Welcome to guest speaker:

The Deputy Chairperson welcomed David Weaver from AgWEST to the meeting.

Attendances:

Andrew Marshall (Deputy Chairperson), Dianne Evers (City of Albany Councillor), Julie Pech (WRC), Chris Gunby (WRC), Paul Blechynden (CALM), Graham Wright (Water Corp), Ron Master (AgWEST), David Weaver (AgWEST), Graeme Heighton, Kevin Priddle, Philip Mellon, (Elleker Progress Association), Phillip Marshall, Chris Westcott, Terry Allen, John Kratochvill, Liz Marshall, Jamie Ramage, David Elphick, Caroline Caddy, Maurice McCormick, John Sutherland, Yvette Worsfold and Pat Walker (Secretary).

Apologies:

Apologies were received from Naomi Arrowsmith, Paul Beattie, Peter Elmer, Clark McGarva, Laurie Eldridge, Howard Shapland, Tony Erith, Hugh Smith and Des Wolfe.

Catchment nutrient hot spots project:

David Weaver spoke to the meeting about his work as a researcher into nutrient run-off for the past ten years, mostly in Oyster Harbour catchment. He said there were two programmes - HOTWOC which identified hotspots within the Oyster Harbour and Wilson Inlet catchments. PEWOC looked into what management practices can be applied and how effective they are. David showed overhead projections of the catchment area for the Oyster Harbour and Wilson Inlet, identifying parts of both where degradation had occurred and what was being done about it. He said that the Torbay Inlet Catchment area would be very similar.

Minutes of previous meeting:

The minutes were taken as read and confirmed on the motion of D Evers and P Marshall., Carried.

Whole-of-catchment river restoration demonstration - National Rivers Consortium funding proposal:

Julie Pech told the meeting of how LWRRDC (Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation) had created the National Rivers Consortium and were looking to fund a catchment-wide demonstration project. Of the WA contenders, the Torbay Catchment matched the 15 selection criteria and has been chosen as a national case study. The catchment and Group will get national publicity, reports at national level and will be set up to receive funding for salinity and water quality. A contribution of approx. $500,000 over four years will come from Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation and another $480,000 over four years from the Water and Rivers Commission. The grant will cover research and in-house training, employment of a part time project manager, a part time Catchment co-ordinator and on-ground work. Phil Price will be coming to a meeting with the Group on Thursday 8 March 2001 at 7.30pm at the Elleker Hall.

Incorporation of Torbay Sub-catchment Group:

Discussion took place on where the grant for the Coast & Clean Seas project on Phillip Marshall's property would be held, as Torbay Catchment Group was not an incorporated body and would have to be, to hold the grant. It was decided to put the grant money in the Hay LCDC until such time as the Group became an incorporated body. Ron Master offered to get information on incorporation for the Torbay Catchment Group to bring to the meeting on 8 March.

Update of coast and clean seas demonstration sites:

Chris Gunby of Water and Rivers Commission advised that funds had been received for work on drainage systems, slow the flow of water, etc. Seven sites had been selected, three of which are in the Torbay Catchment area. One is the wetland on Phillip Marshall's property, another is the stream on Gary Martin's property on Corio Road and the third is the Water Corporations Drains on Grasmere drain.

It was moved by M McCormick, seconded D Elphick that the TCG manage the wetlands project on P Marshall's property. Carried. It was decided to establish a management group to guide the programme and to supervise how the money is spent. The Management Group will be made up of Andrew Marshall, Maurice McCormick, Hugh Smith, Caroline Caddy and Terry Allen.

Andrew Marshall reported that earthworks had been done, stone placed on erosion points, kikuyu poisoned and tree lines ripped on G Martins property. He asked for help for fencing in the near future and members volunteered to help. Replanting of vegetation would follow when the rains came. Chris Gunby asked that records be kept of the time people spent on such projects.

North Creek drain - proposed bund:

Graham Wright from the Water Corporation told the meeting that the Water Corporation proposed putting a bund on North Creek drain near Lake Powell in an endeavour to control water if heavy summer rains threatened potato crops and fishermen on the coast. Graham showed members where the bund would be situated and said it would be similar to the Penstocks on Elleker-Grasmere Road.

Proposed liquid waste site, Down Road:

The proposal was to be considered by the City of Albany on 13 March, and submissions had to be in by Friday, 23 February. Andrew and Liz Marshall had put in a submission on behalf of the Torbay Sub-Catchment Group. Andrew tabled the submission and members thanked he and Liz for their efforts. The submission was endorsed on the motion of M McCormick and C Caddy.

Draft report on the Albany western hinterland umbrella catchment proposal:

Jean Webb, President of Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee Inc. forwarded copies of the draft for members to read. As comments and feedback had been requested before Thursday 8 March, Chris Gunby undertook to ask for a 24-hour delay for our comments.

Elleker Progress and Sporting Association:

The association submitted a letter voicing their concerns for the quality of water in the drainage system in the Elleker area and Torbay Inlet. Kevin Priddle tabled a large sample of water taken from the Torbay Inlet that morning. The jar was full of dark green water - algal bloom.

The meeting closed at 9.50 pm.