Wetland Management
10-year Plan for improving the Hawkesbury-Nepean Released
Source: Hawkesbury Nepean CMA; http://www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au
Date: May 2008
The NSW Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Verity Firth, launched the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Action Plan on 5 May 2008, a guide to protecting and improving the region’s natural resources over the next 10 years.
The Catchment Action Plan (or CAP) was developed by the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority sets the direction for the investment and activities of the CMA.
Minister Firth said that the CAP identifies and prioritises natural resource issues currently facing land managers including farmers, landholders, industry, community care groups, local and state government.
“The plan provides a roadmap for how the environment of the Hawkesbury-Nepean can benefit most from investment by the NSW and Australian Governments,” said Ms Firth.
“Almost 400 community members, local and state government representatives from 113 organisations have been involved in developing the CAP.”
“The plan will deliver on river health, biodiversity, soil and management and native vegetation targets in the catchment which also link to statewide targets in the State Plan” , said Ms Firth.
Since 2004, the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA has funded over 680 landholder and 50 local government projects to:
- Protect 2953 hectares of remnant vegetation
- Stabilise 308 kilometres of rivers and gullies
- Treat 489 kilometres of riverbanks for weeds
- Rehabilitate 6467 hectares of gully erosion
The Catchment Action Plan sets targets and a timetable for catchment improvements like those listed above through to 2016.
“To successfully deliver on CAP targets we rely on our strong partnerships with the community and other key organisations throughout the catchment” , said John Klem, Chair of the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA.
“In the plan we commit to continually monitoring and improving delivery of the CMA’s environmental programs and projects to ensure investment in catchment improvements remain effective” , said Mr Klem.
“The CAP is designed to be responsive to the changing needs of the catchment and the community and it will be reviewed regularly”, said Mr Klem.
For more information on the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Action Plan go to www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au/topics/2181.html
Media contact: Peter O’Malley 0400 461 792
