The Planning
A major component of the Gascoyne Catchments Project is to develop individual property action plans with the purpose of targeting investment into remedial works which need to be undertaken within the Lyndon, Minilya, Gascoyne, Lyons and Wooramel rivers.
The ESRM Team works alongside the Gascoyne Catchments Project to provide professional assistance in developing these Property Action Plans. These plans, derived from the pastoral managers’ knowledge, identify the factors that drive landscape function, biodiversity and livestock productivity. Land managers, in collaboration with ESRM and the Gascoyne Catchments Project, can then use this knowledge to assess current management practices and develop appropriate management strategies or interventions.
These interventions may include on ground works such as infrastructure development and remedial earthworks, total grazing pressure management, biodiversity conservation activities and technical and financial advice. ESRM plans need to be supported by a sound business plan. Assistance will be provided to access allocated ESRM funding and other funding sources.
The ESRM team and Jodie from Rangeland Monitoring Services have rolled out twenty two property action plans for the Gascoyne Catchments Project area.
The steering committee sought the help of a facilitator in May 08 to help set the direction of the project. Rob Richards from Clear Horizons in Victoria was engaged as the consultant for a one day intensive workshop to develop the project logic. This logic clearly demonstrates what the project is trying to achieve and it enabled the committee to determine a specific vision and short and long term objectives, which will also allow the group to monitor its success and failures.
The vision of the project is ‘to develop an ecologically sustainable, profitable and respected pastoral industry that supports an adaptive and vibrant community’.
To view the logic please click here.