachesassessed)wereintheGlenelgBasin.BoththeGlenelgandPortland basins had the majority of their stream length assessed as in moderate condition(68percentand84percentrespectively)v.Muchofthestreamlengthin the Hopkins basin was assessed as inpoorcondition(38percent)orverypoorcondition(56percent).Thiswasgenerallyduetomodifiedflowregimes,degradedriparianvegetation,poorbankconditionandlowwaterqualityfromelevated nutrients and salinityvi.

ItshouldbenotedthattheISC3assessment coincided with a drought period,whichwasparticularlysevereintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.TheseconditionsimpactedonseveralmeasuresoftheISC,inparticularwaterquality andhydrology.

Figure 4: Glenelg Hopkins Index of Stream Condition

Excellent

% L

engt

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Stream Condition

0

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44

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Moderate Poor Very Poor

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Figure 5: Glenelg Hopkins Index of Stream Condition 3 Reaches


Wetlands benchmark – Index of Wetland Condition

AnIndexofWetlandConditionassessmentvii was undertaken in the regionin2009.TheIWCmeasuressixaspects(sub-indices)ofwetlandcondition:thewetlandcatchment,physicalform,soils,waterproperties,

hydrology,andbiota(e.g.vegetationstructureandhealth).TheresultsoftheIWCarepresentedinTable7.

Theassessmentrevealedthat 64percentofwetlandsurveyedintheregionwereingoodtoexcellentconditionwiththeexceptionofshallowfreshwatermeadows.

Meadowsaredryforextendedperiodsand are therefore more vulnerable to conversiontoagriculturaluse.Ofthewetlands that remain in the region, most areonprivateland.Manyareaccessedby stock, which reduces the fringing vegetation,impactsonhydrologyandaffectsnaturalprocesses.

Table 7: Glenelg Hopkins Region Index of Wetland Condition Results

Wetlands Surveyed (%) Wetland Condition Category (number)

TypeProportion

of all Wetlands

Per cent Surveyed

Percentage of all types Surveyed

Excellent Good Insufficient Data Moderate Poor

Deep marsh 12.3% 6.9% 27.0% 30 15 4 1

Shallow marsh 20.3% 4.1% 27.0% 33 6 2 5 4

Meadow 47.4% 2.5% 37.8% 17 8 1 13 31

Open water 13.9% 0.8% 3.8% 3 1 3

Permanent saline 1.5% 8.0% 3.8% 3 3 1

Semi permanent saline 4.5% 0.4% 0.5% 1

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Estuaries benchmark – Index of Estuary Condition

TheIndexofEstuaryCondition(IEC)wasdevelopedbyDeakinUniversityandisintendedtoassesstheconditionof Victorian estuaries, with scores on estuarycharacteristicsratedfrom 1=verypoorto5=excellentviii. ArecentIECtrialcompletedin2015foundthattheconditionofGlenelgHopkins estuaries scored an average of moderate to good (results presented in Table8).

Theresultsshouldbeviewedwithcautionasthescoresonlyreflectasubset of measures that were assessed duringthetrial.TheIECtrialindicatedallestuaries,withtheexceptionofFawthropLagoon,haveexcellentphysicalformwithrespecttopre-Europeancondition,however estuaries scored from very poortogoodforhydrology.Thislowerscorereflectsregulatedflowregimesandartificiallyopeningthemouthofmostestuariestoreducetheriskofflooding.Waterqualitywasratedmoderatetoexcellentacrossallestuaries.

Levels of sediment deposits in all but LakeYambukwerescoredfrommoderatetogood.Estuarineflora,asmeasuredbyphytoplanktonlevels,wasexcellentinthe Hopkins River Estuary, but very poor to moderate across all other estuaries assessed.Phytoplanktonisameasureofproductivityandisinfluencedbynutrientlevels,turbidityandstratificationoftheestuary.Theselevelsmaybeinfluencedbysurroundinglandusepractices.

Table 8: Trial Index of Estuary Condition Results – Summary of Selected Measures in Each of Five Themes

Estuary Physical Form Hydrology Water Quality Sediment Flora Overall

Glenelg River 5 1.5 3.5 4 3 3

Fawthrop Lagoon 4 2 -

Surrey River 5 4 3.5 3

Fitzroy River 5 2 4.5 4 3 4

Lake Yambuk 5 2 3.5 2 1 3

Moyne River 5 3 -

Merri River 5 1 3.5 3 1 3

Hopkins River 5 1 3.5 4 5 4

Annual community indicator theme assessment 2017-18


Concerned Alevelofconcernthatsignificanteventsduring the year may have an adverse impact inthelongerterm.

• Reportsandincidentsofwetlandlossduring2017-18,duetocroppingofephemeralwetlands.

• Extensivefiredamagetoriparianvegetationonthreemajorwaterways.• Possiblelong-termimpactfromfireintwopeatwetlands.

�

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Figure 6: Annual rainfall for the Glenelg Hopkins region (2000-2017)

(Source: Australia’s Environment Explorer 2017, developed by the Australian National University – Fenner School of the Environment and Society, www.ausenv.online).

YEAR

mm

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Figure 7: Estimated annual river inflow in the Glenelg Hopkins region 2000–2017

(Source: Australia’s Environment Explorer 2017, developed by the Australian National University – Fenner School of the Environment and Society, www.ausenv.online. Total surface and substrate runoff into the river as estimated by the OzWALD model data fusion system).


• Furtherreportsofcroppingofephemeral wetlands on the Victorian Volcanic Plain were received in 2017-18.

• ThreemajorgrassfiresintheGazetteandTerangareasonMarch2018burntriparianvegetationalong 24.5kmofMtEmuCreek,2.1kmofEumerellaRiverand4.9kmoftheMoyneRiver.

• Wetlandrestorationandprotectionprojectscontinuetobenefitasuiteoffloraandfaunaspecies.

• TheTerangfirealsoburntpeatswamps at Cobrico Swamp and Lake Elingamite, with resultant changes to soil structure and possible acidificationofwaterandsoils.

• GoodrainfallandstreamflowswereexperiencedintheGlenelgcatchmentinspring2017.Thesehighflowsimprovedwaterqualityandfacilitatedtheexchangeofnutrientsand food resources between the riverbankandriverchannel.Theflowsprovidedopportunityforfishto move throughout the system, and supported spawning and recruitment ofmanyfishspeciesincludingEstuaryperchandTupong.

• Environmental water was used throughout summer/autumn 2018 which helped to maintain water qualityandconnectivitybetweenhabitatsandprovidedcuesfornativefishtomigratethroughoutthesystem.

• Recent research has shown that for many catchments in Glenelg Hopkins CMA region and across the state, the runoffresponsehasdeclined.Thatis,for a given amount of rainfall there is lessstreamflowthanwasrecordedinpastdecades.Sincethemillenniumdrought, some catchments have recovered, while others have notix.

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MANAGEMENT REPORT


Glenelg Hopkins Regional Waterway Strategy Implementation

DeliveryoftheRegionalWaterwayStrategy is underpinned by the Victorian WaterProgramInvestmentFramework(VWPIF).Excellentprogressisbeingmadeonannualoutputtargets.TheStrategy has completed its fourth year ofimplementation.

An interim review of the Waterway StrategywillbecompletedbyDecember2018.TheInterimReviewprovidesagapanalysisandsummaryofcorrectiveactionstoinformthecompletionofactivities.Bio-physicalandsocialoutcomes achieved through delivery of the Waterway Strategy are being tracked andwillbecompiledintheInterimReview.TheoutcomesoftheInterimReview are guided by the Regional WaterwayStrategyMERIPlan.

Highlightsforthepastfinancialyearhaveincluded delivery of:

• priorityon-groundworksassociatedwiththeFitzroyEstuaryandDarlotCreekWaterwayActionPlan,apre-cursortotheFlagshipWaterways:BudjBimConnections;

• strategicriver-communityengagement events around environmentalflowstotheGlenelgRiver as part of the Glenelg River Seasonal Watering Plan;

• priorityon-groundworksandengagementsupportingfarmingfamilies of the Wannon River waterways; and

• completionoftheMtEmuCreekandFieryCreekWaterActionPlansandassociated weed control, fencing and revegetationprojects.

Victorian Water Program Investment Framework (2016-2020)

A number of Victorian Government fundedinitiativesarebeingimplementedregionallyaspartoftheVWPIF,whichsupport RCS and Regional Waterway Strategyimplementation.Keywaterwayinitiativesareoutlinedbelow.Coastalwater programs and projects are outlined intheCoastssectionofthisreport.

Hopkins Works Program

ThisprojectwillprotectandmaintainwaterwaysintheHopkinsBasinbysupportingengagementoflandholders,communitygroupsandtheDairyIndustrytodevelopWaterwayActionPlansforBrucknellandMtEmuCreeks;andon-groundworks,particularlywillowremoval,ontheMerriRiver.

Highlights for the Merri River for 2017-18included:

• 7,400plantsrehabilitatedacross 3.2hawhichincludedthreecommunityplantingdaysandvariousprivate landholders;

• 780 m of riverbank cleared of willows toincreaserecreationalfishingaccess;

• fiveletterdropsandthreecommunityinformationsessionstoprovideinputintorehabilitationprojectsanddiscusslocal views and opinions; and

• 760moffencingandinstallationoftwooffstreamwatersystemsincludingasolarpumpandtroughs.

Highlights for the Mt Emu Creek WaterwayActionPlanfor2017-18included 20 km of fencing installed, 13,000 plants established and 123 ha ofremnantvegetationprotected.Aerialdrone footage of the ‘before’ landscape wasalsorecordedforeachsite.

Glenelg Works Program

Thisprojectwillmaintainandimprovethe ecological values of the Glenelg basin waterwaysbysupporting:

• priorityon-groundworksfromtheWannonWaterwayActionPlan(reach38-25lower)developedin2015-16;

• engagement of landholders to developaWaterwayActionPlanforWannonRiver(reach38-24);

• carpcontrolandnativefishmonitoring;

• priority on ground works along the GrangeBurn;and

• establishment, maintenance and managementofinstreamhabitat.

Progresscontinueswithstage2oftheWannonRiverWaterwayActionPlan.ByDecember2018,24kmoffencingtoexcludestockfromwaterways,and80haofrevegetationandweedcontrolisdueforcompletion.Workonstage3oftheWannonRiverWaterwayActionPlanhascommenced.Todate,waterwayconditionassessmentshavebeenundertakenon43privateproperties,with 32 landholders now engaged to undertakefuturewaterwayprotectionactions.

TheGrangeBurnunderwenttheremovaloflargedensitiesofexoticelms,poplarsand oak trees cleared from 560 m of public riverbank to allow increased accessforrecreationalfishingandtheestablishmentof32,900nativetrees,shrubsandgrassesacross3.5kmofclearedbanks.

Regional Works Program

Thisprojectaimstomaintainandimprove the ecological values of regional prioritywaterwaysbysupporting:

• a regional works crew, to protect and restore waterways in key regional towns working in partnership with local government, landholders and community groups;

• landholder project audits, re-engagementandprojectmaintenanceactivities;

• contributiontotheSurfaceWaterMonitoring Partnership, review of BlueGreenAlgaeResponsePlansandparticipationinIntegratedWaterManagementPlanmeetings;and

• monitoring,evaluationandreportingof outcomes, development of a Glenelg Hopkins Waterway Strategy Monitoring,EvaluationReportingandImprovement(MERI)Planandspatialreportingthroughthewaterwaystrategydatabaselinkagetool.

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Keyachievementsfor2017-18includetheworkscrewsupportingeightcommunitygroupsand46landholdersin undertaking environmental land managementworks.Thisworkincluded23 km of fence maintenance and new fencing,3.4haofrevegetationand197 ha of weed control as part of the 2017-18program.Forty-threepropertyassessments were also conducted as part ofthiswork.

TheworkscrewalsoassistedlocalcommunitieswithfirerecoveryeffortsfollowingtheMarch2018fireevents.Here they assisted 17 landholders with clean up and maintenance, including 12kmoffencing.

Regional Floodplain Management Strategy Implementation

RCSmeasure3.4.1(developmentofaregionalfloodplainmanagementplan)hasbeencompletedwiththefinalisationoftheRegionalFloodplainManagementStrategy(RFMS).

TheintentoftheRFMSistointerpretandapplythepolicies,actionsandaccountabilitiesoftheVictorianFloodplainManagementStrategy (VFMS)inmanagingfloodrisksattheregionalandlocallevel.Itprovidesasingle, regional planning document forfloodplainmanagementandahigh-levellistofregionalprioritiestoguidefutureinvestment.

TheprimaryroleoftheRFMSistohelpagencieswithfloodplainmanagementandfloodemergencymanagementfunctionstoaligntheirprioritiesandmaximisecommunitybenefitswithavailablefunding.TheCMAledthedevelopmentoftheRFMSincollaborationwiththelocalcommunity,LGAs,VicSESandotherpartneragencies.TheStrategywasapprovedbytheCMABoardinDecember2017.

AnumberoffloodplainmanagementpriorityactionscontainedintheRFMSarecurrentlyinprogress.TheseincludetheColeraineandCudgeefloodinvestigations,floodimprovementsforMountEmuCreek(Skipton)andtheBallaratHighFlowbi-passmitigationassessment.

Statutory Water Functions Project (Floodplain and Waterway Management)

ThisprojectsupportsthedeliveryoftheCMA’sfloodplainandwaterwaymanagementresponsibilities.Aspartofthisproject,theCMAcontinuedtosupport Local Government and VicSES in the development and review of RegionalMunicipalFloodEmergencyPlans.TheCMA’sFloodplainandWorksteamrespondedtofloodreferralsandnoticesduringthereportingperiod,providedfloodadviceresponses,andissuedworksonwaterwayslicences.Otheractivitiesthatthisprojectsupportedin2017-18included:

• supportingSouthernGrampians Shire in undertaking the Coleraine floodstudy;

• supportingMoyneShireinundertakingtheCudgeefloodinvestigation;

• participationofCMAstaffontheWorkingGroupforPortFairyCoastaland Structure Planning Project;

• participationofCMAstaffontheProjectControlGroupfortheBarwonSouthwest Local Coastal Hazard Assessment Scoping Project; and

• supportingCorangamiteShiretoupgradefloodwarningontheMountEmu Creek above Skipton through theinstallationofatelemeteredstreamgauge.

Regional Flood Studies

AkeyobjectiveoftheRCSistoincrease theprovisionofreliablefloodinformationforsettlements.Floodstudiesarecurrently underway for Coleraine and Cudgee to improve knowledge of potentialfloodimpactsonthesetowns(RCSmeasure3.4.4).Theprojectsare being undertaken by Southern Grampians Shire Council and Moyne Shire Council respectively,inpartnershipwiththeCMA, with funding support from the VictorianandAustralianGovernment.

VWPIF Environmental Water Program (2016-20)

TheVWPIFEnvironmentWaterProgramiscomprisedofanumberofsub-projects.An overview of key achievements for 2017-18areprovidedbelow:

TheEWR officer provides strategic planning and delivery of the available environmentalwaterentitlementsintheregion.Theprojectfocusesonthe Glenelg River which is regulated by the Rocklands and Moora Moora Reservoirs.Environmentalwaterdelivered to the Glenelg River from RocklandsReservoirTotalled10,207ML.Ecological monitoring undertaken during environmentalwateringhascontinuedtodemonstrateapositiveresponseinthedistributionandrecruitmentofrangeoffishspecies.

RecordnumbersofyoungTupongwererecorded moving upstream from the estuary to the freshwater reaches of the GlenelgRiverinfishsurveysundertakenduring an environmental water release insummer2018.Monitoringisalsoshowing a good diversity in the size of individualsinthepopulation,indicatingTupongarerecruiting,survivingandthrivinginthesystem.

TheGlenelg River Crossing project will investigatehowbesttonegatethelastmajorfishbarrierontheGlenelgRiver.Thiswillbenefittobothmigratoryandnon-migratoryfishpopulationsintheGlenelg River by ensuring upstream anddownstreammigrationoffishspeciesunderlowflowconditions.Workundertakenin2017-18hasincluded landholder engagement and the development of a concept and detailed designforafishwaystructuretoinformfutureworks.


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Threetemporarygaugeshavebeeninstalled as part of the Improving Flows in the Upper Glenelgproject.Theseareplaced through Reach 0 of the Glenelg Riverandwaterinfrastructurechannels.Datafromthesegaugeswillbeusedinahydrologystudyinthefinalyearoftheproject.ThehydrologystudywillassessdataandupdatetheenvironmentalflowstudyforthisreachtobenefitarangeofEPBClistedspecies.

ThisyearGlenelgHopkinsCMApartnered with GWMWater to coordinate a trial release from Moora MooraReservoirintoreach0.Thiswasthefirsttimewaterfortheenvironmenthas been released from Moora Moora Reservoir and helps to build an operationalunderstandingofhowwatercanbedeliveredintothisreach.

TheImproving Flows in the Budj Bim Landscape project seeks to improve waterflowpathwaysforriversandwetlandsontheBudjBimNationalHeritageLandscape.Thisareaoncesupportedauniqueaquaculturesystem,unlikeanythingelseintheworld.Thelandscapeiscurrentlyundernominationfor World Heritage Status for these uniqueculturalvalues.Theprojectaimsto improve our understanding these waterflowpathwaysacrosstheBudjBimlandscapetoprotectandimproveenvironmental values and restore traditionalculturalpracticesandheritageplaces.TodatethemainfocushasbeenonengagementwithTraditionalOwnerstoclarifyprojectscope.Aconsultanthasbeen appointed to complete the technical workassociatedwiththeproject.

ThePermanent Restoration of Long Swamp project will result in thepermanentrestorationofover1,100 ha of Long Swamp in Victoria’s DiscoveryBayCoastalPark.ImprovingconnectivitywithinLongSwampwillbenefitasuiteofthreatenedspeciessuch as the Variegated Pygmy Perch and LittleGalaxias.Monitoringoffishandvegetationcommunitiesacrossthemanywetlands was consolidated in a report highlightingtheeffectivenessofthetemporaryweirstructureatboostingthehealth of these wetlands and restoring habitat.Theviabilityofturningthetemporaryweirstructureintoanartificialsand dune is now being assessed, to increase its longevity and blend it seamlesslyintotheenvironment.

TheobjectiveoftheGlenelg River Estuary Flow requirements project is to build on the success of a previous study that developed a hydrodynamic modelcapableofsupportingfurtherflowrequirementassessments.Thiscurrent project will use an adapted EEFAMapproachtoprovideguidancearoundthebenefitsofexistingenvironmentalflowrequirementsandproviderecommendationsforfutureimprovements.TheseimprovementscanbeusedtobetterinformtheFLOWSstudy and the day to day management of the Glenelg River environmental waterreserve.

TheRiparian Crowdfunding Project wasaninnovativetrialforthreeCMAslaunchingourfirstcrowdfundingcampaignaptlynamed'FundsforFish'.Duetothegeneroussupportfromthe local community and business the CMAwassuccessfulinexceedingitsfundraising target of $12,000 for the 'BigFishHotel'projectinWarrnambool.

During2017-18theCMAcommencedtheimplementationoftheBig Fish Hotel project.ThegoalwastoenhancerecreationalfishingintheMerriRiver,Warrnambool.Thiswasundertakenthroughtheintroductionoflargewoodydebris(logs/branches),fishhotelsandlargerocks.Theprojectculminatedwiththe public being invited along to watch some of the habitat get placed in the MerriRiver.

TheNatural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) program is aimed at providing assistance tothoseaffectedbywidespreadfloodingexperiencedacrosstheregionin2016.Therearecurrently76floodrecoverysiteslistedforrehabilitationwithanestimatedprojectcostof$7.7million.

During2017-18theNDRRAFloodRecovery Project piloted:

• new OH&S procedures and protocols forfieldandconstructionwork;

• new and improved landholder agreements;

• development of a Preferred SuppliersList–Constructiontoenablestreamlinedcontractingforconstruction;

• constructioninductionandculturalheritage awareness training for constructioncontractors;and

• theuseofinnovativedesignsolutionssuchasGEOWEBgrasschutes,gypsum to ameliorate soil chemistry issues in black cracking clays and coir log networks to address hillslopeerosion.

Keyhighlightsandachievementsfor2017-18includedcompletionofsiteassessments at 76 sites, with detailed surveys undertaken at 23 sites and 44detaileddesigndrawingsandconstructionplansdeveloped.Duediligence for cultural heritage, crown land andnativevegetationwasundertakenwhererequiredon44floodrecoverysitesacrosstheregion.

Eightconstructiontenderpackageswere released, covering 23 sites, with on-groundworkscommencinginearlyFebruary2018.Twelvesiteswerecompletedby30June2018.Workscompleted included rock chutes, trickle pipeunitsandleveebanks,GEOWEBgrasschutesandapilefield.

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Our Catchments, Our Communities

AnumberofactivitiesdeliveredbytheOCOC project have been reported under theCommunityheadlineindicatortheme.Thisprojecthasalsodeliveredactivitiesunder the Waterways theme, which for 2017-18include:

• TheNatureGlenelgTrustledpurchaseofWalkerSwamp.Theswampwillundergohydrologicalrestorationandbeplacedunderaconservationcovenant.

• TheCommencementoftheLandholderIncentivesProgramacrossthe Greater Grampians region for the improvement of wetlands on private land.Eightlandholdersarecurrentlyparticipatingintheprogramwith374.2haofwetlandsbenefitingfromimprovedmanagementpractices.


CASE STUDY

GLENELG ESTUARY AND DISCOVERY BAY RAMSAR SITE

BACKGROUND: The Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar Site was recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 2018. This site is Australia’s most recent Ramsar site. The nomination process commenced in 2015. The process was supported through funds from the Australian Riverprize, awarded to the CMA’s Glenelg Restoration Project and was initiated in response to strong interest from the Nelson Community.

The area listed comprises more than 22,000 ha of public land and includes part of the Lower Glenelg National Park, Discovery Bay Coastal Park and the Nelson Streamside Reserve. The area is known for its wetlands and a variety of threatened species including plants, water birds and fish. The site has three main systems, including the freshwater wetlands of Long Swamp, Bridgewater Lakes and Swan Lake, the Glenelg Estuary, Oxbow Lake and the dune fields, along 50 km of the Discovery Bay Coastal Park.

APPROACH: The nomination required substantial technical and community input to develop the required supporting documentation. Following extensive consultation and data collation the site was found to meet five of the eleven Ramsar criteria. Of note, are the presence of a rare wetland type; dune slack wetlands, and habitat for 95 birds – with 24 migratory species protected under international agreements.

The site Management Plan identifies ways to protect the site’s critical components, processes and services. It aims to improve the ecological character and promote the sustainable use of the site for the benefit of the community

RESULTS: A Ramsar Coordinating Committee is established that will prioritise annual management plan activities and oversee development and implementation of the site Monitoring Evaluation Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Plan. The MERI Plan assesses the status of the ecological character and effectiveness of management actions. The committee will also evaluate investment proposals to undertake activities to implement the plan

Victorian Government investment provided to date will enable better management of the site and protection of environment values. Funded activities such as weed removal, upgrade of infrastructure at Simpsons Landing and removal of a barrier to fish movement will also increase recreational opportunities through improved access to waterways and the site.

PARTNERS: Gunditj Mirring TOAC, Glenelg Shire Council, Parks Victoria, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, Department of Energy and Environment, Southern Rural Water.

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3.3 BIODIVERSITY

Regional context

TheGlenelgHopkinsregionhassignificant,butoftenthreatened,biodiversity.Over215speciesarelisted as threatened under the Victorian Government’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988; and 130 species listed under the Australian Government’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Significantareasoftheregionalso occur in two of 15 recognised Australian Government biodiversity hotpots (the Victorian Volcanic Plain and SouthAustralia’ssouth-east/Victoria’ssouth-west).Theseareaswereidentifiedas hotspots due to their many endemic species and associated levels of current andfutureconservationthreats.

Themajorthreattobiodiversityacrosstheregioniscontinuedlossofhabitatthroughclearingofnativevegetation.Themaindriversforthislossareagriculturalintensification,populationand industry growth and infrastructure developmentincludingroadandrail.Other key contributors to the decline of biodiversity across the region include climate change, pest plants and animals, firewoodcollection,overabundantnativewildlife and increased use of public land forcommercialandrecreationalactivities.

Biodiversity benchmark

The extent and condition of native habitat and the health of native species

TheextentofnativevegetationhasdeclinedsignificantlysinceEuropeansettlement,withlessthan18percentofthepre-Europeancoverageremainingintheregion.Ofthisamount,around12 per cent occurs on Crown land and fivepercentonprivateland.Remnantvegetationbybioregion,comparedtopre-1750figuresisshowninTable9.TheGreaterGrampiansbioregionisthemost intact bioregion within the Glenelg Hopkinsregion.

TheVictorianVolcanicPlain,DundasTablelands,andGlenelgPlainarethethree largest bioregions in the Glenelg Hopkins region by area with around 10percentorlessofnativevegetationcoverremaining(comparedtopre-1750extent).x

TheVictorianVolcanicPlainbioregion,which covers a large percentage of the region, is the most cleared in the statexi.Althoughextensivelycleared,thereisconsiderablevariationintheextentofnativevegetationwithinthisbioregion,withtheproportionremainingwestofCaramutgenerallyhigherthanelsewhere.WhiletherearegoodconditionblocksinthefarsouthwestatMountNapier,BudjBim(MountEccles),AnnyaandNarrawong,theseblocksaredominated

by forests and woodlands, rather than thegrassyplainsthatarecharacteristicofother parts of the bioregionxii.

TheDundasTablelandsoccursintwoareas of the catchment, and is separated bytheGreaterGrampiansbioregion.Bothblockshavebeenextensivelymodified.Muchoftheremainingnativevegetationoccursinthelargerblocksofremnantvegetationonpubliclandonthenorth-eastflankofthewesternblockxiii.AveryhighproportionofremainingvegetationintheeasternblockoftheDundasTablelandsoccurson private land, encompassing a large number of ephemeral wetlandsxiv.Althoughconnectivityismoderatetohigh,particularlytothenorth-westofDunkeld,siteconditionisgenerallypoor.Remnantvegetationassociatedwith wetlands and streams in this area is generally of poor to moderate sitecondition,butcomparativelywellconnected compared to other bioregions thathavebeenmostlycleared.Thereare also a number of major roads in the easternblockoftheDundasTablelandsthat retain highly connected remnant vegetation,whichisgenerallyinpoorconditionxv.

ThenorthwestblockoftheGlenelgPlainbetweenDergholmandChetwyndisofgoodsiteconditionwithinthemajorityofpublicland,andretainsvegetationthatishighly connectedxvi.

Table 9: Remnant vegetation compared to pre-1750 figures (Source: Glenelg Hopkins RCS 2013-2019)

Bioregion Pre-1750 area (ha)

Remnant vegetation remaining (ha)

Percentage of original

No. of endangered regional EVCs

Greater Grampians 151,140 129,634 86% 22

Bridgewater 18,192 11,471 63% 4

Glenelg Plain 383,116 148,554 39% 34

Wimmera 24,861 4,953 20% 16

Goldfields 15,363 4,000 26% 9

Central Victorian Uplands 81,351 22,123 27% 12

Dundas Tablelands 660,782 64,319 10% 49

Warrnambool Plain 113,598 7,742 7% 18

Victorian Volcanic Plain 1,223,766 72,286 6% 58

Total 2,672,169 465,082 17.4% 222

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Figure8showstheareasintheGlenelgHopkins region that contribute most tobiodiversityconservationandwasdevelopedusingDELWP’sNaturePrintVersion2.0biodiversityplanningtool.Highvaluebiodiversityareasaredepicted in red, pink and dark green and include areas such as the Lower Glenelg, Cobboboonee and Grampians NationalParks,DergholmandBlackRangeStateParks,Tooloy-LakeMundiWildlifeReserve,WilkinFloraandFaunaReserve, Crawford River Regional Park, andWeecurraandHotspurStateForests.While highly fragmented in nature, a number of remnants on the Victorian Volcanic Plain are also considered to besignificanthabitat.

Someimportantvegetationremnants on private land also remain, especially alongwaterways.

TheParksVictoria2013StateoftheParksevaluationconsideredtrendsintheconditionofnaturalvaluesinparksoverthe period 2010 to 2013 and assessed currentconditionasatJune2013.Assessmentsareinformedbylocalstaffandotherexpertknowledgecoupledwithquantitativemonitoringdata,whereavailable.Table10(page 35) provides a summaryofthisevaluationfor31parksfound within or partly within the Glenelg Hopkinsregion.Themajorityofregionalparks and reserves were assessed as beinginastablecondition.

Tree Cover

Regional tree cover has increased from around 19 per cent in 2000 to 25percentin2017(Figure9).Muchofthe increase in regional tree cover from 2000 is likely to be from increases in plantationsinthe‘greentriangle’areaofthecatchment(e.g.bluegumplantations)andfarmforestry.

As the climate of the Glenelg Hopkins regionbecomeslesssuitableforexistingvegetationcommunities,itislikelythatthere will be a gradual change in species composition.xviiForsomehabitattypes,it is likely that a drying climate will result inadeclineintreecover.xviii Research completedthroughtheNationalClimateChangeAdaptationResearchFacilityindicates that to reliably improve future landscapesforbiodiversityrelativetocurrentones,nativevegetationcoverneedstoberestoredtoapproximately 30percent.xix

Figure 8: NaturePrint Version 2.0 strategic natural values contributing most to biodiversity in the Glenelg Hopkins region

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Table 10: Summary of Parks Victoria State of Parks Report 2013 data for the Glenelg Hopkins region (Source: Parks Victoria)

Condition of natural values Number of parks Park Condition trends

Excellent 1 MortlakeCommonFloraReserve Conditionwasmaintained

Good 20

BatsRidgeWildlifeReserveCapeNelsonLighthouseReserveCapeNelsonStateParkCobbobooneeNationalParkCobraKillucWildlifeReserveCrawford River Regional ParkDergholmStateParkDiscoveryBayCoastalParkDiscoveryBayMarineNationalParkEcklinSouthSwampNatureConservationReserveGlenelgRiver,FulhamSS.R.GrampiansNationalParkKaladbroWildlifeReserveLakeLinlithgow&BullrushSwampLakeReserveLangi Ghiran State ParkLowerGlenelgNationalParkMerri Marine SanctuaryMountNapierStateParkMountRichmondNationalParkNarrawongFloraReserve

ConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionimprovedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionimprovedConditionimprovedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditiondeclinedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintained

Fair 10

Ararat Hills Regional ParkBayofIslandsCoastalParkBelfastCoastalReserveBlackRangeStateParkLake Elingamite Lake ReserveMountBuangorStateParkMountEcclesNationalParkTooloy-LakeMundiWildlifeReserveTowerHillWildlifeReserveWilkinFloraandFaunaReserve

ConditionwasmaintainedTrendinconditionunknownConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditionwasmaintainedConditiondeclinedConditiondeclinedConditiondeclinedConditiondeclinedConditiondeclined

Poor 0 Notapplicable Notapplicable

Figure 9: Tree cover in the Glenelg Hopkins region – per cent of area classified as forest (Source: Australia’s Environment Explorer 2016, developed by the Australian National University – Fenner School of the Environment and Society)

YEAR

Perc

enta

ge

2000

0

5

10

15

20

35

25

30

1999

1995

1992

1991

1989

1988

2002

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

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Annual biodiversity assessment 2017-18


Neutral A largely neutral state, where events during theyearmayhavebeensignificantbutarewithinexpectedvariationandwillhavelittleimpactinthelongerterm.

• Wildfiresburntover14,000haofpredominantlypasturegrassesbutalsoimpactedonriparianlandandpeatwetlands.

• Positiveoutcomesobservedforsomethreatenedspeciesacrosstheregion.• Aboveaveragerainfallsince2016benefitedmanyterrestrialandaquaticspecies,andvegetationcommunities.

• Over-browsingbyKoalasinthemixedEucalyptwoodlandsofthefarsouthwestofthecatchmentremainsasignificantconcern.

• Investmentanddeliveryofstatefundedbiodiversityprojectsforthreatabatement,forexamplepinewildlingcontrol,linearreserves,andwetlandrestoration.

• Drainingofwetlandsandchangeoflanduse.

�



• Significantwildfireeventswererecordedintheregionin2017-18.

• While the ability to measure the conditionandtrendofthreatenedspeciesovera12-monthperiodisoftendifficult,somepositiveoutcomeswereobserved.TheprotectedpopulationofEasternBarredBandicootsatHamiltonParklandscontinuedtoincreasefollowing the release of 20 bandicoots inApril2016.Thespeciesislistedasextinctinthewild.Anumberofthreatened orchid species were also seen to have good emergence and flowering,withnonegativeimpacts tospeciespopulationsrecordedatsitesmonitored.

• The2018Brolgacensusindicatedthere was good breeding success in thepasttwoyears.

• Estimatedannualprecipitationfor2016 was the second highest recorded in the region since 2000;xx while estimatedannualriverinflowsfor2016werethehighestsince2000.xxi Aboveaverageflowsin2017islikelytohavehadapositiveeffectonmanyriparianandterrestrialspecies.

–Aboveaveragerainfallandassociatedwetlandfillingin2017-18 will likely result in good breeding success for species such as the GrowlingGrassFrogandBrolga.

–Thehighriverflowsextendedintospring,providingconditionstosupportthemigrationandspawningofmanynativefishspecies.

–Thehighflowsin2016-17, withfollowupflowsin2017-18,providedmuchneededinundationofmanyfloodplainandriparianvegetationcommunities,supportingtheirrecoveryfromanextended dryperiod.Thewetconditions thatcontinuedthroughoutspringare likely to have supported flowering,seedsetanddispersal formanyspecies.

–Althoughlittleisknownoftheir lifecycles, Glenelg Spiny FreshwaterCrayfisharethoughttobeparticularlysensitivetopoorwaterquality,especiallywhenmoulting.Thespeciesdistributionisrestricted to the Glenelg River and FitzroyRiverssystemsinsouth-westernVictoriaandfivespring-fedcoastalstreamsinsouth-easternSouthAustralia.Itisexpectedthatpopulationswillhavebeenimpactedbydryconditionsin2015-16,howeverimprovedwaterqualityfollowinggoodflowsintheGlenelgRiversince2016-17arelikelytohave increased available habitat and foodresourcesforthespecies.

• Poor breeding success since 2005 for theSouth-easternRed-tailedBlack-Cockatoo, and associated record low stringybarkseedproduction(thebird'skeyfoodsource)hasraisedconcernsabouttheextinctionriskforthespecies.

• Over-browsingbyKoalasinthemixedEucalypt woodlands of the far south west of the catchment remains a significantconcern.

• Ongoing government investment in threatmitigationincludingGrampiansArk, Glenelg Ark and Glenelg Eden pestcontrolprograms.

MANAGEMENT REPORT


Threatened Species and Communities

Severallong-standingprojectsarebeing undertaken within the Glenelg Hopkinsregionwhereactionsarebeingimplementedatalandscapeorspecies-specificleveltosupporttheconservationof the region’s threatened species; andcontributetotheRCSobjectiveofimprovingthehealthofkeypopulationsofthreatenedspeciesandcommunities.

SpeciesbenefitingfromtheseprojectsincludetheEasternBarredBandicoot,SouthernBrownBandicoot,Long-nosedPotoroo,SouthernBent-wingBat, South-easternRed-tailedBlack-Cockatoo,YarraPygmyPerch,DwarfGalaxias,StripedLeglessLizard,GoldenSunMoth,SpinyRiceFlower,WhiteSunray,TrailingHop-bush,Fragrant Leek-orchid,LimestoneSpider-orchid,MaroonLeek-orchid,Mellblom’s Spider-orchid,MetallicSun-orchid, GoraeLeek-orchid,PrettyLeek-orchid,BasaltRustyhood,RobustSpider-orchid,CandySpider-orchid,BasaltSun-orchid,CoastalDandelionandWrinkledCassinia.Manyofthesefloraspeciesareendemic,orlargelyendemictotheregion.

Notableprojectsthatarebeingundertaken regionally include:

• EasternBarredBandicoot(EBB)recovery projects at Hamilton Parklandsandpreparationof the920haTivertonsiteforreintroductionsofEBBsplanned for spring 2018;

• South-easternRed-tailedBlack-Cockatoo recovery project;

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• NationalLandcareProgramThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesProject, being delivered in partnership withDELWPandBirdlifeAustralia;and

• Glenelg Ark which is a landscape scalefoxbaitingprojectaimedatbenefitingselectedsmallmammalspeciesincludingtheSouthernBrownBandicootandLong-nosedPotoroo.

Keyregionalprojectsandactivitiesthathavebeenundertakenin2017-18towardsimplementingRCSobjectivesandassociatedactionsforthreatenedspeciesandcommunitiesareoutlinedbelow.

NLP Threatened Species and Communities Project – DELWP and Birdlife AustraliaThisprojectaimstoworkwitharangeof partners and community groups to protect and enhance 2,200 ha of the 33,600haofexistingnationallylistedecologicalcommunitiesandmanage85,330 ha for threatened species over theGlenelgHopkinsregion.

Theprojectareaisprimarilyfocusedon the Victorian Volcanic Plains and GoldfieldsBioregions,bothofwhichareregional,stateandnationalpriorities.TargetthreatenedspeciesincludetheStripedLeglessLizard,EasternBarredBandicoot,GoldenSunMoth,Red-tailedBlack-Cockatoo,SwiftParrot,Brolgaandtenthreatenedfloraspecies.FournationallythreatenedEcologicalCommunitiesarebeingtargetedthroughthisproject:NaturalTemperateGrasslands, Grassy Eucalypt Woodlands, GreyBoxGrassyWoodlandsandSeasonalHerbaceousWetlands.

ArangeoftargetedextensionandmonitoringactivitiesacrosstheprojectareaarebeingdeliveredbyDELWPandBirdLifeAustralia(BA).Thesewillreducecriticalthreatsto,andenhancethecondition,connectivity,resilience and knowledge of, threatened speciesandcommunitiesthroughtheimplementationofspecifichighpriorityNationalRecoveryPlanandActionsforBiodiversityConservation(ABC)databaseactions.

Majoractivitiesthatarebeingundertakenas part of this project include:

• weed control and monitoring of Linear Reserves(DELWP);

• threatenedfloramonitoring(DELWP);

• communityengagement(DELWP andBA);

• pest management and monitoring ofEasternBarredBandicoots(DELWPandConservationVolunteersAustralia);and

• monitoringandprotectionof Red-tailedBlack-Cockatoo(BA).

Keyachievementsfor2017-18included:

• weed control and monitoring of 839haofhighqualitylinearreservegrasslands.

• monitoringforseventhreatenedfloraspecies(PrettyLeek-orchid,GoraeLeek-orchid,FragrantLeek-orchid,BasaltRustyhood,RobustSpider-orchid,CandySpider-orchid, WrinkledCassinia).

• 18communityengagementactivitiesrelatingtothreatenedspecies,including the engagement of 83 volunteers in the annual count for the RedTailBlockCockatoo.

• maintaining the predator proof fence at Hamilton Parklands for theprotectionofEasternBarredbandicoots.

Thisprojectissupportedthroughfundingfrom the Australian Government’s NationalLandcareProgram.

NLP Protection of Ecological Communities & Grassland Monitoring Project

TheProtectionofEcologicalCommunitiesProjectisworkingwitharange of partners and community groups tocontinuetoprotectandenhance 625haofthe33,600haofexistingnationallylistedecologicalcommunitiesovertheGlenelgHopkinsregion.FromJuly2013toDecember2014,theProtectionofEcologicalCommunitiesProject successfully protected 350 ha of priority ecological community on the VVP, and the remaining 275 ha will be protected through agreements between GlenelgHopkinsCMAandTrustforNature.

TheprojectareaisprimarilyfocusedontheVictorianVolcanicPlains(VVP)andGoldfieldsBioregions,bothofwhichareregional,stateandnationalpriorities.TherearefournationallythreatenedEcologicalCommunities(ECs)thatwillbetargetedthroughthisproject.

Arangeoftargetedextensionactivitieson the VVP, including a stewardship and covenantingprogram,havebeenutilisedtomaximiseuptakeandensurebest-value sites are protected and secured intothefuture.


• annualgrasslandmonitoringfieldwork was conducted on 30 sites acrosstheVVP.Thisisthethirdyearof monitoring and the diversity of some plant genera was higher than previousmonitoring.

• 726haofcriticallyendangeredecologicalcommunities(NaturalTemperateGrasslandandGrassyEucalypt Woodland of the VVP and Seasonal Herbaceous Wetlands of theLowlandPlains)arebeingactivelymanaged under CMA management agreements.Grasslandsitesaremonitored each Spring for their general structural health and biomasslevels.

• 334haofNaturalTemperateGrassland and Seasonal Herbaceous Wetlandthatareprotectedbyon-titleTrustforNatureConservationCovenantshavebeenactivelymanaged in accordance with site managementplans.

Thisprojectwassupportedthroughfunding from the Australian Government’s NationalLandcareProgram.

Grampians Ark, Glenelg Ark and Glenelg Eden Programs – DELWP and Parks VictoriaSeveral landscape scale pest plant andanimalthreatmitigationprojectswere undertaken across the region in 2017-18,includingGlenelgEden(weedcontrol),GlenelgArkandGrampiansArk(pestanimalcontrol).Theseprojectsarefunded by the Victorian Government, andledbyParksVictoria(GrampiansArk)andDELWP(GlenelgEdenandArk).

ThelongstandingGlenelg Ark project was established in 2005 to assist with theprotectionoflocalpopulationsoftheSouthernBrownBandicoot,Long-nosedPotoroo,andtheCommonBrushtailPossum in the far south west of the catchment.TheprojectisacollaborationbetweenDELWPandParksVictoriaandisthelargestfoxcontrolprojectonpubliclandinsouth-westVictoria,operatingacross90,000ha.

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Overall each of the three monitored nativespecieshasshownasignificantpositiveresponsetobaiting.However,theresponsewasnotuniformlypositiveinalltreatmentareasorforallspecies.Research undertaken by University of MelbourneandArthurRylahInstituteiscurrentlyinvestigatingfoxandferalcatdensitiesovertheprojectareaandintheOtway's.GlenelgArkispartofasuiteoflandscapescalefoxcontrolprojectsinVictoria, including Grampians Ark.

Glenelg Eden is a strategic, landscape scale weed management project that focusesonthedetectionandremovalof high risk weeds that threaten the biodiversityvaluesoftheFarSouthWestofVictoria.Theprojecthasbeenoperatingfor10yearsoveranareathatcomprises nearly 80,000 ha of public land.In2017-18,over18,000haweretreatedonlandmanagedbyDELWPandParksVictoria.TheGlenelgEdenprojectalso implemented the Weed at Early StagesofInvasionprotocols(WESI).Thisprogramranksallcurrentinfestationsbyfeasibilityoferadication.

Terrestrial Habitat

AkeyRCSterrestrialhabitatobjectiveis for public land to be managed as the coreofresilientecosystems.Regionalbiolinkprojectsundertakenin2017-18havecontinuedtofocusonsupportingresilient ecosystem management on publiclandwithbufferzonesandlinkages.ActivitieshavealsofocusedonRCSactionsthatrelatetoprotectingtheconditionofterrestrialhabitatthroughrevegetationandfencinganddevelopingconservationcovenantstoprotectareasofhigh-valueremnantvegetation.

BirdLife Australia Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Monitoring

BirdLifeAustraliahascontinuedtoimplementhighpriorityactionsfromthedraftnationalrecoveryplanfortheSouth-easternRed-tailedBlack-Cockatooaspartofthe2017-18Red-tailedBlack-CockatooMonitoringProject.Actionshavefocusedonmonitoringthepopulation,mitigatingthreats,enhancingnestinghabitatandbuildingcommunitysupport across the range of the cockatoo intheGlenelgHopkinsregion.

During2017-18,239participantswere involved and engaged in project monitoring and capacity building activitiesincludingtheannualrange-widecount,collectionofsightingdata,schoolpresentationsandattendanceattheCavendish'RedGumFestival'.

Threatmitigationactivitiesundertakenincludedlocatingandprotectingnewnests,providinginputintofiremanagement, and strengthening local planninglawstobetterprotectcriticalhabitat.Asignificanthighlightfortheproject this year included the approval of Amendment C82 of the Glenelg PlanningScheme–SoutheasternRed-tailedBlack-CockatooHabitatbytheVictorianMinisterofPlanning.Theamendment, which has taken over four years to complete, has greatly improved theprotectionofcriticalhabitattrees(bothfeedingandnestinghabitat)ofthecockatooacrosstheentirerangeofthesub-speciesintheGlenelgShire.

ThisyeararecordnumberofnestswerefoundintheGlenelgHopkinsregion. Ofthe12activenestsconfirmed,sevenwere new nests previously unknown totherecoveryteam.Thesenewnestswill be protected from terrestrial ground predatorssuchasBrush-tailedPossumsthrough collaring in the last week in June.Further,elevensupplementarynextboxeshavebeeninstalledonprivateland near Powers Creek, Casterton and Rennick.Theboxesarebasedonanewdesign used in Western Australia for Carnaby’sBlack-Cockatoosandwillbemonitored using camera traps over the comingbreedingseason.

Thetwenty-secondannualcountfortheSouth-easternRed-tailedBlack-CockatoowasheldonSaturdayMay5.Volunteerparticipationwasstrongagainwith79people involved in the Glenelg Hopkins regionalone.Ofthe42sitessurveyedinGlenelgHopkinsCMAatotalof433birdswerefound,accountingforjustover 51 per cent of the total number ofbirdsrecordedrange-wideduringthe survey (839 birds recorded across therange).MostofthecockatooswerefoundinthreelargeflocksnearRennick,MumbannarandChetwynd.

Follow-upcountsoflargeflocksidentifiedthroughtheannualsurveyarestillunderwayanddueforthecompletionattheendofJune.

Analysisoflong-termflockcountdatahas shown a declining number of females andjuvenilesinflocksovertime,revealingpoorbreedingsuccesssince2005.

Greening Australia Projects

The‘IncreasingCriticalFoodSupply fortheEndangeredSouth-EasternRed-TailedBlack-Cockatoo’projectfundedthrough the Australian Government’s 20MillionTreesProgramandmanagedby Greening Australia, established 272,250 trees greater than two metres at maturity across 1,079 hectares of Stringybark forest habitat in the Victorian sectionofHabitat141otoincreasefoodsupplyforthenationallyendangeredSouth-EasternRed-TailedBlack-Cockatoo, as well as providing improved habitat for the endangered Southern BrownBandicootandthevulnerableLong-nosedPotoroo.

The‘ReconnectingBudjBim’projectfunded through the Australian Government’s20MillionTreesProgramand managed by Greening Australia, mixedindigenousecologicalknowledgewithleading-edgerevegetationtechniquestoestablish30,000treesgreater than two metres at maturity across 32 ha of Grassy Eucalypt Woodlands of the Victorian Volcanic PlainacrosstheBudjBimNationalHeritage Landscape to improve connectivityandhabitatfortheendangeredSpotted-tailedQuollandSwiftParrot.

Parks Victoria Projects

A number of smaller pest plant and animal projects were delivered in the Glenelg Hopkins region through the GoodNeighbourProgram.TheseincluderabbitmanagementatNarrawongCoastal Reserve, polygala management in theNelsonStatePark,pinecontrolintheBahgallahBushlandReserve,andWilkinFloraandFaunaReserveandCapeTulipandMexicanFeathergrasscontrolintheTooloyFloraReserveandTooloy-LakeMundiWildlifereserve.

TheprotectionofstonyriseswoodlandatBudjBimNationalParkandTyrendarraFloraReservewasundertakenthroughthe monitoring and management of over-abundantkoalas.TheprogramissupportedbyBudgBimCouncilandis undertaken to conserve and restore significantvegetation.

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Victorian Government Biodiversity On-Ground Action Funding

TheVictorianGovernment’sBiodiversityOn-groundActionsProgramisinitssecondyearofdelivery.Approximately$1.4millionoffundinghasbeenallocated to four landscape scale threatened species projects within the region.Theseprojectswilladdresskeythreats to a range of species in the grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plan, wetlands and woodlands of the Glenelg Plain,andcoastalzone(Table11).The‘regional hub projects’ involve agencies andorganisationsworkingtogethertoaddress threats to a range of important nativespeciesinpriorityareas.Eachproject has received $300,000 funding in Round 1 and is to be completed by 30June2020.

A second round of funding was received in2017-18,with$100,000allocatedto further pine wildling control in Wilkin StateForestand$105,000forweedmanagement in the Glenelg Estuary and DiscoveryBayCoastalPark.

Table 11: Regional Hub Projects

Project Lead Organisation Locality Funding

Received Partners

Improvingthequalityandconnectedness of grassland communitiesonthe Victorian Volcanic Plain

DELWP Woorndoo-Dundonnell Round 1: $300,000

DELWPBarwonSouthWest,Corangamite CMA, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Parks Victoria, Corangamite Shire,MoyneShire,ARTC,VicRoads,LaTrobeUniversity,RoyalBotanicGardens,NargundyPtyLtdTiverton,TrustForNature

Glenelg Estuary and DiscoveryBayWeedControl

Glenelg Hopkins CMA

Glenelg Estuary and DiscoveryBayCoastalPark

Round 1: $300,000Round 2: $100,000

GlenelgShire,NatureGlenelgTrust,NelsonCoastcare,GreeningAustralia,ParksVictoria,DELWPBarwonSouthWest,GHCMA

ThreatenedspecieshabitatrestorationintheWilkinWoodlands and Wetlands

NatureGlenelgTrust Wilkin Round 1: $300,000

Round 2: $105,000

GlenelgHopkinsCMA,BirdlifeAustralia,RTBCRecoveryTeam,Greening Australia, Parks Victoria, DELWP

Habitatrestorationforthreatened species of wetlands in the Glenelg Plain

NatureGlenelgTrust Glenelg Plain Round 1: $300,000 Parks Victoria, Glenelg Hopkins

CMA,DELWP,TrustforNature

CASE STUDY

ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE DAY

CHALLENGE: The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Day was an opportunity for local landholders and Traditional Owners to share their knowledge of native grassland management on the Victorian Volcanic Plains (VVP).

APPROACH: The event held on “Salt Creek” property, Woorndoo and at Lake Bolac, increased participant’s awareness of the uses and values of wetlands and grasslands of the VVP. The area was and is utilised by Aboriginal people as a source of food, medicine and fibre with sites of spiritual and ceremonial significance.

John Clarke from Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation welcomed participants to country and shared the significance of the volcanic plains to his people and Aboriginal lore. The Lake Bolac stone arrangement is an Aboriginal ceremonial site with basalt stones, arranged in two lines, which are said to resemble a giant eel. Lake Bolac was a traditional gathering place for Indigenous people before white settlement and The Lake Bolac Eel Festival held on the foreshore each autumn continues to celebrate the importance of eels to Aboriginal people.

Bruce Pascoe, author of Dark Emu, shared his research about land management in Australia, including the VVP, prior to colonisation. He stressed the permanent nature of housing, the role of agriculture and value and uses of plants ‘cropped’ by Aboriginal people on the VVP.

RESULTS: The event generated much interest amongst participants and increased awareness of ceremonial sites and improved understanding of the type of land management practiced by Aboriginal people prior to settlement.

PARTNERS: Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and landholders and community groups. The project was funded by Australian Government National Landcare Program.

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3.4 LAND

Condition Statement

TheLandthemereportsonthemanagementofland(privateandpublic)withintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.

Regional context

TheGlenelgHopkinsregionisrecognisedashavingsomeofthemostfertileandproductivesoilsinAustralia.xxii With more than 80 per cent of the region dedicated toagriculturalproduction,theprotectionand enhancement of the region’s soil is clearly linked to regional prosperity and fundamental to ongoing sustainable foodandfibreproduction.xxiiiIn2016-17 the region was rated as the highest agriculturalproductionregioninVictoriaand4thhighestinAustralia,producingagriculturalcommoditieswithagrossvalueof$2,184million.xxiv

Substantialchangesinlandusehaveoccurred in the region since the early 1990s.Whilebroadacregrazingisstillprominent,therehavebeensignificantincreases in the area of land used for dairying, cropping and blue gum plantations.

Althoughtherearelargesectionsofhighconservationvaluenativevegetationsecured in parks and reserves, other vegetationisoftenfragmented,particularlyonprivateland.Intactareasofnativevegetationonprivatelandareofparticularimportance,astheyoftencontainthreatenedecologicalvegetationcommunities.Therehasbeenalonghistory of programs undertaken across the region to increase the area of land managedforconservationthroughlandholder management agreements andcovenants.

Land benchmark – Ground cover and land managed for conservation

Ground cover can provide an indicator ofsoilhealth.xxv Maintenance of ground coverisessentialforsustainableproductionandhelpsprotectsoilsfromerosion.Soilwithalowpercentageofgroundcoverismoresusceptibletowindandwatererosion.Groundcoveralsoplays an important role in maintaining biodiversityandnutrientcycling.

TheAustralianNationalUniversityhasassessedexposedsoilnationallysince2000.TheassessmentisundertakenusingMODISsatelliteimagerythatcaptures images of the earth’s surface everyeightdaysovera12-monthperiodto analyse the percentage of ground not covered by living or dead plant material.xxviThepercentageofexposedsoil across the Glenelg Hopkins region for2016isshowninFigure10.

ThedataindicatesthatthepercentageareaofexposedsoilacrosstheGlenelgHopkins region has varied marginally on an annualised basis, with a slight decreaseexperiencedbetween2015and2016(Figure10).

Average soil water availability was the second highest recorded in the region since2000(Figure11).

Therewerenoadditionstothepublicreserve system within the Glenelg Hopkinsregionin2017-18(Table12).Anadditional21.9hawasplacedunderconservationcovenantduring2017-18, and146landholdermanagementagreements were established over 6,935ha.Asof30June2018,4,123haof land within the Glenelg Hopkins region wasunderTrustforNaturecovenants(perpetualagreements).Thepurposeof these covenants is to permanently conserve and protect the natural, cultural orscientificvaluesoftheland.

Figure 10: Percentage of exposed soil in the Glenelg Hopkins region 2010-2017(Source: Australia’s Environment Explorer 2017, developed by the Australian National University – Fenner School of the Environment and Society, www.ausenv.online)

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Figure 11: Average soil water availability in the Glenelg Hopkins region 2000–2017Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year as estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system. (Source: Australia’s Environment Explorer 2017, developed by the Australian National University – Fenner School of the Environment and Society, www.ausenv.online)

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Table 12: Land managed for conservation in the Glenelg Hopkins region

Protection type Number/Area covered Additional area this year

NationalParks* 207,788 ha 0

StateParks* 31,320 ha 0

Otherpublicland*# 243,771ha 0

TrustforNatureconservationcovenant 4,123ha 21.87ha

Landholder agreements 573 agreements, 18,987 ha (outputrecordedsince2013-14) 146agreements,6,935ha

* Data from Public Lands Management spatial dataset.# “Other public land” includes Coastal Reserves, Natural Catchment Areas, Forest Park, Marine Sanctuaries, Natural Features Reserves, Nature Conservation Reserves,

NPA Schedule 3 Other Parks, Proposed National Parks Act, Regional Parks, State Forests.

Annual land assessment 2017-18


Neutral A largely neutral state, where events during theyearmayhavebeensignificantbutarewithinexpectedvariationandwillhavelittleimpactinthelongerterm.

• LargegrassfiresatGarvoc,Gazette-HawkesdaleandTerang.• Nomajorerosioneventsreportedonfarmland.• Annualaveragegroundcoverratesremainedstable.• Significantlong-termchallengesremaininmanagingtheimpactoflanduseonwaterwayhealthandmanagingsoilhealthatthefarmscale.

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• Around14,300haintheGlenelgHopkins CMA region were burnt in theSaintPatrick’sDayfires(17March 2018),including6,608haatTerang,4,031atGarvoc,and3,665haatGazette-Hawkesdale.Grassfiresspreadrapidly,resultinginsignificantdamagetofarmlandandpeatfires atCobrico.xxvii

• Nomajorerosioneventswerereportedonfarmland.

• During2017,therewasanaverageof92percentgroundcover.Theestimatedpercentageofexposedsoils for the region decreased in 2017to8percent.Exposedsoilwasestimatedtoaverage8percentover the summer period (minimum groundcover over this period was 90.61percent).xxviii

• Thereremainsignificantthreatstothelong-termproductivityofsoilsin the region from historical land managementpracticesthathaveledto widespread removal of indigenous vegetationandvulnerabilityduetopestplantsandanimalinfestations.Fromtimetotime,thesechangesstillresultinlocalisedincreasesinwind and water erosion, dryland salinity,soilacidification,declineofsoil structure and loss of soil organic carbon.

• Therehavebeennosignificantchanges in land tenure through the designationofparksandreserves.

• TrustforNaturecovenants(perpetualagreements)wereestablishedover21.9hain2017-18(542.3hain2016-17,135hain2015-16,75hain2014-15,and104hain2013-14).ThelowernumberofcovenantswasduetoitbeingthefinalyearofdeliveryfortheNationalLandcareProgram.

MANAGEMENT REPORT


NLP Sustainable Agriculture Project

Thisprojectwassupportedthroughfunding from the Australian Government’s NationalLandcareProgram.Theprojectconcludedon30June2018.Theproject aimed to support farmers to implementlandmanagementpracticestoimprovesoilcondition,increaseormaintainproductionandprotectthenaturalresourcebase.Theprojectworked closely with landholders and was primarily delivered through partnerships with industry, government agencies and community-basedorganisations.

TheimplementationoftheNLPSustainable Agriculture project in 2017-18enabled25capacitybuildingevents to be held at geographically diverselocationsacrossthecatchment.Eventsattractedanaudienceof552 landmanagers,representingsome 194farmentities.

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Keyachievementsfor2017-18aresummarisedbelow.

• Partnerships for project planning and delivery were established with SouthernFarmingSystems;GrasslandSociety of Southern Australia, WesternDistrictbranch;AgricultureVictoria;WestVicDairy;VictorianNo-TillFarmersAssociation;Basalt-To-BayLandcareNetworkand DeakinUniversity.

• Morethan200farmersattendeda‘ConvertingBlueGumstoPasturesDay’atCavendishinJuly2017.

• 15 young farmers from 11 farm entitiesparticipatedinthe‘PastureTech’pilotprojecttoutilisesmartfarmdigitalandspatialtechnologiesontheir farms to improve monitoring of pasturesandsustainablymanagesoil.

• 91farmersattendedatotalofeightworkshops tailored to provide women on farms with the opportunity to improve knowledge of agriculture andbuildasupportnetwork.Topicsincluded soil and climate, crop production,pastureproductionandlivestockproduction.

• 29 farmers from 15 farm businesses attendedathree-dayHolisticManagementtrainingsession.Follow-upfarmvisitsatBalmoral,CrossroadsandStoneleighwereattendedby63farmersandfarmserviceproviders.

• 13dairyfarmerscompletedDairyAustralia’sFert$martprogram,increasingnutrientuseefficiencyandreducing risk of farm nutrient loss contaminatinggroundandsurfacewaterresources.

• 11farmersimpactedbytheTerangandGarvocfiresatCobricoSwampand Lake Elingamite, improved managementoffireaffectedpeatsoils.

• 25farmersrepresenting14farmentitiesattendedaseminartolearntheresultsofathree-yearfarmdemonstrationtrialtoinvestigatenitrogenuseefficacyopportunities ondairyfarms.

• 50 farmers and farm service providers attendedaworkshopandpaddockwalk to learn how strategic use of farm shelter belts and tree blocks canimproveproductionandprofitonbroadacregrazingoperations.

Land use change was monitored across the catchment through a biannual land-usetransectundertakeninpartnershipwithAgricultureVictoria.Keyobservationsandconclusionsaresummarisedbelow.

• Theareaunderpastureincreasedbyfour per cent of paddocks sampled, by area,from2017to2018.Thebiggestchange was between Westmere and Caramut with a 13 per cent increase bynumberofpaddocks.Theareaunder cropping decreased by four per cent by area over the same period.Stronglivestockandwoolprices appear to be encouraging a returntomoretraditionalgrazingdominantpractices.

• Stubbleremovalpracticesincreasedby seven per cent from 2017 mostly duetoanincreaseinburning.High2017 spring rainfall may have resulted inanincreaseinstubbleloads.Withoutequipmenttomanagehighstubbleloads(disc-seeder),burningisthemostcost-effectiveoptionofstubbleremovalforfarmers.

NLP Regional Landcare Facilitator Project

TheGlenelgHopkinsRegionalLandcareFacilitator(RLF)isfundedbytheAustralian Government through the NationalLandcareProgram.TheRLFsupports individuals, Landcare and productiongroupstoadoptsustainablefarmandlandmanagementpracticesby:

• promotingtheLandcareethicandsustainableagriculturalpractices;

• assistingwithfundingapplications,membership and resources;

• supportingthedevelopment,delivery,monitoringandevaluationofregionalplans; and

• building and strengthening partnerships between regional stakeholders.

ProjectactivitiessupportedbytheRLFprojectin2017-18included:

• planttissuetestingandbasicanimalhealthrequirementsworkshops,undertakeninconjunctionwithSouthWest Prime Lamb Group;

• perennialpasturesustainabilityfielddays,undertakenincollaborationwithPerennial Pasture Systems Group based in Ararat;

• 9th Annual Perennial Pasture System conference, an event historically attendedbyover100peoplefocusingonallaspectsofsustainableprofitablefarming systems;

• thecontinuationoftheintegratedpestmanagement(IPM)demonstrationsitesandassociatedfield-basedactivitiesundertakenincollaborationwithUpperHopkinsLand Management Group and the Panyyabyr Landcare Group;

• supportforfield-basedstudytourshosted by the Perennial Pasture Systems Group, Girls in Grass Group, TarragalLandcareGroupandtheSouthwestCoastActionNetwork;

• cropping seminars hosted in conjunctionwithAgricultureVictoriaincludinginternationalguestspeakers;

• biochardemonstrationsandfielddays,hostedbyTarragalLandcareGroup; and

• communityfestivalssuchasthe“CelebratingRedGums”festivalthattook place at Cavendish between the 13thto15thofApril2018.

Glenelg Hopkins Land Suitability Project

TheGlenelgHopkinsRegionLandSuitability Project is a partnership between Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Southern Grampians Shire Council andDeakinUniversity(CentreforRegionalandRuralFutures)tomodel land suitability for a selected setofagriculturalandhorticulturalcommoditiesacrossthecatchmentunderachangingclimate.Commoditieshave been modelled for suitability under currentandpredictedclimaticconditionsuptotheyear2070.TheprojectiscontributingtothefollowingRCSaction:‘’investigateopportunitiesforsoilcapabilitymappingunderdifferentlandmanagementpractices”.

Commodityreports(Pastures,BroadacreCropsandHorticulture)havebeencompiledthatexplorethepossibleimplicationsofclimatechangeonagricultureandlanduseintheregion.


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Thefinalcomponentofthestudywillinvolveconductinganenvironmentalandsocio-economicanalysisofopportunitiesfortheregion,arisingfrom a changing climate with respect to sustainable agricultural development and environmentalmanagement.TheprojectisbeingledbyDeakinUniversityandhasbeen supported through funding from theAustralianGovernment'sNationalLandcare Program, Southern Grampians ShireCouncilandDeakinUniversity.

Pasture Tech – Sustainable Farm Management Using Smart Farming Technologies

Glenelg Hopkins CMA and the Grasslands Society of Southern Australia (WesternDistrictBranch)supportedtheestablishmentofPastureTech–agroupof 15 young farmers with a common interestinroadtestingnewtechnologywhich could assist them in making more informed decisions for sustainable management.Withparticipantsfromacross South West Victoria, the agreed goal of the group was to ground truth commercial technology which can help makepracticalandstrategicdecisions onfarm.

Over the past 12 months the group focused on two technologies: 1)measuringandestimatingpasture

growth and availability using digital andspatialtechnologyinconjunctionwithbestpracticeinfieldmethodsand

2)useofprecisionagricultureandapplicationofvariableratetechnologiesonpastures.Meetingfourtimesayearthegrouphasworked closely with leading pasture consultants,spatialtechnologyproviders and researchers to assess theon-farmapplicationofnewandevolvingtechnologiesintheseareas.

Agriculture Victoria projects

Agriculture Victoria undertakes property inspectionstosupportcommunityledactiononstate-widepriorityestablishedpests and to protect high value catchment assets.AgricultureVictoriaBiodiversityOfficersinspected34,003haoflandintheGlenelgHopkinsregionin2017-18to facilitate the management of declared invasiveplantsandpestanimals.

Atotalof14,127foxscalpswerecollected at the Hamilton and Warrnamboolcollectioncentresduring2017-18,addingtoatotalof98,922since2011.

AgricultureVictoria’sextensionfocusintheGlenelgHopkinsregionfor2017-18 wasonplanningforwatersecurity.Threewaterplanningsessionshavebeendelivered to 72 farmers responsible for themanagementof47,070haofland.Mostworkshopparticipantsindicatedthat they would make changes to their practicesasaresultofinvolvementintheseworkshops.

Apasturecroppingdemonstrationsitehas been running in the Glenelg Hopkins regionforfouryears.AgricultureVictoriarecordedeightpropertiesundertakingthesametechniquesasaresultoftheirinvolvementinthedemonstration. Theareacoveredbytheseproperties is7,600ha.

Agriculture Victoria and Glenelg Hopkins CMAundertookacollaborativeprojectto help respond to the unusual recovery neededfollowingthepeatfiresatCobrico Swamp and Lake Elingamite inMarch2018.TheSWFireComplex–‘ManagementofFireAffectedPeatSoils’projectinvestigatedchangestothe chemical, physical and biological characteristicsofthesesoilsasaresultoffire.Peatfires,alsoknownas‘soilconsumingfires,’arenotoriouslyhardtoextinguishduetothecombustiblenature of peat material that smoulders, destroyingtheorganic-matterrichsoilandreducingairquality.

Followinganinformationgatheringphasetoidentifyimpactsandscopemanagementoptions,theprojectenabledAgricultureVictoriastafftodevelopindividualrehabilitationplansforaffectedfarmers.Workingincollaborationwithmultipleagencies,Agriculture Victoria, assisted land managers to implement sustainable landmanagementpracticestoaddressindividualsoilmanagementissues.

CASE STUDY

LIFE AFTER BLUE GUMS

CHALLENGE: Significant areas of blue gum plantations in Victoria are being harvested and the land reverted to pasture or cropping. The issue is most prevalent in the Glenelg Hopkins NRM region. Restoration of this land to agriculture presents many NRM challenges. Without adequate assessment of land condition and the best conversion method, the long-term implications on resource condition, productivity and profitability have the potential to be significant.

APPROACH: A community engagement event aimed at increasing knowledge and awareness of new and innovative land use conversion practices that have evolved over the past five years since a similar event was held in 2014 (hosted by Grasslands Society of Southern Australia).

RESULTS: Over 200 community members attended the event which included:

• Presentations of case studies by farmers and stakeholders who have undertaken conversion of Blue Gum Plantation Land back to pastures. Presenters provided a balanced perspective on the economic, environmental and financial benefits/challenges of undertaking reclamation.

• An on-farm visit to a local farm recently converted back to pasture and cropping.

The event demonstrated the high level of interest from regional farmers in reverting properties with harvested blue gum plantations to pasture or cropping.

KEY PARTNERS: Grasslands Society of Sothern Australia (Western District Branch), Glenelg Hopkins CMA.

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3.5 THE GLENELG HOPKINS COAST

Condition Statement

TheCoastthemereportsontheconditionof marine and coastal environments withintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.

Regional context

Coasts are the interface between marine andterrestrialenvironments.Theyincludebeaches,cliffs,intertidalzones,coastal wetlands, marshes, mangroves, lagoons,coastalfloodplainforestsandtheestuarineportionsofwaterways.

TheGlenelgHopkinsregionconsistsof220 km of coastline in varying degrees ofcondition,whichissubjecttocoastalerosion,sealevelriseandflooding.Witha changing climate, these impacts will beexacerbatedwithincreasesinwindspeed,stormintensityandfrequency, as well as changes in rainfall intensity andfrequency.xxix

TheGlenelgHopkinscoastalzoneisshowninFigure12.Thecoastalzone incorporates a diverse range ofecosystems,andprovidescriticalhabitat for threatened species such as theOrange-belliedParrotandHoodedPlover, as well as important shorebird sites.ThiszoneincludesthreeImportantBirdAreas(IBA):(sitesofglobalbirdconservationimportance)–YambukLakesComplexIBA,PortFairytoWarrnamboolIBAandDiscoveryBay–PiccaninniePondsIBA.

Coastalvegetationisfragmented,with the larger areas of remnant vegetationfoundwithintheparksandreserve system, in areas such as Lower GlenelgNationalPark,DiscoveryBayCoastalPark,MtClayStateForestandNarrawongFloraReserve,MountRichmondNationalPark,BatsRidgeWildlifeReserve,andCapeNelson StatePark.

MarineNationalParksandsanctuariesrecognise and protect important marine habitats and species, natural features, culturalheritageandaestheticvalues.Areas formally recognised within the regionincludetheDiscoveryBayMarineNationalParknearPortlandandtheMerri Marine Sanctuary near the mouth oftheMerriestuary.Inaddition,specialmanagementareashavebeenidentifiedatCapeBridgewater,LawrenceRocks,PortlandBay,DeenMaarIslandandLogansBeach.


Figure 12: Extent of parks and reserves in the coastal zone

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Coast benchmark – level of protection for coasts, Index of Wetland Condition, Index of Estuary Condition

Level of Protection for Coasts

Figure12showstheextentoflandwithin the coastal zone which is managedforenvironmentalprotectionthroughparksandreserves.Thisequatestoapproximately50,463ha.

Privatelandismostlyresidentialneartownships,orutilisedforagriculture.Where areas of the coastline are under high demand and subject to development pressures, coastal habitats tendtograduallyfragmentorarelost.xxx

A key challenge is to maintain a healthy and diverse coastal ecosystem that exhibitsconnectivityonalandscapescale,particularlywherethecoastisinhigh demand or under threat from the implicationsofclimatechange.

Index of Estuary Condition (IEC), and Index of Wetland Condition (IWC)

Theconditionoftheregion’swetlandsandestuariesvariessignificantlyalongthecoast.TheGlenelgRiverEstuaryandDiscoveryBayWetlandComplexencompass freshwater wetlands, estuary, beach and dune systems that areinexcellentcondition.xxxi Wetlands thatretainwateronatleastasemi-permanent basis are generally in good condition,andestuariesareinmoderatetogoodconditionbasedontheresultsoftherecentIECtrial.FurtherinformationonregionalIECandIWCresultsisprovidedintheWaterwayssectionofthisreport.

Wetlandsonprivatelandareoftensmallerinsizeandaremorefragmented.Many are open to stock access and can become sinks for agricultural drainageandrunoff.Coastalresidentialdevelopment has impacted several areas of coastal wetlands through drainage, conversionandexposuretorecreationaluse.Theyarealsoparticularlyvulnerableto climate change impacts such as inundationfromrisingsealevelsandstormsurges.

Reasons for assessment:• Withtheexceptionoflandprotected

within parks and reserves, the coastal environmentremainsundersignificantpressure from agriculture, and developmentnearurbancentres.

• Coastalareasareexperiencingincreasesinpopulationandtourismactivity.Pollution,erosionandlossofcoastalhabitataremajorthreats.

• Coastalsettlementslocatedinlow-lyingareaswithintheregionarealreadyexperiencingoccasionalinundation(e.g.PortFairy).

• Wetlands that retain water on at leastasemi-permanentbasisaregenerallyingoodcondition.ArecentIECtrialindicatedthatestuariesareinmoderatetogoodcondition.

• ThestatusofrareandthreatenedcoastalorchidsmonitoredbyDELWPin2017-18aspartoftheNLPCoastalCommunitiesProgram,isthatmostmonitoredorchidpopulationswereinastablecondition.

• Arangeofweedsareimpactinghighvaluecoastalremnantvegetationin areas such as Glenelg estuary, DiscoveryBayCoastalParkandBudjBimLandscape.Inaddition,coastal areas adjacent to townships suchasWarrnamboolandPortFairyhavehighlevelofweedinfestations.OfconcernisthespreadofItalianBuckthorn,Polygala,SpinyRushandCoastalWattle.

• Theintensityandregularityofoceanswell and storm events appears to beincreasingresultinginerosionofbeachesanddunes.Furthermonitoringisrequiredtoverifythisobservation.

Annual coasts assessment 2017-18


Concerned Alevelofconcernthatsignificanteventsduring the year may have an adverse impact inthelongerterm.

• Withtheexceptionoflandprotectedwithinparksandreserves,thecoastalenvironmentremainsundersignificantpressurefromagriculture,anddevelopmentnearurbancentres.

• Coastalareasareexperiencingincreasesinpopulationandtourismactivity.Pollution,erosionandlossofcoastalhabitataremajorthreats.

• Coastalsettlementinfrastructurelocatedinlow-lyingareaswithintheregionarealreadyexperiencingoccasionalinundation.

• Thedistributionandextentofcoastalweedinfestationsisthreateningsomehighvaluecoastalareas.

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MANAGEMENT REPORT


VWPIF Coastal Works Program

Thisfour-year,VictorianGovernmentfunded program aims to improve and maintain the region’s estuaries and coastalwaterwaysontheBudjBimlandscapebysupporting:

• estuary management including estuary opening decisions;

• estuary water monitoring including community involvement in Estuary Watch;

• engagement of landholders, including GunditjMirringTraditionalOwnersGroup,todevelopaWaterwayActionPlanfortheBudjBimLandscape;and

• on-groundworksontheFitzroyRiverestuary,DarlotCreekandassociatedwetlands.

Themainareaoffocusforthisprogramin2017-18hasbeenimplementationofStage1oftheBudjBimLandscapeWaterwayActionPlanandcommencingengagement of landholders and TraditionalOwnerstodevelopStage2.

On-groundworkshaveincluded:

• 4.3kmofwoodyweedcontrolinthe FitzroyEstuaryandDarlotCreekareas;

• 1.7kmoffencing;

• 9.7haofwoodyweedcontrol;

• establishmentoffivelandholdermanagement agreements covering 61.5ha;

• 41propertyassessmentscovering4,593ha;

• 11 engagement events covering 170participants;and

• 7communicationsandpublicationsdelivered.

Thecoastalcommunityengagementactivityhasincludedanewinitiativewithlocal government agencies known as the ‘CleanOceansCollective’.Thisinitiativeaims to reduce marine and riverine litterthrougheducation,awarenessandcommunityparticipation.

TheCoastalWorksProjecthasdeliveredthefollowingoutputsinadditionoftheestuary entrance management program:

• 18waterqualityassessmentsthroughout the regions estuaries;

• 6 engagement events covering 642participants;and

• 6communicationsandpublicationsdelivered.

NLP Coastal Connections Project

ThisprojectismanagedbyGlenelgHopkins CMA, through funding from theAustralianGovernment’sNationalLandcareProgram.Currentlyinitsfifthandfinalyear,theCoastalConnectionsproject is working with community groups and private land managers to protect and restore coastal, estuarine andwetlandhabitat.Thisincludessharingknowledgeandskills,protectingand restoring habitats, and undertaking conservationmanagementofthesevaluablecoastalareas.

Coastal habitat is protected through multipleyearconservationmanagementagreements with private landholders andpermanentprotectionunderConservationCovenantswithTrustforNature.Coastalcommunitygroupsand private landholders are supported throughgrantsforactivitiesthatfocusonprotectionandrehabilitationofendangered coastal habitat, including stockexclusion,weedandpestcontrol.TheprojectalsoprovidestheopportunityforIndigenousemploymentandtobuildIndigenousskillsinnaturalresourcemanagement.


• 292haofstockexclusion,weed and pest control on high value coastal land;

• on-titlepermanentprotectionof 82 ha of remnant coastal habitat throughConservationCovenants(TrustforNature);

• establishment of over 50 ha of new ConservationCovenants;

• protectionofendangeredplantsincludingMellblom’sSpider-orchid,CoastDandelion,LimestoneSpider-orchid,MaroonLeek-orchidandMetallicSun-orchid;

• 7 community groups supported to deliveron-groundworks;and

• twoIndigenousstaffsupported.


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Ramsar Nomination

TheGlenelgEstuaryandDiscoveryBayWetland Ramsar site was successfully nominatedasaWetlandofInternationalImportanceundertheRamsarConventionin2018-19.Acoordinationcommitteehasbeenestablishedtooversee the development and delivery of key documents such as, the Monitoring, Evaluation,ReportingandImprovement(MERI)PlanandImplementationPlan.TheCoordinatingCommitteecomprisesrepresentativesfromParksVictoria,DELWP,GunditjMirringTraditionalOwnersAboriginalCorporationandGlenelgHopkinsCMA.Thecommitteealsofacilitatesconsultationwithcommunitymembers.

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape – nomination for UNESCO World Heritage

TheBudjBimCulturalLandscapewasplaced on Australia’s World Heritage TentativeListinJanuary2017anditsnominationformallyacceptedforassessment by the World Heritage CentreinMarch2018.Partofthisareaoccurswithinthecoastalzone.

Ifsuccessful,itwillbethefirstAustralianplace to be World Heritage listed exclusivelyforitsculturalheritagevalues.TheBudjBimCulturalLandscapecontains evidence of one of the world’s largestandoldestaquaculturesystems,datingtoabout6,600yearsago.xxxii

CASE STUDY

MERRI RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT

CHALLENGE: The Merri Restoration Project aims to transform the Merri River and estuary through Warrnambool to create a recreational corridor and an ecologically-healthy river. Prior to the project the river was bordered by mostly weed-infested unused land or highly-grazed pasture, with little in-stream wood, which is important for fish habitat. In addition to the CMA, Warrnambool City Council (WCC), seven community groups and several agencies were independently undertaking, or planning to undertake, projects along the river.

APPROACH: Glenelg Hopkins CMA recognised that the transformation of the river could not be achieved alone and facilitated the establishment of an 'Alliance' of partners to work towards a common goal of improved environmental, cultural and recreational values. The Alliance collated the work currently being undertaken or planned, created a vision of what could be achieved on the river and made a commitment to work together to make the vision a reality. An overall plan for a section of the river was developed.

The CMA Merri River Restoration Project supports community groups and private landholders, with land adjacent to the river, to undertake weed and revegetation works. The CMA also works with land developers of new residential estates along the river to improve the environmental values and recreational opportunities for residents. These activities are additional to those required by the WCC. The vision for a restored Merri River through Warrnambool, has been quickly adopted into the strategic planning of partnering organisations. Notably, the Alliance and the transformation of the river into a new green corridor were heavily referenced in Warrnambool City Council’s W2040 planning process.

RESULTS: The Merri River Restoration Project makes a substantial contribution to the vision of the Alliance. To date, the project has improved the condition of 3.8 km of riverbank. On-ground works have focused on clearing woody weeds such as willows and revegetating areas of riverbank with 12,880 native plants.

Five community groups, two government agencies, four private landholders and four land developers have been involved in the planning and delivery of riparian works across the project area. The riparian improvements supported through the Merri River Restoration Project are complemented by instream habitat restoration projects funded through crowdfunding and Australian Government as well as the contributions of the partners.

There was extensive community consultation through mail and community drop-in afternoons at different locations along the river. Artists impressions of the restoration sites in 5 and 10 years were particularly valuable to provide a vision of the area and reassure community members concerned about bare river banks following the removal of willows and other woody weeds. The following email was received after a community drop-in session to capture community ideas.

"It's wonderful to see all the work that has been done. At last we can enjoy the river like we used to. Last night we noticed people going down to the river with a kayak and canoe so many thanks for cleaning the area up. We live next door to the playground and when our kids come home for Christmas we'll be able to take the grandkids down to the river and maybe go fishing like we used to." – Warrnambool resident.

KEY PARTNERS: Merri River Alliance Partners: Warrnambool City Council, Wannon Water, Warrnambool Coastcare Land Care Group (and subsidiary groups Friends of Platypus Park and Friends of Wollaston), Fisheries Victoria, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, Mad for the Merri community group, Fishcare, and Ozfish. Merri River Restoration Project Partners: Community groups, private landholders, land developers. The project is funded by EC4 Victorian State Government.

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4.1 KEY FOCUS AREAS

Each year the ten Victorian CMAs contributetoastate-wideactionsandachievements report, which highlights a selectionofoutputsalignedwiththreekey focus areas:

1.EngageVictoria’scommunitiesinnaturalresourcemanagement.

2.ProtectandimprovetheenvironmentalconditionofVictoria’swaterways,landandbiodiversity.

3.Providegoodgovernanceandleadership.

TheGlenelgHopkinsregionalcontributiontothesefocusareasisshownbelow,aswellastrenddata.

4.1.1 Engage Victoria’s communities in natural resource management

Thiskeyfocusareacontributesdirectlyto goal one of Our Catchments, Our Communities“Effectivecommunityengagement in catchment management”, andreportsonaselectionofoutputsinthe“planningandregulation”standardoutputclass.Theseoutputscontributetocollaboration,skillsandawarenessoutcomes.

Figure13showsthenumberofparticipantsatengagementevents,suchasfielddays,presentations,trainingorworkshops, which are designed to raise orimproveskillsorincreasecollaborationbetweencommunitiesandorganisations.

Figure14showsthenumberofformalpartnerships established, maintained or modifiedthatprovideanopportunityto engage with government, industry and the community; and includes partnerships with industry bodies, community groups, government agencies or individuals to support local action.Figure15showsthenumberofpublicationsdevelopedanddisseminatedto keep stakeholders and the broader communityinformed.

4.0 REGIONAL ACTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS REPORTING


5. 2013-14 figures only captured outputs related to Victorian Government investment. Subsequent years included Victorian Government and Australian Government funded outputs.

Figure 13: Number of participants at engagement events

2015-16

Num

ber o

f par

ticip

ants

2016-17YEAR

2017-184,800

5,000

5,200

5,400

5,600

5,800

6,000

6,200

Figure 15: Number of publications established, maintained or modified (including fact sheets, media releases, newsletters, reports, websites, television and social media)

2015-16

Num

ber

2016-17YEAR

2017-180

50

100

150

200

250

Figure 16: Number of waterways structures installed or modified

2015-16

Num

ber

2016-17YEAR

2017-180

5

10

15

20

25

Figure 14: Number of formal partnerships established, maintained or modified

2015-16

Num

ber

2016-17YEAR

2017-180

10

20

30

40

50

60

49

4.1.2 Protect and improve the environmental condition of Victoria’s waterways, land and biodiversity

Thiskeyfocusareareportsonaselectionof standard outputs in the following classes: structural works, environment worksandmanagementservices.

Theseoutputscontributetomanagementoutcomesrelatingto:

• productivity,soilpropertiesand soil stability;

• species recovery, species control and habitat availability;

• amenity;

• vegetationextent,structureanddiversity;

• waterquality,environmentalwater,groundwater;

• cultural heritage; and

• extremeeventpreparedness.

Thenumberofwaterwaystructures thatwereinstalledormodified,fortheperiod2014-15to2016-17,isshowninFigure16.Thisoutputincludestheconstructionoffishways,rockchutes,andflowregulators.

Figure17showstheareaofvegetationestablished,modifiedormaintained,andincludesactivitiessuchasdirectseeding,planting,thinningandmulching.Theareaof land on which pest animal control and weed control has been undertaken over thepastfouryearsisshowninFigure18andFigure19respectively.

Figure20indicatestheareaoflandon which grazing regime change has occurred, such as controlling of access inlinewithbestpractice,orremoval oflivestock.


Figure 17: Area of vegetation established, modified or maintained (ha) (includes direct seeding, planting, mulching, guarding and thinning)

2015-16

Area

(ha)

2016-17YEAR

2017-180

200

400

600

800

1,000

Figure 18: Area of pest animal control (ha) (gross area over which pest animals were controlled by killing, removing or restricting them)

2015-16

Area

(ha)

2016-17YEAR

2017-180

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

Figure 19: Area of weed control (ha) (gross area over which weeds were controlled by killing, removing or restricting them)

2015-16

Area

(ha)

2016-17YEAR

2017-180

1,0002,0003,0004,0005,000

6,0007,0008,0009,000

10,000

Figure 20: Area of grazing regime change (ha) (the area over which grazing by livestock has been established, maintained, modified or removed)

2015-16 2016-17YEAR

2017-180

5

10

15

20

25

Area

(ha)

50

4.1.3 Provide good governance and leadership

Thisfocusareareportsonaselectionofstandardoutputsinthe“planningandregulation”standardoutputclass.Theseoutputscontributetooutcomesrelatingto:governance;skills,awarenessandcollaboration;culturalheritage;andvegetationstructureanddiversity,andavailablehabitat.

4.1 REGIONAL OUTPUT ACHIEVEMENTS

Table13presentsthetotaloutputsachievedfor2017-18.Anumberofoutputtargetshavebeenexceededandanexplanationforthemoresubstantialvariations,isprovidedasfollows:

• Waterstorage–notroughswereinitiallyanticipatedfortheNLPfundedstewardshipprogram. Thisprogramfunded18troughs.

• Pestanimalcontrol–thestatefundedOurCatchmentsOurCommunitiesproject has been varied to incorporate approximately32,000haoffoxcontrolperyear.

• Engagementevents–thenumberofpeopleattendingeventswashigherthananticipated.

• Weedcontrol-higherthananticipatedweedcontrolwasdelivered through both State and Federallyfundedprojects,particularlytheNLPfundedThreatenedSpeciesandCommunitiesProject,theVEPPHabitatTenderproject,andBiodiversityOn-groundActionprojectsincludingLowerGlenelg-DiscoveryBayWeedManagementandWilkenPineWildlingControl.

• Agriculturalpractices–deliveryagainst this output was achieved throughtheNLPfundedSustainableAgricultureproject.In2017-18thetargetwasexceededduetolargefarmsizeswhichwasnotanticipatedduringtheproject’sdesign.


Figure 21: Number of approvals and advice provided (records the number of decisions made in regard to permits, licences, leases and planning referrals, as well as advice provided to another agency or individual)

2015-16

Num

ber

2016-17YEAR

2017-18300

305

310

315

320

325

330

Figure 23: Number of agreements developed (agreements developed/reviewed in relation to management of a specific location. Includes agreements attached to title, legal conservation covenants or agreements placed on the property title for land parcel)

2015-16 2016-17YEAR

2017-180

50

100

150

200

250

Num

ber

Figure 22: Number of site based or landscape scale assessments (includes social, land, water and biodiversity assessments and can include monitoring activities to ensure compliance with policy and regulation and new and emerging weeds and pest animals)

2015-16

Num

ber

2016-17YEAR

2017-180

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Figure 24: Number of plans or strategies developed (includes engagement, property, management plans, and strategies and should be for a defined location)

2015-16

Num

ber

2016-17YEAR

2017-180

10

20

30

40

50

60

51

Table 13: Actions and Achievements - Glenelg Hopkins CMA output reporting for 2017-18

Output TargetActual

State Commonwealth Other Total

Structural works

1.1 Channel (km)

1.2 Water storage (no.) 11 12 18 30

1.3 Pump (no.) 7 2 2

1.4 Irrigation structure (ha)

1.5 Waterway structure (no.) 2 8 15 23

1.6 Terrestrial structure (no.)

1.7 Terrestrial feature (no.)

1.8 Monitoring structure (no.) 50 41 41

1.9 Fence (km) 78 79 40 118

1.10 Visitor facility (no.)

1.11 Road (km) 1

1.12 Crossing (no.) 1 1 1

Environmental works

2.1 Vegetation (ha) 184 319 1 320

2.2 Weed control (ha) 2,341 1,400 4,234 5,635

2.3 Pest animal control (ha) 32,221 32,901 863 33,764

2.4 Over-abundant wildlife control

2.5 Threatened species response (no.) 4 4

2.6 Emergency species response (no.)

2.7 Soil treatment (ha)

2.8 Earth works (no.) 1 11 12

2.9 Rubbish removal (ha)

Management services

3.1 Grazing (ha) 1,064 94 1,164 1,258

3.2 Agricultural practices (ha) 6,000 19,434 19,434

3.3 Water (no.) 11 12

3.4 Fire regime (no.) 11 6 6

Planning and regulation

4.1 Approval and advice (no.) 352 312 312

4.2 Management agreement (no.) 105 80 67 147

4.3 Assessment (no.) 358 462 134 596

4.4 Engagement event (no. participants) 2,456 2,699 2,586 5,285

4.5 Partnerships (no.) 56 28 28

4.6 Plan (no.) 52 13 42 55

4.7 Publication (no.) 145 89 25 114

4.8 Information management system (no.) 10 7 2 9


52


4.3 REGIONAL DELIVERY OF PROJECTS

Figure25detailsprojecthighlights,includingpartnerledprojects,forthe2017-18year.

Pasture Cropping Demonstrations: Agriculture Victoria hasbeenrunningdemonstrationsoverfouryears.Eightproperties,covering7,600ha,haveadoptedtechniques.

Eastern Barred Bandicoot Icon Species project:Thisprojectcontributed to 100 ha of pest weed and animal control at Hamilton ParklandsandpreparationofTivertonforreintroductionofEBBs.

Wilken Pine Wildling Control:Twoprojects,involvingNatureGlenelgTrustandConservationVolunteersAustralia, undertaking Pine Wildling control to protect key feedingareasoftheRed-tailedBlack-Cockatoo.

Increasing Critical Food Supply for the Endangered SE Red-tailed Black-Cockatool: Greening Australia project establishing 272,250 trees across Stringybark foresthabitatintheVictoriansectionofHabitat141ºtoincreasefoodsupplyfortheSERed-tailedBlack-Cockatoo.

Agriculture Victoria Fox Bounty:14,127foxscalps collected from Hamilton and Warrnambool collectioncentres.

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Monitoring Project: BirdLifeAustraliaimplementedhighpriorityactionsfromthedraftNationalRecoveryPlan.Actionsfocusedonpopulationmonitoring,mitigatingthreats,enhancingnestinghabitatandbuildingcommunitysupport.

Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Ramsar Listing: Approval of the site asVictoria’s12thRamsarsite.

Budj Bim World Heritage Submission: Acceptance of World Heritage submission fortheBudjBimledbyGunditjMirringTraditionalOwnerAboriginalCorporation.

Protection of Stony Rises Woodland: Parks Victoria monitoring and management ofover-abundantkoalasintheBudjBimNationalParkandTyrendarraFloraReserve.

Feral Pig Management: Commencing in April 2015, DELWPhasbeentrappingferalpigsonpublicland.

Glenelg Ark: DELWPandParksVictoriaprojectundertakingfoxbaitingforthepast13years.Totalof57,400habaited.

Rabbit Monitoring: Agriculture Victoria rabbit monitoringatlong-termmonitoringsiteatTyrendarra.

Glenelg Eden: DELWPandParksVictoriastrategic,landscapescaleweedmanagementprojectthatfocusesondetectionandremovalofhighriskweeds.Totalof18,874hatreated.

Orange-bellied Parrot Winter Monitoring:Thismulti-regionalprojectledbyDELWPmonitoredOrange-belliedParrothabitat.Thisislong-termmonitoringwhichoccursannually.

Glenelg Estuary and Discovery Bay Weed Control:Thisprojectisprioritisingandundertakingweedcontrolmeasuresacross4000haofthreatenedcoastalhabitat.ProjectpartnersincludeGlenelgShire,GlenelgNatureTrust,NelsonCoastcare,GreeningAustralia,ParksVictoria,DELWP.

Strategic and Coordinated Weed Management in Lower Glenelg Discovery Bay: Working with Parks Victoria and NelsonCoastcare,thisprojectaimstoimprovehabitatqualityandprotectthreatenedspecies.

53


Bertya gramiana and Daviesi laevis: BiodiversityOn-groundActionsProjectledbyDELWPtoreviewfiveendemicfloraspeciesintheGrampianspostlargescalenaturaldisturbanceevents.

Grampians Ark: FoxbaitingonpubliclandledbyParksVictoria.

Walker Swamp Purchase: A partnership between GHCMAandGlenelgNatureTrusthasledtothe purchase of Walker Swamp, with the aim of restoringtheswampandsurroundingwetlands.

Agriculture Victoria Invasive Program Delivery: Agriculture Victoria inspected a total of 196 propertiesand36,136haforinvasiveplantsandanimals.

Water Security Extension Program: Agriculture Victoria delivered three water planning sessions to 72farmers,responsiblefor47,070ha.

Brolga Census:AnnualBrolgacountattheirsummer-autumnflockingsitestoestimatepopulationsizeandestimatethelevelofsuccessfulbreedingfromtheprevioustwoyears.

Middle Island Penguin Project:DELWPfundeda review of project, development of business planandongroundactions.

Logans Beach Whale Watching Platform:DELWPcoordinateswhale watching volunteers and weekly media updates to educate thepublic.

Improving the Quality and Connectedness of Grassland Communities on the VVP: Led by DELWP,thiscollaborativeprojectaimedtoimprovethequalityofEPBCandFFGlistedgrasslandsandgrassywoodlandsandasuiteofthreatenedspecies.

Good Neighbour Program: Parks Victoria has delivered pest plant and animal projects including rabbitmanagementatNarrawongCoastalReserve,PolygalamanagementinNelsonStatePark,pinecontrolinBahgallahBushlandReserveandWilkenFloraandFaunaReserve,andCapeTulipandMexicanFeathergrasscontrolintheTooloyFloraReserveandTooloy-LakeMundiWildlifeReserve.

Management of Fire Affected Peat Soils: PartnershipbetweenAgVictoriaandGHCMA.Investigatedchangestothechemical,physicalandbiologicalcharacteristicsofsoilsasaresultoffires.

Southern Right Whale (SRW) Calf Survival Assessment: ThisDELWPprojectcollectedphotoidentificationsofSRWcalveswhichareusedtodevelopprotocolsforphoto-identificationofcalvesinAustralia.

Reconnecting Budj Bim: Greening Australia project establishing 30,000 treestoimprovehabitatforSpotted-tailedQuollandSwiftParrot.

54

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITH ENVIRONMENT

Relationships and communication with our community are central to the Glenelg Hopkins CMA ethos. Accordingly, close working partnerships with residents, landholders, agencies, industry groups and investors thread through all CMA objectives.Integralandrespectedrelationshipshavedriven engagement between the CMA andthesouth-westVictoriancommunityforover20years.

Activitiesinpartnershipwithourcommunityhaveincludedtreeplanting,revegetation,farmplanning,soiltesting,catchmenthealth,faunaprotection,floodrecovery,Indigenousecologicalknowledge, Landcare and funding assistance.

Strong partnerships have been forged withorganisationsinthepublicandprivate sectors and assisted the CMA in fulfillingitsnaturalresourcemanagementresponsibilities.

2017-18communityengagementactivitiesincluded:

• promotingcatchmentmanagementat industry events such as Hamilton SheepventionandSouthWestDairyFieldDays;

• South West Landcare Gathering in Hamilton;

• Supportingthe2017NaidocWeekeventsandactivities;

• Landcaremonthlye-newsletters,CoastalConnectionupdatesandLandlifee-newsletters;

• promotingsustainableuseofwaterwaysandfishingeventssuchastheRedGumShieldFishingCompetition,WarrnamboolOffshoreand Light Game Shipwreck Coast FishingClassic,RocklandsFishingCompetitionandSouthWest FishingClassic;

• sponsoring the Wannon Water NationalWaterWeekCompetition;

• building community capacity in management and monitoring of threatened woodland bird communities;

• undertakingFundsforFishCrowdfunding campaign to promote theimportanceoffishhabitatforincreasingfishpopulations;

• assist the community in the establishment of the South West VictorianOzfishUnlimitedchapter;

• CoordinatingtwotoursforpublictotheBudjBimNationalPark;

• PromotingandsupportingWaterforCountryAboriginalArtsExpoandcompetitioninHamiltonwhereapproximately100peopleattended;

• Supportingthe2018ReconciliationWeekeventsandactivities,includinghostingaCulturalwalkandtalkalongtheGrangeBurnlandscape;

• Recognising and acknowledging theefforts,skillandpassionandknowledge of the south west Victorian volunteers during 2018 NationalVolunteersWeek;

• CoordinatingtheJuniorRangerProgramwithBudjBimToursandBaimbridgeCollegeshowingthehistoryoftheeelaquaculturesystemlocated at Lake Condah;

• CMABoardhostingtwocommunitylunches in the region, one in Harrow and one in Warrnambool;

• Supportingthesouthwestregionalcommunitybyon-groundassistanceafterthesouthwestdevastatingfiresin March 2018;

• SupportingtheCavendishcommunitythroughparticipationandsponsorshipoftheCavendishRedGumFestival;

• SupportingtheLakeBolaccommunitythroughparticipationandsponsorshipoftheLakeBolacEelFestival;

• CoordinatingtheGlenelgRiverExposedPhotographycompetitionforthe community through social media; and;

• ParticipatingintheSummerbytheSea School holidays program through theEstuaryExplorersbyprovidingtheopportunity to learn about estuary processes and indigenous plants in theregion.

Glenelg Hopkins Advisory Group

ThecommunitymembersontheGlenelgHopkins CMA Advisory group are:

- MalcolmRowe(Chair)

- CraigOliver

- MarkBachmann

- GraemeWard

- JustinWeaver

- SingarayerFlorentine

- JennyEmeny

- KarrinjeetSingh-Mahil

- DenisRose (indigenousrepresentative).

Agencyrepresentativesareprovidedby:

- DELWP

- DEDJTR

- ParksVictoria.

BoardrepresentativesforthisGroupare:

- MichelleCasanova(Director)

- KarenWales(Director)

- IanHastings(Director).

During2017-18theAdvisoryGroupreceivedbriefingsandparticipatedinworkshops on the Climate Change Strategy, regional Landcare updates, theRegionalFloodplainManagementStrategy, Regional Catchment Strategy, DeakinLandCapabilityStudyand the Glenelg Hopkins CMA Social MediaPolicy.

TheGroupalsoprovidedfeedbackinto the Environmental Water CommunicationsStrategyandan angler engagement approach for the deliveryonWaterwayHealthprojects. Acommunicationworkshopwasheldwith the Advisory Group community membersandCMAstaffonapproachesto communicate with various stakeholders.AnEnvironmentalWatertour of the Upper Glenelg catchment was alsoheld,visitingRocklandsReservoirandapropertyatBalmoral.

55

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES WITH ENVIRONMENT

Glenelg Hopkins Environmental Water Advisory Group

TheGlenelgRiverEnvironmentalWaterAdvisory Group was established as the primary mechanism for engaging with the community and stakeholders on environmentalwateringactivitiesintheGlenelgRiver.

Thisgroupprovidesanavenuefor community knowledge to be incorporated in the annual environmental water planning process and is considered partoftheCMAsdecision-makingprocess informing on the development of the Glenelg River Seasonal Watering Proposal prepared for submission to the VictorianEnvironmentalWaterHolder.

Glenelg Hopkins Community Advisory Group

TheGlenelgHopkinsCommunityAdvisory Group is one of the vehicles by which the CMA engages with the community in the development and adaptivemanagementoftheRegionalCatchment Strategy, sub strategies and actionplans.

Members of the Advisory Group bringcommunityperceptionandlocalknowledgeinspecificnaturalresourcemanagementmatters,thatcontributeand inform towards the CMA strategic program.

In2017-2018theAdvisoryGroupdiscussed Waterway Strategy review and receivedbriefingsontheGlenelgEstuaryandDiscoveryBayappointmenttotheRamsarConventionandBiochar.

Local Government relationsIn2017-18GlenelgHopkinsCMAcontinuedtheproactiveliaisonprogramwithlocalgovernment,identifyingthecoreresponsibilitiesofbothagenciesandpursuingopportunitiesforcollaborativearrangementsandprovidingbriefingsonactivitiesofsignificance.

TheCMAworkscloselywithlocalgovernmentsinthefloodplainmanagement area, providing advice on planning referrals, developing planningschemeamendmentsforfloodmanagementandupdatingMunicipalEmergencyManagementPlans.TheCMA has conducted workshops with nine councils across the region to jointlydevelopfloodplainmanagementprioritiesforinclusionintheRegionalFloodplainManagementStrategy.TheCMAisassistingSouthernGrampiansShire Council in the management of the ColeraineFloodInvestigation.

TheCMA’sworkscrewregularlyassistsinactivitiessuchasfencing,sprayingandweedremovalforlocalgovernment.

MediaThemedia,includingprint,communitynewsletters,socialmedia,andregionalradio, is a primary tool in delivering CMA messagestothewidercommunity.Whilethe CMA understands the important role print and electronic media plays, communicationthroughourwebsiteisalsoconsideredacriticalaspectforengagingthecommunity.

Agriculture Victoria and the CMA publish a regular column in the Hamilton Spectator, helping to reinforce the connectionbetweentheCMAandenvironmental management and its partnershipwithagriculture.

Throughregionalnewspapers,theCMAhas strongly promoted many events and activitiesacrosssouthwestVictoriawiththe majority of the media coverage beingfavourable.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA accepts the growth and impact of social media can haveincommunityengagement.TheCMAhasasignificantfacebookpresenceintheregionandisdevelopingatwitterpresence.Projectofficersareencouragedto use social media in community engagement and this is considered astrategictoolforpublicreputationmanagementintheorganisation.

Email, print and web newsletters

Inearly2017LandLifetransferredtoanonlinepublication,highlightingachievements of natural resource management in the Glenelg Hopkins region and emailed through to our stakeholderlistingofover300people.

Thee-magazinewasdistributedthreetimesin2017-18withcontributionsfrompartnerorganisationsbroadeningthecontent.

TheLandcareteamcommunicateswithLandcareandNRMgroupsandthewidercommunity through its monthly Landcare e-newsletterwhichprovidesasnapshotof news, grants and environmental andsustainableagriculturalactivities.Activitiesarepromotedfromarangeoforganisations,includingtheCMA,DELWP,LandcareandNRMgroups. ThenewsletterishousedontheLandcare gateway website, and linked throughanemaildatabase.

Ane-newsletterispublishedto improve engagement and provide informationtocommunitymembersinterested in Environmental Water in the GlenelgRiver.TheGlenelgRiverUpdatewas distributed via an email database and is made available on the CMA websiteregularly.

TheCoastalConnectionsemailisdistributedviaemailonabi-monthlybasistoprovideinformationupdates on the state of our estuaries as well as associated media releases, opportunitiesforvolunteerinvolvementandon-groundactivities.

TheCMAhaspartneredwiththeAustralianRiverRestorationCentreandnowhasahostedsiteonRiverspace. ThewebsiteprovideskeyinformationontheGlenelgRiverRestorationProjectandassociatedTwinningProject.

56

FIVE YEAR SUMMARY - FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AT A GLANCE

2018($ ‘000)

2017($ ‘000)

2016($ ‘000)

2015($ ‘000)

2014($ ‘000)

VictorianGovernmentcontributions 9,078 6,677 6,847 4,625 4,648

FederalGovernmentcontributions 2,039 2,407 2,497 3,137 3,828

Other revenue 596 353 714 1,098 988

Totalrevenue 11,713 9,437 10,058 8,860 9,464

Totalexpenditure 10,750 9,953 9,000 7,953 8,622

Surplus/(deficit)fortheyear 964 (483) 1,058 907 842

Financialassets 8,860 7,582 7,905 6,808 5,796

Non-financialassets 1,011 1,091 1,147 1,311 1,301

Totalassets 9,871 8,673 9,052 8,119 7,097

Liabilities 1,671 1,437 1,333 1,355 1,308

Netassets 8,200 7,236 7,719 6,764 5,789

Current Financial Review

Overview

In2017-18,GlenelgHopkinsCMAachievedanetresultfromtransactionsof$964k,$1.4millionhigherthanin2016-17.Bothtotalincomeandexpensesfromtransactionshaveincreasedfromthepreviousfinancialyear,primarilyduetoadditionalrevenueandexpenditurefromtheNationalDisasterReliefRecoveryArrangement(NDRRA),asaresultofthe2016floodsintheregion.

Theoverallnetresultof$964kisconsistentwiththepastfiveyearswiththeexceptionof2017,whichresultedinasmalldeficit.

Balance Sheet

Netassetsincreasedby$964kovertheyearto$8.1million,mainlyduetoincreasesintotalassetsof$1.19millioncomprising$1.2millionofincreasesinfinancialassets,offsetbyareductionof$80kinnon-financialassets.

Totalliabilitiesincreasedmainlyduetosupplier payments within normal trading terms.

Cash Flow

Theoverallcashsurplusof$647kforthe2017-18financialyearwasanetincreaseof$437kcomparedtothepreviousyear.Thisadditionalcashwasthe result of receipts from government fordeliveryin2018-19.

Netcashinflowsfromoperatingactivitieswas$646k,anincreasefrom2016-17duetomorecashfundingreceived from government and slightly higherpaymentstosuppliers.

Significant Changes in Financial Position

In2017-18,therewerenosignificantchangesinfinancialposition. Glenelg Hopkins CMA’s income was $11.7millionandexpenditureachievedwas$10.7million.

Significant Changes or Factors Affecting Performance

Nomajorchangesimpactedontheperformance of Glenelg Hopkins CMA during2017-18.

Capital Projects

Glenelg Hopkins CMA does not manageanycapitalprojects.

Subsequent Events

Therewerenosignificanteventssubsequenttothebalancedatethatwould have a material impact on the operationsofGlenelgHopkinsCMA.

Disclosure of Grants and Transfer Payments

Glenelg Hopkins CMA has provided grants to natural resource management communitygroupsandorganisationsaspart of the Victorian Landcare Grants withintheGlenelgHopkinsregion.Grants were provide to 33 groups in 2017-18forthepurposesofsupportingtheadministrationofregionalLandcaregroupstotalling$14,200andto 19groupsforimplementingon-groundnatural resource management projects totalling$229,184

PERFORMANCE REPORTING (FINANCE)

57

2017-18 Victorian Landcare Grants Program recipients

Group Funding

BasalttoBayLandcareNetwork $2,903

BeaufortLandcareGroup $15,099

BeyondBolacCommunityActionGroup $29,670

BulartLandManagementGroup $3,700

BunnugalLandcareGroup $14,470

Eumeralla Landcare Group $5,188

FriendsoftheGreatSouthWestWalkInc. $7,950

Hamilton Coleraine Railway Line Landcare Group $21,338

GazetteLandActionGroup $16,126

Lake Goldsmith Landcare Group $5,233

Lyne Camp Creek Land Management Group $10,925

MADfortheMerri $9,310

NelsonCoastcareIncorporated $620

Panyyabyr Landcare Group $28,334

PierrepointLandProtectionGroup $11,770

PortFairytoWarrnamboolRailTrailCommittee $6,660

Upper Hopkins Land Management Group $23,075

WarrnamboolCoastcareLandcareNetwork $16,813

PERFORMANCE REPORTING (FINANCE)

58

GOVERNANCE AND ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

Glenelg Hopkins CMA is governed by a range of requirements stated in legislation, including the Water Act 1989, the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, the Financial Management Act 1994 and the Public Administration Act 2004.

TheBoardreportstotheMinisterforWater,theHon.LisaNevilleandthe Minister for Energy, Environment andClimateChangetheHon.LilyD’Ambrosio,andisaccountabletoParliamentandthecommunity.Accountability is further strengthened by theAuditor-GeneralandDepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning.

Itcallsforinnovationandcontinuousimprovementwhilemeetinglegislativeandcorporategovernancerequirements.

TheCorporatePlanidentifiesthefourstrategicobjectivesdevelopedbytheBoard,whichassociatedwiththeobjectivesidentifiedintheRegionalCatchment Strategy provide guidance fortheorganisationinestablishingourbusinessdirectionandactivities.

Governanceinvolvestherelationshipsbetween the Victorian Government, the Board,ExecutiveTeamandstakeholders.

Governance in Glenelg Hopkins CMA encourages strong performance and providescommunityconfidenceintheorganisation.ThisallowstheCMAtooperateefficientlyandeffectivelyas well as responding strategically to changingdemands.

TheChiefExecutiveOfficeristhemainconduitbetweentheBoardandstaff.TheChiefExecutiveOfficerisresponsiblefordailyoperationalmanagement of the CMA in accordance withthelaw,decisionsoftheBoardandgovernmentpolicies.

Naturalresourceplanningwithinsouth-westVictoriabeginswiththeRegionalCatchmentStrategy.Thestrategy forms the framework for natural resourcemanagementactionwithinthecatchment and assists the Victorian and Australian Governments to direct funding intotheregionforthispurpose.

TheAnnualReportprovidesinformationon achievement of business results andtheimplementationoftheCorporatePlan.The2018-19to2022-23CorporatePlanreinforcestheorganisation’scommitmenttosustainability,adaptivemanagementandresponsibleenvironmentalstewardship.Itcallsforinnovationandcontinuousimprovementwhilemeetinglegislativeandcorporategovernancerequirements.ABoardofeightcommunityrepresentativesgovernsGlenelgHopkinsCMA.DirectorsareappointedbytheMinister following a public call for people withskillsandcatchmentexperience.

TheChairpersonAntonyFordwas re-appointedinOctober2017foratermoffouryears.

TheBoardisresponsibleandaccountablefor the good governance, strategic directionandeffectiveandefficientoperationoftheorganisation.

KeyobjectivesfortheBoardareto:

• represent the interests of the community in natural resource management;

• achieve integrated catchment management (as measured by improvementinresourcecondition);

• act as a steward for the natural resource base;

• createeffectivepartnerships;

• developappropriateactionplansandsupporttheirimplementation,including development of targets; and

• Provide regional leadership in natural resourcemanagement.

59


Governing Board

NameNumber

of Meetings Explanatory Note

AntonyFord 8/8AppointedtotheBoard27October2015to30September2017AppointedBoardChairperson27October2015to30September2017Re-appointedtotheBoardandasChairperson1October2017to30September2021

DameinBell 5/8 AppointedtotheBoard27October2015to30September2019

Michelle Casanova 6/8 AppointedtotheBoard27October2015to30September2019

ChristineGiles 4/6 AppointedtotheBoard1October2017to30September2021

Georgina Gubbins 7/8 AppointedtotheBoard27October2015to30September2019

IanHastings 2/2 AppointedtotheBoardNovember2013to30September2017

Phil Saunders 5/6 AppointedtotheBoard1October2017to30September2021

DebbieShea 8/8

AppointedtoBoardJuly2009ActingChairpersonfrom30September2015to26October2015Re-appointedtoBoardOctober2013to30September2017Re-appointedtotheBoard1October2017to30September2019

John Sherwood 8/8AppointedtoBoardJuly2009Re-appointedtoBoardOctober2013to30September2017Re-appointedtotheBoard1October2017to30September2019

Michael Wagg 2/2AppointedtoBoardJuly2009Appointed Chairperson July 2011 to 30 September 2015Re-appointedtoBoardOctober2013to30September2017

KarenWales 1/2AppointedtoBoardMarch2013Re-appointedtoBoardOctober2013to30September2017

KateCalvert 0/0AppointedtotheBoard1October2017to30September2021ResignedfromBoard20June2018

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

60


Chairperson

Mr Antony Ford has over 35 years' experienceinAustralianandinternationalagribusiness, of which 25 years has beenatseniorexecutivelevelandonthe boards of food manufacturing, horticultural,aquacultureandotherinstitutions.IntherecentpasthehasbeenaCEO,seniorexecutiveandboardmemberinproductionhorticulture,alargefinfishaquaculturecompanyandpresently leads the regional food and fibredevelopmentbodyintheGreatSouthCoastofVictoria.

Inadditionhecontinuestoworkinthefoodproductionandfoodmanufacturingspaceinadvisorycapacitiesasanagribusiness consultant in SE and SW Australia.Hecontinuestobeinvolvedin industry policy development, strategic planningandactiondeliveryacrosstheindustries,hehasoperatedwithin.

Deputy Chairperson

Ms Debbie Shea holds a range of qualificationsinprimaryindustryandbusiness management and has had extensiveexperiencemanaginga large-scalewoolenterpriseatherproperty,balancingproductionandconservationissues.

SheisactiveinseveralArarat-regioncommunity groups and is a Graduate oftheAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors.

Directors

Mr Damein Bell is CEO of Gunditj MirringTraditionalOwnersAboriginalCorporationandhaspreviouslybeenaBoardMemberwiththeVictorianEqualOpportunityandHumanRightsCommissionandtheNativeTitle ServicesofVictoria.

Dr Michelle CasanovahasaPhDinBotanyandisPrincipalatCharophyteServices, a consultancy aimed at providingbestpractice,scientificresearch,informationandassessmentconcerningwaterplantsandwetlands.Michellelivesandworksonafine- wool merino and cropping farm near LakeBolac.

Ms Georgina GubbinshasbeenaBoardmember of Wannon Water since October 2011withover20years'experienceinCommercialBusinessandCorporateGovernance, and holds a Masters of Agribusiness.Georginaisaspecialistred meat producer in the Glenelg River catchmentandhasundertakenextensiveworkonwildlifecorridorsandwetlands.Inaddition,GeorginaistheChairoftheGreatSouthCoastFoodandFibre CouncilandisaGraduateandFellowoftheAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors.

Mr Ian Hastings holds a Master of Science degree (University of California,Berkeley),aBachelorofScience(Forestry)Honoursdegree(UniversityofMelbourne),aDiplomaofForestry(Creswick)andisaGraduateoftheAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors.IanretiredfromtheVictorianPublicServiceinNovember2012afterover46yearsexperienceinland,biodiversity, catchment and water resource management with the then DepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironmentanditspredecessors.

Dr John Sherwoodholdsqualificationsinscience,philosophy,educationandenvironmentalstudies,withextensiveexperienceasaresearchscientistin freshwater, marine and estuarine systemsandenvironmentalmanagement.He is Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Life and Environmental SciencesatDeakinUniversityinWarrnambool.

Mr Michael WaggholdsaDegreeinAgriculturalScience,DiplomainProjectManagement and is a Graduate of theAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors.ConcurrentwithrunningsheeppropertiesnearCavendishandChetwynd for 25 years, he has worked in various natural resource management andcommunityengagementpositionswithgovernmentagencies.HeisnowaDirectorwithJarrapoolProjectManagementandConsultingPtyLtdworking mainly with rural research and developmentorganisations.

Ms Karen WalesholdsaDiplomaofNaturalResourceManagement,DiplomaofAppliedScienceinHorticultureandisaGraduateoftheAustralianInstituteofCompanyDirectors.Shehas14years’experienceasaLandcarefacilitatorforvarious Landcare networks and was a partner in the family sheep and cropping farmatCaramutuntilrecently.CurrentlysheworksforSouthWestInstituteofTAFEastheLandBasedProgramAdvisor.Sheisactivelyinvolvedwithother regional Landcare groups in a volunteercapacity.

Ms Chris GilesistheChiefExecutiveOfficeratPortlandDistrictHealthandhasconsiderableexperienceasaleader and manager of regional, rural andremotepublichealthservices.SheholdsaPostGraduateDiplomainHealthManagement along with nursing and midwiferyqualifications.Chrishasabackground in agriculture having and currentlyhasaninterestinanirrigationproperty,withpastexperienceinsheep,dairyandpoultryfarming.SheiscurrentlyaBoardDirectorforaHealthICTallianceandhasheldtheelectedroleasaShireCouncilor.ChrishasalsobeenactivelyinvolvedinLandandSeaManagementinitiativesworkingwithlocaltraditionalownerintheTorresStrait.

Mr Phil Saunders is a beef farmer at Tyrendarraspecialisingintheproductionofvealersforthedomesticmarket.HehasaBachelorofAgriculturalScienceandaBachelorofBusiness–Accountancy.HeisdeputychairoftheBoardofHeywoodRuralHealthandchairoftheirfinancesub-committee.Heis also an independent member of the GlenelgShireCouncilauditcommittee.

Ms Kate Calvert was appointed to theCMABoard1October2017andresignedfromtheBoardJune2018. KatedidnotattendanyBoardMeetings duetoleaveofabsence.

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Audit and Risk Committee

TheAuditandRiskcommitteeconsistedofthefollowingmembersin2017-18:

- GrahamShiell(independent)

- BrianDensem(independent)

- BonnieHolmes(independent)

- GeorginaGubbins(Director)

- IanHastings(Director)

- DebbieShea(Director)

ThecommitteecomprisesthreeBoardDirectorsandtwoindependentrepresentatives,onebeingtheChair oftheAuditandRiskCommittee, BrianDensem.TheotherindependentmemberisBonnieHolmes.

- AfternineyearsontheAudit&RiskCommittee,GrahamShiellresignedasChairandmemberinFebruary2018.

- Boardrepresentativesfrom1July2017to30June2018wereDirectorsGeorginaGubbins,DebbieSheaandPhilSaunders.

- Non-votingstaffmembersareexecutiveofficerBusinessandFinanceProgramManager, KathyConnoley.

TheresponsibilitiesoftheAuditandRiskCommitteearesetoutinStandingDirection3.2.1.1.Keyresponsibilitiesoftheauditcommitteeareto:

• review and report independently to the board on the annual report and all otherfinancialinformationpublishedby Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority;

• assist the board in reviewing the effectivenessofGlenelgHopkinsCatchment Management Authority’s internal control environment covering:

-effectivenessandefficiencyofoperations;

-reliabilityoffinancialreporting;and

-compliancewithapplicablelawsandregulations.

• determine the scope of the internal auditfunctionandensureitsresourcesareadequateandusedeffectively,includingcoordinationwiththeexternalauditors;and

• overseetheeffectiveoperationoftheriskmanagementframework.

Members are appointed by the board, usually for a three year term, and are subjecttothecommittee’stermsofreference.

Meetingsareheldquarterlyandatanyothertimeonrequestofacommitteememberortheinternalorexternalauditor.

In2017-18,thecommitteemetfourtimes.Attendanceofcommitteemembers is detailed in the table below:

Audit and Risk Committee Attendance for 2017-18

Audit & Risk Committee Aug-17 Nov-17 Feb-18 Jun-18 Number of Meetings attended

% of Meetings attended

Graham Shiell 1 1 1 3 100%

BrianDensem 1 1 1 1 4 100%

BonnieHolmes 1 1 100%

Georgina Gubbins 1 1 1 1 4 100%

DebbieShea 1 1 1 1 4 100%

IanHastings 1 1 100%

Phil Saunders 1 1 1 3 100%

KathyConnoley 1 1 1 1 4 100%

Stacey Grace 1 1 1 1 4 100%

Note: Graham Shiell finished as Chairperson in February 2018, Brian Densem commenced as Chair in March 18.Note: Ian Hastings term as Board Director finished September 2017, Phil Saunders commenced October 17.Note: Bonnie Holmes commenced as Audit and Risk Independent Member in May 2018.

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BOARD COMMITTEES

Remuneration and Performance Committee

From1July2017to30June2018,theChairoftheRemunerationandPerformanceCommitteewasBoardChairpersonAntonyFordwithDirectorsJohn Sherwood, Michelle Casanova and MichaelWaggasmembers.

DirectorMikeWaggconcludedhistermwiththeBoardSeptember2017.

Thecommittee’sprimaryobjectiveistoadvisetheBoardonseniorstaffappointments,remunerationandperformanceevaluation.

Inparticular,thecommitteeadvisestheBoardon:

• appropriateexecutivelevelremunerationandemploymentagreements;

• specificationofCEOperformancemeasures;

• evaluationofCEOperformance;and

• successionplanning.

Non-votingCEOKevinWoodreplacedKathyConnoleyasExecutiveOfficerfortheRemunerationandPerformanceCommitteeuntilretirementinMarch2018.AdamBestercommencedasCEOon1March2018.

Long Term Accommodation Working Group

TheLongTermAccommodationWorking Group was established to look into thefutureaccommodationoftheorganisation.

Theactivitiesin2017-18focusedonthetransitionoftheWarrnamboolofficefromLavaStreettotheDeakinUniversitycomplex.InvestigationsonthefeasibilityoftheHamiltonFrenchStreetbuildingswasalsoconsidered.

Remuneration and Performance Attendance for 2017-18

Remuneration and Performance Committee Aug-17 Sept-17 Jan-18 May-18 Number of

Meetings attended% of Meetings

attended

AntonyFord 1 1 1 1 4 100%

John Sherwood 1 1 1 1 4 100%

Michelle Casanova 1 1 1 1 4 100%

KevinWood 1 1 0 0 2 66.7%

AdamBester 0 0 0 1 1 100%

JanetteAlbert 1 1 1 1 4 100%

Note: Kevin Wood retired as CEO March 2018, Adam Bester commenced as CEO March 1 2018.

Long Term Accommodation Working Group

Member 19 Jun-17 8 Nov-17 29 Nov-17

John Sherwood 1 1

DamianBell 1 1

Susie Hand 1

KathyConnoley 1 1

JacintaBailey 1 1 1

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Minister for Water

The Hon. Lisa Neville MP

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change

The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP

• Audit and Risk• RemunerationandPerformance• LongTermAccommodation

Working Group

Board Sub Committees• Strategy• Policy• Monitoring• Accountability

CMA Board

Internal AuditChief Executive

Officer

Adam Bester

• Glenelg Hopkins Community Advisory Group

• Glenelg River Environmental Water Advisory Group

Partnership Forum and Advisory Groups

• StrategyandInvestmentCoordination

• Co-ordinationofregionalNRMinvestment

• Co-ordinatelandhealthandbiodiversity service delivery, including support for the regional Landcare programs

• Community engagement support

• Indigenouspartnerships• Floodplainmanagement• Worksonwaterwaysregulation

within the region

Partnership and Investment Program Manager

Michael Rees

• Human resources• Financialmanagement• Facilities,motorvehicles,operationalsupportmanagement

• Records management• InformationTechnology

Business and Finance Program Manager

Kathy Connoley

• Coordinate regional waterway, wetland and coastal health programs

• Maintenance of waterway and catchment health stakeholders

• Maintenance of the Environmental Water Reserve

• CoordinatetheNaturalDisasterReliefandRecoveryArrangements

Waterway and Catchment Health Program Manager

Chris Solum

ORGANISATIONAL CHART

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Partnership and Investment

Strategyandinvestmentcoordination.Sustainable and integrated management ofsoils,floraandfaunathroughpartnerships.RegionalpartnershipswithcommunityandGovernment.Indigenouspartnershipprojects.RegionalLandcareSupport.Monitoringandreportingofintegrated catchment management acrosstheGlenelgHopkinsregion.Statutory services including referrals, advice and licences associated with waterwayandfloodplainmanagement.

Floodplainmanagementincludingstrategic and statutory planning, floodresponseplanningandfloodinvestigations.

Waterway and Catchment Health

Sustainable and integrated management of rivers, wetlands, terrestrial habitats andbiodiversity.Preserveandenhancethe ecological health of the region’s waterways and terrestrial systems through planning and delivery of rural andurbanworks,floodanddroughtrecoveryprograms.Protectandenhancethe coastal areas of the catchment while providingopportunitiesforsustainableuseanddevelopmentalongthecoast.Water resources planning including regulated and unregulated water planning,environmentalflowsmonitoringandsurfacewatermonitoring.

Business and Finance

Financeandbusiness,humanresources,recordsmanagement,administration,informationtechnologyandassociatedbusinesssupportactivities.

Human Resource Management

GlenelgHopkinsCMAhascontinuedtoimproveemploymentrelationsthroughthefollowingactions:

• aRewardandRecognitionProgramencouragingpeerrecognitionforstaffthathave‘gonethatextramile’.Afive-tieredrewardsystemisbasedondifferentcriteriaandhasbeenembracedbystaffsinceitsintroduction;

• engagingstaffinaworkforceobligationsworkshop;and

• alignment of employee behaviours to agreed values and behaviours through performancereviews.

Values and Behaviours

Staffconductstronglyreflectspublicsector values as prescribed in the Public Administration Act, 2004.Thevalues and behaviours are reported against performance reviews as part of employeereviewanddevelopment.Thebenefitofthisapproachistoencourageindividual behaviours toward a desired organisationalculture.

OUR PEOPLE, OUR BUSINESS

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

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WORKFORCE DATA

Public Sector values and employment principles

Glenelg Hopkins CMA has introduced policiesandpracticesthatareconsistentwith the VPSC’s employment standards and provide for fair treatment, career opportunitiesandtheearlyresolutionofworkplaceissues.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA has advised its employeesonhowtoavoidconflictsofinterest,howtorespondtooffersofgiftsandhowitdealswithmisconduct.

Public sector values (section 7, PAA)

Thepublicsectorvaluesare:Responsiveness,Integrity,Impartiality,Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Humanrights.

Public sector employment principles (section 8, PAA)

Publicentitiesarerequiredtohaveinplace employment processes that will ensure that:

• employment decisions are based on merit;

• public sector employees are treated fairly and reasonably;

• equalemploymentopportunity is provided;

• human rights as set out in the Charter ofHumanRightsandResponsibilitiesare upheld; and

• public sector employees have a reasonable avenue of redress against unfairorunreasonabletreatment.Codes of conduct and standards issued by the Victorian Public Sector Commission (VPSC), include:

• the Code of Conduct for Victorian Public Sector Employees; and

• theConflictofInterestPolicyFrameworkandtheGiftsBenefitsandHospitalityPolicyFramework.

Forfurtherinformation,pleaserefertotheVPSC’swebsite(www.vpsc.vic.gov.au).

Workforce Data

GlenelgHopkinsCMAemployed49staff(42.25fulltimeequivalent),comparedto44staff(39fulltimeequivalent)on 30June2017.

Theproportionofwomenwas53%,comparedto52%on30June2017.

Notes:

- All figures reflect employment levels during the last full pay period in June of each year.

- Excluded are those on leave without pay or absent on secondment, external contractors/consultants, and temporary staff employed by employment agencies.

- Ongoing employees include people engaged on an open ended contract of employment and executives engaged on a standard executive contract who were active in the last full pay period of June.

- Glenelg Hopkins CMA Workforce as at June 30 2018.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA Workforce as at June 30 2018

2017-18 2016-17

ExecutiveOfficers 4 4

Senior Managers 6 5

AdministrationStaff 9 7

ProjectStaff 30 28

Total Headcount Men 23 20

Total Headcount Women 26 24

Total 49 44

Male 21.79 18.71

Female 20.46 20.29

Total (FTE) 42.25 39.00

Employeeshavebeencorrectlyclassifiedinworkforcedatacollections.

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Workforce Inclusion Policy

In2017-18GlenelgHopkinsCMAdevelopedourfirstDiversityandInclusionPlantostrengthenourcommitment to building a diverse and inclusiveorganisation.

TheDiversity&InclusionPlanisunderpinned by three guiding principles:

-wewillembraceandrespectdifferentbackgrounds, values, cultures, experiencesandviewpoints.

-wewillremovebarrierstoensurefullparticipationwithintheworkplaceandacultureofbelonging.

-wewillactethicallyensuringequalopportunity employment, transparent, fairandequitabledecisionmaking,acknowledgement of human rights, a duty of care and a culture of consultation.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA has recorded progress towards the targets and measuresoutlinedintheDiversityandInclusionPlanandtheaggregatedresultsareprovidedbelow.

Status 2017/18

Complete 55.8%

Inprogress 11.6%

Overdue 4.7%

Notyetscheduledtostar 27.9%

Note: Some measures cover multiple years and therefore will be reported on each year.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAhasanactiontopromotetheavailabilityofflexibleworking arrangements, with the number offlexibleworkingarrangementstobereportedannually.

ThefollowingtableoutlinesGlenelgHopkins actual progress against this actionin2017-18.

Occupational Health and Safety

GlenelgHopkinsCMAiscommittedtoensuringalllegislativerequirementsunder the OH&S Act 2004 are being met and that a safe management system is in placetoprovideapreventativeapproachtoOH&S.

TheaimistocreateaninfrastructurewithintheorganisationthatwillenhancetheeffectivenessofourOH&Spolicies,procedures,meetings,reportingandcommunicationavenues.

GlenelgHopkinsCMAhascontinuedtoimprove health and safety through:

• regularOHSCommitteemeetings;

• OHSCommitteetraining;

• review and revision of Safe Work Method Statements;

• workplaceInspections;and

• independentOccupationalHealthandSafetyAudit.

All OH&S policies and procedures are availabletostaffthroughanelectronicshared documents point on the CMA intranet and discussed at regular program andstaffmeetings.

TherewerenoWorkCoverclaimsfor2017-18.

Allexternalcontractorswhoundertakework for the Glenelg Hopkins CMA are providedwithaContractorInduction.TheyarerequiredtoproduceevidenceoftheirWorkCoverstatusbeforestartingwork as well as a Safe Work Method Statement that must meet a level of compliancethatequals,asaminimum,therequirementsinourownRiskAssessmentfortheproject.

OH&S and Performance

Measure KPI 2017-18 2016-17 2015-16

IncidentsNumberofincidents 8 21 5

Rateper100FTE 18.93 53.85 12.22

ClaimsNumberoflosttimeclaims 0 0 1

Rateper100FTE 0 0 2.44

Claims Cost Average cost per standard claim 0 0 $7,958

FTE 42.25 39.00 40.91

Note: Significant increase in incidents reported in 2016-17 was as a result of an awareness campaign run by the OHS Committee to ensure all incidents were reported.

Diversity and Inclusion Plan initiative Measure Actual progress in 2017-18

Promotetheavailabilityofflexibleworking arrangements

Numberofstaffwithflexibleworking arrangements 47%

Note: Includes part-time employment, purchased leave and individual flexibility arrangements, data sourced from workplace data.Note: Reported as a percentage against headcount as per 2017-18 Workforce Data.

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Executive Officer Data

Anexecutiveofficer(EO)isdefinedasanexecutiveunderPart3ofthePAAor a person to whom the Victorian Government’sPolicyonExecutiveRemunerationinPublicentitiesapplies.

Allfiguresreflectemploymentlevelsatthe last full pay period in June of the current and corresponding previous reportingyear.

ThedefinitionofanEOdoesnotincludeastatutoryofficeholderoranAccountableOfficer.

NoEOdisclosurerequiredforlessthanthreeexecutives.

OTHER DISCLOSURES

Local Jobs First – Victorian Industry Participation Policy

Therewerenotendersover$1,000,000entered into by Glenelg Hopkins CMA during2017-18.

Government Advertising Expenditure

GlenelgHopkinsCMAexpenditurein2017-18reportingperiodongovernmentcampaignexpenditure didnotexceed$100,000.

Consultancy Expenditure

In2017-18,therewere42consultanciesengaged during the year, where the total fees payable to the consultants was less than$10,000.Thetotalexpenditureincurredduring2017-18inrelationtotheseconsultancieswas$120,237.12(excl.GST).Detailsoftheindividualconsultancies are outlined on Glenelg Hopkins CMA’s website at www.ghcma.vic.gov.au.

ICT Expenditure

Forthe2017-18reportingperiod,GlenelgHopkinsCMAhadatotalICTexpenditureof$402,271withthedetailsas shown below:

• ICTexpenditurereferstoGlenelgHopkins Catchment Management Authority’s costs in providing businessenablingICTserviceswithinthecurrentreportingperiod.ItcomprisesBusinessAsUsual(BAU)ICTexpenditureandNon-BusinessAsUsual(Non-BAU)ICTexpenditure.

BusinessAsUsual(BAU)ICTexpenditureTotal

Non-BusinessAsUsual(Non-BAU)ICTexpenditureTotal=A+B

OperationalexpenditureA

Capital expenditureB

$373,963 $12,367 $9,040 $3,327

• Non-BAUICTexpenditurerelatestoextendingorenhancingGlenelgHopkins Catchment Management Authority’scurrentICTcapabilities.

• BAUICTexpenditureisallremainingICTexpenditurewhichprimarilyrelatestoongoingactivitiestooperate and maintain the current ICTcapability.

Major Contracts

Glenelg Hopkins CMA did not award anymajorcontractsduring2017-18. A major contract is a contract entered intoduringthereportingperiodvalued at$10millionormore.

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Freedom of Information

Operation

Glenelg Hopkins CMA is considered a “GovernmentAgency”underthetermsof the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Accordingly, Glenelg Hopkins CMA complies with the procedures prescribed under which members of the public maygainaccesstoinformationheldbyagencies.

RequestsforinformationshouldbeforwardedtotheFreedomofInformationOfficer,JanetteAlbert,POBox502or79FrenchStreet,Hamilton,3300,accompaniedbyanapplicationfeeof$28.90.

Application

Glenelg Hopkins CMA received two requestsforinformationduring2017-18 under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 from community members and as aresulttherewasnoresultingappealstoVCAT.

Compliance with Building Act 1993

Glenelg Hopkins CMA owns two and operatesthreeregionalofficeslocatedinHamiltonandWarrnambool.

Glenelg Hopkins CMA complies with the Building Act 1993,theBuildingRegulations2018andtheNationalConstructionCode,andretainscopiesoftwooccupancypermitsrequiredforownedbuildings.GlenelgHopkinsCMAconducts and reports on scheduled inspectionsofitsownedbuildingsto ensure compliance with building standardsandregulations.Theinternalcontrol system allows Glenelg Hopkins CMAtosatisfactorilymanagerisks.GlenelgHopkinsCMA’sofficesinHamilton and Warrnambool conformed withbuildingstandardsduring2017-18.Therewerenomajorworks,emergencyorders or building orders issued in relationtobuildings.

Competitive Neutrality Policy

Competitiveneutralityrequiresgovernment businesses to ensure whereservicescompete,orpotentiallycompete with the private sector, any advantage arising solely from their government ownership be removed if it isnotinthepublicinterest.Governmentbusinessesarerequiredtocostandpricethese services as if they were privately owned.Competitiveneutralitypolicysupportsfaircompetitionbetweenpublicand private businesses and provides government businesses with a tool to enhancedecisionsonresourceallocation.Thispolicydoesnotoverrideotherpolicyobjectivesofgovernmentandfocusesonefficiencyintheprovisionofservice.

Glenelg Hopkins Catchment ManagementAuthoritycontinuestocomplywiththerequirementsoftheCompetitiveNeutralityPolicy.

Protected Disclosure Act 2012

Compliance with the Protected Disclosures Act 2012

TheProtected Disclosure Act 2012 (PD Act) enables people to make disclosures about improper conduct bypublicofficersandpublicbodies.TheActaimstoensureopennessandaccountability by encouraging people to makedisclosuresandprotectingthemwhentheydo.

What is a protected disclosure?

A protected disclosure is a complaint of corrupt or improper conduct by a public officerorapublicbody.

Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority is a public body forthepurposesoftheAct.

What is improper or corrupt conduct?

Improperorcorruptconductinvolvessubstantial:

• mismanagement of public resources

• risk to public health or safety or the environment

• corruption.

Theconductmustbecriminalinnatureoramatterforwhichanofficercouldbedismissed.


69

How do I make a Protected Disclosure?

Youcanmakeaprotecteddisclosureabout Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority or its board members,officersoremployeesbycontactingIBAConthecontact detailsprovided.

Please note that Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority is not abletoreceiveprotecteddisclosures.

How can I access Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority’s procedures for the protection of persons from detrimental action?

Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority has established proceduresfortheprotectionofpersonsfromdetrimentalactioninreprisalfor making a protected disclosure about Glenelg Hopkins Catchment ManagementAuthorityoritsemployees.YoucanaccessGlenelgHopkinsCatchment Management Authority’s procedures on its website at: www.ghcma.vic.gov.au.

Contacts

Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) Victoria

Address:Level1,NorthTower, 459CollinsStreet,Melbourne Victoria3000.

Mail:IBAC,GPOBox24234,MelbourneVictoria 3001

Internet:www.ibac.vic.gov.au

Phone: 1300 735 135

Email: See the website above for the secure email disclosure process, which alsoprovidesforanonymousdisclosures.

Additional Information Available on Request

Glenelg Hopkins CMA has available the followingdocumentsasspecifiedintheFinancial Management Act 1994, subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982:

• publicationsproducedbyGlenelgHopkins CMA and the places where thepublicationscanbeobtained

• relevantofficershavedulycompleteddeclarationsofpecuniaryinterests.Thesearetreatedasconfidentialdocuments

• majorexternalreviews

• changes in prices, fees, charges, rates and levies charged

• major research and development activitiesundertaken

• overseas travel undertaken, including asummaryoftheobjectivesandoutcomes of each visit

• majorpromotional,publicrelationsandmarketingactivitiesundertakenby the CMA to develop community awarenessoftheorganisationanditsservices

• assessments and measures to improve the OH&S of employees

• StatementofIndustrialRelationswithintheCMA,includingtimelostthrough industrial accidents and disputes

• listofmajorcommitteessponsoredbytheentity,thepurposesofeachcommitteeandtheextenttowhichthe purposes have been achieved

• details of all consultancies and contractors including those engaged, servicesprovidedandexpenditureforeachengagement.


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OFFICE BASED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Objective Measure Quantity 2016-17

Quantity 2017-18

2016-17 % �/� comparing

1 year prior

ReduceEnergyUse(Electricity)

kWhusedperannum(x3offices) 80,937 96,932 20%

kWhusedperFTEperannum(x3offices) 2,075 2,294 11%

Reduce Paper Use

WhiteA4reamsperannum 233 246 6%

WhiteA4reamsperFTE 5.97 5.82 -3%

White A3 reams per annum 9 10 11%

WhiteA3reamsperFTE .23 0.24 3%

IncreasePaperRecycling

240Litresrecycledperannum 57 35 -39%

240LitresrecycledperFTE 1.46 0.83 -43%

ReduceTonerCartridges

TonerCartridgesconsumedperannum 20 17 -15%

TonerCartridgesconsumedperFTE .51 0.40 -22%

ReduceFuelUse

Fleetsize 13 13 0%

Litres fuel consumed per annum 33,489 31,829 -5%

Litres fuel consumed per vehicle 2,576 2,448 -5%

No.Flights Melbourne / Warrnambool

Onewayflights 18 38 111%

OnewayflightsperFTE 0.46 0.90 95%

ReducedWaterConsumption

Klsconsumed79FrenchSt,Hamilton 120 153 28%

Klsconsumed84FrenchSt,Hamilton 30 68 127%

Klsconsumed241LavaSt,Warrnambool 33 30 -9%

OverallKlsconsumedperFTE 4.69 5.94 27%


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FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COMPLIANCE ATTESTATION STATEMENT

IAntonyFordonbehalfoftheGlenelgHopkinsCatchmentManagementAuthoritycertifythattheGlenelgHopkinsCMAhascompliedwiththeapplicableStandingDirectionsoftheMinisterofFinanceundertheFinancial Management Act 1994andInstructions.

TheGlenelgHopkinsCatchmentManagementAuthorityAuditandRiskCommitteeverifiesthis.

Antony Ford Chairperson Glenelg Hopkins CMA 30 June 2018

72

72 HOW THIS REPORT IS STRUCTURED

TheGlenelgHopkinsCatchmentManagementAuthorityhaspresenteditsauditedgeneralpurposefinancialstatementsforthefinancialyearended30June2018inthefollowingstructuretoprovideuserswiththeinformationabouttheAuthority'sstewardshipofresourceentrustedtoit.

73 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS76 Comprehensiveoperatingstatement

77 Balancesheet

78 Cashflowstatement

79 Statementofchangesinequity

80 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. About this report Thebasisonwhichthefinancialstatementshavebeen

preparedandcompliancewithreportingregulations

2. Funding delivery of our services RevenuerecognisedinrespectofGovernmentcontributions

and other income sources

2.1Summaryofincomethatfundsthedeliveryofourservice

2.2Incomefromtransactions

3. The cost of delivering services OperatingexpensesoftheAuthority

3.1Expensesincurredindeliveryofservices

3.2Materials,maintenance,grants,contractsandconsultancies

3.3Leaseexpenses

3.4Otheroperatingexpenses

4. Key assets available to support output delivery Land,buildings,worksassets,plantandequipment,office

furnitureandequipment,motorvehicles,andintangibleassets

4.1Totalproperty,plantandequipment

4.2Intangibleassets

5. Other assets and liabilities Otherkeyassetsandliabilities

5.1Receivables

5.2Payables

5.3Othernon-financialassets

6. Financing our operations Cashflowinformation,commitmentsforexpenditureand

carry forward project funding

6.1Cashflowinformationandbalances

6.2Commitmentsforexpenditure

6.3Carryforwardprojectfunding

7. Risks, contingencies and valuation judgements Financialriskmanagement,contingentassetsandliabilities

aswellasfairvaluedetermination

7.1Financialinstrumentsspecificdisclosures

7.2Contingentassetsandcontingentliabilities

7.3Fairvaluedetermination

8. Other disclosures

8.1Ex-gratiaexpenses

8.2Othereconomicflowsincludedinnetresult

8.3Reserves

8.4Responsiblepersons

8.5Remunerationofexecutives

8.6Relatedparties

8.7Remunerationofauditors

8.8Subsequentevents

8.9AustralianAccountingStandardsissuedthatarenot yeteffective

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTENTS

73

DECLARATION IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

TheattachedfinancialstatementsfortheGlenelgHopkinsCatchmentManagementAuthorityhavebeenpreparedinaccordancewithDirection5.2oftheStandingDirectionsoftheMinisterforFinanceundertheFinancial Management Act 1994,applicableFinancialReportingDirections,AustralianAccountingStandardsincludingInterpretations,andothermandatoryprofessional reportingrequirements.

Wefurtherstatethat,inouropinion,theinformationsetoutinthecomprehensiveoperatingstatement,balancesheet,statementofchangesinequity,cashflowstatementandaccompanyingnotes,presentsfairlythefinancialtransactionsduringtheyearended 30June2018andfinancialpositionoftheAuthorityat30June2018.

Atthetimeofsigning,wearenotawareofanycircumstanceswhichwouldrenderanyparticularsincludedinthefinancialstatementstobemisleadingorinaccurate.

Weauthorisetheattachedfinancialstatementsforissueon23August2018.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Antony FordChairperson

Kathy ConnoleyChiefFinance&AccountingOfficer

Adam BesterCEOandAccountableOfficer

Independent Auditor’s Report To the Board of the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority

Opinion I have audited the financial report of the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority (the authority) which comprises the:

• balance sheet as at 30 June 2018 • comprehensive operating statement for the year then ended • statement of changes in equity for the year then ended • cash flow statement for the year then ended • notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies • declaration in the financial statements.

In my opinion, the financial report presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the authority as at 30 June 2018 and its financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of Part 7 of the Financial Management Act 1994 and applicable Australian Accounting Standards.

Basis for Opinion

I have conducted my audit in accordance with the Audit Act 1994 which incorporates the Australian Auditing Standards. I further describe my responsibilities under that Act and those standards in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report section of my report.

My independence is established by the Constitution Act 1975. My staff and I are independent of the authority in accordance with the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Code) that are relevant to my audit of the financial report in Victoria. My staff and I have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code.

I believe that the audit evidence I have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for my opinion.

Board’s responsibilities for the financial report

The Board of the authority is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the Financial Management Act 1994, and for such internal control as the Board determines is necessary to enable the preparation and fair presentation of a financial report that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial report, the Board is responsible for assessing the authority’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless it is inappropriate to do so.

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2

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial report

As required by the Audit Act 1994, my responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on the audit. My objectives for the audit are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes my opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this financial report.

As part of an audit in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards, I exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. I also:

• identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for my opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

• obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the authority’s internal control

• evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the Board

• conclude on the appropriateness of the Board’s use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the authority’s ability to continue as a going concern. If I conclude that a material uncertainty exists, I am required to draw attention in my auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify my opinion. My conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of my auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the authority to cease to continue as a going concern.

• evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the disclosures, and whether the financial report represents the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

I communicate with the Board regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that I identify during my audit.

MELBOURNE 28 August 2018

Paul Martin as delegate for the Auditor-General of Victoria

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Notes2018

$2017

$

Income from transactions

Governmentcontributions 2.2.1 11,117,170 9,084,123

Interest 2.2.2 142,215 138,651

Other income 2.2.3 453,810 214,327

Total income from transactions 11,713,195 9,437,100

Expenses from transactions

Employeeexpenses 3.1.1 4,488,311 4,441,852

Depreciation 4.1.1 79,488 91,051

Materials, maintenance, grants, contracts and consultancies 3.2 4,966,069 4,212,667

Leaseexpenses 3.3 248,940 244,167

Otheroperatingexpenses 967,690 964,234

Total expenses from transactions 10,750,498 9,953,971

Net result from transactions (net operating balance) 962,697 (516,870)

Other economic flows included in net result

Netgain/(loss)onnon-financialassets 8.2 2,545 2,524

Othergain/(loss)fromothereconomicflows 8.2 (933) 30,888

1,612 33,412

Net result 964,309 (483,459)

Other economic flows - other comprehensive income

Items that will not be reclassified to net result

Changesinphysicalassetrevaluationsurplus 8.3 - -

Comprehensive result 964,309 (483,459)

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

COMPREHENSIVE OPERATING STATEMENTfor the financial year ended 30 June 2018


77

Notes2018

$2017

$

Assets

Financial assets

Cash and deposits 6.1 8,016,255 7,368,942

Receivables 5.1 844,433 213,199

Total financial assets 8,860,688 7,582,141

Non-financial assets

Property,plantandequipment 4.1 1,008,609 1,085,946

Othernon-financialassets 5.3 2,000 4,886

Total non-financial assets 1,010,609 1,090,832

Total assets 9,871,297 8,672,973

Liabilities

Payables 5.2 521,831 373,417

Employee related provisions 3.1.2 1,149,642 1,064,041

Total liabilities 1,671,473 1,437,457

Net assets 8,199,824 7,235,515

Equity

Accumulatedsurplus/(deficit) 4,581,684 3,617,375

Physicalassetrevaluationsurplus 8.3 461,194 461,194

Contributed capital 3,156,946 3,156,946

Net worth 8,199,824 7,235,515


BALANCE SHEETas at 30 June 2018


78


Notes2018

$2017

$

Cash flows from operating activities

Receipts

Receipts from government 10,475,759 9,387,637

Interestreceived 127,361 149,031

GoodsandServicesTaxreceivedfromtheATO 21,701 158,928

Other receipts 455,124 278,980

Total receipts 11,079,945 9,974,576

Payments

Payments to suppliers 6,166,263 5,449,602

Payments to employees 4,233,168 4,278,596

GoodsandServicesTaxpaidtotheATO 33,594 -

Total payments 10,433,025 9,728,198

Net cash flows from/(used in) operating activities 6.1.1 646,920 246,378

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchasesofnon-financialassets 4.1.2 (2,152) (39,456)

Proceedsfromthesaleofnon-financialassets 8.2 2,545 3,327

Net cash (outflow) / inflow from investing activities 393 (36,129)

Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 647,313 210,249

Cashandcashequivalentsatthebeginningofthefinancialyear 7,368,942 7,158,693

Cash and cash equivalents at end of financial year 6.1 8,016,255 7,368,942


CASH FLOW STATEMENTfor the year ended 30 June 2018

79


Accumulated Surplus

$

Physical assetrevaluation

surplus$

Contributed Capital

$Total

$

Balanceat1July2016 4,100,834 461,194 3,156,946 7,718,974

Netresultfortheyear (483,459) - - (483,459)

Balance at 30 June 2017 3,617,375 461,194 3,156,946 7,235,515

Netresultfortheyear 964,309 - - 964,309

Balance at 30 June 2018 4,581,684 461,194 3,156,946 8,199,824


STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITYfor the year financial year ended 30 June 2018

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TheGlenelgHopkinsCatchmentManagementAuthorityisagovernment authority of the State of Victoria, established on 1July1997bythestategovernment.

Itsprincipaladdressis: Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority 79FrenchStreet HamiltonVIC3300

AdescriptionofthenatureofitsoperationsanditsprincipalactivitiesisincludedintheReportofoperations,whichdoesnotformpartofthesefinancialstatements.

Basis of preparation

ThesefinancialstatementsareinAustraliandollarsandthehistoricalcostconventionisusedunlessadifferentmeasurementbasisisspecificallydisclosedinthenoteassociatedwiththeitemmeasuredonadifferentbasis.

Theaccrualbasisofaccountinghasbeenappliedinpreparingthesefinancialstatements,wherebyassets,liabilities,equity,incomeandexpensesarerecognisedinthereportingperiodtowhichtheyrelate,regardlessofwhencashisreceivedorpaid.

Judgements,estimatesandassumptionsarerequiredtobemadeaboutfinancialinformationbeingpresented.Thesignificantjudgementsmadeinthepreparationofthesefinancialstatementsaredisclosedinthenoteswhereamountsaffectedbythosejudgementsaredisclosed.Estimatesandassociatedassumptionsarebasedonprofessionaljudgementsderivedfromhistoricalexperienceandvariousotherfactorsthatarebelievedtobereasonableunderthecircumstances.Actualresultsmaydifferfromtheseestimates.

Revisionstoaccountingestimatesarerecognisedintheperiodinwhichtheestimateisrevisedandalsoinfutureperiodsthatareaffectedbytherevision.JudgementsandassumptionsmadebymanagementintheapplicationofAASsthathavesignificanteffectsonthefinancialstatementsandestimatesaredisclosedinthenotesundertheheading:'Significantjudgementorestimates',andrelateto:

• employeebenefitprovisions(Note3.1.2);

• accruedrevenue(Note5.1);

• accruedexpenses(Note5.2);

• fairvaluemeasurementsofassetsandliabilities(Note7.3);

• estimationofusefullife(Note4.1.1).

• estimationofoperatingleasecommittments(Note6.2.1)

Compliance Information

Thesegeneralpurposefinancialstatementshavebeenpreparedin accordance with the Financial Management Act 1994 (FMA)andapplicableAustralianAccountingStandards(AASs)whichincludeInterpretations,issuedbytheAustralianAccountingStandardsBoard(AASB).Inparticular,theyarepresentedinamannerconsistentwiththerequirementsofAASB101Presentation of Financial Statements.

Where appropriate, those AASs paragraphs applicable to not-for-profitentitieshavebeenapplied.Accountingpoliciesselectedandappliedinthesefinancialstatementsensurethattheresultingfinancialinformationsatisfiestheconceptsofrelevance and reliability, thereby ensuring that the substance oftheunderlyingtransactionsorothereventsisreported.

NOTE 1 ABOUT THIS REPORT

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 30 June 2018

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Introduction

TheAuthority'soverallobjectiveisfortheco-ordinatedcontrolof natural resource management within the broader catchments ofGlenelgHopkins.TheroleoftheAuthorityistoensureeffectiveimplementationoftheRegionalCatchmentStrategy.Associated with this role the Authority carries out strategic planningandadvisesGovernment.

ToenabletheAuthoritytodeliveronitsobjectives,itreceivesincome predominantly through State and Commonwealth GovernmentContributions.

Structure

2.1Summaryofincomethatfundsthedeliveryofourservices

2.2Incomefromtransactions

2.1 SUMMARY OF INCOME THAT FUNDS THE DELIVERY OF OUR SERVICES

Notes2018

$2017

$

Governmentcontributions 2.2.1 11,117,170 9,084,123

Interest 2.2.2 142,215 138,651

Other income 2.2.3 453,810 214,327

Total income from transactions 11,713,195 9,437,100

Incomeisrecognisedtotheextentthatitisprobablethattheeconomicbenefitswillflowtotheentityandtheincomecanbereliablymeasuredatfairvalue.

2.2 INCOME FROM TRANSACTIONS

2.2.1 Government contributions

2018$

2017$

State Government

Catchment Planning 935,205 987,205

SecondGenerationLandcare 698,687 251,200

River Health 4,450,553 4,233,064

FloodplainManagement 150,000 357,364

DisasterRecovery(Flood&Fire) 2,211,396 114,685

OtherStateFunding 631,745 734,047

9,077,586 6,677,565

Commonwealth Government

NationalLandcareProgram 1,989,840 1,960,458

OtherCommonwealthFunding 49,744 446,100

2,039,584 2,406,558

Total Government contributions 11,117,170 9,084,123

GovernmentgrantsandcontributionsarerecognisedasincomefromtransactionsonreceiptorwhentheAuthorityobtainscontrolofthecontributionandmeetscertainothercriteriaasoutlinedinAASB1004Contributions, whichever is the sooner, and disclosed in the comprehensiveoperatingstatementasgovernmentcontributions.

NOTE 2 FUNDING DELIVERY OF OUR SERVICES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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NOTE 2.2 INCOME FROM TRANSACTIONS (CONT.)

2.2.2 Interest

2018$

2017$

Interestonbankdeposits 142,215 138,651

Interestincomeincludesinterestreceivedonbanktermdeposits.Interestincomeisrecognisedusingtheeffectiveinterestmethodwhichallocatestheinterestovertherelevantperiod.

2.2.3 Other income

2018$

2017$

PartnershipContributions 347,000 49,000

RentalIncome 18,669 11,812

Sundry 88,141 153,515

Total other income 453,810 214,327

Partnershipcontributionsconsistsoffundsreceivedfromorganisationsaspartnersinmajorprojects,andarerecognisedasincomefromtransactionswhenanentitlementisestablishedoronreceipt,whicheveristhesooner,anddisclosedinthecomprehensiveoperatingstatementasotherincome.

Incomefrompropertyrentalsisrecognisedasincomeonastraight-linebasisovertheleaseterm.

Allotherincomeisrecognisedwhentherighttoreceivepaymentisestablished. .


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Introduction

ThissectionprovidesanaccountoftheexpensesincurredbytheAuthorityindeliveringservices.InSection2,thefundsthatenable the provision of services were disclosed and in this note thecostassociationwiththeprovisionofservicesarerecorded.

Structure

3.1Expensesincurredindeliveryofservices

3.2Materials,maintenance,grants,contractsandconsultancies

3.3Leaseexpenses

Employeeexpensesincludeallcostsrelatedtoemploymentincludingwagesandsalaries,payrolltax,fringebenefitstax,leaveentitlements,terminationpaymentsandWorkCoverpremiums.

TheamountchargedtothecomprehensiveincomestatementinrespectofsuperannuationrepresentscontributionsmadeorduebyGHCMAtotherelevantsuperannuationplansinrespecttotheservicesofGHCMAstaff(bothpastandpresent).SuperannuationcontributionsaremadetotheplansbasedontherelevantrulesofeachplanandanyrelevantcompulsorysuperannuationrequirementsthatGHCMAisrequiredtocomplywith.

3.1 EXPENSES INCURRED IN DELIVERY OF SERVICES

Notes2018

$2017

$

Employeeexpenses 3.1.1 4,488,311 4,441,852

Materials, maintenance, grants, contracts and consultancies 3.2 4,966,069 4,212,667

Leaseexpenses 3.3 248,940 244,167

Otheroperatingexpenses 967,690 964,234

Total expenses from transactions 10,671,010 9,862,920

3.1.1 Employee expenses in the comprehensive operating statement

2018$

2017$

Salaries & wages 3,214,270 3,083,793

Annual leave 288,136 299,563

Long service leave 74,771 4,902

Other leave 326,198 298,767

Definedcontributionsuperannuationexpense 345,663 412,037

Otheremployeeexpenses 170,159 185,835

Movementinprovisionsforemployeebenefits 69,114 156,955

Total employee expenses 4,488,311 4,441,852

NOTE 3 THE COST OF DELIVERING SERVICES


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3.1.2 Employee related provisions in the balance sheet

Significant judgement: Employee benefit provisions

Inmeasuringemployeebenefitprovisions,considerationisgiventoexpectedfuturewageandsalarylevels,experienceofemployeedeparturesandperiodsofservice.Expectedfuturepayments are discounted using a single weighted average discountratebasedonmarketyieldsofnationalgovernmentbondsinAustraliathatreflectstheestimatedtimingand amountofbenefitpayment.

Provisionismadeforbenefitsaccruingtoemployeesinrespectofwagesandsalaries,annualleaveandlongserviceleave(LSL)forservicesrenderedtothereportingdateandrecordedasanexpenseduringtheperiodtheservicesaredelivered.

NOTE 3 THE COST OF DELIVERING SERVICES (CONT.)

2018$

2017$

Current provisions for employee benefits

Time in lieu and RDO:

Unconditionalandexpectedtobesettledwithin12months 32,514 26,439

Annual leave:


Long service leave:


Unconditionalandexpectedtobesettledafter12months 457,019 416,094

818,636 735,919

Provisions for on-costs


Unconditionalandexpectedtobesettledafter12months 71,942 65,499

Total current provisions 986,714 886,080

Non-current provisions for employee benefits

Long service leave:

Conditionalandexpectedtobesettledafter12months 140,769 153,757

Provisions for on-costs

Conditionalandexpectedtobesettledafter12months 22,159 24,204

Total non-current provisions 162,928 177,961

Total provisions for employee benefits and on-costs 1,149,642 1,064,041

2018$

2017$

Reconciliation of movement in on-cost provision

Opening balance 174,365 -

Additionalprovisionsrecognised - 152,413

Reductionsresultingfrompayments/othersacrificesoffutureeconomicbenefit 15,872 21,952

Unwindofdiscountandeffectofchangesinthediscountrate

Closing balance 190,237 174,365


85

Wages and salaries, time in lieu and annual leave

Liabilitiesforwagesandsalaries(includingnon-monetarybenefits,timeinlieu,annualleaveandon-costs)arerecognisedaspartoftheemployeebenefitprovisionascurrentliabilities,becausetheAuthoritydoesnothaveanunconditionalrighttodefersettlementsoftheseliabilities.

Long service leave (LSL)

Regardlessoftheexpectedtimingofsettlement,unconditionalLSLisclassifiedasacurrentliabilitybecausetheAuthority doesnothaveanunconditionalrighttodeferthesettlement oftheseliabilities.

UnconditionalLSLliabilityamountsexpectedtobewhollysettledwithin12monthsaremeasuredatthenominalvalue.UnconditionalLSLliabilityamountthatarenotexpectedto bewhollysettledwithin12monthsaremeasuredasthe presentvalueoftheestimatedfuturecashoutflowstobe madebytheentity.

UnconditionalLSLrepresentslongserviceleaveentitlementsaccruedforemployeeswithmorethan7yearsofcontinuousservice.

ConditionalLSLisclassifiedasanon-currentliabilityandmeasuredasthepresentvalueoftheestimatedfuturecashoutflowstobemadebytheentity.

3.1.3 Superannuation contributions

EmployeesoftheAuthorityareentitledtoreceivesuperannuationbenefitsandtheAuthoritycontributestobothdefinedbenefitanddefinedcontributionplans.Thedefinedbenefitplansprovidebenefitsbasedonyearofserviceandfinalaveragesalary.

TheAuthoritydoesnotrecogniseanydefinedbenefitliabilitybecauseithasnolegalorconstructiveobligationtopayfuturebenefitsrelatingtoitsemployees.TheDepartmentofTreasuryandFinancedisclosesinitsannualfinancialstatementsthestatesnetdefinedbenefitscostrelatedtothemembersoftheseplansasanadministeredliability.

TheamountrecognisedinthecomprehensiveoperatingstatementinrelationtoSuperannuationisemployercontributionsformembersofbothdefinedbenefitanddefinedcontributionsuperannuationplansthatarepaidorpayableduringthereportingperiod.

Thename,detailsandamountsexpensedinrelationtothemajoremployeesuperannuationfundsandcontributionsmadeby the Authority are as follows:

2018$

2017$

Defined contribution plans:

Vision super 125,377 109,400

Vic super 39,489 46,978

Other private schemes 180,797 255,659

Total 345,663 412,037

Therewas$NILincontributionsoutstandingtotheaboveschemesasat30June2018(2017:$29,747).



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3.2 MATERIALS, MAINTENANCE, GRANTS, CONTRACTS AND CONSULTANCIES

2018$

2017$

Materials 193,099 140,521

Repairs and maintenance 20,513 46,607

Grants paid 1,285,478 1,585,854

Contractors 2,295,425 1,473,808

Consultants 1,171,554 965,877

Total materials, maintenance, grants, contracts and consultancies 4,966,069 4,212,667

Materials,maintenance,grants,contracts,consultanciesarerecognisedasanexpenseinthereportingperiodinwhichtheyarepaid orpayable.

3.3 LEASE EXPENSES

2018$

2017$

Operatingleasepayments 248,940 244,167

Lease expenses 248,940 244,167

Operatingleasepaymentsarerecognisedasanexpenseinthecomprehensiveoperatingstatementonastraight-linebasisovertheleaseterm.Theleasedassetisnotrecognisedinthebalancesheet.



87

Introduction

TheAuthoritycontrolsproperty,plantandequipmentthatareutilisedinfulfillingitsobjectivesandconductingitsactivities.TheyrepresentthekeyresourcesthathavebeenentrustedtotheAuthoritytobeutilisedfordeliveryofthoseoutputs.

Structure

4.1Totalproperty,plantandequipment

Initial recognition

Itemsofproperty,plantandequipmentaremeasuredinitiallyatcostandsubsequentlyrevaluedatfairvaluelessaccumulateddepreciationandimpairment.Whereanassetisacquiredfor no or nominal cost, the cost is its fair value at the date ofacquisition.Assetstransferredaspartofamachineryofgovernmentchangearetransferredattheircarryingamount.

Subsequent measurement

Property,plantandequipmentaresubsequentlymeasured atfairvaluelessaccumulateddepreciationandimpairment.

Non-specialisedlandisvaluedusingthemarketapproach,whereby assets are compared to recent comparable sales or sales of comparable assets that are considered to have nominalvalue.

Themarketapproachisalsousedforspecialisedland,althoughisadjustedforthecommunityserviceobligation(CSO)toreflectthespecialisednatureofthelandbeingvalued.

Specialised buildings are valued using the depreciated replacementcostmethod.

Fairvalueforplantandequipmentandofficefurnitureandequipmentthatarespecialisedinuse(suchthatitisrarelysoldotherthanaspartofagoingconcern)isdeterminedusingthedepreciatedreplacementcostmethod.

Note7.3includesadditionalinformationinconnectionwith fairvaluedeterminationofproperty,plantandequipment.

4.1 TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Gross carrying amount Accumulated Depreciation Net carrying amount

2018$

2017$

2018$

2017$

2018$

2017$

Land at fair value 203,360 203,360 - - 203,360 203,360

Buildingsatfairvalue 826,500 826,500 (96,205) (49,590) 730,295 776,910

Plantandequipmentatfairvalue 212,506 218,354 (155,395) (136,895) 57,111 81,459

Officefurnitureandequipment at fair value

189,138 189,138 (171,295) (164,922) 17,843 24,216

Net carrying amount 1,431,504 1,437,353 (422,895) (351,407) 1,008,609 1,085,946

NOTE 4 KEY ASSETS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT OUTPUT DELIVERY

4.1.1 Depreciation and impairment

2018$

2017$

Charge for the period

Buildings 46,615 49,590

Plantandequipment 26,500 29,039

Officefurniture&equipment 6,374 12,422

Total depreciation 79,488 91,051

Allnon-financialphysicalassetsthathavefiniteusefullivesaredepreciated.


88

Depreciationiscalculatedonastraight-linebasisatratesthatallocatetheasset'svalue,lessanyestimatedresidualvalue,overitsestimatedusefullife.Typicalestimatedusefullivesforthedifferentassetclassesforcurrentandprioryearsareincludedinthe table below:

Asset Usefull life

Buildings 8-47years

Plantandequipment 4-5years

Furniture&officeequipment 5-10years

Motor vehicles 5 years

Theestimatedusefullives,residualvaluesanddepreciationmethodarereviewedattheendofeachannualreportingperiod,andadjustmentsmadewhereappropriate.

Landwhichisconsideredtohaveanindefinitelife,isnotdepreciated.

Impairment

Non-financialassets,includingitemsofProperty,PlantandEquipment,aretestedforimpairmentwheneverthereisanindicationthattheassetsmaybeimpaired.

Theassetsconcernedaretestedastowhethertheircarryingvalueexceedstheirrecoverableamount.Whereanasset’scarryingvalueexceedsitsrecoverableamount,thedifferenceiswrittenoffasan‘othereconomicflow’,excepttotheextentthatitcanbedebitedtoanassetrevaluationsurplusamountapplicabletothatclassofasset.

Ifthereisanindicationthattherehasbeenareversalinimpairment, the carrying amount shall be increased to its recoverableamount.Howeverthisreversalshouldnotincrease the asset’s carrying amount above what would have beendetermined,netofdepreciationoramortisation,ifnoimpairmentlosshadbeenrecognisedinprioryears.

Therecoverableamountformostassetsismeasuredatthehigher of depreciated replacement cost and fair value less costs tosell.Recoverableamountforassetsheldprimarilytogeneratenetcashinflowsismeasuredatthehigherofthepresentvalueoffuturecashflowsexpectedtobeobtainedfromtheassetandfairvaluelesscoststosell.

4.1.2 Reconciliation of movements in carrying values of property, plant and equipment

Land at fair value

$

Buildings at fair value

$

Plant and equipment at

fair value $

Office furniture and equipment

at fair value $

Total $

2017-18

Opening balance 203,360 776,910 81,459 24,217 1,085,945

Additions - - 2,152 - 2,152

Disposals - - - - -

Depreciation - (46,615) (26,500) (6,374) (79,488)

Closing balance 203,360 730,295 57,111 17,843 1,008,609

2016-17

Opening balance 203,360 826,500 71,846 36,638 1,138,344

Additions - - 39,456 - 39,456

Disposals - - (804) - (804)

Depreciation - (49,590) (29,039) (12,422) (91,051)

Closing balance 203,360 776,910 81,459 24,217 1,085,945

NOTE 4 KEY ASSETS AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT OUTPUT DELIVERY (CONT.)


89

Introduction

Thissectionsetsoutthoseassetsandliabilitiesthatarose fromtheAuthority'soperations.

Structure

5.1Receivables

5.2Payables

5.3Othernon-financialassets

5.1 RECEIVABLES

Significant judgement: Accrued revenue

Accrued revenue represent goods or services that have been deliveredbuthavenotbeeninvoicedtothecustomer.

Inestimatinganamountofaccruedrevenue,considerationisgiventothestageofcompletionoftheservicesbeingperformed,andtheextentofthecostsincurredthatarerecoverable.

Receivables consists of:

•Contractualreceivablesareclassifiedasfinancialinstrumentsandcategorisedas'loansandreceivables'.Theyareinitiallyrecognisedatfairvalueplusanydirectlyattributabletransactioncosts.Subsequenttoinitialmeasurementtheyaremeasuredatamortisedcostless anyimpairment.

•Statutoryreceivablesdonotarisefromcontractsandarerecognisedandmeasuredsimilarlytocontractualreceivables(exceptforimpairment),butarenotclassifiedasfinancialinstruments.

2018$

2017$

Current receivables

Contractual

Tradereceivables 562,589 27,874

Accrued revenue 31,391 16,537

593,980 44,411

Statutory

GSTinputtaxcreditsrecoverable 250,453 168,788

Total current receivables 844,433 213,199

NOTE 5 OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES


90

NOTE 5 OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (CONT.)

5.1.1 Ageing analysis of contractual receivables

Carrying amount

$

Not past due and not impaired

$

Past due but not impaired - Less than 1 month

$

2018

Receivables:

Tradereceivables 562,589 562,589 -

Accrued revenue 31,391 31,391 -

Total 593,980 593,980 -

2017

Receivables:

Tradereceivables 27,874 9,191 4,400

Accrued revenue 16,537 16,537 -

Total 44,411 25,728 4,400

Tradeandotherreceivablesaredueforsettlement30daysfromtheendofthemonththattheywereinvoiced.Therearenomaterialfinancialassetsthatareindividuallydeterminedtobeimpaired.

5.2 PAYABLES

Significant judgement: Accrued expenses

Accruedexpensesrepresentgoodsorservicesthathavebeenreceivedorsuppliedbuthavenotbeeninvoicedbythesupplier.

Inestimatingtheamountofanaccruedexpense,considerationisgiventothestageofcompletionoftheservicesbeingperformed.

2018$

2017$

Current Payables

Contractual

Tradepayables - 3,969

Accruedexpenses 449,268 270,753

Other payables 5,653 22

454,921 274,744

Statutory

Superannuation - 29,747

PAYGpayable 66,910 68,926

66,910 98,673

Total current payables 521,831 373,417

Payables consists of:

• Contractualpayablesandareclassifiedasfinancialinstrumentsandcategorisedas'financialliabilitiesatamortisedcost'.Theyareinitiallyrecognisedatfairvalueplusanydirectlyattributabletransactioncosts.Subsequenttoinitialmeasurement,theyaremeasuredatamortisedcost.

• Statutorypayablesarerecognisedandmeasuredsimilarlytocontractualpayables,butarenotclassifiedasfinancialinstrumentsandnotincludedinthecategoryoffinancialliabilitiesatamortisedcost,becausetheydonotarisefromcontracts.


91

NOTE 5 OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (CONT.)

5.2.1 Maturity analysis of contractual payables

Carrying amount

$

Maturity dates

Less than 1 month $

1-3 months $

3-6 months $

2018

Payables:

Tradepayables - - - -

Accruedexpenses 449,268 449,268 - -

Other payables 5,653 5,653 - -

Total 454,921 454,921 - -

2017

Payables:

Tradepayables 3,969 3,969 - -

Accruedexpenses 270,753 270,753 - -

Other payables 22 22 - -

Total 274,744 274,744 - -

Payablesforsuppliesandserviceshaveanaveragecreditperiodis30days.

5.3 OTHER NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS

2018$

2017$

Current other assets

Prepayments 2,000 4,886

Total current other assets 2,000 4,886

Othernon-financialassetsincludeprepaymentswhichrepresentpaymentsinadvanceofreceiptofgoodsorservicesorthatpartofexpendituremadeinoneaccountingperiodcoveringatermextendingbeyondthatperiod.


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NOTE 6 HOW WE FINANCED OUR OPERATIONS

Introduction

ThissectionprovidesinformationonthesourcesoffinanceutilisedbytheAuthorityduringitsoperations,andotherinformationrelatedtofinancingactivitiesoftheAuthority.

Thissectionincludesdisclosuresofbalancesthatarefinancialinstruments,suchascashbalances.Notes8.2and8.3provideadditional,specificfinancialinstrumentdisclosures.

Structure

6.1Cashflowinformationandbalances

6.2Commitmentsforexpenditure

6.3Carryforwardprojectfunding

6.1 CASH FLOW INFORMATION AND BALANCES

Cashanddeposits,includingcashequivalents,comprisecashon hand and cash at bank, deposits at call and those highly liquidinvestmentswithanoriginalmaturityofthreemonthsorless,whichareheldforthepurposeofmeetingshort-termcash commitments rather than for investment purposes, and whicharereadilyconvertibletoknownamountsofcashandaresubjecttoaninsignificantriskofchangesinvalue.

2018$

2017$

Cash and deposits disclosed in the balance sheet:

Cash at bank 1,416,255 868,942

Depositsatcall 600,000 500,000

Termdeposits(lessthan3months) 6,000,000 6,000,000

Balance as per cash flow statement 8,016,255 7,368,942

6.1.1 Reconciliation of net result to cash flow from operating activities

2018$

2017$

Net result for the period 964,309 (483,459)

Non-cash movements:

(Gain)/lossondisposalofnon-currentassets (2,545) (2,524)

Depreciationofnon-currentassets 79,488 91,051

1,041,252 (394,932)

Movements in assets and liabilities:

Decrease/(increase)inreceivables (631,234) 532,926

Decrease/(increase)inothernon-financialassets 2,886 3,518

(Decrease)/increaseinpayables 148,414 (27,503)

(Decrease)/increaseinemployeerelatedprovisions 85,602 132,368

Net cash flows from/(used in) operating activities 646,920 246,378


93

NOTE 6 HOW WE FINANCED OUR OPERATIONS (CONT.)

6.2 COMMITMENTS FOR EXPENDITURE

Commitmentsforfutureexpenditureincludeoperatingleasecommitmentsarisingfromcontracts.ThesecommitmentsarerecordedbelowattheirnominalvalueandinclusiveofGST.Thesefutureexpendituresceasetobedisclosedascommitmentsoncetherelatedliabilitiesarerecognisedinthebalancesheet.

6.2.1 Total commitments payable

2018$

2017$

Operating lease commitments payable

Less than 1 year 250,023 253,061

1 to 5 years 211,215 412,846

5 years or more - -

Total commitments (inclusive of GST) 461,238 665,907

2018$

2017$

Total operating lease commitments payable

Totaloperatingleasecommitmentspayable(includingGST) 461,238 665,907

LessGSTrecoverablefromATO (41,931) (60,537)

Total operating lease commitments payable (excluding GST) 419,307 605,370

Operatingleasecommitmentsrelatetooffice,propertyandmotorvehicleswithleasetermsbetweenoneandthreeyears. ThesecontractsdonotallowtheAuthoritytopurchasethefacilitiesaftertheleaseends,buttheAuthorityhastheoptionto reneweachoftheleasesattheendoftheleaseterm.

Asat30June2018theAuthorityhadNilinfinanceleasecommitments(2017:$Nil).

Asat30June2018theAuthorityhadNilincapitalexpenditurecommitments(2017:$Nil).

6.3 CARRY FORWARD PROJECT FUNDING

CatchmentManagementAuthoritiesareresponsibleforthefacilitationandcoordinationofcatchmentsinanintegratedandsustainablemanner.Thisisachievedbyundertakingprojects funded by Victorian and Australian Government programs.TheAuthorityreceivedfundingforspecificprojectswhich are guided by the Regional Catchment Strategy and delivered in line with the Authority's Corporate Plan approved bytheMinisterforWater.

TheprojectsfundedbytheStateandCommonwealthGovernmentscanbeundertakenovermultiplefinancialyearsand is received at various stages of the project life based on contractualagreements.Attheendofthefinancialyeartherearesomeprojectsthathavenotreachedcompletionbutwillbecompletedwithinthecontractualtermsinfuturefinancialperiods.AtbalancedatetheAuthorityhascashandcashequivalentsthatwillbeutilisedtocompletetheseprojectsinfuturefinancialyears.


94

NOTE 7 RISKS, CONTINGENCIES AND VALUATION JUDGEMENTS

Introduction

TheAuthorityisexposedtoriskfromitsactivitiesandoutsidefactors.Inaddition,itisoftennecessarytomakejudgementsandestimatesassociatedwithrecognitionandmeasurementofitemsinthefinancialstatements.Thissectionsetsoutfinancialinstrumentspecificinformation,(includingexposurestofinancialrisks)aswellasthoseitemsthatarecontingentinnatureorrequireahighlevelofjudgementtobeapplied,whichfortheAuthorityrelatemainlytofairvaluedetermination.

Structure

7.1Financialinstrumentsspecificdisclosures

7.2Contingentassetsandcontingentliabilities

7.3Fairvaluedetermination

7.1 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS SPECIFIC DISCLOSURES

Introduction

Financialinstrumentsariseoutofcontractualagreementsthatgiverisetoafinancialassetofoneentityandafinancialliabilityofequityinstrumentofanotherentity.

Categories of financial instruments

Loansandreceivablesarefinancialinstrumentassetswithfixedanddeterminablepaymentsthatarenotquotedinanactivemarket.Theseassetsareinitiallyrecognisedatfairvalueplusanydirectlyattributabletransactioncosts.Subsequenttoinitialmeasurement,loansandreceivablesaremeasuredatamortisedcostlessanyimpairment.Loansandreceivablescategoryincludes cash and deposits, trade and other receivables, but excludestatutoryreceivables.

Collectability of trade receivables is reviewed on an ongoing basis.Baddebtswhichareknowntobeuncollectiblearewrittenoff,andclassifiedasatransactionexpense.Aprovisionforimpairedreceivablesisestablishedwhenthereisobjectiveevidence that the Authority will not be able to collect all amountsdueaccordingtotheoriginaltermsofreceivables.

Financialliabilitiesatamortisedcostareinitiallyrecognisedonthedatetheyoriginated.Theyareinitiallymeasuredatfairvalueplusanydirectlyattributabletransactioncosts.Subsequenttoinitialrecognition,thesefinancialinstrumentsaremeasuredatamortisedcost.FinancialinstrumentliabilitiesmeasuredatamortisedcostincludealloftheAuthority'scontractualpayables.

Afinancialliabilityisderecognisedwhentheobligationundertheliabilityisdischarged,cancelledorexpires.


95

7.1.1 Financial instruments: Categorisation

Contractual financial assets - loans and

receivables $

Contractual financial liabilities at amortised cost

$Total

$

2018

Contractual financial assets

Cash and deposits 8,016,255 - 8,016,255

Receivables: (i)

Tradereceivables 562,589 - 562,589

Accrued revenue 31,391 - 31,391

Total contractual financial assets 8,610,235 - 8,610,235

Contractual financial liabilities

Payables: (i)

Tradepayables - - -

Accruedexpenses - 449,268 449,268

Other payables - 5,653 5,653

Total contractual financial liabilities - 454,921 454,921

2017

Contractual financial assets

Cash and deposits 7,368,942 - 7,368,942

Receivables: (i)

Tradereceivables 27,874 - 27,874

Accrued revenue 16,537 - 16,537

Total contractual financial assets 7,413,353 - 7,413,353

Contractual financial liabilities

Payables: (i)

Tradepayables - 3,969 3,969

Accruedexpenses - 270,753 270,753

Other payables - 22 22

Total contractual financial liabilities - 274,744 274,744

(i) The total amounts disclosed here exclude statutory amounts.

NOTE 7 RISKS, CONTINGENCIES AND VALUATION JUDGEMENTS (CONT.)


96

7.1.2 Financial risk management objectives and policies

TheAuthority'smainfinancialrisksincludecreditrisk,liquidityriskandinterestraterisk.TheAuthoritymanagesthesefinancialrisksinaccordancewithitsfinancialriskmanagementpolicy.

TheAuthorityusesdifferentmethodstomeasureandmanagethedifferentriskstowhichitisexposed.PrimaryresponsibilityfortheidentificationandmanagementoffinancialrisksrestswiththefinancialriskmanagementcommitteeoftheAuthority.

Credit risk

Credit risk refers to the possibility that a borrower will default onitsfinancialobligationsasandwhentheyfalldue.TheAuthority’sexposuretocreditriskarisesfromthepotentialdefaultofacounterpartyontheircontractualobligationsresultinginfinanciallosstotheAuthority.Creditriskismeasuredatfairvalueandismonitoredonaregularbasis.

CreditriskassociatedwiththeAuthority'scontractualfinancialassets is minimal because the main debtor is the Victorian Government.FordebtorsotherthantheGovernment,the Authority has adopted a policy of only dealing with creditworthycounterpartiesandobtainingsufficientcollateralwhereappropriate.Forcashassets,theAuthority'spolicyistoonlydealwithbankswithhighcredit-ratingsassignedbyinternationalcredit-ratingagencies.AllcashanddepositsareheldwiththeTreasuryCorporationofVictoriaandNationalAustraliaBank.

Liquidity risk

Liquidityriskarisesfrombeingunabletomeetfinancialobligationsastheyfalldue.TheAuthorityoperatesundertheGovernmentfairpaymentspolicyofsettlingfinancialobligationswithin 30 days and in the event of a dispute, making payments within30daysfromthedateofresolution.

TheAuthority'sexposuretoliquidityriskisdeemedinsignificantbasedonpriorperiods'dataandcurrentassessmentofrisk.TheAuthoritydoesnothaveanyborrowings,andmaintainshigh levels of cash and deposits readily available to meet its financialobligations.TheAuthoritymanagesitsliquidityriskbymaintainingadequatecashreservesandcontinuallymonitoringtheAuthority'sexpenditurecommitmentsandcashflowneeds.

Market risk

TheAuthority'sexposuretomarketriskisprimarilythroughinterestrateriskwithsignificantsurplusfundsheldintermdepositsanddepositsatacall.TheAuthorityhasnoexposuretoforeignexchangeriskorotherpricerisk.

Cashflowinterestrateriskistheriskthatthefuturecashflowsofafinancialinstrumentwillfluctuatebecauseofchangesinmarketinterestrates.TheAuthoritymanagesitscashflowinterestraterisksbyinvestingsurplusfundsintofixedratefinancialinstruments.ManagementhasconcludedforcashatbankanddepositsatcallasfinancialassetsthatcanbeleftatfloatingratewithoutnecessarilyexposingtheAuthoritytosignificantrisk.Managementmonitorsmovementsininterestratesonadailybasis.

Interest rate risk

ThecarryingamountsoffinancialassetsandfinancialliabilitiesthatareexposedtointerestratesandtheAuthority'ssensitivitytointerestrateriskaresetoutinthetablethatfollows.



97


Interest rate exposure of financial instruments

Weighted average

interest rate %

Carrying amount

$

Interest rate exposure

Fixed interest rate

$

Variable interest rate

$

Non-interest bearing

$

2018

Financial assetsCash and deposits 1.90 8,016,255 6,000,000 2,016,255 -

Contractual receivables - 593,980 - - 593,980

Total financial assets 8,610,235 6,000,000 2,016,255 593,980

Financial liabilitiesContractual payables - 454,921 - - 454,921

Total financial liabilities 454,921 - - 454,921

2017

Financial assetsCash and deposits 2.02 7,368,942 6,000,000 1,368,942 -

Contractual receivables - 44,411 - - 44,411

Total financial assets 7,413,353 6,000,000 1,368,942 44,411

Financial liabilitiesContractual payables - 274,744 - - 274,744

Total financial liabilities 274,744 - - 274,744

Interest rate risk sensitivity

ThesensitivityanalysisbelowshowstheimpactontheAuthority'snetresultandequityforamovementof100basispointsupanddowninmarketinterestrates.

Carrying amount

$

Interest rate

-100 basis points +100 basis points

Net result $

Equity $

Net result $

Equity $

2018

Cashanddeposits(i) 8,016,255 (20,163) (20,163) 20,163 20,163

2017

Cashanddeposits(i) 7,368,942 (13,689) (13,689) 13,689 13,689

(i) Cash and deposits includes $2,016,255 (2016: $1,368,942) that is exposed to floating rates movements. Sensitivities to these movements are calculated as follows:

• 2018: $2,016,255 x -0.01 = -$20,163; and $2,016,255 x 0.01 = $20,163.

• 2017: $1,368,942 x -0.01 = -$13,689; and $1,368,942 x 0.01 = $13,689.


98

7.2 CONTINGENT ASSETS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Contingentassetsandcontingentliabilitiesarenotrecognisedinthebalancesheetbutaredisclosedand,ifquantifiable,aremeasured atnominalvalue.

Contingent Assets

Asat30June2018,theAuthorityhasnoknowncontingentassets.

Contingent Liabilities

Asat30June2018,theAuthorityhasnoknowncontingentliabities.

7.3 FAIR VALUE DETERMINATION

Significant judgement: Fair value measurements of assets and liabilities

Fairvaluedeterminationrequiresjudgementandtheuseofassumptions.Thissectiondisclosesthemostsignificantassumptionsusedindeterminingfairvalues.ChangestoassumptionscouldhaveamaterialimpactontheresultsandfinancialpositionoftheAuthority.

TheAuthority'sProperty,plantandequipmentarecarriedat fairvalue.

Inaddition,thefairvaluesofotherassetsandliabilitieswhicharecarriedatamortisedcost,alsoneedtobedeterminedfordisclosurepurposes.

TheAuthoritydeterminesthepoliciesandproceduresfordeterminingfairvaluesforbothfinancialandnon-financialassetsandliabilitiesasrequired.

Fair value hierarchy

Indeterminingfairvaluesanumberofinputsareused.Toincreaseconsistencyandcomparabilityinthefinancialstatements, these inputs are categorised into three levels, also knownasthefairvaluehierarchy.Thelevelsareasfollows:

• Level1–Quoted(unadjusted)marketpricesinactivemarketsforidenticalassetsorliabilities;

• Level2–Valuationtechniquesforwhichthelowestlevelinputthatissignificanttothefairvaluemeasurementisdirectly or indirectly observable; and

• Level3–Valuationtechniquesforwhichthelowestlevelinputthatissignificanttothefairvaluemeasurementisunobservable.

TheAuthoritydetermineswhethertransfershaveoccurredbetweenlevelsinthehierarchybyreassessingcategorisation(basedonthelowestlevelinputthatissignificanttothe fairvaluemeasurementasawhole)attheendofeach reportingperiod.

7.3.1 Fair value determination of financial assets and liabilities

TheAuthoritycurrentlyholdsarangeoffinancialinstrumentsthatarerecordedinthefinancialstatementswherethecarryingamountsareareasonableapproximationoffairvalue,eitherduetotheirshort-termnatureorwiththeexpectationthattheywillbepaidinfullbytheendofthe2017-18reportingperiod.

Thesefinancialinstrumentsinclude:

Financial assetsCash and depositsReceivables: • Τradereceivables • Accrued revenue

Financial liabilitiesPayables: • Τradepayables • Accruedexpenses • Other payables



99

7.3.1 Fair value determination: Non-financial physical assets

Fair value measurement hierarchy

Carrying amount as at 30 June 2018

$

Fair Value measurement at end of reporting period using:

Level 1(i) $

Level 2(i) $

Level 3(i) $

Land at Fair Value

Non-specialisedland 203,360 - 203,360 -

Total Land at Fair Value 203,360 - 203,360 -

Buildings at Fair Value

Specialised buildings 730,295 - - 730,295

Total Buildings at Fair Value 730,295 - - 730,295

Plant and equipment at Fair Value

Plantandequipment 57,111 - - 57,111

Total Plant and equipment at Fair Value 57,111 - - 57,111

Office furniture and equipment at Fair Value

Officefurnitureandequipment 17,843 - - 17,843

Total Office furniture and equipment at Fair Value 17,843 - - 17,843

Note: (i) Classified in accordance with the fair value hierarchy, see Note 7.3.

Carrying amount as at 30 June 2017

$

Fair Value measurement at end of reporting period using:

Level 1 $

Level 2 $

Level 3 $

Land at Fair Value

Non-specialisedland 203,360 - 203,360 -

Total Land at Fair Value 203,360 - 203,360 -

Buildings at Fair Value

Specialised buildings 776,910 - - 776,910

Total Buildings at Fair Value 776,910 - - 776,910

Plant and equipment at Fair Value

Plantandequipment 81,459 - - 81,459

Total Plant and equipment at Fair Value 81,459 - - 81,459

Office furniture and equipment at Fair Value

Officefurnitureandequipment 24,217 - - 24,217

Total Office furniture and equipment at Fair Value 24,217 - - 24,217



100

Non-specialised land and non-specialised buildings

Non-specialisedlandisvaluedusingthemarketapproach.Underthisvaluationmethod,theassetsarecomparedtorecentcomparable sales or sales of comparable assets which are considered to have nominal or no added improvement value, andareclassifiedasLevel2fairvaluemeasurements.

Fornon-specialisedland,anindependentvaluationwasperformedbytheValuer-GeneralVictoria(VGV)todeterminethefairvalueusingthemarketapproach.Valuationoftheassetswas determined by analysing comparable sales and allowing forshare,size,topography,locationandotherrelevantfactorsspecifictotheassetbeingvalued.Fromthesalesanalysed,anappropriateratepersquaremetrewasappliedtothesubjectasset.Theeffectivedateofthevaluationwas30June2016.

FortheAuthority'sspecialisedbuildings,thedepreciatedreplacementcostmethodisused,adjustingfortheassociateddepreciations.Asdepreciationadjustmentsareconsideredassignificant,unobservableinputsinnature,specialisedbuildingsareclassifiedasLevel3fairvaluemeasurements.

Plant and equipment and Office furniture and equipment

Plantandequipmentandofficefurnitureandequipmentisheldatfairvalue.Whenplantandequipmentorofficefurnitureandequipmentisspecialisedinuse,suchthatitisrarelysoldotherthan as part of a going concern, fair value is determined using thedepreciatedreplacementcostmethod.Asdepreciationadjustmentsareconsideredassignificant,unobservableinputsinnature,theseassetsareclassifiedasLevel3fairvaluemeasurements.

Therewerenochangesinvaluationtechniquesthroughouttheperiodto30June2018.

Forallassetsmeasuredatfairvalue,thecurrentuseisconsideredthehighestandbestuse.



101

Reconciliation of Level 3 fair value movements

Specialised buildings

$

Plant and equipment

$

Office furniture and equipment

$

2017-18

Opening Balance 776,910 81,459 24,217

Purchases(sales) - 2,152 -

Depreciation (46,615) (26,500) (6,374)

Gains or losses recognised in net result - - -

Subtotal 730,295 57,111 17,843

Closing Balance 730,295 57,111 17,843

2016-17

Opening Balance 826,500 71,846 36,638

Purchases(sales) - 38,652 -

Depreciation (49,590) (29,039) (12,422)

Subtotal 776,910 81,459 24,217

Closing Balance 776,910 81,459 24,217

Description of significant unobservable inputs to Level 3 valuations

Valuation technique Significant unobservable inputs

Specialised buildings DepreciatedreplacementcostDirectcostpersquaremetreUseful life of specialised buildings

Plantandequipment DepreciatedreplacementcostCost per unitUsefullifeofplantandequipment

Officefurnitureandequipment DepreciatedreplacementcostCost per unitUsefullifeoffurnitureandequipment

SignificantunobservableinputshaveremainedunchangedsinceJune2016.



102

NOTE 8 OTHER DISCLOSURES

Introduction

Thissectionprovidesadditionalmaterialdisclosuresrequired byaccountingstandardsorotherwise,fortheunderstandingofthisfinancialreport.

Structure

8.1Ex-gratiaexpenses

8.2Othereconomicflowsincludedinnetresult

8.3Reserves

8.4Responsiblepersons

8.5Remunerationofexecutiveofficers

8.6Relatedparties

8.7Remunerationofauditors

8.8Subsequentevents

8.9AustralianAccountingStandardsissuedthatare notyeteffective

8.1 EX-GRATIA EXPENSES

TheAuthorityhadnoEx-gratiaexpensesfortheyearending30June2018(2017$0).

8.2 OTHER ECONOMIC FLOWS INCLUDED IN NET RESULT

Othereconomicflowsmeasurethechangeinvolumeorvalueofassetsorliabilitiesthatdonotresultfromtransactions.

2018$

2017$

Net gain/(loss) on non-financial assets

Proceedsfromsaleofnon-financialassets 2,545 3,327

Lesswrittendownvalue - (804)

Impairmentofproperty,plant&equipment - -

Total net gain/(loss) on disposal of non-financial assets 2,545 2,523

Other gain/(loss) from other economic flows

Netgain/(loss)arisingfromrevaluationoflongserviceliability (933) 30,888

Total other gain/(loss) from other economic flows (933) 30,888

8.3 RESERVES

2018$

2017$

Physical asset revaluation surplus: (i)

Balanceatbeginningoffinancialyear 461,194 461,194

Revaluationdecrements - -

Balance at end of financial year 461,194 461,194

Total Reserves 461,194 461,194

(i) The physical assets revaluation surplus arises on the revaluation of land and buildings.


103

8.4 RESPONSIBLE PERSONS

InaccordancewiththeMinisterialDirectionsissuedbytheMinisterforFinanceundertheFinancial Management Act 1994, the following disclosuresaremaderegardingresponsiblepersonsforthereportingperiod

ThenamesofthepersonswhowereresponsiblepersonsoftheAuthorityatanytimeduringthefinancialyearwere:

Name Position Date held position

TheHon.LisaNeville,MP Minister for Water 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Jun 2018

TheHon.LilianaD'Ambrosio Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Jun 2018

AntonyFord (Chair) 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Jun 2018

DebbieShea (BoardMember&DeputyChair) 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Jun 2018

KevinWood (CEO) 01Jul2017to28Feb2018

AdamBester (CEO) 01 Mar 2018 to 30 Jun 2018

DamienBell (BoardMember) 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Jun 2018

Michelle Casanova (BoardMember) 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Jun 2018

Georgina Gubbins (BoardMember) 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Jun 2018

DrJohnSherwood (BoardMember) 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Jun 2018

IanHasting (BoardMember) 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Sept 2017

Michael Wagg (BoardMember) 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Sept 2017

KarenWales (BoardMember) 01 Jul 2017 to 30 Sept 2017

ChistineGiles (BoardMember) 01 Oct 2017 to 30 Jun 2018

Phillip Saunders (BoardMember) 01 Oct 2017 to 30 Jun 2018

Remuneration

RemunerationreceivedorreceivablebytheAccountableOfficerinconnectionwiththemanagementoftheGlenelgHopkinsCMAduringthereportingperiodwasintherangeof$210,000-$219,999($200,000-$209,000in2016-17).

Note:InMarch2018AdamBesterreplacedKevinWoodasCEOofGlenelgHopkinsCMAfollowinghisretirement.

NOTE 8 OTHER DISCLOSURES (CONT.)


Income band2018

$2017

$

$0-$9,999 5 0

$10,000-$19,999 5 8

$20,000-$29,999 1 1

$60,000-$69,999 1 0

$160,000-$169,999 1 0

$200,000-$209,999 0 1

Total numbers 13 10

Total Remuneration $329,179 $321,641

104


8.5 REMUNERATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Thenumberofexecutiveofficers,otherthanministersandaccountableofficers,andtheirtotalremunerationduringthereportingperiodareshowninthetablebelow.Totalannualisedemployeeequivalentsprovidesameasureoffulltimeequivalentexecutiveofficersoverthereportingperiod.

Remunerationcomprisesemployeebenefitsinallformsofconsiderationpaid,payableorprovidedbytheentity,oronbehalfoftheentity,inexchangeforservicesrendered,andisdisclosedinthefollowingcategories.

Short-termemployeebenefitsincludeamountssuchaswages,salaries, annual leave or sick leave that are usually paid or payableonaregularbasis,aswellasnon-monetarybenefitssuchasallowancesandfreeorsubsidisedgoodsorservices.

Post-employmentbenefitsincludepensionsandotherretirementbenefitspaidorpayableoradiscretebasiswhenemploymenthasceased.

Otherlong-termbenefitsincludelongserviceleave,otherlong-servicebenefitordeferredcompensation.

Terminationbenefitsincludeterminationofemploymentpayments,suchasseverancepackages.

8.6 RELATED PARTIES

RelatedpartiesoftheAuthorityinclude:

• all key management personnel and their close family members and personal business interests (controlled entities,jointventuresandentitiestheyhavesignificantinfluenceover);

• all cabinet ministers and their close family members; and

• alldepartmentsandpublicsectorentitlesthatarecontrolledand consolidated into the whole of state consolidated financialstatements.

Allrelatedpartytransactionshavebeenenteredintoonanarm'slengthbasis.


Remuneration2018

$2017

$

Short-termemployeebenefits 398,178 379,822

Post-employmentbenefits 37,112 36,963

Otherlong-termbenefits 13,264 11,091

Terminationbenefits - -

Total remuneration 448,554 427,876

Total number or executives (i) 3.0 3.0

Total annualised employee equivalents (ii) 3 3

(i) The total number of executive officers includes persons who meet the definition of Key Management Personnel (KMP) of the entity under AASB 124 Related Party Disclosures and are also reported within the related parties note disclosure (Note 8.6)

(ii) Annualised employee equivalent is based on the time fraction worked over the reporting period.

105


Significant transactions with government-related entities

Duringtheyear,theAuthorityreceivedsignificantfundingfromthefollowinggovernment-relatedentities:

EntityFunding received

$

DepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning 8,935,722

DepartmentofTreasury&Finance 1,984,067

Victorian Environment Water Holder 164,365

Wimmera CMA 150,000

Duringtheyear,theAuthoritymadesignificantpaymentstothefollowinggovernment-relatedentities:

EntityFunding received

$

DepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning 265,475

StateRevenueOfficeVictoria 129,079

TrustforNature 70,180

West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority 51,175

DepartmentofEconomicDevelopment,Jobs,Transport&Resources 59,400

Key management personnel

Keymanagementpersonnelarethosepersonshavingauthorityandresponsibilityforplanning,directing,andcontrollingtheactivitiesoftheAuthority,directlyorindirectly,thiscomprisesofDirectorsandtheCEO.

KeymanagementpersonnelincludeallResponsbilepersonsaslistedinNote8.4.

ThecompensationdetailedbelowexcludesthesalariesandbenefitsthePortfolioMinistersreceives.TheMinistersremunerationandallowances is set by the Parliamentary Salaries and Superannuation Act 1968andisreportedwithintheDepartmentofParliamentaryServices’FinancialReport.

Compensation of KMPs

2018$

2017$

Short-termemployeebenefits 692,425 548,956

Post-employmentbenefits 64,923 54,395

Otherlong-termbenefits 20,385 16,743

Terminationbenefits - -

Total 777,733 620,094

Transactions with key management personnel and other related parties

GiventhebreadthanddepthofStategovernmentactivities,relatedpartiestransactwiththeVictorianpublicsectorinamannerconsistentwithothermembersofthepublic.FurtheremploymentprocesseswithintheVictorianpublicsectoroccurontermsandconditionsconsistentwiththePublic Administration Act 2004 and Codes of Conduct and Standards issued by the Victorian Public SectorCommission.ProcurementprocessesoccurontermsandconditionsconsistentwiththeVictorianGovernmentPurchasingBoardrequirements.

Therewerenosignificantrelatedpartytransactionsorbalancesthatinvolvedkeymanagementpersonnel,theirclosefamilymembersandtheirpersonalbusinessinterest.


106


Standard / Interpretation Summary Applicable for annual

reporting periods beginning on or after

Impact on financial statements

AASB9 Financial Instruments

Thekeychangesincludethesimplifiedrequirementsfortheclassificationandmeasurementoffinancialassets,anewhedgingaccountingmodelandarevisedimpairment loss model to recognise impairment losses earlier, as opposed to the current approach that recognises impairmentonlywhenincurred.

1 January 2018 Theassessmenthasidentifiedthattheamendments are likely to result in earlier recognitionofimpairmentlossesandatmoreregularintervals.WhiletherebenosignificantimpactarisingfromAASB9,therewillbeachangetothewayfinancialinstrumentsaredisclosed.

AASB15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

ThecoreprincipleofAASB15requiresanentitytorecogniserevenuewhentheentitysatisfiesaperformanceobligationbytransferring a promised good or service to acustomer.

1 January 2019 ThechangesinrevenuerecognitionrequirementsinAASB15mayresultinchangestothetimingandamountofrevenuerecordedinthefinancialstatements.TheStandardwillalsorequireadditionaldisclosuresonservicerevenueandcontractmodifications.Impactcould likely include deferring any grants received.

AASB16 Leases

ThekeychangesintroducedbyAASB16includetherecognitionofmostoperatingleases(whicharecurrentlynotrecognised)onbalancesheet.

1 January 2019 TheassesesmenthasindicatedthatasmosttheAuthority'soperatingleaseswillcomeonthebalancesheet,recognitionoftheright-of-useassetsandleaseliabilitieswillcausenetdebttoincrease.

Ratherthanexpensingtheleasepayments,depreciationofright-of-useassetsandinterestonleaseliabilitieswillbe recognised in the income statement withmarginalimpactontheoperatingsurplus.

Nochangeforlessors.


8.7 REMUNERATION OF AUDITORS

2018$

2017$

VictorianAuditor-General’sOfficeforauditoffinancialstatements 10,300 10,000

Internalauditcosts 35,320 36,430

Total remuneration of auditors 45,620 46,430

8.8 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Nomattersorcircumstanceshavearisensincetheendofthereportingperiodwhichsignificantlyaffectedormaysignificantlyaffecttheoperationsoftheauthority,theresultsofthoseoperations,orthestateofaffairsoftheauthorityinfuturefinancialyears.

8.9 AUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ISSUED THAT ARE NOT YET EFFECTIVE

CertainnewAustralianAccountingStandards(AAS)havebeenpublishedthatarenotmandatoryforthe30June2018reportingperiod.DTFassessestheimpactofallthesenewstandardsandadvisestheAuthorityoftheirapplicabilityandearlyadoptionwhereapplicable.ThefollowingisalistoftheAASsissuedbutarenotyeteffectiveforthe2017-18reportingperiod.

107


Standard / Interpretation Summary Applicable for annual

reporting periods beginning on or after

Impact on financial statements

AASB2010-7 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 9 (December 2010) [AASB 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 101, 102, 108, 112, 118, 120, 121, 127, 128, 131, 132, 136, 137, 139, 1023 & 1038 and Interpretations 2, 5, 10, 12, 19 & 127]

TherequirementsforclassifyingandmeasuringfinancialliabilitieswereaddedtoAASB9.Theexistingrequirementsfortheclassificationoffinancialliabilitiesandtheabilitytousethefairvalueoptionhavebeenretained.However,wherethefairvalueoptionisusedforfinancialliabilitiesthe change in fair value is accounted for as follows:

•thechangeinfairvalueattributabletochanges in credit risk is presented in othercomprehensiveincome(OCI);and

• other fair value changes are presented in profitorloss.Ifthisapproachcreatesorenlargesanaccountingmismatchintheprofitorloss,theeffectofthechangesincreditriskarealsopresentedinprofitorloss.

1 January 2018 TheassessmenthasindicatedtherewillbenosignificantimpactontheAuthority'sfinancialstatements.

AASB2014-1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards [Part E Financial Instruments]

AmendsvariousAASstoreflecttheAASB'sdecisiontodeferthemandatoryapplicationdateofAASB9toannualreportingperiodsbeginningonorafter1January2018asaconsequenceofChapter6HedgeAccounting,andtoamendreduceddisclosurerequirements.

1 January 2018 ThisamendingstandardwilldefertheapplicationperiodofAASB9tothe2018-19reportingperiodinaccordancewiththetransitionrequirements.

AASB2014-5 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 15

Amends the measurement of trade receivablesandtherecognitionofdividends.

Tradereceivables,thatdonothaveasignificantfinancingcomponent,aretobemeasuredattheirtransactionprice,atinitialrecognition.

Dividendsarerecognisedintheprofitandloss only when:

•theentity'srighttoreceivepaymentofthe dividend is established;

•itisprobablethattheeconomicbenefitsassociatedwiththedividendwillflowtotheentity;and

•theamountcanbemeasuredreliably.

1Jan2018,exceptamendments to

AASB9(December2009)andAASB9(December2010)apply 1 Jan 2018

TheassessmenthasindicatedthattherewillbenosignificantimpactontheAuthority'sfinancialstatements.

AASB2014-7 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 9

Amends various AASs to incorporate the consequentialamendmentsarisingfromtheissuanceofAASB9.

1 Jan 2018 TheassessmenthasindicatedthattherewillbenosignificantimpactontheAuthority'sfinancialstatements.

AASB1058 Income of Not-for-Profit Entities

ThisstandardreplacesAASB1004Contributionsandestablishesrevenuerecognitionprinciplesfortransactionswheretheconsiderationtoacquireanassetissignificantlylessthanfairvaluetoenabletonot-for-profitentitytofurtheritsobjectives.

1 Jan 2019 Theassessmenthasindicatedthatrevenue from capital grants that are provided under an enforceable agreement thathavesufficientlyspecificobligations,will now be deferred and recognised as performanceobligationsaresatisfied.Asaresult,thetimingrecognitionofrevenuewillchange.


108

DISCLOSUREINDEX

TheAnnualReportoftheGlenelgHopkinsCMAispreparedinaccordancewithallrelevantVictorianlegislation.ThisindexhasbeenpreparedtofacilitateidentificationoftheAuthority’scompliancewithstatutorydisclosurerequirements.

Legislation Requirement Page

Report of Operations – FRD Guidance

Charter and purpose

FRD22H Manner of establishment and the relevant Ministers 9

FRD22H Objectives,functions,powersandduties 9

FRD22H Natureandrangeofservicesprovided 9

Management and structure

FRD22H OrganisationalStructure 63

FRD22H Human Resource Management 64

FRD22H,SD3.2.1 AuditCommitteeMembershipandRoles 61

Financial and other information

FRD10A Disclosureindex 108

FRD11A DisclosureofEx-gratiaPayments 102

FRD12B Disclosureofmajorcontracts 67

FRD15E ExecutiveOfficerDisclosures 104

FRD22H Five-yearsummaryoffinancialresults 56

FRD22HSD5.2 Operationalandbudgetaryobjectivesandperformanceagainstobjectives 10

FRD22H Employment and conduct principles 65

FRD22H ConsultancyExpenditure 67

FRD29C StatementofWorkforceData 65

FRD22H Occupationalhealthandsafetypolicy 66

FRD22H Summaryofthefinancialresultsfortheyear 56

FRD22H Significantchangesinfinancialpositionduringtheyear 56

FRD22H Majorchangesorfactorsaffectingperformance 56

FRD22H Subsequentevents 56

FRD22H ApplicationandoperationoftheFreedom of Information Act 1982 68

FRD22H Compliance with building and maintenance provisions of Building Act 1993 68

FRD22H Competitiveneutralitypolicy 68

FRD22H ApplicationandoperationoftheProtected Disclosures Act 2012 68-69

FRD22H Detailsofconsultanciesover$100,000 67

FRD22H Detailsofconsultanciesunder$100,000 67

FRD22H Statementofavailabilityofotherinformation 69

FRD22H StandardDisclosuresintheReportofOperations 73

FRD24D Office-basedenvironmentalimpacts 70

FRD25C VictorianIndustryParticipationPolicydisclosures 67

FRD30D StandardrequirementsforthedesignandprintofAnnualReports 5

SD5.1.4 Financialmanagementcomplianceattestation 71

FRD22H GovernmentAdvertisingExpenditure 67

109

DISCLOSURE INDEX

Legislation Requirement Page

FRD22H InformationandCommunicationTechnologyExpenditure 67

SD4.2(g) Generalinformationrequirements 1-70

SD5.2.3 Sign-offrequirements 4

Financial Report

Financial statements required under Part 7 of the FMA

SD5.2(a) StatementofChangesinEquity 79

SD5.2(b) ComprehensiveOperatingStatement 76

SD5.2(a)(d)(e)(f) BalanceSheet 77

SD5.2(b) CashflowStatement 78

Other requirements under Standing Directions 4.2

SD5.2.1(a) CompliancewithAustralianaccountingstandardsandotherauthoritativepronouncements 106-107

SD5.2.1(a) CompliancewithMinisterialDirections 73

SD5.2(c) Accountableofficer’sdeclaration 73

Other disclosures as required by FRDs in notes to the financial statements

FRD103G Non-currentphysicalassets 87-88,99-101

FRD112D Definedbenefitsuperannuationobligations 85

FRD120I Accountingandreportingpronouncementsapplicabletothe2017-18reportingperiod 80,106-107

Legislation Freedom of Information Act 1982

Building Act 1993

Protected Disclosure Act 2012

Victorian Industry Participation Policy Act 2003

Financial Management Act 1994

Water Act 1989

Financial Management Act 1994

Public Administration Act 2004

Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994

Audit Act 1994

Emergency Management Act 2013

Planning & Environment Act 1987

110

GLOSSARY

ABC ActionsforBiodiversityConservation

ARI ArthurRylahInstitute

ARRC AustralianRiverRestorationCentre

BA BirdlifeAustralia

BAU BusinessasUsual

BGLC BarengiGadjinLandCouncil

CEO ChiefExecutiveOfficer

CFA CountryFireAuthority

CMA Catchment Management Authority

CVA ConservationVolunteersAustralia

Cwlth Commonwealth

DEDJTR DepartmentofEconomicDevelopment,Jobs,TransportandResources

DELWP DepartmentofEnvironment,Land,Water and Planning

DIWA DirectoryofImportantWetlands

DTR DepartmentofTreasuryandFinance

ECs EcologicalCommunities

ECs EcologicalCommunities

EEFAM EstuaryEnvironmentalFlowsAssessmentMethod

EEMSS Estuary Entrance Management Support System

EPBC EnvironmentProtectionandBiodiversityConservation

EVC EcologicalVegetationCommunities

EWR Environmental Water Reserve

GLaWAC Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation

GMTOAC GunditjMirringTraditionalOwners AboriginalCorporation

GWMWater Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water

IBA ImportantBirdAreas

IBAC IndependentBroad-basedAnti-CorruptionCommission

ICT InformationCommunicationTechnology

IEC IndexofEstuaryCondition

ISC IndexofStreamCondition

ISC3 IndexofStreamConditions2010

IWC IndexofWetlandCondition

LGA Local Government Agencies

MERI MonitorEvaluateReportandImprovement

NCP NationalCompetitionPolicy

NGO Non-GovernmentOrganisation

NLP NationalLandcareProgram

NRM NaturalResourceManagement

NDRRA NationalDisasterandRecoveryReliefArrangements

Non-BAU Non-BusinessAsUsual

OCOC OurCatchmentsOurCommunities

OH&S OccupationalHealthandSafety

PV Parks Victoria

PAA PublicAdministrationAct

RCS Regional Catchment Strategy

RLC Regional Landcare Coordinator

RLF RegionalLandcareFacilitator

RFMS RegionalFloodplainManagementStrategy

RNVP RegionalNativeVegetationPlan

RWMS Regional Waterway Management Strategy

SCA Stock Containment Area

SMWG StaffManagementWorkGroup

VLG Victorian Landcare Grants

VVP Victorian Volcanic Plains

VAGO VictorianAuditor-General’sOffice

VCMC Victorian Catchment Management Council

VEPP Victorian Environment Partnerships Program

VEWH Victorian Environmental Water Holder

VFMS VictorianFloodplainManagementStrategy

VPSC Victorian Public Sector Commission

VicSES Victoria State Emergency Service

VWMS Victorian Waterway Management Strategy

VWPIF VictorianWaterProgramInvestmentFramework

WAP WaterwayActionPlan

WESI WeedatEarlyStagesofInvasionProtocols

111

ENDNOTES

i DepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning,FrameworkforCatchmentConditionandManagementReportinginVictoria,IndicatorsandData,Version1.3–November2015,DepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning,EastMelbourne,2015.

ii Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Glenelg Hopkins Waterways Strategy 2014-2022,GlenelgHopkinsCMA,Hamilton,2014.

iii Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Glenelg Hopkins Waterways Strategy 2014-2022,GlenelgHopkinsCMA,Hamilton,2014.

iv Casanova,M.CurrentandFutureRisksofCroppingWetlandsinVictoria:TechnicalReport,DepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning,EastMelbourne,2016.

v DepartmentofEnvironmentandPrimaryIndustries,IndexofStreamCondition:TheThirdBenchmarkofVictorianRiverConditionISC3,DepartmentofEnvironmentandPrimaryIndustries,EastMelbourne,2013.

vi DepartmentofEnvironmentandPrimaryIndustries,IndexofStreamCondition:TheThirdBenchmarkofVictorianRiverConditionISC3,DepartmentofEnvironmentandPrimaryIndustries,EastMelbourne,2013.

vii Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Glenelg Hopkins Waterways Strategy 2014-2022,GlenelgHopkinsCMA,Hamilton,2014.

viii Pope,A.J,Barton,J.L.andQuinn,G.P.,VictorianIndexofEstuaryCondition:ImplementationTrialFinalReport.ReportbytheSchoolofLifeandEnvironmentalSciences,DeakinUniversityfortheDepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning,Warrnambool,2015.

ix https://mailchi.mp/19e212239bc2/the-latest-news-from-the-victorian-water-and-climate-initiative-244651?e=fc25ce3320

x GlenelgHopkinsCMA,GlenelgHopkinsRegionalCatchmentStrategy2013-2019,GlenelgHopkinsCMA,Hamilton,2013.

xi VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,RemnantNativeVegetationInvestigation–FinalReport.VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,EastMelbourne,2011.

xii VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,RemnantNativeVegetationInvestigation–FinalReport.VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,EastMelbourne,2011.

xiii VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,RemnantNativeVegetationInvestigation–FinalReport.VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,EastMelbourne,2011.

xiv VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,RemnantNativeVegetationInvestigation–FinalReport.VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,EastMelbourne,2011.

xv VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,RemnantNativeVegetationInvestigation–FinalReport.VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,EastMelbourne,2011.

xvi VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,RemnantNativeVegetationInvestigation–FinalReport.VictorianEnvironmentalAssessmentCouncil,EastMelbourne,2011.

xvii GlenelgHopkinsCMA,GlenelgHopkinsCMAClimateChange Strategy, Responding to Climate Change in the GlenelgHopkinsRegion2016-2023,GlenelgHopkinsCMA,Hamilton,2016.

xviii GlenelgHopkinsCMA,GlenelgHopkinsCMAClimateChange Strategy, Responding to Climate Change in the GlenelgHopkinsRegion2016-2023,GlenelgHopkinsCMA,Hamilton,2016.

xix VAJDoerr,KJWilliams,MDrielsma,EDDoerr,JLove,A Langston, S Low Choy, G Manion, EM Cawsey, HM McInnes,TJavanovic,DCrawfors,MAustin,SFerrier,Designinglandscapesforbiodiversityunderclimatechange,NationalClimateChangeAdaptationResearchFacility,GoldCoast,2013.

xx FennerSchooloftheEnvironment,AustralianNationalUniversity,Australia’sEnvironmentExplorer2016,viewed3March2017,(www.ausenv.online)

xxi FennerSchooloftheEnvironment,AustralianNationalUniversity,Australia’sEnvironmentExplorer2016,viewed3March2017,(www.ausenv.online)

xxii NMBaxterandNJRobinson,LandResourceAssessmentintheGlenelgHopkinsRegion,DepartmentofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment,Epsom,2001.

xxiii GlenelgHopkinsCMA,GlenelgHopkinsSoilHealthStrategy2014-2019,GlenelgHopkinsCMA,Hamilton,2014.

xxiv AustralianBureauofStatistics,75030DO002_201617ValueofAgriculturalCommoditiesProduced,Australia,2016-17.

xxv CoreEnvironmentalIndicatorsforReportingontheStateoftheEnvironment,AustralianandNewZealandEnvironmentandConservationCouncil,StateoftheEnvironmentReportingTaskForce,March2000.P.42

xxvi AustralianNationalUniversity-FennerSchooloftheEnvironment and Society, Australia’s Environment Explorer2016,AustralianNationalUniversity,Canberra,viewed3March2017,http://wenfo.org/ausenv/#/2016/Exposed_soil/Grid/Actual/NRM_Regions/bar,options/-37.68/142.60/9/Glenelg%20Hopkins/Roadmap/Opaque

xxvii https://www.standard.net.au/story/5294347/how-the-st-patricks-day-fires-devastated-the-south-west/.Accessed15July2018.

xxviii Australia’sEnvironmentExplorer2017,AustralianNationalUniversity.http://wenfo.org/ausenv/#/2017/Exposed_soil/Grid/Actual/NRM_Regions/bar,timeseries,options/-36.19/145.87/7/Glenelg%20Hopkins/Roadmap/Opaque

xxix DepartmentofClimateChange,ClimateriskstoAustralia’scoasts:afirstpassnationalassessment,AustralianGovernment,Canberra,2009.

xxx VictorianCoastalCouncil,VictorianCoastalStrategy2014,VictorianCoastalCouncil,EastMelbourne,2014.

xxxi Butcher,Retal.,EcologicalCharacterDescriptionforGlenelgEstuaryandDiscoveryBayWetlandComplex:Report to the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority,GlenelgHopkinsCMA,Hamilton,2015.

xxxii UnitedNationsEducation,ScientificandCulturalOrganisation,BudjBimCulturalLandscape,Accessed14July2017,http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6167/

79 French Street, Hamilton, Vic 3300T: 03 5571 2526 F: 03 5571 2935E: [email protected]

www.ghcma.vic.gov.au

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