Donald Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan
From left to right, residents Rodney Chapman and Ann Dunstan, Donald Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan Project Facilitator Keith McPherson and Landcare Coordinator Kevin Spence (photo courtesy of The Buloke Times)
- About the neighbourhood
- Issues of concern
- Initiatives
- Proposal development and aims and objectives
- Plan development
- Getting involved.
About the neighbourhood
The township of Donald is located 170 kilometres north-west of Ballarat, on the Richardson River, and is home to 1700 people. The district grows a variety of crops and is well known for Lake Buloke and the Bullock's Head.
The community of Donald is vibrant, active and keen to improve their local area. Many actions to improve the local area have been taken by Donald 2000 (a local community group), Landcare groups and others.
Issues of concern
Donald has faced serious environmental issues for some time. The community is concerned that poor river health and the resulting strong odours are negatively impacting on the liveability and tourism potential of the town.
Key issues include:
- polluted stormwater
- nutrient runoff from surrounding land
- soil erosion
- lack of environmental flows
- high saline groundwater levels.
The recent drought has compounded these issues.
Initiatives
There are a number of existing initiatives working towards improving the health of the Richardson River. The Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan will provide a framework for community engagement and add value to these initiatives that include:
- Landcare efforts
- Urban Stormwater/Waterwatch Community Education program
- Buloke Biolink Project.
Proposal development
The process undertaken to develop the Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) proposal reached across the community and has provided numerous opportunities for people to become involved.
- Download article on the NEIP published in The Buloke Times (Adobe PDF file, 844KB).
Events have included:
- the formation of a NEIP Project Launch Team
- a community workshop to develop the vision and objectives
- a survey that was available in the grocery shop and was circulated with school reports; responses were mainly concerned with river health, revegetating the river, reducing odour, improving amenity and the loss of associated recreational activities
- discussions with a variety of stakeholders including teachers, service clubs, community organisations, businesses and landholders and government agencies
- circulation of the proposal to all partners to the NEIP and discussion at a public meeting.
Proposal aims and objectives
The Donald community is working towards a well-managed, attractive and healthy river where it is a pleasure to live, work and play. Their vision is "Committed to a Healthy Richardson River".
To achieve this vision, the partners and community involved in the Donald Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) have proposed the following objectives:
- to unify the community in a common vision for the Richardson River and to create partnerships that will work cooperatively towards achieving a healthy and attractive river environment
- increase community capacity through education, training and awareness raising activities
- protect, enhance and restore the conservation and biodiversity values of the river and its adjacent floodplain and wetlands
- improve water quality of the Richardson River
- manage the Richardson River and its floodplain in line with best management practices and consistent with the objectives of the North Central Catchment Management Authority Regional Catchment Strategy
- to increase civic pride and the value of the river as an economic and social asset by improving amenity and reducing odour.
The Donald NEIP proposal was endorsed by the Authority on 19 October 2004.
- Download a copy of the proposal (Adobe PDF file, 477KB).
Plan development
The Buloke Shire Council is the sponsor of the Donald Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP).
The team involved in developing the NEIP proposal has formed the basis of the Donald NEIP Coordination Team. This team meets monthly and are working towards the NEIP vision of "Committed to a Healthy Richardson River".
Raising the NEIP's profile
The coordination team has been raising awareness of the NEIP within the Donald Community through media releases, the production and circulation of a pamphlet and letters to community groups, authorities and residents.
The group worked in conjunction with EPA, Donald High, Donald Primary and St Mary's Primary Schools and a professional film crew to make a film of the Donald neighbourhood and its environment.
The coordination team welcomes anyone who wishes to become involved in the NEIP.
Events that have occurred so far include:
- monthly meetings of the NEIP Coordination Team
- the establishment of appropriate governance structures and guidelines such as a communication strategy and consultation processes
- the organisation of the coordination team into five broad portfolio areas:
- Community and Cultural Heritage
- Biodiversity
- Dryland
- Infrastructure and Regional Development, and
- Water
- ongoing work with Landcare
- a community forum providing the Donald community with an opportunity to discuss the environmental issues facing their neighbourhood and work together towards solutions, and
- a stormwater reuse project to conserve water and deal with nutrient and sediment that is entering the Richardson River.
Getting involved
The Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP) is currently being developed and participation is welcomed and encouraged.
If you would like to become involved or find out more information, contact:
Anna Arkoudis
Buloke Shire Council
Ph: (03) 5493 7400
Send an email
or
Megan O’Donnell
EPA North West Region
Ph: (03) 5438 1000
Send an email