A benchmark collaboration in natural resource management in the Hotham-Williams, has just celebrated its first birthday. 

Just over a year ago, the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council (PHCC), together with its corporate and local government partners, launched two significant community-based partnerships for the Hotham-Williams: a Community Investment Agreement with Newmont Goldcorp Boddington and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Shires of Boddington, Cuballing, Wandering and Williams.

These partnerships were forged out of the commitment of key landcare stakeholders and the local community.  Together, they will support natural resource management in the Hotham-Williams area, for five years. 

Newmont Goldcorp has committed funding through to 2023 to enable the management and delivery of projects across the upper catchment under the Hotham-Williams Rivers & Tributaries‘ Natural Resource Management and Conservation Project.

In its inaugural year, the Newmont Goldcorp partnership has commenced a dedicated river action plan, supported landholders with on ground activities to protect natural assets and focussed restoration activities through a community environmental grant program, as well as delivering a number of workshops to build community capacity. The partnership has also enabled PHCC to attract further funding for the river health studies through a commitment with Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. These river health studies, along with the field work component of the river action plan, are due to commence later this year. 

The MOU with the Shires of Boddington, Cuballing, Wandering and Williams delivers an investment of up to $40,000 per year to work together to build the community’s landcare capacity.

At the partnership launch last year, PHCC’s Chair Caroline Knight said the significant agreements contributed valuable resources into the Hotham Williams community.

“We are very grateful for the support from Newmont Goldcorp Boddington and the Shires of Boddington, Cuballing, Wandering and Williams which underpins this partnership.”

“The MOU is a direct result of demonstrated community need for NRM support following the re-engagement of our PHCC NRM/landcare officers in the upper catchment.  The priorities are set by the community, in the Hotham-Williams NRM Plan and overarching PHCC NRM Strategy.  It is great to see what can be achieved when people work together towards a shared vision.”

Newmont Goldcorp General Manager Jim Cooper added that the global organisation has long recognised the critical importance of watersheds and the connection between operational needs, community use, cultural significance and ecological requirements. 

“Newmont Goldcorp has maintained a relationship with the PHCC for a number of years which included supporting the development of the inaugural Hotham-Williams NRM Plan.  Formalising the Agreement was a logical step of the partnership and we are thrilled with the outcomes the PHCC is enabling to provide real on-the-ground and practical benefits to the catchment community.”

Cr Martin Glynn, president of Boddington Shire spoke on behalf of the four contributing Shires at the launch and thanked the PHCC and Newmont Goldcorp Boddington for their efforts to achieve the benchmark collaboration. Cr Glynn explained the MOU as a shared intent for the Hotham-Williams Catchment over the coming years connecting communities and linking landscapes and acknowledged the consistent contribution by the area’s Noongar people as the traditional Custodians of its land and waters.  “Local Elder, Mr Greg Thorne and the Wiilman Community are to be commended for their input and continued guidance on Hotham-Williams NRM,” he said.

ENDS…

Media Contact:  Jane O’Malley, Chief Executive Officer, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council, Jane.Omalley@peel-harvey.org.au, (08) 6369 8800

We acknowledge the Noongar people as Traditional Custodians of this land and pay our respects to all Elders past and present