Our Achievements

The Western CMA works with local people to better manage our natural resources (land, vegetation, river, groundwater and biodiversity).

2005-2006 Annual Achievements Report

During the 06-07 financial year, the Western CMA has worked with local groups, organisations and individuals and invested $8.3 million to ensure a healthier catchment in the longer term. This is part of the NSW and Australian Government's combined $23 million commitment to the Western Catchment over a four year period. Click here to read the 2005-2006 Annual Achievements Report (3.5MB) or ring 1800 032 101 to have a copy mailed to you.

2007 Incentive Program

$4.3 millionwas provided to land managers in the Western Catchment to undertake on-ground works or training, including:
$2 million committed to 75 applicants for native pasture recovery and sustainable agriculture.
Erecting 680km of fencing and installing 11 watering points
managing grazing pressure and encouraging native pasture growth on 143,140 hectares (1,430km2). 
Erecting 33 trapyards will exclude goats from 103,300 ha (1,033km2).
Native pasture recovery works being undertaken on 2,474km2 - the same size as the Australian Capital Territory or 4 times the size of the Gundabooka National Park near Bourke.
$1.42 million committed to 28 applicants for riverine habitat and water quality improvements.
58 off-river watering points to stop stock accessing waterways
383km of waterways being fenced - equivalent to Sydney to Port Macquarie by road
17,060 hectares (170km2) of riverine vegetation is now protected - the same size as the Ledknapper Native Reserve near Enngonia.
$440,500 committed to 18 applicants to treat 117,500 hectares (1,175km2) affected by invasive native scrub.
$180,000 committed to three applicants to control noxious weeds, including $65,000 to control Hudson Pear on 4,000 hectares in the Lightning Ridge area.
$80,400 committed to four applicants to undertake rangeland rehabilitation works on 1,638 hectares using engineering works and revegetation of native species.
$48,000 committed to four applicants to encourage sustainable agriculture through conservation farming. 
10,400 hectares (104km2) of cropping land converted to no-till agriculture.

Case Studies: It's our country, our life, our future

The following case studies highlight the work of Western Catchment people are undertaking to improve natural resources in their area, with the assistance of the Western Catchment Management Authority.

Land and Vegetation

Sustainable Agriculture: Stuart Mosely of Manuka Station, near Cobar, converted a chisel plough to direct drill. This will improve soil health and encourage native grass. Click here to read more...

Sustainable Agriculture: Rob Chambers of Osterley Downs, near Cobar, converted his machiner to direct drill. This will improve soil health and encourage native grass. Click here to read more...

Native Pasture Recovery: Neighbours, Ashley and Carolyn McMurtrie of Gilgunnia Station and Ty and Gina Rogerson of Buckwaroon Station, west of Cobar, will install 12 multi-species trapyards around water sources and are undertaking invasive native scrub control on 700 hectares. Click here to read more...

Native Pasture Recovery: Members of the Bohda Aboriginal Pastoral Company, near Lightning Ridge, have planted 300,000 Old Man Saltbush seedlings to rehabilitate scalded country over 1,070 hectares. Click here to read more...

Native Pasture Recovery: Keith Francisco of Tindarey Station, near Cobar, has erected 22.5km of off-set electric fencing. Added to 120km of existing fencing, this will allow for complete grazing pressure control and native pasture regeneration of 16,000 hectares. Click here to read more...

Pest Management: Mesquite control is being undertaken on 13 properties covering a total of 540 square kilometres, which is 1.2 times the size of Kinchega National Park near Broken Hill. Click here to read more...

Pest Management: The Western CMA commissioned 'Natural Heritage Trust Priority Pest Report for the Western Catchment', a comprehensive report that prioritieses weed and animal pests and makes recommendations for their management. Click here to read more...

Pest Management: The Castlereagh Macquarie County Council is spraying Hudson Pear infestations over an area of 20,000 ha. Click here to read more...

Pest Management: Cobar Rural Lands Protection Board will start on a ten-year program to eradicate foxes and feral pigs from the Cobar district. The Western CMA provided funding for the first year, which will involve educating landholders and the control and monitoring of foxes and feral pigs over an area of 1.2 million hectares. Click here to read more...

Pest Management: Control of African Boxthorn will be undertaken on 840 ha in Cobar Shire and around the villages of Barringun, Yantabulla, Ford's Bridge, Enngonia, Wanaaring, Byrock and Louth. Click here to read more...

Rivers and Groundwater

Water Quality: Doug Caley of Bangate Station, near Lightning Ridge, will fence 13km of the Narran River, improving water quality, soil health and protecting 800ha of riverbank vegetation. Click here to read more...

Water Quality: Jamie and Gina Warden of Kigwigil Station, near Cumborah, installed 38km of fencing, comprising fencing of The Big Warrambooll and all other warrambools on the property. Click here to read more...

Water Quality: Jon Pocknell of Springvale Station, near Walgett, is restoring a cane grass swamp and floodplain that acts as a natural filter to improve water quality downstream, as it runs into The Big Warrambool and the Barwon River. He will fence the 600 ha area, subdivide it into four paddocks and install two self-mustering facilities, so he can manage it better during dry times and destock when it's wet. Click here to read more...

Riverine Habitat Improvement: Michael Anderson and Jutta Sapotnik-Eckford of Mogila Station, between Lightning Ridge and St George, will fence 15km of the Bokhara and Ballondool Rivers. Three alternative watering points will be installed. Click here to read more...

Riverine Habitat Improvement: A fishway will be constructed at Nidgery Weir, on the Bogan River, by the residents of Yetta Dhinnakkal Aboriginal Correction Farm to encourage fish migration and reproduction, improve water quality and secure stock and domestic water supply for local residents. Click here to read more...

Riverine Habitat Improvement: John Wheaton of Boorooma Station, near Walgett, will fence 7km of the Barwon River and install four watering points. This will allow stock movement to be controlled, improve soil health and water quality and control Noogoora Burr which reduces fleece damage and can significantly increase wool value. Click here to read more...

Biodiversity

Environmentally Significant Areas: Lachlan Gall of Coogee Lake Station, near Broken Hill, will fence the 1,100 hectare Coogee Lake and floodplain, fencing a dam within the lake area and installing alternative watering points. Click here to read more...

Environmentally Significant Areas: Michael and Shirley Mitchell of historic Mt Drysdale, near Cobar, will erect 14km of fencing and remove stock and feral animals from 1,043ha. Click here to read more...

Environmentally Significant Areas: Walgett Shire Council fenced a community of quandong trees located on a travelling stock route. Although they are widespread throughout the rest of the Catchment they are a rarity in the local area and are important to the local Euahlayi/Gamilaroi Aboriginal people. Click here to read more...

Community

Cultural Heritage: The Western Catchment Aboriginal Reference Advisory Group was formed in September 2006. The Group consists of 19 members, representing the majority of Aboriginal language groups and communities with large Aboriginal populations. They will provide valuable advice to the Board of the Western CMA to ensure that decisions affecting the long-term sustainability of the environment are compatible with Aboriginal culture and values. Click here to read more...

Community Education: The Western CMA attended 15 public events during the 2005-2006 financial year, providing natural resource management information to approximately 850 people. Click here to read more...

Community Education: In May 2006, Western CMA staff helped the children of Weilmoringle Public School to plant native trees and to provide trees for local people to revegetate the banks of the Culgoa River. Click here to read more...

Community Education: The Western CMA provided 100 subsidised copies of "The Glove Box Guide to Plants of the NSW Rangelands" to landholders within the Catchment. Click here to read more...

Community Education: The Western CMA sponsored three landholders to attend the 14th Biennial Australian Rangeland Society Conference. Click here to read more...