About Us
Community driven projects to protect and enhance the environmental values of the Bellarine
The Bellarine Catchment Network (BCN) comprises representatives from key catchment and coastal organisations (both government and non-government) with an integrated catchment management focus. This includes environment groups, 'Friends Of', Landmanagers, Landcare and Coastcare groups. BCN employees seven officers to implement the projects of the committee.
Our Vision
Healthy, flourishing and diverse ecosystems
cared for by an aware and engaged
community.
Our Mission
To be an integrated, inclusive and collaborative network
that educates, facilitates, connects and empowers groups
and individuals to care for the living things of the land and
water of the Bellarine catchment.
The Beginning
A grass-roots, community-driven project to protect
Swan Bay, a marine Ramsar wetland, began in the
Swan Bay Catchment in 1997 with the formation of
the Swan Bay Integrated Catchment Management
Committee.
The project brought together government and non-government
organizations to plan and initiate combined action by community, schools,
government and industry to tackle major environmental and land
management issues across the catchment, coastal and marine
environments of the Swan Bay Catchment.
The Swan Bay Catchment Action Plan was developed by the committee as the primary focus document for committee activity and direction. The Swan Bay Integrated Catchment Management Committee changed to the Bellarine Catchment Network
The Swan Bay Catchment Action Plan was developed by the committee as the primary focus document for committee activity and direction. The Swan Bay Integrated Catchment Management Committee changed to the Bellarine Catchment Network
5-year Strategic Plan
Bellarine Catchment Network created an inspiring
strategic plan to help drive our vision and goals for the
next 5 years, covering financial years from 2023-2028
Read Our Strategic PlanThe BCN Team
Damon Cusack
Executive Officer
executiveofficer@bcn.org.au
Naomi Wells
Program Manager
naomi@bcn.org.au
Aaron Collura
Biodiversity Program Leader
aaron@bcn.org.au
Brooke McGovern
Coastal and Education Program Leader
brooke@bcn.org.au
Kayla Bopp-Taylor
Biodiversity Field Officer
kayla@bcn.org.au
Diane Heafield
Administration Officer
diane@bcn.org.au
Our Purpose
The purposes of the Association are to work
on behalf of its members towards:
01
Healthy, well-connected and resilient wetlands, waterways and
native vegetation ecosystems;
02
Sustainable agricultural and land management practices;
03
Healthy marine and coastal environments; and
04
A community which is engaged in protecting the natural environment
and minimising threatening processes