The development of the Bellinger Kalang EcoHealth Report card was supported by a wide range of technical documentation facilitated by the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA).
The report card is a pilot for the NRCMA region and was overseen by a Technical Reference group made up of ten agencies and academic institutions. The Technical Reference Group (TRG) is the core group of scientific experts who have determined the methodology for the Northern Rivers Ecohealth Aquatic Ecosystem Health Monitoring Program (Ecohealth) to standardise the collection, analysis, and reporting proccess across the Northern Rivers region.
TRG representatives include staff from NSW state agencies (Office of Environment and Heritage, Office of Water, Department of Primary Industries- Fisheries, Food Authority, Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Monitoring Evaluating and Reporting “MER” Team Theme Leaders), academics from research institutions (University of New England, Southern Cross University – National Marine Science Centre), Regional Local Government Authority representatives, and at least one representative from the Council where Ecohealth is to be implemented.
The data which informed the card is published in two primary documents
- The condition of freshwater fish assemblages in the Bellinger Catchment, NSW – NSW Industries & Investment (November 2010)
- Bellinger-Kalang Rivers Ecohealth Project, Assessment of River and Estuarine Condition 2009-2010 – University of New England, Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, Department of Environment Climate Change and Water (March 2011)
This information was converted into scores A through to E using the score calculation methodology.
A set of frequently asked questions and answers (Q&A’s) has been developed to assist in understanding the report card.
Further Information:
EcoHealth available form the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority.
State of Catchment reports developed by NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.
