Photos: Spindrift Media
From making Wellington National Park safer for threatened species like the western ringtail possum, chuditch and quokka to helping fortify farmers and rural communities against the increasing threat of drought.
To rehydrating creek beds in the hope of stimulating breeding by a tiny local frog on the brink of extinction to securing a range of new funding sources that will ensure the fight on multiple fronts for positive environmental outcomes across the South West Natural Resource Management region remains strong.
South West NRM has had a busy 22nd year of operation (formerly as South West Catchments Council) and paused to reflect on achievements of the 2024/25 financial year at its AGM in Bunbury this month.
At the Sanctuary Resort, Board Members, Staff and representatives from the organisation’s 11 Association Member groups gathered to review operations and affirm a collective commitment to its mission of improving the health and productivity of the South West environment.
New Non-Executive Board Director
A new Board Director was also appointed to South West NRM’s leadership for a term of four years.
Ross Hamilton has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Masters in Sustainability Management. He has 25 years of local and international experience delivering environmental and sustainability outcomes at scale working with private, international development, non-for-profit, government, indigenous land management and academic sectors.
Mr Hamilton currently runs his own advisory consultancy providing strategic and operational support to a diverse range of organisations and alliances on environment, nature, climate change, water and community-related issues.
“I’m excited to join the South West NRM Board and to work alongside dedicated individuals and partner organisations committed to conserving the region’s unique natural heritage and supporting healthy, productive ecosystems,” Mr Hamilton said.
Board Chair Campbell Thomson also thanked outgoing Board Members Peter Rogers and Pete Di Bono for their four years of service to the organisation.
Annual Report 2024/25 tabled
South West NRM CEO Dr Manda Page tabled the Annual Report 2024-25 which included the following key achievements of the past financial year:
- Reconciliation Action Plan (Reflect Level) endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, and formally declaring our organisation’s commitment towards and intention more broadly to champion reconciliation.
- Received $1.5 million in new funding through the Australian Government’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program to expand our efforts in future-proofing farming.
- Secured one of four projects running under national program by NRM Regions Australia designed to test the effectiveness of nature-based solutions in mitigating the impacts of climate-driven disaster.
- Automatic irrigation system installed and activated to test the effectiveness of rehydrating creek beds which have at times become too dry for the critically endangered white-bellied frog to breed.
- Signed on to landmark partnership with funding from Lotterywest to enhance scientific understanding and management of the Empodisma peatlands.
- Ground monitoring by Badgebup Rangers confirmed detection of three active malleefowl mounds in our five-year project to improve outcomes for the culturally-significant and threatened malleefowl species.
- Removed 302 introduced predators from the boundaries of Wellington National Park who were likely preying on threatened species living inside the park through engagement with 61 landholders positioned around the park boundaries.
Following the meeting, CEO of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy Tim Allard provided an inspiring and uplifting address on positive environmental impacts AWC was achieving across Australia and congratulated South West NRM and its members for their commitment to doing the same in our region.