With the help of GINRF member organisations, a review of the Report Card content and preparation process was undertaken during 2009. The outcomes of that review are reflected in this year’s report.

Some of the major changes include:
New Assets
Two new assets have been added, namely,

• The Redgum Plains
  
• Bunurong Marine National Park.

New Asset Names
Some asset names have been revised to provide a more accurate description of what that asset is reporting.

• Brown Coal Based Energy Industry - Brown Coal Reserves and Extraction
  
• Coastal Living - Coastal Settlement
  
• Coastal Parks of Far East Gippsland - Croajingolong National Park
  
• Non-Irrigated Dairy Farming of West and
  
• South Gippsland - Red Soils Agriculture

Refined focus
The scope of several assets has been clarified such that:

• Bataluk Cultural Trail reports on the physical condition of this example of what cultural heritage contributes to the natural environment.
  
• Brown Coal Reserves and Extraction no longer includes the impact of coal use on the environment.
  
• Coastal Settlement refers to the condition of and impact on coastal ecosystems surrounding Bass Coast and South Gippsland coastal settlements.
  
• Forests of East Gippsland and Strzelecki Ranges report on the commercial, social and biodiversity values.
  
• The Thomson, Snowy, Mitchell and Latrobe River assets report on the named, main tributary, not the river basin.

Stewardship components
The evaluation of stewardship now incorporates indigenous engagement in addition to the existing components of planning, implementation, evaluation, improvement and partnerships.

Standardisation
In order to achieve consistency in ratings from one asset to another, ratings from 2006 onwards have been standardised. Standardisation means that some ratings have changed without
there being a physical or actual change in condition or stewardship. This has also occurred where the definition of the asset has altered. Although all changes are highlighted, only assets whose ratings have changed as a result of actual change are assigned an indicator arrow on the Report Card.

New Publication Date
The GINRF Report Card will be published in Spring each year. As in previous years, the Report Card is supported by the Companion Document. It provides the rationale and background
to the ratings. It is available by request or online at the GINRF website.

I hope that you find these changes positive and helpful in making the Report Card useful and relevant to our community. We encourage you to provide feedback. You can contact GINRF
via our website www.ginrf.org.au or complete our online survey at www.surveymonkey.com

I would like to wholeheartedly thank the people who contributed to the review process and to the preparation of this year’s Report Card. Your efforts both in managing our assets and in producing the Report Card are gratefully appreciated.


Keith Hamilton


Chair - Gippsland Integrated Natural Resources Forum