Love Our LakesForum | Dinner | Field Trips

15 & 16 November 2013Lakes Entrance

Please see staff at the registration desk throughout the day should you have any questions or wish to inquire about Forum Dinner and/or Field Trips.

1.30pm Environmental Knowledgewith Dave Munday

Environmental Education with Martin Richardson

Gipppsland Lakes Burrunan Dolphins: A new species in your backyard

Dr Kate Charlton-Robb

Connecting People to Place: The Marlay Point Project’s Indigenous Engagement

Martin PottsWater Levels and Salinity: What drives the

hydrodynamics of the Gippsland Lakes?Dr Andrew McCowan

Connecting People to Place: The Marlay Point Project’s School Engagement

Jim MeadAlgal Blooms: Past, present and future

Perran CookIntroducing the Teenage Eco Warrior

Andrea SavageTracking the Abundance of Black Bream in the

Gippsland LakesSimon Conron

Creating “awe, wonder and respect” for wildlifeJim Reside

Monitoring Diversity and Abundance of Wetland Birds on the Gippsland Lakes

Chris Healey

Gippsland Lakes: The inspiration for children’s stories

Peter ColemanSeagrass and Fish Assemblages of the Gippsland

LakesFiona Warry

Gippsland Lakes: The inspiration for children’s stories

Kelly Coleman3.30pm Afternoon tea - Front Lounge4.00pm Closing Session5.00pm Close

Program subject to change without notice

Central HotelBellevue on the Lakes

Post Office Jetty

LAKES ENTRANCE

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Love Our Lakes ForumFriday 15 November 2013

8.15am Registration Opens - Bellevue Conference Foyer9.00am Welcome to Country and Conference Open9.20am Keynote 1 - Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Great Moments in Gippsland Lakes Science10.30am Morning tea - Front Lounge11.00am Keynote 2 - Michelle Joy, Citizen Science: What can we all do?11.40am Keynote 3 - Anthony Boxshall, Untapped potential, lost opportunities: communities &

environmental management and monitoring12.30pm Lunch - Front Lounge

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WELCOMEThe Gippsland Lakes Ministerial Advisory Committee welcomes you to the 2013 Love Our Lakes Forum.

The Committee has an important role in providing opportunities to share information and learn about the Lakes.

Our Forum is one of many activities intended to share knowledge and encourage participation in the custodianship and care of our wonderful Gippsland Lakes.

The Forum brings together community members, researchers, educators, industry and government representatives to share their knowledge and discuss ways to increase our understanding and involvement in managing the environment of the Lakes.

Through the event we hope to inform, engage and inspire a shared commitment to protect this precious environmental system for future generations.

We also have an important role advising our Ministers on the health of the Lakes and action to maintain and improve the Lakes environment through the Victorian Government’s $10 million Gippsland Lakes Environment Fund.

Projects throughout the Lakes and catchment are being implemented through the Fund to deliver tangible environmental improvements, build our scientific knowledge and support care groups, industry groups and community members of all ages in environmental improvement and decision-making.

The forum will showcase some of these projects and provide inspiration for continuing partnerships and innovations in environmental management.

We appreciate your support for the Committee through your attendance at the forum and welcome your continuing involvement and commitment to Love Our Lakes.

Dr Peter Veenker Martin RichardsonChair ExecutiveOfficer

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meet our Facilitators

Martin RichardsonMartin Richardson was raised in Paynesville and in his youth, spent countless hours on the Lakes - swimming, fishing, camping and skiing. After obtaining tertiary qualifications in Geography and Urban and Regional Planning, Martin worked for 20 years in Tasmania and Western Australia, before returning with his family to East Gippsland in 2008. He is Executive Officer for the Gippsland Lakes Ministerial Advisory Committee, a job he performs with passion, as he plays his part in protecting the wonderful natural environment of the Gippsland Lakes. Martin enjoys spending time with his family on and around the Lakes and working with the people who study, care about and help protect and manage the environment of the Gippsland Lakes.

Dave MundayDave Munday is Future Creation’s principal facilitator and has been facilitating groups in Victoria, the Northern Territory and the Kimberley over the past 20 years. He has significant experience in facilitation, community engagement, strategic planning, program management and capacity building. Through a recent role as Regional Manager for a Government department, Dave also offers skills and expertise in management processes including facilitating policy development, building strong and effective teams, mentoring and coaching teams and individuals and program and project management. Dave’s unique style allows him to create consensus and confidence in disparate groups and he has the ability to encourage leadership and growth in others.

We are local people with a range of skills and experience, appointed to advise the State Government on the health of the Gippsland Lakes.We work with government agencies, researchers, industry bodies and community groups to implement the Gippsland Lakes Environmental Strategy.

We advise on funding for projects to improve the health of the Lakes, including important research and community engagement. We are a strong advocate for the health of the Lakes and encourage community involvement. We welcome your ideas, knowledge and suggestions to protect the Gippsland Lakes for the future. For more information, please go to www.gippslandlakes.net.au or email info@gippslandlakes.net.au

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Keynote 1

Dr Karl KruszelnickiWhenever the announcer gives out the phone number for Karl Kruszelnicki’s famous Science Talkback show on Triple J on Thursday mornings - so many calls come in that the ABC switchboard crashes! Karl’s media career began in 1981, when he started presenting ‘Great Moments in Science’ on Double J to pay his way through medical school. Since then, his media career has exploded from radio to include TV, books, newspapers, magazines and professional speaking. Karl made his TV debut in 1985 as the presenter of the first series of Quantum. Since 1986 he has reported science on the Midday Show, GMA, Today Show and Sunrise. In 2008 he completed a series for ABC with Adam Spencer called ‘Sleek Geeks’ with the pair teamed up again in 2010 to produce a second series. Karl also popularises science on ABC radio stations across Australia and, on the BBC, for several hours each week. Karl has written (so far) 32 books including ‘Great Moments In Science’ and ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So...’Bro’.

Great Moments in Gippsland Lakes ScienceThe future of the Gippsland Lakes and surrounding regions are intimately entwined with the ocean and climate. Dr Karl will discuss how Global Warming will affect this, as well Biodiversity, the Dynamics of Change, Whale Ear Wax, past Ice Ages, Killer Whales, and of course, how Marshmallows can predict your wealth.

Love Our Lakes DinnerJoin Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, our valued presenters and your fellow delegates for an evening of local food, superb wine, local entertainment and a keynote address by one of Australia’s most entertaining science communicators, Dr Karl.

Laugh and learn about the Goods and Services Tax, the Dead Grandmother / Exam Syndrome, Strapless Evening Gown, many manifestations of Beer, how not to pick up a snake and why about half of us are kissing the wrong way.

Featuring the Bairnsdale Secondary College Swing Band.

Ticket includes a two course meal and welcome drinks.

Friday 15 November7pm – 10pmThe Central Hotel321 Esplanade, Lakes Entrance

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Love our Lakes Field TripsSaturday 16 November 2013

Gain and share knowledge with industry experts and community members while experiencing the beauty of the Lakes. Join us for one or more of the following field trips and see the Lakes up close with casual commentary from some of our amazing presenters. Choose from the following trips:

Morning Field Trips Departing Lakes Entrance 10amCome aboard the Thunderbird and cruise the Gippsland Lakes in comfort. This trip will take you to Metung and back with a stop at the entrance to Bass Strait so you can walk over the heads. Enjoy commentary from our skipper and forum experts as well as discovering wildlife and water life along the way. Departs 10am Returns 12pm Departing from the dock at Post Office Jetty, Lakes EntranceCommentary by Perran Cook, Martin Potts, Jim Reside and Kelly Coleman

Departing Paynesville 10amJoin the Seabird out of Paynesville for a relaxing 15km scenic cruise to Newlands Arm and Duck Arm. Relish the pleasures of leisurely cruising with large areas of open water and secluded inlets to explore. Enjoy commentary from our skipper and forum experts as well as discovering wildlife and water life along the way. Departs 10amReturns 12pmDeparts from Progress Jetty, PaynesvilleCommentary by Dr Kate Charlton-Robb, Fiona Warry, Chris Healey and Andrea Savage

Afternoon Field Trips Departing Lakes Entrance 2pmCome aboard the Thunderbird and cruise the Gippsland Lakes in comfort. This trip takes in a 70km scenic cruise of the Gippsland Lakes, through Metung up to Paynesville and around Raymond Island and the Paynesville Canals. Enjoy commentary from our skipper and forum experts as well as discovering wildlife and water life along the way. Departs 2pm Returns 4.30pmDeparting from dock at Post Office Jetty, Lakes EntranceCommentary by Dr Kate Charlton-Robb, Perran Cook and Fiona Warry

Departing Paynesville 2pmJoin the Seabird out of Paynesville for a relaxing 15km scenic cruise to Newlands Arm and Duck Arm. Relish the pleasures of leisurely cruising with large areas of open water and secluded inlets to explore. Enjoy commentary from our skipper and forum experts as well as discovering wildlife and water life along the way. Departs 2pm Returns 4pmDeparts from Progress Jetty, PaynesvilleCommentary by Dr Andrew McCowan, Martin Potts and Jim Reside

Field Trip Tickets are heavily subsidised with an over 50% discount, tickets must be purchased online at www.loveourlakes.net.au or at the registration desk by 5pm Friday 15 November to receive the delegate discount.

Extra tickets can be purchased on the day, but will be charged at full rate of $40 - $45pp adult full price. Presenters’ commentary is of a casual nature and is subject to change without notice.

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Keynote 2

Michelle JoyMichelle is an organisational development specialist currently with Earthwatch Australia where she is also setting up their Alumni and Foundation. With a background in education and organisationaldevelopment, Michelle lived and worked in East Gippsland for over 10 years. Corporate experience in organisational development and sustainability has given Michelle a broad base of skills to draw upon in this field.

Citizen Science: What can we all do?• What is citizen science? • Why is it more important than ever before?• What can we all do to contribute?• Why would we contribute?

Keynote 3

Anthony BoxshallDr Anthony Boxshall is Group Manager Monitoring & Assessment and Head of Science Reform at EPA Victoria. He is a marine ecologist by trade, who in past lives set up the marine science program at Parks Victoria including creating a community monitoring program (Sea Search), ran a private business and has been an academic in three Universities (across two countries). He is a Past President of the Australian Marine Sciences Association, the peak professional body for marine scientists in Australia, and co-founded an award-winning radio show on 3RRR-FM.

Untapped Potential, Lost Opportunities: Communities & environmental management and monitoring.Exploring two core contentions: • There is no such thing as bad data, only poorly used data. • There are important upsides from having community involvement in

environmental management and monitoring.

While it does cost and takes commitment, the returns greatly outweigh the cost. This talk will give evidence-based examples and some models for how environmental citizenship can extend happily into environmental management and monitoring.

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Dr Kate Charlton-Robb

Dr Kate Charlton-Robb is Founding Director and Principal Researcher at the Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation. Kate is the world’s leading authority on the Burrunan dolphin, with over 14 years’ experience researching the dolphins in southern Australia. Kate was the primary researcher that formally described and classified the Burrunan dolphin.

Gippsland Lakes Burrunan Dolphins: A new species in your backyard This presentation will explain the science behind the recent new dolphin species classification; information about, and the importance of, the Gippsland Lakes resident Burrunan dolphin population; information on dolphin behaviour; and raise awareness of the regulations in place when boating around dolphins through to correct disposal of rubbish and fishing waste. It will also encourage community involvement through ‘citizen science’ allowing the community to log sightings, locations, behaviour, pod size etc.

Dr Andrew McCowan

Founder and Managing Director of Water Technology, Andrew has over 35 years’ experience in government, research and engineering consultancy. His specialist areas inc. advanced numerical modelling techniques to flood hydraulics, coastal engineering and environmental investigations. In 1986, he was awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers’ prestigious Hilgard Hydraulics Prize, he is a member of Engineers Australia’s National Committee on Water Engineering and the Victorian Coastal Council’s Science Committee.

Water Levels and Salinity: What drives the hydrodynamics of the Gippsland Lakes?Variations in water levels and salinity have a dramatic impact on the health and amenity of the Gippsland Lakes. Water levels and lake salinity are both influenced by a range of drivers such as tide, wind, river inflows and ocean levels. In this presentation Andrew will outline, in simplified examples, the ways in which different forcing’s drive the level and salinity variations in the Lakes; from typical conditions to the more extreme cases of floods and droughts.

Perran Cook

Perran grew up in Metung, which cemented his interest in the Gippsland Lakes and the causes of algal blooms. He undertook his PhD at the University of Tasmania/CSIRO Marine Research, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Germany. He worked for a year at CSIRO before taking up his current position, where his work focuses on nutrient cycling and the effects of nutrient inputs to coastal waters.

Algal Blooms: Past, present and futureSummer blooms of blue green algae are a key water quality issue in the Gippsland Lakes. This talk will briefly recap our current understanding of the causes, discuss recent insights into blooms prior to European settlement as well as some thoughts on the future of blooms and how they might be mitigated.

Environmental KnowledgeHow do we report effectively on changes to the environmental health of the Gippsland Lakes?

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Simon Conron

Simon is a fisheries scientist based at the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI), Queenscliff. For the last 20 years he has lead monitoring programs in the Gippsland Lakes that collect data from recreational and commercial fisheries for finfish stock assessments and management strategy evaluation.

Tracking the Abundance of Black Bream in the Gippsland LakesHabitat and environmental conditions have a significant influence on the abundance of bream in the Gippsland Lakes. Recreational and commercial fishery-dependent data reflects not only the variable nature of bream abundance, but also the availability of bream to different areas within the Gippsland Lakes system. This presentation outlines the data collection methods currently being used by DEPI to assess the abundance of bream in the Gippsland Lakes, and will make recommendations on future research directions.

Chris Healey

Chris is currently a visiting fellow in resources, environment and development, Australian National University. He was a PhD in anthropology with academic research on human ecology and impact on birds in New Guinea and Indonesia. Chris relocated to East Gippsland ten years ago from the Northern Territory where he had been working in academia including Professor of Anthropology and Deputy Director of Centre for Indigenous Natural and Cultural Resource Management at Charles Darwin University.

Monitoring Diversity and Abundance of Wetland Birds on the Gippsland LakesThe Lakes are a refuge for almost 100 species of wetland birds, including endangered, vulnerable and migratory species. BirdLife East Gippsland regularly monitors species diversity and abundance. Some key findings on fluctuations over time are reviewed. Bird diversity and abundance are affected by a mix of local, regional and international ecological variables.

Fiona Warry

Fiona recently started a PhD at the Water Studies Centre, Monash University, investigating the functional links between estuaries and their catchments. She spent the previous four years working at the Arthur Rylah Institute, Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) as an Estuarine Scientist, working on projects including monitoring seagrass, fish assemblages and estuarine foodwebs.

Seagrass and Fish Assemblages of the Gippsland LakesThis presentation will provide background on the nature and value of seagrass in the Gippsland Lakes; outline physical and chemical monitoring tools employed in the Lakes to assess the health of seagrass, plants and links with fish assemblages.

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Martin Potts

Martin has been working towards landscape scale conservation with Greening Australia in Gippsland for over eight years. In this time he has worked with over 100 landholders protecting and revegetating around 1,000 hectares of endangered and threatened native vegetation.

Connecting People to Place: The Marlay Point Project’s Indigenous EngagementThe Gunaikurnai story is being rediscovered and retold within the Marlay Point Project that aims to reconnect the Wetlands and Woodlands of Lake Wellington.

Jim Mead

Jim has been working with Greening Australia for three years. He previously was an Education Manager at Sustainability Victoria and prior to that was the Landcare Education officer at DPI for five years. Jim’s background is in teaching, working for 15 years in the field.

Connecting People to Place: The Marlay Point Project’s School EngagementGreening Australia has worked with over 10 schools in Gippsland over the past two years, assisting them to calculate their travel miles and related carbon emissions. This has culminated in a biodiverse carbon plantation to offset their emissions on the shores of Lake Wellington at Marlay Point.

Andrea Savage

Andrea Savage studied a Bachelor of Horticulture at Burnley many years ago and has a passion for plants. She gained a Grad Dip Ed soon after and began her teaching career in TAFE, teaching adult learners of all ages. A position teaching Catchment and Land Management at Forestech teaching botany preluded her position of teaching general science, including VCE Biology at Nagle College, and co-ordinating a State-winning Landcare team.

Introducing the Teenage Eco WarriorThe Nagle College Rainforest project is a cross-curricular project that engages every student in some way, at some stage of the year, developed after Andrea attended a National Landcare Conference and saw an opportunity to develop a unique, inspiring and engaging project for teenage learners. A year 9 elective subject, Mitchell River Eco Warriors, has 200 students a year engaged in hands on and investigative learning in the field and in the college Rainforest project. This presentation will summarise these initiatives.

Environmental EducationHow do we inform, educate, inspire, build knowledge and custodianship in the community?

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Jim Reside

Jim’s passion for wildlife has enabled him to combine a career and a hobby. He began working with Fisheries and Wildlife in 1979 and remained through departmental changes for 17 years. In 1996 he started Wildlife Unlimited, working with wildlife both nationally and internationally. Jim has been dedicated to the recovery of threatened species such as the Little Tern & Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby for many years. He is also passionate about introducing people to the amazing diversity of fauna in Gippsland, including lesser known animals such as bats.

Creating “awe, wonder and respect” for wildlifeThe presentation describes ways in which people can be actively engaged in the natural environment that surrounds them. It will discuss ways of inspiring all ages to learn in a hands-on interactive and exciting way. Biodiversity is often used but little understood in the local context, yet we live in a remarkably diverse area. We teach people how to realise the diversity of their local environment.

Peter and Kelly Coleman

Peter and Kelly Coleman are entrepreneurs in the environmental education and publication industry. With a collective 25 years of experience in the classroom, developing teaching materials and environmental publications, Peter and Kelly have recently moved to Bruthen and brought with them their flagship program, Enviro-Stories, a student book writing initiative they started in 2009.

Gippsland Lakes: The inspiration for children’s storiesThe Gippsland Lakes and its surrounds hold a mountain of inspirational stories, from family fishing trips to watching our local wildlife. Through the Enviro-Stories Education Program, children find the inspiration to capture their stories, which are then woven together into published books that others can share in. Find out about what to expect in the upcoming Love Our Lakes Enviro-Stories Education Program.

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www.loveourlakes.net.auAll information provided is accurate at the time of printing and is subject to change without notification.

Front cover image creditsTop: Silt Jetties, Lake King, Brendon Sims Bottom: Plover Point, Lake Wellington, Brendon Sims Back cover image creditsTop: Misty Morning, Tambo River, Norm NeilsonBottom: Dolphins, Metung, Norm Neilson