Soil Commissioner gives thumbs up to HNCMA's landscape approach

The Commissioner was invited by HNCMA Chair John Klem to visit three sites - Arthursleigh property (near Marulan), Long Swamp (near the Tarlo River) and Black Bobs Creek (a tributary of the Wingecarribbee) - to see for himself a holistic landscape approach that is now being undertaken by the HNCMA.

"What I saw were three great examples of landscape management - where all the disciplines of soil, water and vegetation management were integrated and delivered at the landscape-scale," said Mr Watkins.

In the past five years, the Catchment Protection Scheme -- a partnership between the HNCMA, Department of Lands and Sydney Catchment Authority and landholders to protect water quality and biodiversity in the Warragamba catchment -- has been achieving major results.

"We've seen a total of $7.7 million invested to treat 7712 hecatres of land for erosion and stabilise 171 kilometres of streambank since 2004," said Mr Watkins.

In his role Mr Watkins oversees the administration of the Soil Conservation Act and "Section 10" funding which has been a major contributor in this region for some years.

"I'll be working hard as Commissioner of Soil Conservation to ensure the long history of soil conservation funding is maintained during these difficult budgetry times," said Mr Watkins.

Bob Wilson, HNCMA Board Director, was on the recent inspection of sites and welcomed the comments from Commissioner Watkins. Back in the 1970's Mr Wilson was responsible as Deputy Secretary for Sydney Water in establishing the Catchment Protection Scheme.

"It has been encouraging to not only see how long-lasting the scheme has been, but to also get to see first-hand how it has evolved over the years," said Mr Wilson.

"When the scheme began it tackled only erosion issues on a farm-by-farm basis, but what we saw on the recent inspection was the scheme tackling land management at the sub-catchment level and involving multiple landholders. It is a much more strategic approach which returns greater environmental outcomes.

"By tackling the issues of vegetation, riverhealth and soil management in an integrated approach the needs of all the partners are answered: the landholder is helped with better farm management, Sydney Catchment Authority gets better quality water in its dams and the whole local community benefits from improved biodiversity," said Mr Wilson.

John Klem, Chair of HNCMA, said he looked forward to working closely with the Commissioner of Soil Conservation to make a discernable change at the landscape level across the Hawk-Nepean.

Media contact: Peter O'Malley 0414 611 792