2012 Annual Report - Hunter Wetlands Centre Australia

CEO’S Report - Ken ConwayAt the end of 2011 the full force of the La Ninaweather pattern impacted on our wetlandsand flooded an already sodden site on anumber of occasions turning most of thetracks into mud. This had a major impacton visitation and therefore income right upuntil the end of July when the weather godsturned the tap off and we began to dry out.We had a few good months before the pondsdried up totally with the exception of BHPpond and most of the birds left and visitorsstopped coming again and that reflects in ourfinancial result for the year.This pattern unfortunately is a repeat ofother years and is the reason the Board hasadopted a strategy to try to diversify ourincome base. The Board held a Strategy Dayin early 2012 and again in 2013 to discuss waysto diversify income while maintaining theessential environmental and education aimsof the organisation. To that end a DA waslodged with Council for the building of anadventure ropes course on the site which wasapproved bay Council in late 2012. It should beconstructed in the second half of the year andprovide an additional source of revenue.Our Nursery was upgraded during 2012,capacity was approved and a comprehensiveEnvironmental Management Plan wasdesigned by Site Manager Paul Truteand Nursery Manager Ken Bayliss. Theproject was funded through Wetland CareAustralia by a grant from the Hunter CentralRivers Catchment Management Authority(HCRCMA). It’s primary focus was toallow us to expand capacity and at the sametime minimise any impact on Ironbark Creekand the Canoe Channel by ensuringnutrients from thenursery were preventedfrom leaching into thecreek. We also receiveda number of plant orders for commercialquantities of plants creating a new sourceof income. Part of the Boards diversificationstrategy is to expand the range of nativeplants and commercial sales in 2013.Café Nourish lease came to an end inDecember and after careful considerationthe Board took a decision to run the caféourselves. This was done not only to addanother income source but to ensure thatwe had control of our reputation for qualityand service. To facilitate this Executive ChefPeter Halse was employed to re-establishthe café under our own brand. The Café willbe called Spoonbill Café and will have beentrading for several weeks by the time thisreport is published. It will not only focuson a café menu but breakfasts, functions,weddings and seminars. And the cafe willintroduce special monthly speakers dinnersand move on to opening for dinner Thursdayto Saturday evenings.In September 2012 we introduced the Hunterto the first Hunter Paddle Challenge as aFundraising Event for the Wetland Centre.The event was very successful and we expectit to grow in 2013. It had over 4 competitorsin two sections. Eight paddlers did the full60km paddle from Lorne to Stockton andthe rest undertook the half paddle fromRaymond Terrace to Stockton.9