Subscribe to Catchment News
CMA Board out and about in Lake Macquarie
Date: 1-Jun-2012
Board members and staff from the Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) had a tight schedule yesterday, as they visited project sites around Lake Macquarie that have been improved or protected with support and assistance from the CMA.
Members of the CMA Board regularly inspect on-ground projects to gain an understanding of the variety of projects that are currently taking place while also exploring the issues that affect land managers. The CMA works in partnership with the community to improve our natural resources and the environment.
Chair of the CMA Mrs Susan Hooke explained that these site inspections are essential in understanding the natural resource management issues affecting our catchment.
‘The CMA Board inspects CMA projects about four times a year with our last inpsections taking place in the Upper Hunter,’ said Mrs Hooke. ‘The inspections provide a great opportunity to witness first hand some of the issues our community faces but also some of the great work being done to improve our natural resources and the environment.’
‘Our Board really looks forward to the inspections and had an extremely busy day in Lake Macquarie. It is impossible to visit all the projects our CMA has been involved in, but the sites visited today showcase the diversity of projects the CMA is involved in,’ Mrs Hooke said.
‘From removing weeds to planting native species, to fencing creeks and river systems, the demand from the community to improve our catchment is continually increasing.’
The first project site visited is located in Glenrock State Recreation Area, on the northern side of Lake Macquarie. This project implemented by Trees in Newcastle in partnership with the CMA and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service aims to restore local native plant life through the removal of significant weeds. Trees in Newcastle developed links with the local community by providing volunteers with training in native plant and weed identification and bush regeneration techniques as part of this project.
The Board then visited Yamuloong Aboriginal Centre. The CMA has been working in partnership with the Aboriginal community to protect and improve culturally significant landscapes and Yamuloong will showcase the importance of education and provide the Board with a lunch that includes bush tucker. The group also inspected a section of the property that has undergone major restoration including the removal of weeds and mangement of erosion through planting native vegetation along major creeks located on the property.
The Board also visited Barnsley to inspect an erosion and sediment control project that aims to improve the water quality of Cockle Creek. This project implemented by Lake Macquarie City Council included the closure and revegetation of unauthorised tracks to reduce the amount of sediment entering Cockle Creek. The local community was involved throughout the project and participated in many of the revegetation activities.
For more information contact the CMA: Community Education Manager Liane Corocher on (02) 4930 1030 Maree Whelan– Education Project Officer on (02) 4337 1204