Minutes: Otway Barham Reference Group 23rd January 2006

MINUTES

VENUE: Landcare Office, Nelson Street, Apollo Bay 3233
DATE: 23^rd January 2006
PRESENT: Roger Hardley, Denise Hooke, Bruce Costin, Rowan MacKenzie, Josh Feldman, Lauren Mahoney, John Turner, Gene Gardiner, Greg John, Lucas Oram.
APOLOGIES:  Paul Boyd.
 
OTWAY BARHAM CATCHMENT LANDCARE GROUP:
 

• Otway Barham Catchment Landcare Group tabled a document defining their current activities/projects and future aspirations. Executive changes were tabled along with a defined goal in relation to the Barham River. The group has provided conditional support for the determination of the Special Water Supply Catchment Area.
  
• The Otway Barham Catchment Community has been incorporated into the Otway Barham Catchment Landcare Group.
  
• Otway Barham Catchment Landcare Group also presented a project proposal for a Barham River Indicator.
  

DISCUSSION:
 

• The development of a Otway Barham Catchment Action Plan (OBCAP) needs to be a collaborative exercise representing and encompassing diverse community interests and opinions. This consultative process has engaged and will continue to engage the community when possible and where it is appropriate.
  
• The development of the OBCAP needs to demonstrate to the greater community that there is significant “return for investment”. Best practice management principles in monitoring and evaluation to clearly define the quantitative and qualitative benefits of this project need to be implement.
  
• The OBCAP will support numerous strategic initiatives and management plans, contributing to the development of strong partnerships between stakeholders. (See Table below)