The Lake Cowal Conservation Centre (LCCC) is the result of a partnership between the West Wyalong High School (WWHS), the Lake Cowal Foundation Ltd (LCF), Barrick Australia Ltd and the Lachlan CMA. The LCCC was initiated in 2005 and, following the establishment of the facility and development and trialling of educational resources, was officially opened on the 2nd November 2007. The LCCC is a community educational facility where school students, land managers and community members can learn about and experience a variety of environmental and natural resource management issues.

The LCCC is situated 35kms North East of West Wyalong and 3km south of the Cowal Gold Mine, at Lake Cowal. The LCCC caters for a wide sector of the community, providing a practical learning environment and a place where detailed studies can be undertaken.

A modern barn provides an excellent facility to deliver training and information, whilst the adjoining property and remnant bushland, provide the perfect location to set up demonstration sites, innovative research trials and implement conservation projects such as wetland rehabilitation, revegetation and vegetation management. One of the main benefits provided through the LCCC is an enhanced level of understanding about how agriculture, conservation and industry can be integrated in a sustainable way, in the context of the local environment.
Schools from across the Lachlan Catchment and beyond can utilise the LCCC for a wide range of curriculum related subjects. Training courses, seminars, demonstrations and field days are regularly held at the LCCC to encourage local land managers and other community members to consider improved land management practices. Research organisations and universities also access the LCCC to undertake in-depth studies. Frequent visitors include school groups, TAFE, Landcare groups, conservation farmer groups, farm planning groups, Catchment Management Authorities, GreenCorps, Stipa Native Grasses Association, Greening Australia, CSIRO, universities and community groups.

Lake Cowal Foundation

The Lake Cowal Foundation (LCF) is a nonprofit Environmental Trust established in June 2000. Its primary goal is to protect and enhance Lake Cowal, a nationally significant wetland located 45km north of West Wyalong. The LCF undertakes a range of conservation, sustainable farming, educational and research projects in conjunction with the local community and other environmental groups and organisations to restore the ecological integrity of this unique wetland ecosystem. The LCF takes a balanced approach to sustainable land management and provides support to the Lake Cowal Catchment community.

The LCF is primarily sponsored by the Cowal Gold Project and funding will continue over the life of the mining project. The LCF aims to magnify their capacity to implement significant environmental projects in the Lake Cowal Catchment area by forming partnerships and attracting external funding opportunities, to value add to existing projects.