Welcome to the 2015/16 Community Natural Resource Management Report Card. The report is compiled by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority on behalf of the community, to describe all of the great work undertaken by the region’s volunteer-based environment and sustainable farming groups. The information is gathered using a voluntary annual survey. This year 65 of the 108 (60%) known groups provided the data that informs the achievements and highlights in this report.

Key OutputsOur community NRM groups pride themselves on their ability to get the job done. In 2015/16 an amazing amount of on-ground works have been completed.

Goulburn BrokenCatchment Community Natural Resource Management

2015/16 Report Card

2015/16 Goulburn Broken Natural Resource Management Report Card | 1

Fox Control (controlled across)

73,080 Ha

Rabbit Control Fencing

103,341 Ha 219.9 Km

Remnant Protection/Enhancement

659.0 Ha

Nest Boxes (installed or monitored)

1,990

Revegetation

518.6 HaWeed Control

4,489.3 Ha

2015/16 Goulburn Broken Natural Resource Management Report Card | 2

GB CMA Community NRM

12Networks

5 Conservation Management 7 Landcare

96Groups

5,473 Members

526 new members in 2015/1627 identify as Aboriginal

or Torres Strait Islander (0.5%)

$1.065m Project funding

2,707Additional volunteers

Capacity Building EventsOur Community NRM groups continue to drive the delivery of tailored information to our land managers through a variety of events and activities. Local priorities direct the content and delivery methods.

192 Field Days

275 Info Sessions

124 Guest Speakers

45 Other

636Events

2014/15

6,520 students

27schools

2013/14

8,560 students

27schools

2015/16

7,629 students

27schools

Schools EngagedInvesting in the knowledge of our next generation of land managers is a vital role that community NRM groups in the Goulburn Broken region play. We have some very strong networks operating in this space and in 2015/16 have engaged over 7,500 students.

Network and Group HealthUsing indicators such as recruitment, partnerships and governance our groups and networks have been able to rate their health on a scale from 1 (just hanging on) to 5 (trail-blazers).

Future IssuesGoulburn Broken Community NRM groups rate the following as the greatest challenges over the coming 5 years on a scale of 0 (not important) to 5 (very important).

3.4/5Sustainable Farm Practices

3.5/5Funding for Facilitator Support

4.2/5Vegetation Protection and Enhancement

4.2/5Pest Plant and Animals

3.6/5Improving Land Managers’ Skills and Knowledge

3.8/5Waterway Protection

2.9/5Emergency Recovery

3.5/5Project Funding

3.0/5Volunteer Recruitment

3.6/5Threatened Species

2015/16 Goulburn Broken Natural Resource Management Report Card | 3

2015/16 2014/15 2013/14

Average Group Health2.8 3.0 3.0

Trail-blazers (5)

Rolling along smoothly (4)

Moving forward (3)

Struggling with a dedicated core (2)

Just hanging on (1)

Average Network Health2015/16 2014/15 2013/144.2 4.6 3.9

Trail-blazers (5)

Rolling along smoothly (4)

Moving forward (3)

Struggling with a dedicated core (2)

Just hanging on (1)

The above graphs show group and network health over 3 years noting that the number of responding groups varies each year.

2015/16 Goulburn Broken Natural Resource Management Report Card | 4

Traditional Owner EngagementTaungurang Clans and Yorta Yorta Nation are the two Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) that operate in the Goulburn Broken Catchment. Our Community NRM groups are committed to working with RAPs in the delivery of projects and in 2015/16 there were once again strong levels of engagement.

6Other

2015/16

6Yorta Yorta

Nation

13Taungarung

Clans

15Groups

2014/15

1Other

8Yorta Yorta

Nation

18Taungarung

Clans

27Groups

Pest Plant and Animal PrioritiesManaging pest plants and animals is a large part of our Community NRM groups’ on-ground works and continues to be a major issue. Groups were asked to list the pest plant and animal species that they needed to work on over the coming year. The increase in community concern about Patterson’s Curse and deer was noticeable as was the “other” category suggesting that it is local issue species that need to be worked on not just state-wide issues of blackberries, rabbits and foxes.

65% Blackberries 37% Deer

55% Foxes 35% Chilean Needle Grass

55% Rabbits 26% Gorse

49% Other 11% Serrated Tussock

48% Patterson’s Curse 5% Ink Weed

2015/16 Goulburn Broken Natural Resource Management Report Card | 5

The survey is voluntary. Many thanks to the 65 groups (60% of the total number of groups in the region) who took the time to respond this year.

The Goulburn Broken CMA actively supports Landcare and other NRM groups through the employment of the Regional Landcare Coordinator and Regional Landcare Facilitator (funded through the Australian Government’s

National Landcare Programme).

Regional Landcare Coordinator Tony Kubeil

89 Sydney Rd, BenallaTel. 0408 597 213

Regional Landcare Facilitator Ashley Rogers

89 Sydney Rd, BenallaTel. (03) 5764 7507

To find out more about Landcare in the Goulburn Broken catchment you can go to either of these websites:

www.landcarevic.net.au or www.gbcma.vic.gov.au

2015/16 2014/15

Newsletter (electronic)

Newsletter (hardcopy)

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Signage

Annual Report

Newspaper

83%75%

42%

46%39%

29%29%

5%

12%

54%

45%

63%

54%

10%

15%

53%

44%

N/A

How Our Groups Communicate