Publication (Annual report): CRCFE Annual Report 2000-2001

Publication Type:	Annual report
Publication Name:	CRCFE Annual Report 2000-2001

Reference Information

CRC for Freshwater Ecology (2001) CRCFE Annual Report 2000-2001, CRCFE, Canberra.

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Attached document(s):

- Annual_Report_2000-2001.pdf

Other information:

ANNUAL REPORT 2000-2001

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Chairman’s Foreword
Over the past year, the CRC for Freshwater Ecology has planned and commenced implementation
of a research portfolio that strategically targets both short and long-term issues
facing land and water managers.

The CRC consulted extensively with researchers and managers to develop its research portfolio,
guided by the conviction that if truly multi-disciplinary and collaborative research is to
be undertaken to achieve real benefits for the environment, researchers and managers must
be involved in the planning of research projects.

In order to continue the involvement of land and water managers, Program Advisory
Committees (PACs) which include industry representatives, have been established for each
research program; further ensuring that the CRC’s research is relevant to the water industry.

The CRC’s research projects vary from large, integrated, three to six year projects focusing on
the scientific questions that underpin the issues facing the water industry, to short term
1-6 month projects addressing immediate needs and knowledge gaps.

Twelve large, multi-disciplinary projects currently form the backbone of the CRC’s research
portfolio.These projects use expertise from across the CRC to focus on problems at an appropriate
field scale and are producing some exciting initial results. Further details about these
research projects and staff can be found in the Research Chapter, page 17.

The quality of the CRC’s research was confirmed in an outstanding report from the First
Stage of the Second Year Review. Staff are already working towards the Second Stage of the
Second Year Review, to be held in September 2001.

As Chairman of the Board, I have the pleasure of congratulating Professor Peter Cullen and
Ian Lawrence for their impressive double win in the 2001 Banksia Awards.

Peter was honoured with the Prime Minister’s most prestigious award for services to the
environment, the Prime Minister’s ‘Environmentalist of the Year Award’. This Award recognises
Peter’s outstanding contribution to improving the management of Australia’s water
resources.

As founding Director of the CRC for Freshwater Ecology, Peter has driven the development of
new models for knowledge generation and exchange. He has made an enormous contribution
to the knowledge base upon which we as a society make decisions about the management
of our natural resources.

Ian Lawrence was awarded the Banksia Environmental Foundation Award for “Outstanding
Individual Achievement” in recognition of his contribution towards improving Australia’s
sustainable future.

I would like to thank Peter Cullen, the management team, staff and students for their
commitment to the CRC and the immense contribution they make to the success of the CRC.

Special thanks must go to Terry Hillman who retired in July 2001. Terry has been Director of
the MDFRC for the last 8 years and made an enormous contribution to the CRC. Terry’s
research over the last 27 years has helped to reveal the value of billabongs to the health of
river systems. On behalf of the Board, I wish him all the best in his retirement.

Finally, I greatly appreciate the cooperative spirit of the Board members. Leadership starts at
the top, and the cooperation of the Board members is an excellent example for the whole CRC.

Dr John Langford
Chairman of the Board

Chief Executive's Report

It has been an exciting year for the CRC for Freshwater Ecology as we have completed the
planning phase and started work on the new research projects.We have an exciting portfolio
of research projects that we believe will make a difference to the management of Australian
water resources.

The Centre completed the first stage of its Second Year Review with an outstanding report.

“The CRCFE’s research performance to Year 2 is impressive...”

“The CEO and key researchers are the agents for these major changes. Foremost, they are
excellent scientists, recognised nationally and internationally as generating quality scientific
knowledge, and prepared to lead integrated teams tackling big scale ecological issues.
Additionally, they are contributing to innovative knowledge exchange processes to get the
new and existing knowledge used for management and policy, and are providing the
required leadership to facilitate the changes in research culture the CRCFE is striving to
achieve.”

“In general the research management is very thorough and effective.”

Preparation is now underway for the second stage review which takes place in September
2001.

During the year the Prime Minister announced the “National Action Plan on Salinity and
Water Quality”with a budget of $1.4 billion.The CRC was heavily involved with the development
of this Plan.

I assist the Government by serving on a variety of Committees. I have been asked by the Lake
Eyre Ministerial Forum to chair the new Scientific Advisory Panel on Lake Eyre, and I continue to
work on the State of the Environment Committee and the Natural Heritage Trust Advisory
Committee. These committees provide one of the many opportunities we take to transfer
the knowledge gained through the CRC to the Government and the agencies who can use
this knowledge to fulfil their functions.

The Government released its response to the Innovation Summit and the Chief Scientist’s
report with a major injection of funds to the CRC program, and a number of other important
initiatives that will provide a much better funding environment for basic research. This
confidence in the ability of the CRC program to provide an important bridge between the
providers and the users of knowledge is welcomed.

The success of the CRC program continues to attract international attention. The CRC for
Freshwater Ecology has been asked to assist the World Bank with knowledge about environmental
flows below major new dams, and to start developing this linkage I attended a meeting
in Washington with Bank staff and some consultants.

The CRC continues to work closely with our partners to deliver our knowledge in useful
forms to help their operations.We have worked with the Murray-Darling Basin Commission
to develop an approach that will provide a Sustainable Rivers Audit for the Basin, and we
expect to see that implemented in the following year. We have assisted Environment
Australia with an Assessment of the Ecological Outcomes of the COAG Water Reforms.

The CRC assisted the Olympic Coordinating Authority with plant growth problems in the
Olympic Rowing Course at Penrith and were delighted to see the course functioned so well
during the Olympic competition.

The delivery of our knowledge is the responsibility of our Knowledge Exchange team.
Professor Gary Jones has joined the University of Canberra as Director of Knowledge
Exchange and Education, and Amanda Kotlash is working as a knowledge broker based in the
Sydney Catchment Authority. Michelle Bald has joined the team as a knowledge broker at
Mildura.

The CRC continues to be a vibrant and productive organisation, committed to making a
difference. This comes about because of the energy, enthusiasm and talent of the staff and
students who have a commitment to collaborative research and to delivering research that
can be used. The goodwill of so many people is critical to the CRC’s success.

Special thanks must go to our Board and in particular our Chairman, Dr John Langford.
Dr Langford has not only led the Board with distinction, but provided much wise counsel to
me as Chief Executive.

Professor Peter Cullen
Chief Executive

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