Vision:

That our catchment is..... 'An environmentally clean, balanced ecology supporting a prosperous community in which people respect each other's use of the catchment and waterways'

Objectives:

• To investigate and encourage all land managers to monitor the rising ground water table, particularly in the upper catchment.
• To investigate and encourage all land managers to pursue all measures that will arrest and eventually subdue the rising ground water table, particularly in the upper catchment.
• To encourage and seek technical assistance for land managers in mapping, planning and monitoring of farm practices.
• To investigate, encourage and seek technical assistance for landowners to control surface run-off water and drain excessive surface water.
• To investigate and encourage farm practices that use the required amount of ground water, including the strategic planting of trees, fodder shrubs, or deep-rooted perennial plants to make farms in the catchment more viable and sustainable.
• To encourage land managers within the group to apply for and receive monies that are available from the Government and other sources for conservation or environmental works, either individually or jointly as a catchment group.
• To investigate and encourage ways of minimizing the transportation of nutrients (particularly through the lower catchment).
• To investigate and encourage ways of minimizing the transportation of sediments (particularly along road verges in the upper catchment).
• To minimize the spread of introduced weed species, particularly along road verges, railway lines, drains and water bodies.
• To minimize conditions which encourage algal blooms.
• To implement best management practices to stabilize the drains to minimize soil erosion.
• To encourage passive recreation activities (eg. fishing and walking) and discourage high speed activities on our water bodies.
• To increase awareness of appropriate land planning.
• To minimize the spread of introduced animal species including cats, foxes, rabbits and encourage native fauna.
• To encourage biodiversity by planting, replanting and protecting remnant vegetation.

Review of the Catchment Tour Bus Trip

   What went well?

• Education about the whole area
• Talking to everyone and understanding each other's views
• Interaction ñ appreciation of other's concerns
• Seeing Andrew Marshall's farm where he has fenced off all his remnant vegetation
• The weather
• The food
• Visiting the tree farm which manages the sewage water
• Great driver, Warren of Albany Bus Charters

• Tour when there is more water running through the catchment
• Visit someone outside this group, possibly a tree farm, just to see different problems (outside our own)
• Not a Friday or a week day next time (not everyone could make it)

Roles and Responsibilities in the Group

Chairperson:  Des Wolfe
Deputy Chair:  Andrew Marshall
Minute Taker:  Jan Eldridge

Publicity

Spokepersons:  Des Wolfe, Andrew Marshall
Media Releases/Newsletters:  Pat Walker
Newsletter:  1- 2 times year

   Media release after each meeting to:

• Enhance status of the group
• Make contact with interested people
• Raise awareness of issues
• Get feedback/ideas/suggestions.
• Decision made not to advertise the meetings publicly, to keep the size of the group manageable. People who hear of the group through word of mouth and publicity, and are interested in joining are most welcome to attend

1-2 times a year hold an open community meeting with guest speaker, to raise the profile of the group's work in the community.

   Key items to publicise:

• Positive meetings
• Vision
• Numbers attending, all talking
• People in group for public to contact / office bearers in group
• Emphasise skills of group
• Agreement reached on catchment works to be funded

Funding Arrangements

Reviewed draft grants contract with group.
Requirements of group will be incorporated into the contract.
New contract to be discussed and endorsed by group at next meeting.

Planned Projects

Briefly reviewed Torbay Sub-Catchment Action Plan. Most of these activities will now fit objectives of the group.

Group Attendance

Letter sent to Redmond Progress Association inviting people from north of catchment to the group's meetings - no response as yet.
People from the fishing community invited - no response.
Suggestion to invite people from Down Road side (eastern) of catchment.
Invite dairy farmers.

Date and Location of Next Meeting:

Next meeting Wednesday 7th July, 7.30 pm, Elleker Hall

Other Business

State Landcare Conference - Esperance 8,9,10 September 1999: Kym to bring brochures 7th July meeting.

Hay LCDC - Ripper/Mounder for Hire $50 per day, can be pulled by a 26 HP, 4WD tractor