Capacity Building Forum

This CCB project is designed to: highlight Western Port’s key biodiversity assets, the current state of knowledge and the work being undertaken to date assist information sharing and collaboration and strengthen partnerships between research institutions, key agencies and the community strengthen community group’s ability to develop well-targeted management projects and apply for external funding e.g. Caring for our Country grants. Thank you to all who attended this forum held by the CCB in Hastings on Monday 15 June 2009. The forum was well attended by community groups, government agency representatives and research institutes. Consisting of presentations in the morning, a panel session after lunch and a choice of concurrent workshops in the afternoon, the forum allowed participants time for in-depth discussion and information sharing regarding Western Port’s key biodiversity assets, the current state of knowledge and work being undertaken.

This CCB project is designed to:

highlight Western Port’s key biodiversity assets, the current state of knowledge and the work being undertaken to date
assist information sharing and collaboration and strengthen partnerships between research institutions, key agencies and the community
strengthen community group’s ability to develop well-targeted management projects and apply for external funding e.g. Caring for our Country grants.

Thank you to all who attended this forum held by the CCB in Hastings on Monday 15 June 2009. The forum was well attended by community groups, government agency representatives and research institutes. Consisting of presentations in the morning, a panel session after lunch and a choice of concurrent workshops in the afternoon, the forum allowed participants time for in-depth discussion and information sharing regarding Western Port’s key biodiversity assets, the current state of knowledge and work being undertaken.

Building on from this forum a follow-up meeting to discuss outcomes and potential projects for the next round of Caring for our Country funding is being planned. Project recommendations may also be pursued under the 2009 Community Coastcare initiative.

Hastings Forum
Venue - Hastings Harbour View Motor Inn, 126 Marine Parade, Hastings
Date - Monday 15th June 2009.

AGENDA
9.30 am	Arrival tea and coffee
10.00 am	WELCOME Dr Roz Jessop (Morning MC)
10.10 am	Value of community engagement Graeme Davis
10.20 am	Coastal foreshore ecological vegetation classes (EVC) Jeff Yugovic	PPT ( 7.08 MB)
10. 50 am	Morning Tea
11.10 am	Saltmarsh and mangrove communities Professor Paul Boon
11.30am	Western Port seagrass communities and mapping David Ball
11.50am	Western Port Ramsar site Yvette Baker
12.10 pm	Lunch *(12.30 pm option for a Wetlands Walk with Jeff Weir Dolphin Research Institute)* Presentation on the Wetlands and the changing local attitudes to biodiversity assets.
1.10 pm	PANEL Panel: short individual opening statements followed by Q & A within panel and with audience facilitated by Jeff Weir Ian Morgans Rod McLellan Cecelia Witton Greg Hunt Mick Lumb
2.10 pm	Afternoon Tea
2.30 pm	WORKSHOPS
Workshop 1	Solution at the source - Slowing the flow into Western Port Bass Valley overview and case study Presented by Joel Geoghegan Facilitated by Adam Shalekoff, (PPWCMA)
Workshop 2	Importance of partnerships - Seagrass Partnership case study Presented by Dr Tim Ealey Facilitated by Phill Wierzbowski (Coast Action/ Coastcare)
Workshop 3	Victorian Waders Study Group - 30 Years Presented by Dr Roz Jessop Facilitated by Annette Hatten (Executive Officer Central Coastal Board)
Workshop 4	Coastal vegetation restoration Presented by Jeff Yugovic Facilitated by Denis Cox (Coast Action/Coastcare )
3.30 – 3.45 pm	Wrap up and evaluation Mick Lumb

Follow-up Meeting
The products of a follow-up meeting held in Hastings in August 2009 include a map and a table providing information on natural assets for 21 identified key sites around the bay. Also captured are the threats for each site, details of the land managers, the community groups operating in the area and the existing projects.

Map of Western Port Natural Assets (PDF 119 kb)
Table with information on Western Port Natural Assets (PDF 45 kb)

The map and table information may assist community groups align proposed projects with biodiversity assets when applying for funding such as:

For more information on the project please contact the Central Coastal Board at enquiries@ccb.vic.gov.au