The Poolburn Creek Catchment Group met recently to discuss and make a plan identifying what common values they hold collectively. This workshop session was facilitated by OCC. The workshop was designed and run for maximum participation – pens, paper and group discussions, and with the group keen to make things happen, everyone was fully engaged with the process.

THE DISCUSSION POINTS…

There were 2 specific questions asked of the group –

1/ What are our issues? and 2/ What are we doing well?

The questions were made broad enough to encourage people to think about not just on farm environmental and economic factors, but to also bring in the social and cultural aspects of the catchment. Time was given to consider these questions individually; ideas were jotted down before people came together to discuss what one another had written and the ‘why’ of these ideas. An important aspect to the workshop was that all ideas were noted and brought forward to feed into the big picture. No ideas were dismissed as irrelevant!

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

The questions posed brought together what the group inherently value in their lives living in the catchment, and for the future of the catchment. By bringing all the ideas together and grouping the ideas into similar categories, the five overarching values became obvious. The naming of common values helped the group recognise what their purpose is for coming together; their ‘why’.

THE OUTCOME

The group are now able to create a catchment group work plan. Obvious and easy gaps or ‘small steps’ will be worked on initially and as progress is made, the workplan will be reviewed and broaden.

See below the values of Poolburn Creek Catchment Group:

Waterway wellbeing

Flow

Wise water use

Kaitiaki of our community

Leading by example

WHAT’S NEXT?

Next steps will be to develop the catchment group vision, which will serve to keep the group focused on their purpose as they grow and develop. As required, the OCC coordinator will support the group in their development with a vision and subsequent workplan.

To find out more about how OCC can help your group, contact the (coordinators).