Annual Report 2012-13 - Broads Authority [PDF]

management of Breydon Water, which lies within our executive area, ... operation in 2008. Faced with a reduction in annu

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Idea Transcript




Annual Report 2012-13





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INTRODUCTION

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Contents 

The past year has been one of substantial change, innovation, consolidation and a great sense of achievement. This report shows how we are using our income - from National Park Grant and from tolls - to deliver real benefits on the ground for people, wildlife and the environment. Much has been achieved for navigation beginning with the Authority realising a long held ambition to take over the management of Breydon Water, which lies within our executive area, for the welfare of boaters. With the help of European funding we have gone on to modernise and streamline our

dockyard’s facilities and replace plant and equipment which is key to us achieving 25% more dredging a year for the same cost since we took over the operation in 2008. Faced with a reduction in annual Government grant to £3.3m by 2015 a cut of 25% from its 2010 level - we moved to smaller, more cost efficient offices on Thorpe Road in November 2012. We expect this will save around £2m over the next 10 years which, along with savings made by pruning other costs and prudent budgeting, will be spent on frontline services.

the board, which was then the current rate of inflation. To encourage younger sailors and new boat owners onto the water we froze or reduced tolls for the smallest craft, weighting increases towards larger vessels. As a result, the owners of 52% of craft on the Broads had no increase in their toll payments for 2013. We hope you will enjoy reading our report, which highlights how we are still delivering important and sometimes innovative frontline services through the skill and dedication of our staff and volunteers.

Dr Stephen Johnson Chairman

Dr John Packman Chief Executive

An increase in tolls for boaters was kept as low as possible, at 3% across

Yare House, 62-64 Thorpe Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1RY tel 01603 610734 email [email protected] www.broads-authority.gov.uk

Smaller and more cost efficient offices in Norwich

Front cover photo: St Benet’s Abbey before extensive conservation and access work was carried out this year. (Full story page 8).

This report has been designed to be read as a pdf on a computer. If you require one of the limited number of printed copies please contact us. It can be viewed or downloaded at: http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/ authority/publications/ general-publications.html



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CONTENTS



Conserving the Broads..........................................................4

Working with the community..............................................10

Broads Authority membership................... 16

Protecting our waterways and wildlife

Providing grants for Broads related projects

Broads Authority staff............................... 17

Planning for the future.........................................................6

Practical works....................................................................12

Revenue accounts..................................... 19

Maintaining the special character of the Broads

Improving the infrastructure on land and water

Broads information centres............back cover

Promoting the Broads...........................................................8

Valuable support by volunteers..........................................15

Showcasing Britain’s Magical Waterland

For the love of the Broads

A traditional Broads sailing cruiser



Conserving the Broads

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Innovative technology used to clean broad A natural new method of cleaning water of excess nutrients which create algae was used on Cromes Broad at How Hill National Nature Reserve in March this year. The broad was treated with a clay product called Phoslock which permanently locks away the phosphate in the sediment. This starves the algae of phosphate which prevents its growth and creates clear water conditions. A diversity of water plants are expected to grow, providing a home for aquatic invertebrates and fish. This is the first time that Phoslock has been used in the

Above: Taking a core sample to look at the nutrients in the sediment.

Broads. It was developed in Australia by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and has been applied to more than 150 lakes in 20 countries. Cromes Broad, which is a feature of the How Hill Nature Trail, has been partly mud pumped twice in an attempt to remove excess nutrients in the water but thick mats of algae still dominated half the broad, blocking out light that allows other plants to grow. The Phoslock treatment, which cost £50,000, was funded by Natural England and managed by the Broads Authority.

New approach to improve water in the Broads A new approach to raise awareness of the value of Broads rivers and wetlands was launched at the second Broads Biodiversity and Water Forum in February. The Broadland Catchment partnership is working beyond the Broads to improve the water quality of the wetland. The health of the water in the Broads is affected by the management of land and water over an area fifteen times the size of the Broads. This fresh approach aims to find win-win solutions for business, biodiversity and community, such as retaining soils on fields and stopping them entering waterways. A new Broadland Catchment Partnership Officer, co-funded by the Broads Authority, Environment Agency, Natural England and Essex & Suffolk Water, is drawing together a plan with all partners. The Broads Biodiversity and Water Forum, which attracted 120 professionals with an interest in the Broads, was a celebration of World Wetlands Day.

Comma butterfly 

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Check, Clean, Dry campaign a big success

New strategy creates vision for conservation

In March 2012 the invasive ‘killer shrimp’, Dikerogammarus villosus, was found in Barton Broad and the River Ant. An aggressive hunter, it has the potential to be damaging to the Broads ecology and could be easily spread to a much wider area through hitch hiking on fishing kit and boats.

A new Biodiversity and Water Strategy has been created to align with the new Government strategy on biodiversity, water and ecosystems and create a clear vision for conservation.

In June 2012, the Broads Authority reacted to the situation by appointing the UK’s first Wetland Biosecurity Officer. Working with the Environment Agency, Natural England, Defra and the Norfolk Non-native Species Initiative, the Wetland Biosecurity Officer’s role was to raise awareness of non-native invasive species, especially the killer shrimp, and to promote a Check, Clean, Dry campaign to all water users to try to stop its spread. Water users were encouraged to reduce the risk of spreading invasive species by taking three simple steps and to report sightings. Signs have been erected around the Broads at slipways, sailing clubs, angling sites and shops, and 15,000 leaflets have been distributed via tolls information and at events.

Will Burchnall, the Biosecurity Officer, gave talks to sailing, rowing, angling clubs and at drop-in sessions on how to identify the shrimp and demonstrated the simple Check, Clean, Dry routine. He also attended shows, festivals, regattas and angling matches with displays of invasive species and promotional items bearing the message. Scientific research into hot water treatments to kill Dikerogammarus villosus were completed during the project and hot water biosecurity is now being used nationwide by the Environment Agency. By the end of the 12-month project, 92% of people surveyed recognised Dikerogammarus villosus and 86% of high risk users are following Check, Clean, Dry procedures. The campaign has resulted in significant changes in attitude and behaviour amongst the public with more clubs expecting their members to check, clean and dry.

Created by the Broads Biodiversity Partnership and the Water Quality Partnership it sets out the work required to achieve an improved water and wildlife environment. No single project can do this, but a number of projects, working with new partners to put new values at the heart of our work, will be the focus for the future The strategy sets out the new approach to partnership working, resource prioritisation and target setting for both biodiversity and water work in the Broads and the Broads Authority.

The first of four key priority areas identified in the strategy is about a more integrated landscape-scale approach to habitats and species conservation, which includes halting the ongoing biodiversity loss in the Broads. The second area is about reducing environmental pressures including invasive non-native species, planning and development, water and coastal management, agriculture and water users. The third area involves improving our knowledge and communication about habitats and species. Finally putting people at the heart of biodiversity policy helps appreciation of the Broads natural assets and understanding roles in protecting it. The next step is for more lake restoration and Broadland catchment work.

Herringfleet Mill



6 Planning for the future

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Oulton Broad boatyard to be re-developed Plans to re-develop the former Pegasus and Hampsons boatyard sites on the northern shore of Oulton Broad were given the go-ahead by the Planning Committee in April. The scheme proposes the construction of 76 dwellings, which would be a mix of types and sizes, on the western half of the site fronting Caldecott Road. A new boatyard building, with hardstandings for car parking and winter

storage, and a new office building will front the broad. New pontoon moorings are to be created for 50 boats around the south-eastern and southern edge of the broad while behind this a reedbed will be created to soften the interface with the land. The design of the scheme is mixed, with a contemporary approach for the apartment blocks facing the broad at the south while the family houses will have a more traditional style. Local materials will be used and all will reflect the character of the area. The scheme was developed over several years of discussion with the developer Badger Builders, during which a number of difficult issues including flood risk, viability and an appropriate design for this prominent site had to be resolved. Concern was raised locally over the access to the site, but there was close working with the Highways Authority who did not raise any objections. In approving the scheme Broads Authority Chairman Dr Stephen Johnson said that it was a quality scheme which followed the Authority’s design brief.

New moorings and basin for Hunter’s Yard Works to create a new mooring dyke and extend an existing basin at the Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust base in Ludham, which were given planning permission in 2011, have been completed and now provide private moorings for up to 25 vessels. The plan for the works had to be amended following concern over the risk of spreading the non-native shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus while depositing the excavated material

off-site. But these issues were resolved between the applicant and the Broads Authority, working in partnership with Natural England, and a new reedbed was created adjacent to the river. Hunter’s Yard is a historic site which is home to a fleet of traditional sailing vessels and the new dyke and basin were designed to replicate this traditional character. As well as providing more moorings for mainly traditional boats, the development has created a secondary revenue stream for the charity and will therefore strengthen its viability in the future.



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New attraction for BeWILDerwood

Work to improve biodiversity at Carlton Marshes

Planning permission has been granted for an exciting new facility at the popular BeWILDerwood Adventure Park. A new narrow-gauge train will take visitors on a 1.4 km route around the northern part of the park through mixed deciduous and alder carr woodland and then through a ‘bat tunnel’ before returning to a new purpose-built platform.

Works have taken place to improve biodiversity at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Carlton Marshes Reserve near Oulton Broad. Planning permission was granted for the creation of a number of scrapes on land which was previously used for agriculture and was of limited ecological value.

It is hoped that the train track will broaden the appeal of the park as well as attracting more visitors in the quieter seasons. Since opening in 2007 BeWILDerwood has become well established and now attracts around 160,000 visitors per year. Part of the site is outside the Broads boundary, so the Authority worked closely with colleagues at North Norfolk District Council. Maria Hammond, Planning Assistant, said, “When complete, the train journey will provide a new way to quietly experience the Broads whilst securing landscape and habitat enhancements to the wider area.”

The works involved widening a ditch, excavating scrapes of 0.6m in depth and rerouting sluices and water control structures in order to maintain water depths. The site is adjacent to an existing Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and while the works will improve the wetland habitat locally, it is hoped that over time it will develop the SSSI features.

New camp site for Whitlingham Country Park Visitor facilities within the Broads have been expanded with the opening in 2013 of a new campsite at Whitlingham Country Park. The site was formerly the plant site for the Lafarge Aggregate quarrying

operation and had been restored to agriculture. Now the 1.5 hectares of grassland provides space for up to 68 tents. Designed to cater for tents and camper vans only, with no caravans allowed, the site also offers modern ‘glamping’ facilities in the form of bell tents and fully furnished shepherd’s huts which have been built in the Broads.

Planning Performance The Broads Authority’s planning team has again beaten Government targets in dealing with 196 planning applications during the year. It came 17th out of 336 planning authorities - in the top 5% for speed of decisions.

67% of major applications were dealt with in 13 weeks (the Government target is 60%), 74% of minor The site is owned by the Crown Point applications were dealt with in eight Estate which is currently developing a weeks (the Government target is 65%) masterplan for the wider Whitlingham while 81% of all other applications were Country Park site. The campsite is processed in eight weeks (the initially operating on a trial basis for Government target is 80%). The team three years to test the market, although, also dealt with 52 neighbouring local if successful, permanent permission is planning authority consultations, likely to be sought. Feedback so far 306 pre-application advice requests, indicates that there has been good 14 appeals against refusal of planning demand for the campsite. permission or enforcement notice and Below and right: Shepherd’s hut at Whitlingham 64 registered enforcement cases.



Promoting the Broads

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In the first year 37 businesses signed up to the scheme by asking visitors for a small donation which is added to the cost of merchandise, such as a cup of tea, the hire of a cycle or boat or by selling Love the Broads badges. A total of £4,629 was raised. The visitor giving scheme was set up with the help of money from the European Regional Development Fund through the Broads Authority’s STEP project which promotes sustainable tourism in estuary parks.

Love the Broads scheme launched A new scheme to encourage visitors to pay a small contribution to enhance the Broads was launched last September. The Love the Broads campaign invites visitors to show their appreciation for the area by voluntarily giving a small donation which will raise money for special projects that protect, preserve and enhance the Broads. The Broads Trust - a registered charity administers the scheme and selects the projects which will receive funding from those submitted.

The first tranche of projects to benefit from the fund-raising includes a plan to set up a sculpture trail at Strumpshaw Fen with workshops to teach youngsters about nature, signage for Broads cycling routes and a scheme to stop the decline in the water vole population in the Broads.

Top left: Members of the first Broads businesses to sign up to Love the Broads.

Making the Broads more accessible

Partnership working opens up St Benet’s Abbey for visitors

A strategy to improve access in the Broads and encourage sustainable methods of transport has been drawn up in consultation with a number of different interest groups.

The Broads Authority is working in partnership with the Norfolk Archaeological Trust which received £671,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to conserve the medieval St Benet’s Abbey and improve accessibility to the public.

The Integrated Access Strategy aims to interlink all forms of recreational access within the Broads with the emphasis on sustainable travel and activities such as canoeing, sailing, cycling, walking and public transport. It intends to link land and water, such as by providing improved information signs and footpaths from public moorings to villages, visitor facilities and public transport and opening up access to people with mobility problems. Improved boating access with more slipways and canoe portages and pedestrian access for riverside walking, angling and bird watching is all part of the Broads Authority’s ambition. The strategy aims to protect, and where possible reinstate, ferries and staithes, extend access to new areas of navigable water space and identify suitable locations for more car parks.

The Broads Authority contributed £58,000 to the project through the provision of its maintenance team which has improved access for visitors by creating new footpaths, bridges, fencing, gates and undertaking landscaping work. A team from Blundeston Prison volunteered with the Broads Authority to tackle this access work. The inmates, who applied to do the work, received on-site training and worked five days a week for three months. They helped build a car park and footpath linking the Broads Authority 24 hour moorings to the abbey and car park, and put up cattle proof fencing. Top: Prisoners working alongside a member of staff (left) at St Benet’s Abbey.



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Festival showcased outdoor opportunities on the Broads The second Broads Outdoors Festival was extended from nine to 15 days in May 2012 with 100 events showcasing all that the Broads has to offer. It was launched at a family fun day at Whitlingham Country Park by naturalist and author Richard Mabey. Richard started a race between the Tri-Anglia Triathlon runners against the Wherry White Moth in a revival of the historic races between Billy Bluelight and wherries in the 1920s. True to tradition the runners won! The band stand was bedecked with pennants designed by local primary

school children for the Broads Bunting Competition, in the theme of Britain’s Magical Waterland. Richard presented 12 children with their prizes. During the day the public could take part in water sports, archery, wall climbing and guided walks, watch Nutmeg Puppet’s show or pat the alpacas from Burnt Fen. There were two live bands and 25 stalls selling locally produced food and crafts. The Broads Outdoors Festival was promoted two days before the launch at an event outside the Forum. Broads Authority staff, dressed as giant insects, publicised the festival and 2,000 programmes were handed out to the public. Centrepieces were a 120 year old

working canoe, a Norfolk dinghy, windsurfing simulator, mountain bike mobility scooter and a rigid inflatable boat. The two week festival offered bespoke opportunities to try canoeing, sailing, geocaching, take a trip on a Victorian steam launch or wherry, climb windmills, go on guided walks and dawn chorus strolls, and join in family activity days. The Green Boat and Tourism Show at Salhouse Broad changed its usual date in September to round off the festival. Here the public could try all kinds of environmentally friendly craft from sailing boats and canoes, to electric launches and pedal boats.

A total of 60,000 festival programmes were distributed in the Eastern Daily Press which also provided some generous coverage of the event. Another 5,000 leaflets were printed for distribution by the Broads Authority and Broads Tourism. A special website was launched carrying all the festival events at www.outdoorsfestival.co.uk The festival was partly supported by European funding under the STEP (Sustainable Tourism in Estuary Parks) project. Top: The winners of the Broads Bunting Competition



Working with the community

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A Famous Five Birds song was specially written and composed to accompany a new shadow puppet show created by Meg Amsden of Nutmeg Puppet Company.

Sustainable Development Fund’s success The Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) has once again had a successful year, providing grants worth £153,743 to 21 projects within the Broads, including education, boating and conservation.

100 CDs of the song and soundtrack were produced. Famous Five Birds children’s entertainment is to be presented to an audience of 400 in eight places throughout the Waveney and Blyth valleys in August and September 2013.

The projects varied from a boat washdown system using recycled water to an accessible boardwalk. Education figured highly with several projects targeting vulnerable pupils or those at risk of exclusion from school. The grant aid was an increase on the previous year and used some of the monies carried over from 2012. The match funding represents a multiplier of 1.44 to 1 for the SDF grant given and the feedback has been that the support of the SDF has been a major contributor to the projects going ahead. All projects approved since the commencement of the scheme can be viewed on the Broads Authority website at: www.broads-authority.gov.uk/authority/ what-we-do/sustainable

The project has gone on to inspire a Famous Five Birds walk, exhibitions, poetry competition and a concert at Blythburgh church this September.

School children inspired by Famous Five Birds A project which inspired over 270 primary school children about five iconic birds, has grown as a result of its success. Waveney & Blyth Arts teamed up with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, the RSPB, and the Norfolk and Suffolk Biodiversity Partnerships to inform and inspire children about the iconic bittern, barn owl, bearded tit, marsh harrier and nightingale.

The Famous Five team - a bird expert, poet and puppeteer – ran one day workshops in nine primary schools and an Education Otherwise group in South Norfolk and Suffolk. The children learnt what the Famous Five Birds look and sound like, wrote high quality poems and created their own bird shadow puppet before performing their own puppet show. A further 30 child and adult singers and instrumentalists took part in a one day ‘Birdswing’ workshop.

The Broads Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund gave a £5,000 grant to the project and its logo has appeared in 8,000 Celebrate the Waveney & Blyth booklets, 3,000 Famous Five Birds leaflets and over 200 posters. There have also been five videos on www.waveneyandblytharts.com Multimedia Magazine. The East Anglian Daily Times said: “This is one of the most imaginative and innovative projects ever launched in East Anglia.” Herringfleet moorings being extended



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New rainwater washdown system a first An innovative, eco-friendly boat washdown system has been designed, built and installed by Cox’s Boatyard at Barton Broad with help from a £9,000 Broads Authority Sustainable Development Fund grant. The yard was keen to ensure that run-off water from around 200 boats that the company washes down each year has no detrimental impact on the environment. Pressure washing removes old antifouling coating, paint, weed, algae and invasive species from boat hulls, all of which could work their way into the waterways in the run-off. The boatyard has devised a closed-loop system that not only harvests rain water from the boatyard’s roof, but also passes all used water through a set of purifying filters. The cleaned water can either be used again or discharged safely into the Broads. When a boat is pressure washed the run-off water is funnelled into a small tank which collects debris and any invasive species. Top: The Broads Authority’s launch Liana being pressure washed by the new system.

Country Trust Broads Discovery Days NEAD Eco Team Challenge The Broads Authority has been working in partnership with NEAD (Norfolk Education and Action on Development) on the SDF funded Eco Team Challenge project. Eco Team Challenge was taken up by 83 young people from high schools and youth groups, including young carers. The challenge includes a workshop and team game session, which looks at environmental issues such as saving water and energy, climate change and how individuals can make a difference through their behaviour and action. The following day is spent working with the Broads Authority on practical conservation tasks on the How Hill National Nature Reserve and looking at the impact of climate change on the local environment. The groups have enjoyed boat trips and visited the Authority’s Toad Hole Cottage museum. They discovered how wind power was used to manage water on the Broads, and what lives in the freshwater dykes.

The Broads Authority has been working closely with the Country Trust on an SDF funded project to engage ‘hard to reach’ children from schools in socially deprived urban areas. During the year 415 children from 13 primary schools have taken part in Broads Discovery Days, at Barton Turf Adventure Centre and Whitlingham Country Park. Five schools were from the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets

and Ealing who enjoyed the Broads Discovery Day as part of a four day residential visit to Hautbois Activity Centre. For many of the children this was their first visit outside London. The remaining eight schools were from Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and Norwich. The days have comprised dyke dipping, practical conservation work, a Broads fen discovery trail, peat investigations and boat trips.



Practical works

Page 12 Contents 

crooked yellow turn post at the mouth Authority takes over management of Breydon Water of the River Bure have been replaced. In June 2012 the Broads Authority took over the management of Breydon Water, which connects the northern and southern rivers, from the Great Yarmouth Port Authority. Since then it has invested £300,000 in making it a safer and more enjoyable place for boating with clearer channel marking, new layby moorings for boats waiting to catch low tide and 11 new gauge boards at the bridges. Five channel markers on Breydon Water, the damaged mooring dolphin opposite Great Yarmouth Yacht Station and the

Two additional starboard channel marker posts have been installed between Breydon and Vauxhall bridges where frequent groundings have occurred. The new layby moorings include a pontoon between Breydon Bridge and Bure Mouth, two new mooring dolphins upstream of Breydon bridge and the replacement of two existing mooring dolphins at the entrance to the River Bure. A survey of the water and sediment flows on Breydon was commissioned by the Authority to better understand the role of the Turn Tide Jetty, at the mouth of the Rivers Yare and Waveney, and the Dickey Works further downstream. The 3D hydromorphological model developed shows that the Dickey Works is not required to maintain an open channel, and the Turn Tide Jetty can be reduced to half its current size and still play a valuable role in keeping the Yare and Waveney channels clear. Waterskiing permissions have also been controlled to limit disturbance of wildlife.

New heavy weather launch for Breydon A new high speed heavy weather launch, fit to meet the challenges of Breydon Water, was commissioned by the Authority to patrol the tidal estuary all year round. The 33ft launch, named the Spirit of Breydon, is robust enough to ride 5ft waves while responding to emergency calls from the Maritime Coastguard. It has a dual function as both a patrol launch and a work boat with a platform capable of recovering floating debris via a side door. Its low wash hull cruises economically at 6 knots with a sprint

speed of 20 knots. Spirit is capable of towing other boats, has VHF radio, a depth sounder and radar and can seat half a dozen visitors. Yards from all over the country responded to the Authority’s tender offering a variety of new, second-hand and adapted craft. But the best boat at the best price was found at the yard where the Authority’s river launches are already maintained, Goodchild Marine, on the banks of Breydon Water. The Spirit of Breydon’s packed incident log book - which includes daily occurrences of boats grounding on the mud is proof that she was money well spent. Top: Broads Authority member Sholah Blane cuts the tape to the Spirit of Breydon. Left: Two crew members Steve Williams and Kye Rodriguez.



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Replacement of weir at Hardley Flood

New dockyard will keep Broads The need for the dockyard development became apparent when the Broads afloat for future generations

New mud wherry is the blue print for the future

In April 2013 the Broads Authority replaced a weir that controlled water flowing from the River Chet into Hardley Flood which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The weir, which had deteriorated and been damaged, maintained stable water levels in Hardley Flood and ensured that the tidal flows in the River Chet functioned properly.

The Broads Authority has transformed its dockyard on the River Yare with a new state-of-the-art workshop and offices which will help maintain the Broads for generations of visitors to come.

The Broads Authority commissioned the building of a new 16.5m long mud wherry, designed by Broads naval architect Andrew Wolstenholme, which will be the blue print for all future mud wherries.

The replacement weir was designed by the Broads Authority and built by contractors at a cost of £51,142. It was supported by a grant from Norfolk County Council as the structure protects part of the Wherryman’s Way long distance trail from erosion. Tidal flow in the river has improved significantly while depths at Loddon have increased by between 12 and 18 inches depending on the tide. Dredging the River Chet will be carried out as soon as the Environment Agency’s (EA) flood defence scheme is completed. The Authority is working closely with the EA to ensure that dredged material can be reused in the flood defence scheme.

The £680,000 development is now the hub of the Authority’s construction and maintenance work. Its workboats, launches, plant and equipment will be repaired and maintained there while a newly refurbished slipway allows direct access into the workshop from the river. The magnificent steel framed and timber building houses offices and a training room on the first floor, replacing a cramped, damp portacabin previously used by staff.

Authority took over the dredging of the Broads from its long-term contractor May Gurney six years ago. The Authority bought the Griffin Lane dockyard along with its ageing cranes, mud wherries, tugs, plant and equipment, and took on the existing dredging team of 11 men, many of whom had a life time’s experience of dredging. Since then the Authority has been achieving approximately 25% more dredging for the same money each year since 2008. The ambitious development was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the PRISMA project (Promoting Integrated Sediment Management).

Built in Ireland, she is able to transport up to 40 tonnes of mud at a time and replaces one of the 70-year-old May Gurney wherries. She is stable and manoeuvrable, and with a low air draft and a removable wheel house she can pass through low bridges with ease. She was officially named Iona by Broads Authority Chairman, Dr Stephen Johnson (pictured below right), at the opening celebration of the new workshop and offices. The Broads Authority opened the doors to its new workshop and dockyard for its annual public meeting the following day.



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Duck Broad island taking shape During last winter 10,000m³ of sediment was removed from Heigham Sound using a cutter suction dredger. Most of the sediment was pumped into a soke dyke on a nearby marsh, but in April the dredging contractor undertook a successful trial of pumping sediment into the central lagoon formed by gabion baskets at Duck Broad.

Broads restoration project commended Our innovative work to restore an eroded reedbed and spit of land at Salhouse Broad using dredged sediment from the nearby river was commended by the 2013 Water Renaissance Awards. The project beat 30 others to become a finalist in the Innovation category for its demonstration of how dredging the Broads can benefit boaters and wildlife alike. Four giant geotextile bags, big enough to drive a car through, were fixed to alder poles cut from nearby riverbanks and 4,000m³ of mud from the River

Bure was pumped into them. After sinking below the waterline they formed a 170m retaining wall. The void behind the bags was then filled in with another 6,000m³ of sediment which was planted with vegetation taken from a nearby site. The techniques used to restore the 7,000m² reedbed have attracted huge national and international interest and lead the way for managing the Broads in the future. The project, which cost £230,000, was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Promoting Integrated Sediment Management (Prisma) project.

As a result we plan to mudpump the remaining areas of Heigham Sound and completely fill in the lagoon next winter. This will complete the restoration of a lost reedbed which will shelter wildlife in Duck Broad while providing a valuable site for the deposit and re-use of sediment close to Heigham Sound. Despite the prolonged cold weather and high water during the winter the reed plugs, which were planted as cover for the baskets, have mostly survived and are now beginning to grow.

Dredging During the year the Broads Authority dredged 48,432m3 of sediment from the rivers and broads, at a cost of £706,880. More than 21,160m³ was removed from the Lower Bure, 11,271m³ from the Middle Bure, 6,000m³ from the River Chet between Hardley Flood and Nogdam End and 10,000m³ was mudpumped from Heigham Sound.

Keeping the Broads safe The Authority’s commitment to safety continued in 2012/13. Following implementation of further control measures all marine hazards were declared by its stakeholder group as being managed to as low ‘as reasonably practicable’. The stakeholder review of the hazards is part of the Authority’s Safety Management System required by the Port Marine Safety Code. Top left: Reedbed restoration at Salhouse Broad. Top: Dredging Left: The restoration of Duck Broad island



15 Valuable support by volunteers

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Volunteers at the heart of the Broads Authority Volunteers continue to be at the heart of the Broads Authority, giving up their time to assist in caring for the Broads. A total of 145 volunteers are registered with 70 to 80 of those regularly assisting at least once a month. There are a range of roles volunteers undertake which cover events, education sessions, practical tasks, supporting the rangers, assisting with research and surveys, administration and database construction and maintenance. This means a volunteer can be educating the public at an event one week and keeping scrub at bay in a remote location in the Broads the next if they so choose.

The latest addition to the ranger teams are seven new ranger volunteers supporting the work on Breydon Water. All have completed their basic training and will be fully qualified by spring 2014. New volunteer roles are continually being developed and it is hoped that one of those will include a role for those volunteers who wish to lead and supervise other volunteers. The process of recruiting new volunteers has been made easier with new opportunities first offered to existing active volunteers and only advertised on the Broads Authority’s website if there are still people required for the role. Several committed volunteers have been successful in securing employment, in some cases with the Broads Authority.

Moving forward, the Authority is planning to undertake greater engagement with local communities, supporting and guiding the creation of community-based volunteering groups. The Volunteer Celebration Day continues to be an annual fixture in the BA’s calendar providing the Authority with the opportunity to show its appreciation to all those who give their time freely to help maintain the Broads.

Above: Volunteer assisting with buoy installation. Left: Helping visitors moor at Norwich Yacht Station, and maintaining navigation signage. Below: Volunteer Celebration Day at Winterton beach.



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BROADS AUTHORITY MEMBERSHIP JULY 2013



The Broads Authority has a membership of 21. Nine members are appointed by the two county councils and six district councils whose boundaries fall within the Authority’s executive area, 10 members by the Secretary of State and two members following consultation with the Navigation Committee. The July 2013 membership is set out to the right. There are six meetings every year of the full Authority, supported by four weekly meetings of the Planning Committee, six meetings of the Navigation Committee, three meetings of the Financial Scrutiny and Audit Committee, four meetings of the Broads Forum and four meetings of the Broads Local Access Forum. The full Authority is the executive body for decision taking and overseeing all strategic issues. The Planning Committee exercises many of the Authority’s powers and duties in relation to planning. The statutory Navigation Committee is a consultative body on navigation issues, while the Financial Scrutiny and Audit Committee scrutinises the Authority’s accounts and ensures that financial planning risk is managed effectively. The Broads Forum is a consultative body with membership being made up from key stakeholder groups.

The Local Access Forum is a semi-independent body, established under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, to advise on the improvement of public access to land within the Authority’s executive area. The Forum meets on four occasions each year. All meetings are open to the public, and details of the dates and venues of meetings are available from the Authority’s committee staff and on the Authority’s website. The Authority has a Public Question Time scheme for all of its committees, in which members of the public are invited to submit written questions, statements or petitions to the Authority, and may attend the meeting to present these in person. The Authority has a complaints procedure which was developed in accordance with advice from the Local Government Ombudsman and the Audit Commission. The procedure is intended to be free from unnecessary bureaucracy and easy to understand, while providing effective remedies. The procedure is aimed at cases where the complainant is not satisfied with an initial explanation and wishes to pursue the matter further. Details are available from the Authority’s offices and on the Authority’s website.

Norfolk County Council Mr N Dixon Mr P Rice (until 2 May 2013) Mr J Timewell (from 8 July 2013) Suffolk County Council Mr G McGregor Broadland District Council Mrs L Hempsall (from 10 May 2013) Mr A S Mallett (until 9 May 2013) Great Yarmouth Borough Council Mr C Fox (from 24 May 2013) Mr M T Jeal (until 23 May 2013) North Norfolk District Council Mr R Stevens City of Norwich Mrs J Brociek-Coulton South Norfolk Council Mr C Gould Waveney District Council Mr M Barnard Co-opted from Navigation Committee Mr D A Broad Mr P E Ollier

Secretary of State for the Environment Mr K Allen (from 1 April 2013) Mr L Baugh Miss S Blane Prof J A Burgess Sir Peter Dixon Mr P Durrant Mr P Frost (until 31 March 2013) Dr J M Gray Dr J S Johnson Mr J Sharpe Ms R Varma (until 31 March 2013) Mr P Warner (from 1 April 2013) Appointed Members of the Navigation Committee Mr L Betts Mr A Goodchild Mr P Greasley Mr M Heron Mr J Knight Mr M Whitaker



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BROADS AUTHORITY STAFF AUGUST 2013 

John Packman Chief Executive

Planning and Resources Directorate

Lesley Marsden Landscape Officer

Simone Steel Finance Assistant (Insurance)

David Frost Information Assistant

Nikki Barnes Head of Human Resources (Job share)

Andrea Long Director of Planning and Resources

Maria Conti Strategy and Projects Officer

Ron Harrison Information Assistant

Cally Smith Head of Development Management

Will Burchnall Project Manager

Clare Weller Head of Communications (Maternity leave)

Sarah Endersby Head of Human Resources (Job share) Jane Bryant Human Resources Officer Steph Davies Human Resources and Payroll Coordinator Keeley Forde Human Resources Apprentice Robert Organ Receptionist Anna Perrott Receptionist

Fergus Bootman Planning Officer

Adrian Clark Senior Waterways and Recreation Officer

Alison Macnab Planning Officer

Russell Wilson Waterways and Recreation Officer

Kayleigh Wood Planning Officer

Andrea Kelly Senior Ecologist

Maria Hammond Planning Assistant

Erica Murray Ecologist

Tony Risebrow Planning Officer (Compliance and Implementation) / Hire Boat Licencing Officer

Neil Punchard Broadland Catchment Partnership Officer

Lorna Marsh Head of Communications (Maternity cover) Karen Sayer Design and Information Supervisor Tom Barrett Graphic Designer Jess Tunstall Information Officer Nick Sanderson Education Officer Rachel Killington Website Officer

Lottie Carlton Administrative Officer

Hilary Franzen Press Officer

Pauline Simpson Administrative Officer

Bruce Hanson Tourism and Promotion Officer

Natalie Beal Planning Policy Officer

Titus Adam Head of Finance

Sam Bates Visitor Services Supervisor

Helen Ayers Administrative Officer

Mark King Planning Technical Support Officer

Emma Krelle Financial Accountant

David Anderson Information Assistant

Sandra Beckett Administrative Officer

Lynda Smith Administrative Officer

Robert Cleland Finance Assistant

Stephanie Anderson Information Assistant

Regina Green Administrative Officer

Jackie Dent Historical Files Scanning Assistant

Maxine Nicholas Finance Assistant

Maureen Bird Information Assistant

Simon Hooton Head of Strategy and Projects

Lynda Yeo Finance Assistant (Treasury)

Dawn Coleman Information Assistant

Ben Hogg Historic Environment Manager

Shirmila Venn Senior Finance Assistant

John Davies Information Assistant

Flower Trower Receptionist John Organ Head of Governance and Executive Assistant

Steve Sewell Planning Officer (Compliance and Implementation)

Brian Jarvis Information Assistant Robin Jeffries Information Assistant Mark Mobbs Information Assistant Bren Russell-Wells Information Assistant Mike Spire Information Assistant Albert Ward Information Assistant Mark Wilson Information Assistant Dave Abbott Quay Assistant Nathan Betts Quay Assistant Jim Hunt Quay Assistant Billy Lund Quay Assistant Duncan Moore Quay Assistant Dave Paddick Quay Assistant Russell Spandler Quay Assistant Ric Titcombe Quay Assistant

Bill Housden Head of ICT / Collector of Tolls Steve Linford IT Project Officer Steve Sayers IT Support Officer Vicky Short GIS Support Officer Robert Organ IT Support Technician David Hurley ICT Project Support Officer Joel Rushton Assistant Collector of Tolls Howard Constantine Tolls Assistant Charlie Middleton Waterways / Tolls Assistant continued on next page



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Operations Directorate Trudi Wakelin Director of Operations Rob Rogers Head of Construction, Maintenance and Environment

Simon Bunting Senior Operations Technician

William Coulet PRISMA Project Manager

Jamie Hanger Ranger

Mike Rimmer Broads Control Officer

Dave Goodhand Senior Operations Technician

Dan Hoare Environment and Design Supervisor

Colin Hart Ranger

Steve Birtles Head of Safety Management

Graeme Hewitt Ranger

Angie Leeper Asset Officer

Edgar Hoddy Ranger

Chris Bailey Administrative Officer

Steve Williams Ranger

Jo Eames Administrative Officer

Steve Wright Ranger

Beth Williams Volunteer Coodinator

Robert Hanger Ranger - Summer Seasonal

Adrian Palmer Administrative Officer

Phil Heath Senior Operations Technician

Timmy Lamb Construction Supervisor

Mark Rudrum Senior Operations Technician

Mark Bell Senior Operations Technician

Ady Stevens Senior Operations Technician

Ricky Cates Senior Operations Technician

James Watts Senior Operations Technician

Tony Ellero Senior Operations Technician

Malcolm Farrow Operations Technician

Neal Gosling Senior Operations Technician

Glen Owen Operations Technician

David Marsham Senior Operations Technician

Keith Perry Operations Technician

Tom Balfour Operations Technician

Wyn Purdy Operations Technician

Steve Green Operations Technician

Shaun Taylor Operations Technician

Michael Long Operations Technician

Tony Ward Operations Technician

Eddie Nichols Operations Technician

Robert Clarke Plant and Equipment Supervisor

Matthew Raper Operations Technician

Shaun Holmes Senior Operations Fitter

Ian Walker Operations Technician

Kevin Wells Operations Fitter

Owen Warnes Operations Technician

Richard Western Operations Fitter

Matt Dane Maintenance Supervisor

Chris Glasel Operations Fitter (Small Tools and Equipment)

Tom Hunter Rivers Engineer Gavin Devaney Environment Officer (Maternity cover) Hannah Gray Environment Officer (Maternity leave) Emma Harris Environment Officer Sally McColl Environment Officer Sue Stephenson Environment Officer Trevor Thorley Environment Officer Adrian Vernon Head of Ranger Services Lucy Burchnall Deputy Head of Ranger Services Robin Allard Ranger Andy Bartlett Ranger Jonathan Cook Ranger Andy Cullum Ranger Andy Ellson Ranger

Jon Hopes Ranger - Summer Seasonal Matt Larkman Ranger - Summer Seasonal Jonathan Newton Ranger - Summer Seasonal Fran Pilcher Ranger - Summer Seasonal John Ragan Ranger - Summer Seasonal Mike Rimmer Ranger - Summer Seasonal Dave Paddick Ranger - Winter Weekend Seasonal Mark Lane Ranger - Winter Weekend Seasonal Lesley Johnson Assistant Ranger Steve Hess Broads Control Officer



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REVENUE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2013 

Expenditure A summary of the Broads Authority’s provisional consolidated income and expenditure for 2012/13 is set out below. National Park Grant is awarded to the Authority in recognition of the Authority’s status equivalent to that of a national park. It is spent on matters relating to conservation, planning, recreation and information. The level of National Park Grant has reduced in 2012/13 from that received in 2011/12 in line with the Government’s previously announced reductions in public sector funding. Navigation activity is self-financing from tolls paid by users of the Broads waterways. Although the Broads Authority Act 2009 removed the statutory requirement to maintain separate general

and navigation revenue accounts, there is still a requirement to prepare a report at the end of each financial year describing the navigation income received by the Authority and the navigation expenditure incurred during the year. A copy of this report can be found on the Authority’s website. The Authority is required to prepare a full and detailed Statement of Accounts in accordance with guidelines issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). These accounts are scrutinised by the Authority’s External Auditors and are available for public inspection. A copy can be viewed on the Authority’s website or can be obtained from the Head of Finance, Broads Authority, Yare House, 62-64 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1RY.

Income

£’000

l National Park Grant (Defra) 3,774.8 l STEP (Sustainable Tourism in Estuary Parks)

l Asset management l Biodiversity strategy l Collection of tolls l Communications (including education, events,



Project l PRISMA (Promoting Integrated Sediment Management) Project l Tolls from hire craft l Tolls from private craft l Other national park income l Other navigation income l Interest

6.7



318.6 1,061.8 1,757.6 653.5 148.7 42.8





TOTAL

7,764.5





Contribution from reserves



818.8

design, interpretation and information)

l Development management l Dredging l Equipment, vehicles and vessels l Fen and tree management l Finance (including insurance) l Governance l Human resources l ICT l Legal services l Management and other costs l Partnerships (Trinity Broads and Lound, HLF) l Practical maintenance l Premises and property management

(including capital payments for the development of the Dockyard and relocation to Yare House)

£’000 97.0 242.3 103.7 281.7 274.9 580.1 541.8 126.4 293.5 177.0 229.8 213.9 145.8 613.4 18.7 883.5 1,190.8

l PRISMA (Promoting Integrated Sediment Management) Project - EU funding

l Projects l Ranger services l Safety l STEP (Sustainable Tourism in Estuary Parks)

Project - EU funding

318.9 203.9 820.7 134.6 123.2

l Strategy (including strategy and projects, policy, Broads Plan, cultural heritage, climate change, and tourism)

l Sustainable Development Fund l Visitor services (including boat trips and

yacht stations)

l Volunteers l Waterways strategy TOTAL

290.7 150.0 387.3 48.6 91.0 8,583.3



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Broads information centres Hoveton/Wroxham Station Road tel 01603 756097 email [email protected]

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How Hill Ludham tel 01603 756096 email [email protected]

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Whitlingham Visitor Centre Whitlingham Lane Trowse Norwich tel 01603 756094 email [email protected]

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KLEUR

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For a large print copy please telephone 01603 610734

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The National Park Family

This text reflects the author’s views. The Programme Authorities of Interreg IV A 2 Seas are not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.

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RICHTLIJNEN SPATIERING

Text: Hilary Franzen Design: Karen Sayer Photos: Tom Barrett, Julian Claxton, Simon Finlay, Hilary Franzen, Chris Herring, Tom Mackie, Mike Page, Rob Rogers, Bill Smith Print: Gallpen Colour Print, Norfolk

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The Broads Northumberland Lake District Yorkshire Dales North York Moors Peak District Snowdonia Pembrokeshire Coast

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Brecon Beacons Exmoor Dartmoor Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Cairngorms New Forest South Downs

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