The two-year Investment Strategy is the prospectus upon which the NSW and Commonwealth Governments invest in natural resource management (NRM) activities by the SMCMA under the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT).

Projects in the Investment Strategy cover the geographic areas of the former Sydney Harbour and Southern Sydney Catchment Management Boards as well as the Hacking River Catchment. The projects are the result of extensive consultation with specialists and are based on priorities already established in the former Catchment Blueprints.

The Investment Strategy focuses on working in partnership with the community and stakeholders.

The Investment Strategy identifies five priority Catchment Target groups for investment.
* Biodiversity Conservation and Management
* Waterway Health
* Land Capability and Development
* Estuarine, Coastal and Marine Management, and
* Community Capacity Building

In addressing the five priority Catchment Target groupings, investment will meet agreed Australian Government Bilateral Agreement priorities that will:
* maximise community engagement in NRM
* fulfil the principles of ecological sustainable development
* incorporate Aboriginal values in NRM
* protect and enhance biodiversity, coastal and marine ecosystems
* ensure that public investment is commensurate with outcomes for the public good

Most of the opportunities for significant improvement to environmental and natural resource values in the catchment are within the public estate. Most of the waterways and remaining bushland are in public ownership, and the SMCMA believes that in the first few years of the Investment Strategy, the greatest gains will be met by supporting key stakeholders in these areas. For this reason the majority of NHT funds will be directed towards improving natural resource management on public land.

The SMCMA is also involved in a range of programs that involve urban landholders in improving management on private property. Some of these are through our major NHT funded programs including Green Web Sydney, the Waterway Health Strategy and the Integrated Weeds Program while others are in partnership with local government and funded from other sources.

For further information contact the SMCMA office on 02 9895 7898.