Lachlan Catchment Action Plan
In 2006, the Lachlan CMA developed the Lachlan Catchment Action Plan (CAP). This document outlines the priority issues of concern and sets the strategic direction for natural resource management (NRM) in the Lachlan catchment for the period 2006-2016. The CAP was approved by the Minister for Natural Resources in January 2007.
The CAP provides a framework for the investment in works, projects, planning and research that are necessary to achieve sustainable and productive landscapes in the catchment. The CAP reflects the intention of the Lachlan CMA to develop and deliver innovative and intergrated projects to address the causes that have led to a decline in the quality of our natural resources. In line with the Natural Resource Commission Standards, the CAP provides specific Catchment and Management Targets. These targets reflect broader state-based targets and have been developed in consultation with the Lachlan community including farmers, Landcare members, industry groups, Local Aboriginal Reference Groups, federal, state and local government representatives and other stakeholders. This strategic direction combines community goals for the catchment with local, state and federal government guidelines for NRM and are based around four themes:
• Biodiversity and Native Vegetation,
• Water and Aquatic Ecosystems,
• Land Management, and
• People and Community.
The development of the CAP will ensure the Lachlan CMA has comprehensively addressed the NRM issues in the catchment by applying the Standard (NSW Government, 2005b)*. It will measure ecological improvements, the effectiveness of funding disbursements and partnerships, and identify areas for further work and improvements to the Lachlan CMA delivery of CAP projects. Although the Lachlan CAP has been written by the Lachlan CMA, the document is a strategic plan for the whole of the catchment. The Lachlan CMA will work in partnership with a range of people and organisations to achieve the activities outlined in the CAP. These include NSW and Australian Governments, local government, industry, environmental organisations, community interest groups, cultural heritage groups and individual land managers.
The CAP builds on the previous work including the Lachlan Catchment Blueprint** which was developed in 2003, Water Sharing Plans, Groundwater Management Plans and the preliminary work undertaken in the development of the Regional Vegetation Management Plans including the Mid Lachlan Regional Vegetation Management Plan and an additional two draft Regional Vegetation Management Plans for the North Bogan/Lachlan and Western Riverina. The CAP also incorporates new and improved science and understanding of how the natural resources in the catchment should be managed.
The CAP allows the Lachlan CMA to measure and monitor progress against the targets and evaluate if management activities can be improved through an adaptive management process in light of any new information or technology, or a change in priorities and resources. Existing NRM strategies and plans have informed the development of catchment and management targets and appropriate catchment activities. Relevant policies, strategies and legislation are listed in the CAP.
Detail on how each target will be benchmarked so that progress can be measured against specific performance indicators over the ten year CAP implementation is provided in the full CAP. The full CAP document also explains the assumptions behind each target. These assumptions relate to a range of influencing factors including the availability of technical information and resources, climatic conditions and NRM priorities and investment patterns of partners and stakeholders.
Priorities for investment are identified for each target where appropriate and catchment activities to achieve each target are detailed. These include processes such as development of strategies, schemes and best management practices, mapping and identification of priority areas, liaison and consultation with partners and stakeholders and increasing community capacity through education and access to information. Existing and potential partners are identified for each target. These include federal, state and local government departments and agencies, farmers and other private landholders, specialist practitioners and consultants, research and development corporations and research institutions, industry groups, and community and special interest groups. Importantly key risks are identified for each target and appropriate management strategies for addressing each risk are identified. Links to other targets are noted within and across the four themes for each management target.
The Lachlan CAP will create many opportunities for partner collaboration including;
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Helping to implement catchment activities.
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Involvement in the prioritisation of funds in the development of the Investment Strategies.
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Involvement in the development of implementation plans to achieve management targets.
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Involvement in project and/or technical committees and,
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Helping with the monitoring of catchment and management targets.
Adoption and implementation of the Lachlan CAP will ensure regional communities;
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Protect and enhance the regions unique native vegetation and biodiversity
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Improve water quality and aquatic ecosystems
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Improve and protect the productive values of soil ecosystems
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Prevent, stabilise and reverse salinity impacts
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Identify and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage values
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Provide community well being.
The Lachlan CMA recognise the CAP is a ‘living’ document that can and should adapt to change. This flexibility is essential given important influences on the CAP are subject to variation and change, especially climatic and environmental processes and the related impact on water availability, production and ecosystem condition, plus changes in legislation, political priorities and processes, and community attitudes.
The CAP and its implementation will be reviewed to ensure the document is always the best it can be. The first review will be carried out during 2009 and a second major review will occur halfway through the CAP implementation period.
For further information see;
- Lachlan Action Plan (Summary)
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Lachlan Action Plan (Full Version)
* NSW Government, 2005b. Standard for Quality Natural Resource Management, NSW Government, Sydney.
** Lachlan Catchment Management Board. Lachlan Catchment Blueprint. NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, Sydney.