ATTENDANCES: Andrew Marshall (Chairperson), Dale Holley (Secretary), Kim Kershaw (CALM), Chris Gunby (DoE), Maurice McCormick (Deputy Chairperson), Naomi Arrowmith (DoE), John Blaney-Murphy, John Kratochvill, Peter Blyth, Noel Bignell, Laurie Eldridge, Louise Duxbury (Green Skills), Monty Walker, Ronald Master (DoA), Adrian Stratico (Water Corp)

APOLOGIES: Peter Collins (CALM), Graeme Heighton (Treasurer), Lionel Downes, Chris Westcott, Graham Wright (Water Corp).

John Blaney-Murphy confirmed that the Minutes were a true and correct record of the meeting held on 23rd March, 2005 and Maurice McCormick seconded.

3.1 Inwards

1. 13th April, 2005 from Naomi Arrowsmith (DoE), The Department is able to assist the TCG and catchment landowners with a $23,000 grant plus $2300 GST for the remainder of 2004/05 financial year for ongoing waterways restoration on private properties within the catchment.
2. 19th April, 2005 from John Watson CALM acknowledging the TCG's interest in setting up a "Friends of Lake Powell Group". CALM is keen to work with the TCG to further develop the Interim Management Guidelines and the implementations of those guidelines.
3. 6th April, 2005 from Les Hewer, Executive Director Works and Services, City of Albany regarding the culverts on Corio Road. The culverts are being installed this week. The City was unable to finalise the project earlier due to other commitments. (Maurice McCormick reported that the culverts are now in).
4. 31st March, 2005 Naomi Arrowsmith (DoE South Coast Regional Manager) Copy of letter sent to landowners who participated in the Groundwater Investigations of the Lower Torbay Catchment, enclosing a copy of the report titled "What Lies Beneath". Chris Westcott, Phil Reddin, Noel Bignell and Hugh Smith were thanked for their commitment to the study and DoE apologised for the delay in announcing the outcomes of the study. A copy of the report can be obtained from Andrew Maughan 9841-0104.
5. Email from Julie Pech DoE Naomi has approved expenditure of the DoE grant funds on fencing of existing native vegetation remnants (not associated with waterways). Julie will has amended the DOE / TCG / landholder grant agreement accordingly.

3.2 Outwards

1. 12th April, 2005 Marion & John Lightfoot thanking them for membership fee and donation of $25.00.
2. 30th March, 2005 City of Albany regarding the removal of culverts on Corio Road. Raising concern that winter rains may cause environmental damage if the culverts are not reinstalled.
3. 19th April, 2005 to SCRIPT Chris Baillie acknowledging receipt of cheque for $4,438.50

4.1 Treasurer's report There was an opening balance of $6,437.45, Expenses (Inc GST since 23rd March $7.30), Outstanding expenses $330.00, Income - bank interest $320.58 Leaving a balance of $64,950.73 Petty cash balance as at 4th May is $25.00
Maurice McCormick accepted the treasurer's report.

4.2 4.2 New memberships and fees: Membership fees can be sent to Treasurer Graeme Heighton, P.O. Box 1900, Albany 6331

4.3 Coast and Clean Seas Project Account: Project will have a separate bank account.

4.4 New DoE Grant for TCG ($23,000 as reported above): The Grant Agreement is being updated. (At present there is a limit for fencing of $600 km and now subsidies will be offered at up to half the cost of construction, at the discretion of the TCG for riparian and bushland fencing that excludes stock. Trying to make it more flexible depending on the type of fence needed. (eg more elaborate fencing for goats). The other main change is the addition of fencing native vegetation (as above email) There will be conditions attached.

4.5 Envirofund 2004 Project acquittal is now at the auditors, so nearly finished.

5.1 Protecting quality of Marbellup Brook for public water supplies:

Chris Gunby (DoE) spoke at length on managing the quality and quantity of water of the Marbellup Brook and public water supplies.

Managing Quantity

• Proclamation of Marbellup Brook under Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. Allows the DoE the right to control the extraction of water
• Various studies on water availability. WC needs to be comfortable there is the right amount of water available
• Survey of existing and future water abstraction. There is a need to be clear about who is using the water
• Environmental water requirements. What impact it will have on flora and fauna
• Allocation plan, guiding allocations to public, private and environmental needs.
• Requires licences for abstraction

Quality

• Gazette Marbellup Brook catchment area under Country Areas Water Supply Act.
• Studies/again WC needs to be happy with the quality of the water
• Water reserve drinking water source risk assessment
• Marbellup Brook Water Source Protection/ how it needs to be managed
• Incorporation of Protection Plan (Chris tabled an example of the Protection Plan) Chris would like to come back and talk further to the Group on this.
• Developments/land use change judged against TPS (CoA)

Marbellup has been identified as the preferred source of water but other options have to be exhausted first. The WC envisages it may be up to 20 years before water will be needed from the area.

5.2 Water grant allocation - update:

There has not been a very good response for further allocations of funds for fencing etc. A mail out to all land holders in the catchment is being arranged and Bob Gretton will follow-up with phone calls. Louise Duxbury has organised a press release. Those who have already received grants are eligible to apply for further subsidies.

5.3 Green Corp Team Torbay Catchment work - update:

Andrew has not had a chance to speak to Paul about how the team is going but noticed the drain reserve along South Coast Highway opposite Thomas Road has been sprayed.

5.4 Pro-Graze update- Borden 5th April:

A very interesting trip to Paul O'Meaghan's place. Those who attended reported on a professionally run 9,000 head a year feed lotting concern. Also a trip to Ravenhills Dairy Narrikup. Again a very well run family business. Of interest was the spraying out of kikuyu because it doesn't produce well in winter time, replacing with ryegrass. Milking 600 cows in the winter,300 in summer.

5.5 Perennials Field Day update:

Mt Barker 5th April Ron Master attended the field day at Rodney Drage's property and reported back to the meeting. Ron tabled an information sheetd on Sustainable Grazing from Saline Land. The purpose of the project is to turn saline land in Australia into an asset in terms of its impact on farmer's income and on the environment. The SGSL Initiative is being run for five years.

5.6 Weed maps- collect all maps for digitising by DoE:

Andrew collected the maps handed out at the last meeting.

5.7 Friends of Lake Powell - CALM update:

Kim Kershaw (CALM) suggested representatives from "Friends of Gilberts Potoroo" may be interested to talk to the TCG about how to best set up a "Friends of group" ie what is needed to be done and ways to get funding etc. Louise Duxbury has a list of those interested in joining.
ACTION: Louise, John Blaney-Murphy and Dale to organise a date and the invites for the first meeting. Louise showed the poster to be displayed at the Bird Hide. The acquittal for the Lotteries WA grant funding is now due.

While discussing Lake Powell Laurie Eldridge asked what is the final plan and what affect will it have on "our livelihood". Laurie feels the situation is not as bad as the draft portrays, "in fact, water quality has improved over the last 50 years" NAOMI'S RESPONSE.

Noel Bignell asked was it known what will happen down stream when and if water is taken from Marbellup Brook. Naomi said the implications of what will happen are not fully understood yet.

6.1 Catchment Restoration Plan

The final draft is back from Viv Reed. Louise, Kim and Naomi have gone through the draft to make sure it is user friendly "easy to read". Should all be finalised by the end of May, 2005.

6.2 Role of TCG in Watershed Torbay Project Implementation and Funds Management:

This follows on from the Restoration Plan. There are large amounts of money available to commence the actions set out in the Restoration Plan. There is a lot of work the Restoration Plan says the catchment is going to undertake over the next three years. Some of the responsibilities will be taken on by the WC some the agencies and some the TCG. The cost over the next three years for on ground works is $1.1m for vegetated stream buffers, drain restoration on private land, remnant vegetation, wetland protection and perennial demonstration etc., Employment total cost over next three years is $225,000, Investigations, Mapping and Monitoring $233,000, Project work - $95,000 and Allocation Plan for Marbellup Brook - $50,000.

The Watershed Torbay Project will wind up at the end of June, 2005. Naomi Arrowsmith tabled four options for managing implementation of Watershed Torbay.

1. Torbay Catchment Group to be Total Project Manager
2. Torbay Catchment Group to Manage on=G-ground Ccomponents only
3. Agency to be Total Project Manager
4. Green Skills to Manage On-Ground Components

ACTION: Andrew to organise a few committee members to meet to discuss options. An urgent "Special Meeting" to be arranged for Wednesday 18th May, 7.30 pm in the Elleker Hall. Email and mail drop to be distributed.- Dale to attend to. Speakers from other catchments to be invited ie. Fitzgerald Biosphere. Ron Master to organise.

6.3 Groundwater Investigations Report :

(tabled and discussed) report on what was discussed?

6.4 Phytoplankton drivers report:

not available yet.

6.5 Newsletter articles due:

Do you have a story to tell about your area?. Send by email, mail or fax to Louise louiseduxbury@westnet.com.au Greenskills, Denmark.

• Louise has the money for the South Coast overnight trip, only needs numbers and a date set. Looking at fertiliser options, perennials, horticulture, soil amendments, waste material, a piggery turned into compost fertiliser/organic (Busselton) Possibly 1st and 2nd June.
• Perennial Pasture Trials have begun. Some of the perennial rye grass has been sown.
• Louise said at some point two or three landholders need to get together to decide what gets funded first. This may take a day.
• During the recent storm there was a spill at the Timewell Road Treatment Plant, concern was raised that the WC did not make this fact known at a meeting which was held recently by the WC.

Meeting CLOSED 21.45pm
NEXT MEETING: 15TH June, 2005 at 7.30 pm - Elleker Hall.