GRCCC Aboriginal Riverkeeper Team Project Steering Committee Meeting Amaroo Room 2 Hurstville City Council. 23 October 2014

Transcription

1 GRCCC Aboriginal Riverkeeper Team Project Steering Committee Meeting Amaroo Room 2 Hurstville City Council 23 October 2014 Present: Michael Miller - Department of the Environment Alison Hanlon Hurstville City Council John Beattie Eco Logical Australia Vanessa Cavanagh Eco Logical Australia Svetlana Kotevska GRCCC Tony Wales - GRCCC Lisa Smith - GRCCC Mitchell Johnson Campbelltown City Council Tom Heath Kogarah City Council Nathan Moran CEO Metro LALC Paul Price Sutherland Shire Council Cr Peter Scaysbrook Sutherland Shire Council Colin Mable Rockdale City Council Joel Daniels Liverpool City Council Ivan Simon CEO Gandangara LALC Apologies Rebecca Bell Bankstown City Council David Dekel Rockdale City Council Beth Noel Sutherland Shire council Margaret Bottrell GS LLS Cr Phillip Sansom Hurstville City Council Erin Sellers Fairfield Council Megan Ely - CEO Tharawal LALC Chris Ingrey CEO La Perouse LALC 1 Acknowledgment of Country Ivan Simon, CEO of Gandangara LALC, acknowledged the Traditional Owners of the Land upon which this event is taking place as that of the Biddegal people of the Eora Nation. 2 Opening of Meeting at am Clr Scaysbrook, Chairperson, opened the meeting at am and welcomed the Steering Committee members and Michael Miller, from the Department of the Environment. 3 Introductions and apologies Members of the Steering Committee introduced themselves and apologies were given. 1

2 4 Background and Project Highlights on the Aboriginal Riverkeeper Team (ART) Svetlana Kotevska provided an update on the ART project to date. She outlined the regional scale of the project and showed maps of the project study area that encompasses 13 sites, 8 member Councils areas and 5 Local Aboriginal Land Councils areas. Svetlana advised that the partnership with the LALCs was built from scratch and this was initiated through a number of meetings with LALCs for instance with John Beattie of Eco Logical Australia at the Metro LALC Board Meeting in May. This was followed by 2 meetings with the Aboriginal Steering Committee In June and July and the Inaugural meeting of the Project Steering Committee in early August comprising all partners (LALCs and member Councils) and stakeholders (GS LLS & Eco Logical Australia). The numerous stakeholders involved in this project were highlighted in the Grant Project Structure diagram. The partnership with LALCs has proved successful with 3 of the CEOs assisting the GRCCC with its event launch and organising Aboriginal performers and a smoking ceremony on the 18 th September Svetlana advised that the event was well attended with 30 people RSVPing and approximately 54 attending from numerous organisations government and non-government, families, the local Federal Member Craig Kelley also gave a speech. This attracted good publicity with the local media Sutherland Leader taking up a story on the Team and another Federal MP David Coleman writing a letter congratulating the team whom wants to present the team with an award. The Team were hired in late June and commenced on ground work on the 14 July Vanessa of Eco Logical Australia the Project Manager provided a brief background to the team members and the Aboriginal Country backgrounds they represent. Svetlana noted that Uncle Allan Murray of Metro LALC previously stated at previous meetings that they were all river communities. In terms of the work Schedule Svetlana advised that as per the request of LALCs whose charter it is to protect Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Sites, the GRCCC undertook Aboriginal Cultural heritage assessments of all work sites prior to commencing work on the sites. This involved all 4 LALCs with work sites in the study area. This was deemed as the most sensitive and respectful approach to undertaking the project and building good relationships with LALCs. The first cultural assessment was at Carina Creek in the Sutherland Shire undertaken by La Perouse LALC and a further 10 cultural assessments have been carried out including assessments at Bald Face Point and Oatley Reserve by Metro LALC. Tharawal LALC has undertaken assessments at Spring Creek and Mansfield Creek. Three remaining sites are to have cultural assessments undertaken in November Site 14, a rotating site at Shipwrights Bay at Blakehurst, has shell middens which will require an additional cultural assessment by Metro LALC. Nathan Moran from Metro is to be contacted formally by the GRCCC to arrange assessment. Bush regeneration has commenced across multiple LGAs and each month as Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessments were completed the sites were added to the work schedule. Large scale planting of over 20,000 plants is planned to rehabilitate Sherwin and Johnstone Parks. 5 Program Outputs Svetlana advised that bush regeneration at project sites has resulted in a primary weeded area of 6,180m². Trainees are continuing their Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management with Ryde TAFE and are due to complete by December

3 Trainees have completed Senior First Aid and Manual Handling Certificates. Half of the trainees have completed Handling Chemicals Certificate. The GRCCC has engaged UBM Ecological Consultants to undertake baseline monitoring. UBM has been out in the field establishing baseline data and will be finished by the end of October. 6 MERI Plan - Stage 2 MERI activities scheduled for completion by 30 June Svetlana updated the Committee on progress towards stage 2 MERI Activities. Activities from 1 to 7 Activities 1 7 have been completed. These activities include the engagement of Eco Logical Australia, the establishment of a Project Steering Committee and an Aboriginal Steering Committee, and the employment of the Aboriginal riverkeeper team (ART) and their commencement of ground works. The ART has also procured resources such as a trailer etc. Activity 8 the primary weed treatment and plantings of native vegetation constituting stepping stones and corridors This work has commenced and the majority of sites will be worked by the end of November The number of plantings and number of species planted will be assessed and advised via the MERI Plan update Activity 9 - Training The ART will be undertaking WHS training on a wet weather day to be completed by the end of December. Activity 10 Traditional Ecological Knowledge Training Informal and formal training continues. Vanessa Cavanagh reported that trainees had spent a full day at the Botanical Gardens with Clarence Lockie, Aboriginal Co-ordinator of the Botanical Gardens. They were informed of aboriginal knowledge and heritage of the area, and provided with information to take back to the field to assist with their work on the ground. Vanessa also commented on the Launch of the program in September, which was attended by numerous representatives of the aboriginal community who are fully supportive of the project and willing to assist trainees with knowledge and support. Vanessa advised that Dean Kelly from NPWS will be taking the trainees out for a day in the Royal National Park. Vanessa said that the trainees have benefited from working with Lee Davidson from Metro LALC and have appreciated being on site and learning from the cultural assessments. 3

4 Svetlana commented that there are good partnerships with LALCs who are assisting with establishing protocols and sharing information on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. Also during NAIDOC week the trainees met with Aboriginal Elders and undertook bush walks in the Oatley area. 7. Stage 3 MERI activities to 31 December 2014 Svetlana updated the Committee on progress towards stage 3 MERI Activities. Activity 2 - Implementation of Cyber tracking Eco Logical Australia has implemented an alternative solution for cyber tracking by using IPADs in the field which is working well and is a very inexpensive and user friendly alternative to the cyber tacker system that was originally considered Activity 3 Training Training is ongoing with the trainees continuing their studies with Ryde TAFE in Certificate 2 in Conservation Land Management. Certificate 3 is due to commence in 2015 and we are on track with this. Activity 4 Traditional Ecological Knowledge training The transfer of Traditional Ecological Knowledge training is an ongoing activity with LALCs. Activity 5 - Continue MERI baseline assessments Consultants have been engaged on the 1 st September and were in the field in October 2014 and have commenced base line assessments. All 11 sites are due to be completed by the end of October. Activity 6 Rehabilitation (primary weed treatment and plantings) of native vegetation constituting stepping stones and corridors. This work has commenced and is ongoing. Activity 7 - Maintenance weed treatment (follow up weed treatment of worksites) This work has commenced and is ongoing. Activity 8 - Foreshore Stabilisation works and revegetation at Sandringham Foredune. Colin Marble reported that Rockdale City Council has deferred commencement of this work to Stage 4 - February 2015 on the request of NPWS. Works need to be deferred due to the nesting season at Towra Point for Little Terns and Pied Oyster Catchers that use the 4

5 Rockdale Council foredunes for nesting. Colin Mable advised that work is expected to be completed in April Activity 9 - Revegetation with native plantings: Sherwin Park. There are 22,000 plants for revegation at this area. Activity 10 - Community Engagement Bushcare community TEK Day. Svetlana advised that the GRCCC is working with LALCs to organise a day with Aboriginal Elders and the Team and bushcare volunteers in the community. Michael Miller requested Svetlana send him a copy of the Stage 3 MERI activities. 7. Michael Miller, Department of the Environment Michael advised that the reason for the Steering Committee meeting today was to clarify some of the reasons for deferment of activities and the implementation plan for the project. From the Australian Government s perspective, deferment of activities, requires a pro-active approach to ensure projects are on track. Michael responded to specific activities planned under Stage 3 MERI activities. Activity 2 Cyber-Tracking in the field Michael asked how the IPADs are being used for GPS tracking. John Beattie from Eco Logical provided a demonstration of how the trainees are using the IPADS in the field each day and how they can map their locations across the catchment and record details of their work and activities at each location. Activities are separated into 4 types: cultural, training, promotion and bush regeneration which provide a daily snapshot of team activity. Trainees log hours, upload photos, record weed types, bush regeneration activity and cultural activities. They are able to plot the sites on a map which highlights each work site and shows the teams progression across the catchment. John explained how the IPADs provide a strategic approach to the project, allowing for the scoping out of work through the allocation of projected work hours and management zones taking into account any cultural factors and also member Councils priorities. Michael asked about surveys on survival rates of weeds and plantings. John responded that the work site is vast and this project requires working strategically with Councils, understanding Councils priorities and getting the balance right culturally and environmentally. Tony Wales advised that sweeps of sites will be conducted to check for recurrent weeds. Activity 4- Traditional Ecological Knowledge Training (TEK) Regarding TEK, Michael asked whether there was any local ecological knowledge that validates any of the scientific components, such as anecdotal knowledge and observation from aboriginal communities, about how the environment is faring. 5

6 Vanessa responded about the impact of invasion on country and on the strength and resilience of the community and that there are opportunities to share precious information. Nathan Moran commented that you cannot separate cultural and heritage from environment and that Aboriginal culture and all aspects of it, are wholly intertwined with the environment. Nathan referred to Ivan Simon, Elder of Gandangara,and the wealth of knowledge Ivan has about country. Nathan also referred to the meeting held at La Perouse LALC, the clan group of the Eora nation, and the day spent with the ART team at La Perouse imparting knowledge and that he would like more opportunities to share knowledge with the trainees. Nathan commented that this project provides an immense opportunity to share knowledge and the ability for the community to work with local government and stakeholders. Activity 8 - Foreshore Stabilisation works and revegetation at Sandringham Foredune Michael asked Colin Mable from Rockdale City Council for further information on the foreshore dune stabilisation. Colin advised that the dune stabilisation to be conducted by Soil Conservation Australia, including fencing, weeding and planting, will commence in February and should be completed by April Cook Park also has issues with dune works and keeping the public away from dune areas. Michael asked Colin what impact wet weather will have on completing this work and Colin responded that this area was below the tidal mark and they didn t anticipate any problems. Project Budget - Carry Over Funds Michael advised that up to $5,000 of funding can be carried forward, but if not spent the Department will follow up with the GRCCC. Michael advised funds need to be expended by the end of each financial year and at the end of the program. Cultural Assessments Michael asked about whether the NSW Government OEH assessments are being used and Nathan Moran advised that it is an overlap of OEH and cultural assessments and includes new sites. Project Progress by 30 June 2015 Michael Miller advised that there should be no further major deferrals and that is it important to have all work on track by 30 June 2015 and that project expenditure should be tracking along accordingly. Svetlana presented slides on the financial progress for the Financial Year and also the current financial report to the end of September 2014 which showed that the project was within 6

7 budget and expenditure was tracking. Also invoices are awaited from UBM whom are undertaking the monitoring and overall this will account for $54,000. Michael asked about the specified hectare rate in the project outputs for rehabilitation and the intent by 30 December 2014 and how we are currently tracking towards this and whether that would be an achievable hectare rate. Svetlana commented that we are making steady progress now that all assessments are completed and the outputs for the number of plants planted will be a lot higher than indicated as compared to area rehabilitated. General Comment Michael Miller Michael stated that this project is unique and of particular interest to the Minister. The Government has a strong commitment to indigenous communities and engagement with NRM. This project is one that has taken a good approach, engaged the wider aboriginal community, with young aboriginal people gaining skills and possible employment outcomes, whilst sharing cultural knowledge, even if not from country. Michael thanked everyone for their attendance. 8. Other Business Clr Scaysbrook asked the group if there were any questions. Joel Daniels asked for clarification whether this was a scheduled meeting. Svetlana advised that the Project Steering Committee as per the Terms of Reference is due to meet every 6 months to align with the six monthly MERI plan reporting periods. This was a special meeting at the request of Michael Miller from The Department of the Environment. Clr Scaysbrook on behalf of GRCCC, advised Michael Miller that the project has been well received and has seen two Councils, separate to this project, employing Aboriginal people. Clr Scaysbrook thanked the Australian Government and Michael Miller for his support. 9. Adoption of Minutes of Steering Committee Meeting held 6 August Cr Scaysbrook asked for the Draft minutes of Steering Committee Meeting held on 6 August 2014, which were previously circulated, to be moved. Nathan Moran advised that the spelling of Kamilaroi needed to be edited and Tony Wales advised that Oatley Point should be under Kogarah LGA not Hurstville. Clr Scaysbrook requested that the minutes be moved with the alterations advised by Nathan and Tony. The Minutes were moved by Mitchell Johnson and seconded by Nathan Moran. The meeting closed at am. 7