The meeting commenced with presentations from :

• Adam Roebuck (Godiniland): Developers of a new sub-division in the Five-mile creek sub-catchment
• Keith Gundill (CSBP Agronomist): Pastures, soils & nutrients

MEETING

1. Welcome, attendance and apologies

   ATTENDANCES: Steve May, Karen McKeough, John Blaney-Murphy, Graeme Heighton, Andrew Marshall, Phillip Marshall, Sandra Swain, Jim Allen, Jan Allen, Des Wolfe, Maurice McCormick, Ian Moss, Noel Bignall, Glen Scott, Mike Scott, Phil Mellon
   Guests: Steven Whittingstall & Keith Gundell (CSBP), Marisa Papalia

   APOLOGIES: Terri Harwood, Keith Smith, Chris Westcott

2. Confirmation of previous minutes and matters arising

   Minutes of the previous general meeting, 21 March 2007 were accepted as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
   Moved: Andrew Seconded: Phillip

   Matters arising: The issue of the recently demolished Torbay Motel and subsequent use of the rubble in an old (unmaintained) Water Corporation drain has taken the interest of the Minister of Water Resouces. It is believed that the original complainant has contacted the City of Albany, who subsequently contacted Peter Watson MLA, who asked questions to the Minister. Karen has completed a report on the matter for the Minister. Despite it being an unmaintained WC drain, the drainage reserve still exists over the drain, which means responsibility rests with the WC. Discussion with Wayne Marwick (WC), determined that the rubble material has been covered with soil and it is anticipated that the site will stabilise and provide no on-going pollution or erosion risk.

3. Correspondence and matters arising:

   Incoming:

   • Department of Water - cheque for $27,500 for on-ground works
   • NAB - Bank statement
   • Letisha Newman, DoW - Social Water Requirements Study, seeking input from TCG
   • Letisha Newman, DoW - Drinking Water Source Protection Plan for Marbellup Brook Catchment Area has been completed. Copies will be made available to the group as soon as it is printed.

   Outgoing:

   • Email to NAB re: loss of earned interest through changes (without our knowledge) to our account

   Correspondence accepted - Moved: Des Seconded: Maurice

4. Financial Report

   4.1 Treasurer's Report

   Current balance $159,866.34

   Books have been audited for 05/06

5. Staff Reports:

   5.1 Catchment Coordinator: Karen McKeough

   communications: newsletter & report card;
   events: Catchment tour, Noongar tour, small landholders workshop; SCRIPT quarterly reporting; work with intensive landholders

   5.2 Project Officer: Steve May

   Greencorps team working in catchment, on-going work contacting landholders for projects, John Bunn - nutrient management plan project. Also a holiday to New Zealand and leaving the Torbay Catchment to take up a permanent position with the DoW in Albany as a trainee hydrographer.

6. 6. General Business:

   6.1 Bank interest scandal update:

   Phil has received the run around from many people in NAB in his efforts to get to the bottom of this matter. He has sent email to Albany Branch and received a response from John McNab, Retail Manager based in Bunbury. John informed Phil that a letter was sent to all customers in April 2006, stating that changes would be made to those accounts held by community groups. This letter is not in our correspondence file, nor is there any recollection of the letter being received.

   John requested further time to respond to the challenge that the letter was never received.

   Motion: The Torbay Catchment Group is seeking to resolve the matter with the NAB that has resulted in changes to our account without our knowledge, and that has incurred a loss of interest. If the matter is not resolved, to our satisfaction, then we are prepared to take this matter to the highest level of the bank's administration.
   Moved: Maurice Seconded: Phillip

   6.2 Social Water Requirements survey:

   as per correspondence. Phil agreed to participate in survey.

   6.3 Report from Bushcarers meeting:

   Karen attended recent meeting of Bushcarers. They are a good organisation, which our group should be more closely aligned to. Regular attendance at meetings is desirable. Main Roads will be doing some work in this area - What weeds on Sth Coast highway should they be tackling?

   President of Bushcarers commended the TCG for on-going works - the impact is becoming noticed.

   6.4 Attendance at River Symposium conference:

   The International River Foundation are requesting representatives to attend River Prize dinner, to speak about our achievements since winning last year, esp: Twinning project. DoW to support with funding for attendance.

   6.5 Upcoming events:

   Noongar tour - now postponed new date TBA

   Small-landholders workshop - Animal & pasture management 26 May

   Twinning meeting - Saturday 12 May 3:30pm Andrew & Liz's place

   6.6 Other business:

   • Maurice reported that Keith Smith has commenced a propagation / revegetation project with Woodbury Boston School.
   • Jim Allen, who lives in Cuthbert adjacent the 5-mile Creek Drain, has requested support from the group over intervention of up-stream landholders restricting the flow of waters in the drain. Jim also queried the appropriateness of the brickworks at Cuthbert, whom are extracting water for industrial use.

     Motion: That the TCG write letters to the Water Corporation (drain managers) to investigate this matter; and
     The City of Albany to inquire about brickworks at Cuthbert, as to whether planning consent has been received.

Meeting close at 10 pm

Next meetings:
Exec Mtg: 23 May 2007
General Meeting: 13 June 2007

• Katie Syme (Denmark fungi expert) Fungi of the South Coast
• Geoff Rolland, (APFL) - reporting stream monitoring results from woodchip mill at Mirambeena Timber Precinct.