2012 Annual Report - Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia

Chairman’s Report - Ben ChardIn the short time in this role as Chairman ofthe Hunter Wetlands Centre it has becomeincreasingly obvious that it is difficult to runa viable business if that business is in passiverecreation.The global financial crisis is not helpingbecause the general community is veryconservative about spending and thebusiness community is careful aboutsponsorship. Additionally when your majorcompetitor is a council run business whichis subsidised by rate payer funds it makes itvery difficult to reach breakeven point.In spite of these obstacles, for the WetlandsCentre to have achieved an operating profitand only a small net loss, it is a reasonableresult and a number of parties need to bethanked.Firstly the volunteers’ efforts are critical tothe survival of the Centre. There are around150 volunteers and they contribute thousandsof hours on an annual basis towards theexternal and internal operations of thebusiness. The Centre could not afford to payfor that work if that support was withdrawn.The State and Federal Governments havebeen generous with their support throughvarious grants for environmental andinfrastructure improvements. The Educationcentre is a mainstay of the WetlandsCentre, with students being introduced tothe importance of the environment. Newprogrammes are being developed and theseprogrammes should encourage greaternumbers of students using these wonderfulfacilities. A closer link toNewcastle Universityshould also be possible,and the involvement ofnew Director Joe Bignall should facilitate Iwould thank the Directors for theirinvolvement throughout the year andthe support they have provided to me and tostaff. I would like to offer my congratulationsand thanks to the Chief Executive OfficerKen Conway and all the staff. The effortthey have put in to run this facility on a verytight budget is outstanding. It has beennecessary to reduce staff numbers over theyear because of our financial situation, andthis is disappointing, but other staff (andvolunteers) have picked up the extra load andthis effort is recognised by the Board.The challenge for Directors and staff inthe future is to maintain the integrity ofthe Wetlands Centre but at the same timeintroduce new attractions that appeal to abroader section of the community. That initself requires a delicate balance.Ben ChardChairman8