Present:

Andrew Marshall (Chairperson), Maurice McCormick (Deputy Chairperson), Julie Pech (Water and Rivers Commission), Louise Duxbury (Watershed Torbay), Monty Walker, Ronald Master (Dept Ag), Howard Shapland, Keith Smith, Bill and Kath Spence, Lionel and Agnes Roberts, Terri Harwood and Pat Walker (Secretary).

Apologies:

Des Wolfe, Philip Marshall, David Elphick, Dianne Evers, Graham Heighton, Dale Holly

Minutes of previous meeting:

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed by Terri Harwood and Maurice McCormick

Business arising out of the minutes:

CITY OF ALBANY'S ROADSIDE CLEARING POLICY: Keith Smith reported Melanie Price had a double booking for the night but would endeavour to get to the next meeting.

Correspondence:

INWARDS: 5 April 2002 City of Albany
OUTWARDS: City of Albany - Proposed quarry at Torbay - written by A. Marshall

General business:

WATERSHED TORBAY:

Watershed Torbay Launch

It was considered the Torbay Catchment Group could have been given a higher profile at the recent launch of the Watershed Torbay Project. The launch provided an opportunity to show the Minister the catchment. It was suggested a means of better profiling the group was to seek improvements in communication between the Catchment Group and Watershed Torbay project teams.

Concern was also expressed over the lack of communication and liaison between the Watershed Torbay Community Steering Group, the Technical Advisory Group and the Torbay Catchment Group.

Action: Andrew Marshall to raise the issue of communication between the Torbay Catchment Group and Watershed Torbay project teams at the next meeting of the Community Steering Group.

Positive outcomes from the launch were raised, including increased interest in the Watershed Torbay project from northern areas of the catchment previously lacking in representation, and increased awareness throughout the community and further afield of Torbay Catchment and the Watershed Torbay project.

It was pointed out that time limitations imposed by the Minister's office prevented taking the Minister on a more extensive tour of Torbay Catchment's waterways and demonstration sites. However on arrival at Albany airport the Minister was driven through Torbay Catchment from Redmond to Elleker, past typical landuses and landmarks in the catchment including Albany's wastewater treatment plant and bluegum plantations, grazing and horticultural activities, and Marbelup Brook.

Frequency of Steering Group Meetings

Community Steering Group members reported on progress made by the Steering Group. Some discussion took place regarding alteration of Steering Group meeting dates to better coordinate with Catchment Group Dates took place, however it was decided to leave the allocated meeting dates as is for the year. Monthly Steering Group meetings are needed to progress the Watershed Torbay project, with 6-weekly meetings of the Torbay Catchment Group felt to be of adequate frequency.

Watershed Torbay Research and Technical Advisory Group

The Catchment Group would like more interaction from the Technical Advisory Group. Catchment Group members would like to meet the Technical Advisory Group, would like to see research timelines, and would like members of the Technical Advisory Group to regularly present at Catchment Group meetings.

Watershed Torbay Newsletter

Louise Duxbury showed a draft of the Watershed Torbay newsletter, to be sent to approximately 700 people living in Torbay Catchment in the next few weeks. Louise asked for anything of interest to be forwarded to her for the next newsletter, which will be produced quarterly.

Community Information Sessions

Louise advised of the forthcoming community forums to be held on Saturday 8th, Sunday 9th and Saturday 15th June at Elleker, Torbay and Redmond halls respectively. The afternoons will provide community members with the opportunity to gather information on key issues, solutions and the future of the Catchment. David Weaver of Department of Agriculture will present information on nutrient studies in the catchment area.

Farming for Nutrient Reduction Workshop

David Weaver and Simon Neville (Ecotones) have produced a model of nutrient loss from different landuses in the catchment and farmer's input is now needed to test that the assumptions made by the model are correct. The "Farming for Nutrient Reduction" workshop will be held at Elleker Hall on Tuesday 2nd July.

School Involvement in Catchment Group Activities

M. McCormick asked if children living in the catchment area could be informed of what the Torbay Catchment Group members are doing using the schools they attend. Louise advised that John Woodbury, Principal of Woodbury Boston Environmental School reported students of the school were growing plants to be used in the Catchment area.

Photographic Competition

Details for the competition were provided. The closing date is Friday 21st June, with registration forms available from the Elleker, Youngs Siding and Redmond stores.

FIELD DAY PLANNING FOR 2002:

An annual bus tour of the Catchment has been held in previous years. Ron Master spoke of soil workshops held in the Great Southern where the topics covered applied mainly to broad acre cropping areas. Ron was asked to organise a soil field day for Torbay Catchment, appropriate for the higher rainfall area.

COAST AND CLEAN SEAS DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS:

The launch of the constructed wetland on Philip Marshall's property is planned for Sunday 26 May 2002 at 2.00pm, with Alison Goode, City of Albany Mayor, to open the wetland. This constructed wetland is one of only 20 in the world which have a water quality monitoring program in place of sufficient standard. Intensive water quality monitoring will provide data on how effectively the wetland is working to remove nutrients. The Torbay Catchment Group should be proud of the achievement.

NATIONAL HERITAGE TRUST:

Ron Master reported that $30,000 community grants are available through the Federal Government's Envirofund program, and that the Catchment Group should take up this opportunity. Applications close on 5 June 2002. He asked members to look at the web site www.nht.gov.au for examples of community projects previously funded. Andrew Marshall and Maurice McCormick undertook to put in an application for watsonia control and revegetation. Keith Smith, Ronald Master, Andrew and Maurice to meet and work on the application.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 19 June 2002.