Colleen Farrow - All Occasions Management

Tackling the Triple
Bottom Line –
using innovation,
resilience and willing
landholders
4th National NRM Knowledge Conference
Colleen Farrow
Central West
Catchment Management Authority,
New South Wales
The Farming Systems Program what is it?
• 10 farming families per group, 20 days of expert training
• Participants are paid to attend
• Development of Natural Resource Plan
• The best proposals were funded
• Ongoing support and access to CMA incentives
• Facilitated the development, and supported the implementation of
innovative farming systems among progressive landholders
Basis of training
• All the Catchment targets were addressed
• Developed using the triple bottom line
• Innovation was rewarded
• Related to future trends rather than present practices
More than just a Farm Plan!
– Included the redesign of
existing systems
– Incremental changes to
existing approaches
– Examples of
transformational innovation
– Time away from the
property to listen, learn
and think
Landscape Function Analysis, Nyngan
Solar powered vehicle
• 5% of the property will be managed as riparian paddocks for
enhanced vegetation biodiversity
• 10ha exclusively as a riparian zone
• 30ha fenced out as remnant vegetation
What was achieved?
• A range of environmental, social and economic outcomes
• Impacted over 42,000 hectares
Cultural Heritage training
Economic outcomes
• Production benefits including:
– Decreased input costs and time
– Increased profitability
– Increased resilience
Ecological outcomes
• Increased biodiversity, groundcover, soil health, water use efficiency
and stability in water riparian areas
Social outcomes
• Changes in attitude and aspirations
• Covered learning styles and
succession planning
• Increase in knowledge and skills
– Biodiversity
– Soil health
– Understanding people
– Prioritising and planning
Participants ideas
• Composting business
• Working off-farm
• Marketing own beef/employing local
Aboriginals to help with preparation
• ‘Australian made’ labelling
• Portable/non permanent fencing
system
• Mental health counselling
Were the boxes ticked?
• The project achieved the
expected outcomes of
contributing towards the
Salinity target
• Flexible
• Based on adult learning
principles
• Supportive learning
environment
What’s happening now?
• Over 60% of participants still use their Natural Resource Plans
• Over 60% of participants are implementing components of their
plans since training
• Increased participation in Central West CMA activities
What are the CWCMA doing?
• Supporting the participants
• It’s about the people
• Planning the next program using ideas and recommendations
from past projects
Any Questions?