Landcare Broken Hill's Honorary President, Simon Molesworth, pictured here left of RFS's Nick Watson, Ranger David Elston and Semitj Hopcraft.
September 2024 President's Column
As the weather warms and the sunshine lifts our spirits, so too is the bush responding. Throughout the Far West, we are seeing our beautiful Outback flora looking more verdant and prolifically flowering. It is a good time for our Landcare Broken Hill expert botanists to observe what might look good, showcasing our Region in our display areas at our Imperial Lakes Nature Park. One such place is the Flagpole Garden at the Nature Park, which is looking so good, thanks to our dedicated team of waterers and weeders.
Wilcannia Projects
One mark of our Landcare group’s success is the extent to which other organisations, sometimes located far from Broken Hill, are reaching out seeking our botanical and landscaping advice, the supply of plants indigenous to the Far West, and even our hands-on physical assistance. In the last month three such projects in Wilcannia have received much assistance: each receiving advice and each receiving plants propagated by our team (plants which have been grown-on and cared for at our shadehouse and propagation area within the Community Gardens that we established at the Broken Hill Centre for Community in Beryl Street). These three important projects are: the Wilcannia Baaka Cultural Centre; the Wilcannia Maari Ma Health & Wellbeing Centre; and the Wilcannia Community Greening Project under the auspices of Botanic Gardens of Sydney and the Australian Institute of Botanical Science in Sydney.
Vice-President appointed
It is my great pleasure to announce that Robin Sellick has been appointed Vice-President of Landcare Broken Hill, filling the casual vacancy that has awaited the right person. Robin, apart from being one of our City’s most renown photographers, brings a wealth of management skills and experience, in addition to a wonderful empathy for the vision inherent in our Greening the Hill Mk2 Initiative, including our flagship projects at Imperial Lakes Nature Park. Since joining our Executive Committee, Robin has enthusiastically taken the lead with: our Nature Park Signage Project; the Landcare Garden Competition; our arts interface, specifically planning for the return of the Desert Equinox Sculpture Exhibition; our Broken Heel Festival partnership, specifically the planning for the LGBTIQA+ Community Garden; and the ‘modernisation’ of our electronic payment system to facilitate fundraising and building membership.
Hydrostor Community Benefit sponsorship announced
Amongst many good news stories this last month has been the announcement of Hydrostor hugely significant and sizeable financial support for Landcare Broken Hill at our Imperial Lakes Nature Park. Hydrostor, a global long-duration energy storage (LDES) developer and operator of the Silver City Project, announced it had signed a Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) with Landcare Broken Hill, which will enrich Broken Hill’s natural ecosystem and surrounding lands. Specifically, the agreement will see Hydrostor support Landcare’s work on environmental and sustainable initiatives at the Imperial Lakes Nature Park, which will have flow-on benefits for the greater NSW Far West Region.
Hydrostor has recognised Landcare Broken Hill as a key stakeholder in their communityengagement, that undertakes significant conservation and land management projects across the Broken Hill Community and the NSW Far West. Hydrostor stated in its public announcement that it was so pleased to be partnering with Landcare Broken Hill to achieve significant environmental impact for the region.
In responding to Hydrostor’s announcement, I confirmed that Landcare Broken Hill is delighted to welcome Hydrostor as a major supporter of our Nature Park Project, with the now formally executed Agreement demonstrating the essence of both community engagement and community project facilitation. With our Project largely focused on nature conservation and associated environmental education leading to vocational training, Hydrostor’s significant support will contribute to the financial feasibility of our visionary project concept, benefiting not just Broken Hill but concurrently the NSW Far West Region.
Although the precise details of the CBA must remain confidential for the time being, I can confirm that the Hydrostor support will see Landcare Broken Hill receive a substantial 7 figure financial sum, which will be directed to 3 key projects at the Nature Park.
The funds will not flow from Hydrostor to Landcare Broken Hill until the final approval by the NSW Government of the Silver City Energy Storage Project. Once the Hydrostor Project receives final go-ahead, an oversight committee under the CBA will manage the flow of funds and the refinement of the Nature Park projects to be funded.
Kind regards,
Simon Molesworth
President
September 2024 President's Column
As the weather warms and the sunshine lifts our spirits, so too is the bush responding. Throughout the Far West, we are seeing our beautiful Outback flora looking more verdant and prolifically flowering. It is a good time for our Landcare Broken Hill expert botanists to observe what might look good, showcasing our Region in our display areas at our Imperial Lakes Nature Park. One such place is the Flagpole Garden at the Nature Park, which is looking so good, thanks to our dedicated team of waterers and weeders.
Wilcannia Projects
One mark of our Landcare group’s success is the extent to which other organisations, sometimes located far from Broken Hill, are reaching out seeking our botanical and landscaping advice, the supply of plants indigenous to the Far West, and even our hands-on physical assistance. In the last month three such projects in Wilcannia have received much assistance: each receiving advice and each receiving plants propagated by our team (plants which have been grown-on and cared for at our shadehouse and propagation area within the Community Gardens that we established at the Broken Hill Centre for Community in Beryl Street). These three important projects are: the Wilcannia Baaka Cultural Centre; the Wilcannia Maari Ma Health & Wellbeing Centre; and the Wilcannia Community Greening Project under the auspices of Botanic Gardens of Sydney and the Australian Institute of Botanical Science in Sydney.
Vice-President appointed
It is my great pleasure to announce that Robin Sellick has been appointed Vice-President of Landcare Broken Hill, filling the casual vacancy that has awaited the right person. Robin, apart from being one of our City’s most renown photographers, brings a wealth of management skills and experience, in addition to a wonderful empathy for the vision inherent in our Greening the Hill Mk2 Initiative, including our flagship projects at Imperial Lakes Nature Park. Since joining our Executive Committee, Robin has enthusiastically taken the lead with: our Nature Park Signage Project; the Landcare Garden Competition; our arts interface, specifically planning for the return of the Desert Equinox Sculpture Exhibition; our Broken Heel Festival partnership, specifically the planning for the LGBTIQA+ Community Garden; and the ‘modernisation’ of our electronic payment system to facilitate fundraising and building membership.
Hydrostor Community Benefit sponsorship announced
Amongst many good news stories this last month has been the announcement of Hydrostor hugely significant and sizeable financial support for Landcare Broken Hill at our Imperial Lakes Nature Park. Hydrostor, a global long-duration energy storage (LDES) developer and operator of the Silver City Project, announced it had signed a Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) with Landcare Broken Hill, which will enrich Broken Hill’s natural ecosystem and surrounding lands. Specifically, the agreement will see Hydrostor support Landcare’s work on environmental and sustainable initiatives at the Imperial Lakes Nature Park, which will have flow-on benefits for the greater NSW Far West Region.
Hydrostor has recognised Landcare Broken Hill as a key stakeholder in their communityengagement, that undertakes significant conservation and land management projects across the Broken Hill Community and the NSW Far West. Hydrostor stated in its public announcement that it was so pleased to be partnering with Landcare Broken Hill to achieve significant environmental impact for the region.
In responding to Hydrostor’s announcement, I confirmed that Landcare Broken Hill is delighted to welcome Hydrostor as a major supporter of our Nature Park Project, with the now formally executed Agreement demonstrating the essence of both community engagement and community project facilitation. With our Project largely focused on nature conservation and associated environmental education leading to vocational training, Hydrostor’s significant support will contribute to the financial feasibility of our visionary project concept, benefiting not just Broken Hill but concurrently the NSW Far West Region.
Although the precise details of the CBA must remain confidential for the time being, I can confirm that the Hydrostor support will see Landcare Broken Hill receive a substantial 7 figure financial sum, which will be directed to 3 key projects at the Nature Park.
- First, the CBA will fund a large native plant propagation nursery to be built in the proposed Environmental Sustainability Expo Hub, which will be managed as a place for vocational training in horticulture, growing indigenous Far West plants, with an intention to be a ‘feeder project’ for greening initiatives across the whole Region.
- Secondly, the CBA will fund the restoration of the Willa Willyong Creek and its associated island in the Western Lake, with an intention to de-weed and then replant the Creek environs, and then the erect a nature boardwalk along sections of the Creek, which will incorporate phone apps highlighting both wildlife and plant life.
- Thirdly, the CBA will fund the set-up of a 100% off-grid solar & battery power system which will see the covering of the Facilities Building and the Volunteers’ Kiosk Building with solar panels and the incorporation of battery storage. This power project will follow the reroofing of both buildings and their significant expansion with large shade canopies designed by Troppo Architects.
The funds will not flow from Hydrostor to Landcare Broken Hill until the final approval by the NSW Government of the Silver City Energy Storage Project. Once the Hydrostor Project receives final go-ahead, an oversight committee under the CBA will manage the flow of funds and the refinement of the Nature Park projects to be funded.
Kind regards,
Simon Molesworth
President