On Monday, June 1, at the Lake Cowal Conservation Centre (LCCC) 50 people attended a Partnerships Forum, highlighting the success of the Lake Cowal Foundation (LCF) during its nine year history and planning its future role.
The non-profit Environmental Trust’s primary role is to protect and enhance Lake Cowal, a nationally significant wetland located 45km north of West Wyalong.
David Mitchell, Chair of the Foundation is proud of the LCF and its achievements.
“The national significance of this project cannot be underestimated,” said Professor Mitchell.
The key word that sums up the success of the LCF is ‘partnerships’.
The people at the forum showed the range of partnerships that have been formed, with representatives from Barrick Gold, CSIRO, Australian National University staff and students, Lachlan CMA, Western Institute of Tafe, Bland Shire, NSW DPI, Landcare, local farmers, Greening Australia and environmental consultants.
Also at the forum were representatives from Cadia Mines at Orange and Northparkes Mines at Parkes, who were interested to see the success of the LCF and look at implementing a similar organization at their mining projects.
Back in June 2000, the aims of the LCF were to protect and enhance the natural environment in the Lake Cowal region by working with the local community to create opportunities and establish partnerships by creating diverse projects and demonstrating best practice.
The LCF has done just that, with 32 projects currently underway and 39 project partners embracing the local rural community and wider region.
Major projects include the Bland Incentives Grants (B.I.G), Birds of Bland, CSIRO Grasslands Study, Pasture Cropping Trials, Natural Sequence Farming, establishment of the Green Corps Team and involvement of district school students in many activities.
“The establishment of the LCCC in 2007 is a major success story.
“It has allowed greater community involvement in the diverse projects of the LCF,” said Mal Carnegie, LCF Project Officer.
Local farmer and LCF Board Member Andrew Buttenshaw endorsed these comments,
“This conservation centre has allowed for a lot of involvement by local landholders and community groups,” said Mr Buttenshaw.
Howard Mangelsdorf of ‘Chellington’, whose property borders the Lake Cowal Gold Mine, explained the establishment of the LCF was of benefit to the whole region.
“I was once a big critic of the establishment of a gold mine in the district.
“However, after being involved in projects with the Foundation our family has benefited from this participation and used many projects to try new concepts and farming methods.
“The conservation centre is a place of social interaction and allows the local community to get together.
“The Gold Mine has changed our lives but the positive effects for West Wyalong and the Bland Shire has been a big plus for our community,” said Mr Mangelsdorf.
One common thread throughout the life of the LCF has been the involvement of Bill Shalvey, Community Relations Manager of Barrick Australia Ltd, the owners of the gold mine at Lake Cowal.
The Company secretary of LCF, Mr Shalvey started work in the area in 1983 when exploration started and has seen the project develop from that point.
“In 2004, real progress was made in the local area with projects and relationships, a building of trust and the formation of partnerships and alliances.
“The success of the LCF has exceeded my expectations, with the support of the local farming community essential for its success.
“Barrick is committed to leave the area in better shape than when we arrived and our commitment to the LCF and its many meaningful projects is still there.
“People are now happy to work with Barrick in partnerships, something that was not evident in the early stages of the development of the mine at Lake Cowal.
Andrew Buttenshaw emphasised the importance of Mr Shalvey’s involvement.
“Bill has been a common thread through the whole process and the consistent support of local landholders would not have happened if there had been frequent changes in personnel,” said Mr Buttenshaw.
The unique, practical projects being undertaken by the LCF have resulted in major wins for the local environment, the community and the various project partners.
Where to from here for the Foundation is the next question.
One thing that is not under scrutiny is the success of the FCL.
The national significance of the various projects still underway and future projects will not wane.
The future seems all to do with land stewardship.
Governments need to recognise the key role that farmers and landholders play in future conservation strategies.
The Lake Cowal Foundation is a success story, according to all representatives in attendance at the forum.
Its strategy of forming partnerships in a wide range of practical conservation and community projects is a model for looking after the land that other groups should adopt.
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