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Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority

The Sydney Metropolitan CMA region extends from Mona Vale to Stanwell Park, and from Blacktown to the coast. Photo: Simon Ho

mambaraSummer 2011 | Issue 33www.sydney.cma.nsw.gov.au

Caring for Our Coast:

mambaraThe Aboriginal Darug name for Geebung Tree (Persoonia sp)News views and occasional interviews from across the SMCMA

CatchmentCatch-up

Easter Show Bushcare Stall:Willoughby City Council and the SMCMA will coordinate a Bushcare stall at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Now in its eighth year, the stall promotes Bushcare to 900,000 show-goers.

Located at the Great Aussie Backyard the stall is open daily from April 5 to 18.

To volunteer contact Jeanie Muspratt: jeanie.muspratt@cma.nsw.gov.au or 9895 6137.

Download Mambara: www.sydney.cma.nsw.gov.au

A three-year, two-stage project delivered by the 5 NSW Coastal CMAs has delivered in “spades”

15,000+: The number of people engaged

by The program. 2600:The number of volunteers who took part.

510: Coastal zone hectares of native haBitat restored.

1180: HECTARES TREATED foR WEEDS, mostly lantana and bitou bush. (Within the SMCMA, the removal of salvinia from breeding grounds at Warriewood Wetlands assisted many species of waterbirds).

319: Workshops and TRAiNiNg

EvENTS were held, sharing knoWledge

across the 5 CMAs.

Within the SMCMA, Friends oF Bungan volunteer, Janet Kershaw reported that weeding at Sydney’s northern beaches has made a real difference. “We’re already noticing changes in the birdlife in the areas that have

been weeded and replanted. I am seeing more native willy-wagtails and fewer exotic birds.”

97: individual projects in Stage 1 were delivered by the joint forceS of the 5 nSw coaStal cMaS (Northern Rivers, Hunter-Central Rivers, Hawkesbury-Nepean, Sydney Metropolitan and Southern Rivers).

These 97 projects met (and even exceeded) the Australian government’s 12 Caring

for our Country natural resource targets.

$4.85 million of Australian Government Caring for our Country Initiative funding is being delivered between 2009-2012.

The SMCMA also addressed 10 Catchment targets and 4 Management Targets under its Catchment Action Plan. (See the SMCMA website for details on these targets)

SMCMa: Sharing our Data:over the past five years the SMCMA has been building a reference library of geospatial data using a geographical information System (giS).

Between November 2010 and october 2011 the SMCMA hosted a series of eight workshops designed for giS or Biodiversity officers from each of the 39 Local government Areas within the SMCMA catchment.

feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with council delegates requesting the SMCMA continue to conduct the workshops. Councils are now more aware of what SMCMA data is available, the background of the data, and how the data can be used.

By taking the initiative in sharing the giS data the SMCMA holds, councils are now reciprocating, meaning more information is available to better manage natural resources across Sydney.

The data being collected from the councils will be used to update and produce a number of data sets including mapping of vegetation, fauna, waterways and groundwater; foreshore and subtidal mapping; and historical mapping of estuarine regions.

Sonia bennet, hong Li, robin and ron davies: The bushcare stall won the inaugural green award for ‘”Innovative thinking and the most environmentally sustainable display or product” at the 2010 Sydney royal easter Show.

2012 SMCMa Community Forum:To acknowledge the five years since the first SMCMA Community forum the theme is: “Looking Back…Thinking Forward”.. A highlight is the inaugural “Best Bushcare Photo” competition

date: Saturday 17th March 2012. venue: Waterview Centre, Bicentennial Park, Sydney olympic Park. guest Speakers: Siwan Lovett – Australian River Restoration Centre and Peter Dixon – NSW Environmental Trust.

Join fellow volunteers and bushcarers to celebrate our successes and share strategies for future challenges.

contact: Judy Christie 9895 7753 or judy.christie@cma.nsw.gov.au

SmCma contractor, Jane bailey delivered eight gIS data-sharing workshops to staff from councils within the SmCma catchment.

delegates at the 2010 SmCma Community Forum at Waterview Centre, bicentennial park.

Mambara is the official newsletter of the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority (SMCMA). it is funded through the Australian government Caring for our Country initiative.

The SMCMA is one of 13 NSW and 56 Australian natural resource bodies whose purpose is to provide a landscape-scale regional approach to management of the natural environment.

Mambara is published quarterly. Email is the preferred method of distribution. or download: www.smcma.nsw.gov.au Mambara is printed on recycled paper

Contact Mambara editor: Louise McMahon louise.mcmahon@cma.nsw.gov.au

catchment action Plan: Michele Bailey michele.bailey@cma.nsw.gov.au

volunteer coordinators’ network: Jeanie Muspratt jeanie.muspratt@cma.nsw.gov.au

Po Box 3720, PARRAMATTA NSW 2124

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Partners On-boardThe support of key peak bodies has been acknowledged as an important ingredient to the success of this project. industry bodies involved include the Boating industry Association of NSW; Boat owners Association of NSW and the Recreational fishing Alliance of NSW.

The project is also supported by the NSW Department of Primary industries and NSW Maritime. nSw coastal cMas: Sydney Metropolitan, Southern Rivers, Hawkesbury-Nepean, Hunter-Central Rivers and Northern Rivers.

Funding: This project is partially funded through the Coastal CMAs and the Australian government’s Caring for our Country initiative.

one of the key ideas is to recruit boaters & fishers to be the eyes, ears and voice of the aquatic environment.

This recruitment recognises there is a lot people can do to protect and enhance the waterways they love. There are five hot-line numbers to report incidents that range from habitat destruction; algal blooms; sightings of aquatic pests; and illegal discharge from vessels or boat wash that causes significant bank erosion. (see hotline box)

it’s a bit of a “motherhood” statement to say Sydneysiders love their waterways….. it is safe to assume that everyone wants to enjoy clean water and a healthy environment when they visit their favourite boating, fishing, swimming or recreational water spot.

for the past 12 months the SMCMA in partnership with the four other Coastal CMAs has been conducting a project designed to highlight the environmental pressures facing our aquatic environment and educate and engage the support of recreational boaters and fishers to take action to help.

The project has been promoted under the banner:

Summer… sparks Sydneysiders to savour their favourite waterways and coasts…

aquatic Champions The effectiveness of peer-to-peer learning has been well documented, and this component of the Coastal CMAs’ project will recruit recreational boater and fisher aquatic champions to “have a friendly, casual chat” with other boaters and fishers about issues such as the importance of washing down boats, avoiding anchoring in seagrass and other simple but effective ways to help reduce the stress on waterways. training: for aquatic champions will be offered by the SMCMA during 2012.

Call-up for Clean-up Crewfor people who like to get a bit more “hands-on”, there is the opportunity to take part in marine debris clean up days across NSW. it is well understood that rubbish in oceans originated on land. This rubbish seriously impacts marine life. Each of the five NSW Coastal CMAs will host a marine debris clean-up day in 2012. The date and location for the SMCMA will be posted on our website when confirmed.

contact for more information, to volunteer for the SMcMa marine debris clean up day or to participate in the aquatic champions training, contact SMcMa’s catchment officer (aquatic) john naughton: (02) 9895 6274 or john.naughton@cma.nsw.gov.au

Coast Care:This project is being delivered in 2 stages as a cross-regional project. The five coastal CMAs are working together to achieve 12 short-term Australian Government natural

resource targets in four priority areas.

The five coastal CMAs are: Sydney Metropolitan, Northern Rivers, Hunter-Central Rivers, Hawkesbury-Nepean and Southern Rivers.

The four Australian Government Caring for our Country priority areas are: Biodiversity and natural icons; coastal environments and critical

aquatic habitats; sustainable farming practices; community skills, knowledge and engagement.

Caring for our Coast has provided a broad cross-section of NSW coastal communities with a greater exposure to

local environmental issues.

The success of the project is due to the efforts of all the community volunteers that gave

their time and energy to planting, weeding, networking and sharing knowledge.

Every $1 of funding from the Australian Government was met

with a $1.40 contribution from the project partners in

Stage 1. The front page highlights the project

achievements.

Continued from page 1

The coast of nsW

stretches 4300kms from

Tweed heads to nadgee.

There are 721 beaches

and 130 estuaries.

David Harasti ©

David Harasti ©

Dav

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Habitat: Protect it, don’t neglect it. Boaters and Fishers are encouraged to protect seagrass beds which are important habitat within the aquatic environment. The message is to keep propellers clear, and to anchor away from seagrass beds and rocky reefs.

Online SurveyAn on-line survey was designed so that the opinions and ideas collected

from participants could be used to help develop the guidelines underpinning the “Environmental Education Strategy for NSW Coastal

Boaters and fishers” as it was officially known. Recognising this as an unwieldy title, the project was branded: Healthy waterways ~ better

boating ~ more fish.

Survey ResultsThe survey was promoted widely and generated some 900 responses.

These proved valuable in guiding the development of the strategy, particularly as it is estimated that 95 per cent of boaters and fishers do

not belong to organised boating or fishing clubs.

Key Boaters and Fishers Forum: MarchTo build on the information obtained from the survey, the SMCMA invited key representatives of the recreational boating and fishing

“world” to an evening forum. Some 30 people attended and commented on a range of topics to help guide the education strategy. The forum aimed to bring together a cross section of boaters, fishers,

people involved in organised clubs and people who enjoyed these activities outside organised clubs.

CMa train the trainer Workshop: august

Staff from all five NSW Coastal CMAs took part in a specialist training day. This training provided the skills for CMA staff across NSW to deliver presentations in their communities. The idea was to take a consistent approach, but allow flexibility for the presentation to be

tailored to suit each community.

Community PresentationsSMCMA Project officer John Naughton, has delivered presentations

to boating and fishing clubs across the SMCMA over the past few months. He said the feedback has been positive.

Back to the beginning: Survey 2012As a way to review the delivery of the environmental education

strategy during 2011, a second survey will be conducted during 2012.

USE thESE hOtLiNES tO REPORt:1800:043536: Habitat destruction regional fish kills and illegal fishing13 15 55: Pollution; algal blooms and Sydney region fish kills02 4916 3877: Aquatic pest sighting1800 680 244: freshwater weeds13 12 56: illegal discharge from vessels or significant erosion caused by boat wash

the “Strategy” behind the Boaters and Fishers Environmental Education StrategyThe 2011 “Healthy Waterways ~ better boating ~ more fish” project evolved from an earlier successful program conducted by the SMCMA which had focussed on educating boaters and fishers about marine pests. it was decided this new project would take a broader approach.

At the starting gate of the new project the SMCMA was confronted with several core questions, such as “How can the SMCMA best reach recreational boaters and fishers? What do they know about the environmental pressures facing our waterways, and what information and encouragement do they need to get involved in protecting the waterways they enjoy and value?

To answer these questions the SMCMA joined with the four other coastal NSW CMAs to develop and promote a seven-minute on-line survey which was launched in late December 2010 and ran to mid-february 2011.

mambara