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Items of note for this week
Updated structure and check your details on the website
The structure document has been updated and can be found by clicking here. Can all staff take a moment to view their contact details on the Western LLS website by clicking here and let Charlie know if any details are not correct?
Event evaluation form and procedure
Event feedback is the main way we collect and analyse feedback from participants at an event. Any activity where we engage with our customers such as extension, advisory services, capacity building and/or education should have feedback forms available.
Event feedback provides the project officer with valuable information about the success of the event, what the participants learnt, whether they intend to make any changes as a result of attending, and how future events can be improved.
The feedback is also our main mechanism for reporting to the Board, managers, and our funding partners in accordance with our MERI plans. There are essentially two approaches for collecting event feedback:
- Paper based forms (DOC19/154519) – simplest approach print out as many as you need.
- Online electronic forms - can be accessed through Google forms. A template has been created.
Before running your event please follow these steps:
- Advise the MERI officer of an upcoming event.
- Review the event evaluation form template to ensure that is asking the right questions.
- You can add questions but you cannot delete any of the questions already listed. These are standard questions for all events.
- Once the survey questions are finalised - download the template (DOC19/154519), save and update with your questions. Do not edit the template.
- Get Silvana to create a google form for the event with the finalised questions.
- The google form will be emailed to you and can be shared with others via email.
- Run your event and collect all paper sheets at the end of the event, scan to create and electronic copy and save as a single file in IRIS, CM9.
- Additionally, you can also send the online link to the participants via email.
- All paper based data is to be entered into the online form. Please ensure there are no double ups.
- Once all the data is entered into the online form (paper based and online submissions) - contact Silvana to generate the excel sheet and graphics for your report.
- The report and raw data is to be saved in CM9 under the event folder.
If you have any problems or questions please contact Silvana.
MyLand information roadshow — Broken Hill postponed
Due to the ongoing bushfire emergency, the MyLand roadshow scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed as staff members involved with MyLand have been needed to assist with the bushfires. Further details regarding the roadshows will be shared once available. Find further information about MyLand on the intranet.
Western Safety Group monthly meeting
The Western Safety Group held its monthly meeting last Thursday, 14 November. The draft minutes of the meeting are available here.
Conflict of interest form
Staff are reminded that if they need to declare a conflict of interest the appropriate form can now be found in CSConnect. The previous, paper based form, is obsolete and should no longer be used. Visit the intranet for further information on conflicts of interest.
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Projects update
Last week the projects team had their monthly update meeting of which an overview is provided below. If you wish to know more about a project contact the project lead, and if you wish to share more of a project you're involved in please do so via Workplace.
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Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area
TGP Beyond the Fence
Coolibah-Black Box Endangered Ecological Community
NLP2 Core Services
Land Services Program
Creating Sustainable, Healthy, Diverse Waterways in the Western region
'For the Birds' - improved outcomes for significant species
Improved native vegetation condition in the Western region through targeted weed control
Preserving Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
Regent Parrot Project (OEH)
Animal Health Program (Bruco Eradication Program)
Predator Program
New Systems Implementation
Stock Watering Places / Travelling Stock Reserves Program
NSW Landcare and LLS conference
Stakeholder and community engagement
Kangaroo Taskforce
Western Division Shires Wild Dog Program
ET Regent Parrot Forage Habitat
Environmental Trust Thick Billed Grasswren
Gilgunnia Vertebrate Pest Control
Lower Lachlan Shoot
Western Riverina Pig Program
River Connections
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Cultural heritage surveys continuing with the second invoice received last week. Spring Hill surveys will be completed this month. Transects have been established for baiting which will commence in late November/Dec. Warren destruction to commence January 2020.
Mallee Sustainable Farms: contract executed, field day planning currently underway. Ecosystems Management Understanding (EMU): contract with Hugh executed, EOIs received and assessed and landholders notified. Program kicked off. Capacity building: negotiating with NSW DPI to deliver Tactical Grazing Management workshop in the south; host lined up. Soils workshops: planning commenced, Courtney and Peter to work on this. Likely to deliver term 1 2020.
Rehab: Seven EOIs received, five eligible being contracted this week. Weeds: Seven weeds projects contracted. Capacity building: Grazing Naturally workshop completed, floodplain rehydration workshop planned for Pooncarie. Aboriginal Engagement: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage (ACH) surveys required on two weeds and all rehab projects. $25k contributed to ACH project with site identified to complement rehab project. Travelling Stock Reserves (TSR): Ford's Bridge reserve to be fenced by group at no cost, signage and possible ACH surveys to be explored for Ford's and Tarrion Reserve.
Quarter 1 report submitted. On track. Next report due early Jan. Review of Willandra Lakes MERI plan - planned hectares rectified. Coolibah-Black Box Endangered Ecological Community MERI plan reviewed and request for a variation underway. Regular catch ups with Kathy Binns to identify any issues or changes to the MERI plans.
Human Factors workshop completed 12/9. Next workshop is in Broken Hill 25/11 - Finance component to be delivered by Holmes Sackett. Land Services Plan review and planning meeting 11/12.
Kaye is still pursuing Duxtons Vineyards as a proponent for a Murray River diversion screen project, but has three other potentials lined up. Kaye and Andrea are working on a school aquatic education plan with Western Landcare and local NSW DPI - Fisheries staff. Riparian weeds project identified via Brian's EOI will be funded via the aquatics program and will exceed the outputs by more than 50 ha.
Weeds: Three weeds projects contracted in Plains Wanderer area. Capacity building: Malleefowl monitoring training completed 9-10 Nov. Pest management workshop planned for Autumn at Mossgiel. Cut-outs of all species being designed for field days, fact sheets being developed for Thick-Billed Grasswren and Plains Wanderer. Taronga Schools Program for Plains Wandered planned for term 2 2020 nearing contract. Thick-Billed Grasswren day in Autumn. Rehab: works to be done on two properties in Thick-Billed Grasswren area, Paul suggested Hugh to do survey/design.
13 projects contracted. $15k given to Andy for additional works, likely Lachlan boxthorn group and Hudson Pear. Capacity building to be determined.
Have prioritised order of projects to survey and developed a request to quote for suppliers. Two sites identified for protection works - one will be an extension of a rehab project.
A field day was held at the Euston Public School on 24 October to film footage for the Regent Parrot film clip. Preparations for the launch of the student build resources (book and video) are underway, expected to be implemented on 5 December. Karin met with Duxtons Dried Fruits to secure and measure the sites to re-vegetate forage habitat, works are planned for early Autumn 2020. Karin and SOS team met with Euston Beautification and Tourism Committee, Balranald Shire Council are contacting Egg Picnic about licencing the RP (same on T-Shirts) image for use as an icon for the town of Euston - A big win!
Recently completed 'Getting More Lambs' events - evaluation highlighted a few issues. Ongoing consistency issues with data capture and management.
All planning underway - aerial baiting completed and ground baiting nearly finished. Predator Program for both Autumn and Spring being developed as part of '2020 Vision'.
MyLand Roadshows were planned to be underway this month but Broken Hill event postponed due to MyLand staff now working on bushfires. MyLand - no progress at this stage. Mandy created attribution guide for LandMap - under review. Ryan up to speed with LandMap
TSR annual plan almost complete.
Conference executed - contractor to be invoiced for remaining revenue and contract finalisation. Approx finances are in the process of being reported on.
Energy workshops and drought "drop ins" early December.
Landcare Conference display. ESA Conference in Tasmania. Meeting with Kangaroo Management Taskforce in December in Cobar.
Team underway to develop Expos program - scheduled for June 2020 Spring baiting nearly finished for 2019 EOI for Professional Wild Dog Controller Program (Trappers) open until Sunday - assessment scheduled for 2-6 December with Stuart Boyd-Law Collaring Project nearly finalised - draft project plan sent to project team for review, Bourke facility documentation nearly complete with Hully for final edit. Pest group planning scheduled for February with key groups '2020 Vision' comms document being developed for mid December launch to cover all of 2020 activities.
A site has been identified for fencing, Karin is working with the landholder to develop a grazing management plan.
Project Implementation Plan submitted, awaiting approval and first payment. Brian has planned project works with the 3 landholders. Works will begin in 2020.
Completed.
Completed.
Completed.
Progressed to business plan due February 2020. Looking to engage consultant to prepare business plan. Partly filled out - tracking OK.
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Staff movements
Welcome Peter Irish
Wishing Peter a warm welcome as he commences with Western LLS today. Peter is based in our Bourke office and has joined the NRM team as a Land Services Officer.
Leave
- Michelle is on leave on Monday
- Mere is on leave Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
- Andrea is on leave from Monday to Friday
- Georgie is on leave on Wednesday
- Jenni is on leave on Thursday and Friday
- Charlie is on leave on Thursday, Friday and Monday
- Kate is on extended leave
- Jacinta is on extended leave
- Kerry is on extended leave
- Blackie is on extended leave
- Rhoda is on extended leave
- Colin is on extended leave.
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Movements of the Ops Team
Erlina Compton
Erlina will be in Dubbo all week and will be focusing on a brief for the Minister's Office on an upcoming visit to the Western region, the AgNRM strategy, River Connections, River Bank fencing project and has a backlog of other items to continue with.
Michelle Johnson
Michelle is on sick leave on Monday and will be in the office for the rest of the week. Michelle will be catching up with her team and will attend a Manager's of Business and Finance meeting.
Andrew Hull
Hully will be in the Buronga office all week and will be attending the Aboriginal Community Advisory Group meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, working on the Wild Dog 2020 vision, HR and accommodation actions.
Ben Slingsby
Ben will be in the office all week and will attend the ACAG meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, work on River Connections (Wetland Working Group MoU), role description project (development role), smart farms discussion with the Ag team, other project work and Landcare conference wrap up.
Gemma Turnbull
Gemma will be in the office on Monday and inducting the new Land Services Officer, Peter Irish. Gemma will be in Cobar on Tuesday for first aid training and in Bourke on Wednesday and Thursday. While in Bourke, Gemma will be having smart farms planning discussions, continuing with project work and team planning.
Mitch Plumbe
Mitch will be in the office all week and working on legislation review for the EMU group, progress projects, Land Services Program preparation and smart farms planning.
Tim Wall
Tim will be in the office Monday morning and then travel to Cobar for first aid training on Tuesday. Tim will travel back to Wilcannia on Wednesday and be in the office Thursday and Friday.
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Out and about in the media
Another week and another great story involving Paul and his rangeland rehab work — well done Paul!
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Until next week...
Thanks for reading the 18 November edition of the Western Region Round-up, if you require clarification on any of the above, please contact the manager or team leader responsible for further information.
If there is anything else you would like to see featured in the round-up, please email Charlie Whiteley.
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