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Clients

Community Solutions’ clients include government agencies at all levels, large and small companies and community groups. We have experience in a range of sustainability-relevant areas and also form collaborative teams to bring in particular expertise to meet client needs. Since 2006 we have worked with teams including Nina Harding Mediation Services, Sharon Griffiths (principal of Sharon Griffiths & Associates), Mike Williams (principal of Michael Williams & Associates), Julie Woodroffe (principal of Never Never Resources), Siwan Lovett (principal of Lovett Clarke Consulting) and Emeritus Professor Valerie Brown as well as in teams led by SGS Planning & Economics, Urbis Pty Ltd, the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and Vicki Woodburn (principal of Garland Outcomes). 

Community Solutions undertakes projects in the areas of environment and natural resource management, urban sustainability and community issues. The business was established as a partnership in 1993.

Our client list over recent years illustrates the wide range of work undertaken for both government and non-government clients. Community Solutions enjoys current membership of the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia, the Australasia Pacific Extension Network and Australian Women in Agriculture. Judy is also a member of the Ecological Society of Australia.

Recent Projects

2010 AND/OR ONGOING

Nature Conservation Council of NSW & Rural Fire Service: Hotspots Fire Project
 Through research, survey and advocacy work and as an independent facilitator and strategic adviser, Community Solutions has since 2007, assisted NCC in gaining support for the continuation of the Hotspots Fire Project HOTSPOTS.

Hotspots works with landholders, members of the community, scientists, Bushfire Brigades, the Rural Fire Service, Catchment Management Authorities and public land managers to assist them in managing fire both for protection of life and property and to ensure healthy, productive landscapes in which biodiversity is protected and maintained. Community Solutions managed the Hawkesbury-Nepean pilot project in 2007 and has since undertaken further work with the Catchment Management Authority there, as well as with Indigenous land owners in southern NSW and the NSW Central Coast. More recently Community Solutions has become involved in follow-up demonstration work being led by the NSW Rural Fire Service and has also run short introductory workshops for several Bushfire Management Commitees. (Ongoing)

Humane Society International (Australia)
 In 2006 and 2007 Judy prepared a series of National Heritage nominations for places of outstanding natural heritage significance, some of which have since received national listing. In January 2010 Judy was again contracted to prepare further nominations. During 2010 Judy also prepared for HSI (Australia) a substantial submission in response to the Australian Government’s National Heritage Assessment for the West Kimberley region and in 2010-early 2011 Community Solutions prepared three new nominations for national recognition of Threatened Ecological Communities.

Coffs Harbour City Coucil, Bellingen Shire Council & Nambucca Shire Council
 During 2010 Community Solutions led a team which included both Jane Elix (Jane Elix Consulting) and Emeritus Professor Valerie Brown in preparing an ‘environmental sustainability routemap’ for the ‘Our Living Coast’ project.

Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority
 Working in partnership with Julie Woodroffe (Never Never Resources), Judy assisted the Northern Rivers CMA in undertaking a major review and rewrite of its Strategic Plan. The project included interviews with both internal and some external stakeholders, a facilitated workshop session and follow-up work to obtain feedback on the Draft Strategic Plan prepared. Guidance was also provided to assist senior staff in preparing a new Business Plan to implement the strategic direction of the CMA.

Other clients during 2010 included

2009

Nature Conservation Council of NSW & Rural Fire Service: Hotspots Fire Project
 Through research, survey and advocacy work and as an independent facilitator and strategic adviser, Community Solutions has since 2007, assisted NCC in gaining support for the continuation of the Hotspots Fire Project. HOTSPOTS. Hotspots works with landholders, members of the community, scientists, Bushfire Brigades, the Rural Fire Service, Catchment Management Authorities and public land managers to assist them in managing fire both for protection of life and property and to ensure healthy, productive landscapes in which biodiversity is protected and maintained. Community Solutions managed the Hawkesbury-Nepean pilot project in 2007 and has since undertaken further work with the Catchment Management Authority there, as well as with Indigenous land owners in southern NSW and with Bushfire Management Committees. More recently Community Solutions has become involved in follow-up demonstration work being led by the NSW Rural Fire Service. (Ongoing)

Environmental Defenders’ Office (Vic)
 Community Solutions conducted for the EDO (Vic) a mid-term review of their Law and Policy Reform program, which is funded by the Legal Services Board. The project, which used both literature review and semi-structured interviews, was both evaluative and designed provide accountability to the funding body and strategic advice to the EDO for its future work. (Completed 2010Ongoing) .

Roebuck Bay Management Planning
 In 2004 Community Solutions worked with WWF Australia and the Roebuck Bay Working Group to complete a Values Mapping project designed to provide a basis for shared planning for the Ramsar-listed wetlands at Roebuck Bay near Broome, in the Kimberley region. Both this project and follow-up management planning in 2006 brought together a broad diversity of stakeholders with an interest in this area which is an internationally important habitat for migratory shorebirds. Since a recent determination of Native Title for the area, Judy Lambert has worked with Sharon Griffiths & Associates to prepare a Draft Management Plan for the Roebuck Bay wetlands and the surrounding area.

Urban Sustainability Support Alliance
 Working with Emeritus Professor Valerie Brown during 2008 and 2009, Judy assisted the USSA Steering Committee in using the diverse skills and intere4sts within the group to maximum benefit through integration and shared learning for sustainability. Facilitation and capacity building through collaborative learning were a key focus of this work.

Land & Water Australia: ‘Defeating the Weed Menace’ R&D Coordinator
 Between May 2006 and October 2009 Judy Lambert was the national R&D Coordinator for the ‘Defeating the Weed Menace’ program – a significant commitment for Community Solutions. In addition to overseeing the 27 contracted research projects addressing weed problems of national significance, the program placed emphasis on disseminating the knowledge generated. This culminated in a suite of publications and a national series of forums which Judy organised in collaboration with state-based Weed Societies. For information on the program’s outputs go to www.lwa.gov.au/products.

2008

Land and Water Australia: Restoring Landscapes with Confidence
 A Land & Water Australia project led by Dr Siwan Lovett of Lovett Clark Consulting and working with Dr Jann Williams and Dr Phil Price (Dec 2007 – May 2008). This project sought to assess how well research, tools and information currently available are being used by local groups involved in regional natural resource management as part of achieving on-ground outcomes. It examined how well the science that is being undertaken is embedded in day-to-day practical approaches and investigated what makes some research more relevant, meaningful and easily able to be integrated. In cases where the available research is not being used, the project identified the barriers. A report on this project is available at www.lwa.gov.au, Product Number 21578.

Humane Society International Australia
Judy worked closely with staff at HSI (Australia) to prepare map-based proposals seeking improved national recognition of extensive areas of outstanding biodiversity and natural heritage significance, using National Heritage listing. A report on this project is available as a HSI Special Technical Bulletin (January 2009) at www.hsi.org.au.

NSW Natural Resources Advisory Council
Working with Jane Elix Consulting to plan for, facilitate and report on a forum (June 2008) hosted by the NSW Natural Resources Advisory Council (NRAC) for projects which received funding under the ‘Forging Partnerships’ program. Involving participants from a diversity of projects, the forum identified factors contributing to effective partnerships in practice, provided an opportunity for NRAC to further evaluate the achievement of the objectives of the Forging Partnerships program and explore future directions for the program.

This project was a typical example of Community Solutions interests in natural resource management and bridging the gap between producers, scientists, governments and the community.

National Water Quality Management Strategy Workshop
Judy Lambert was engaged as expert advisor to the Urbis project team evaluating the impacts of a National Water Quality Management Strategy Workshop Series (March – May 2008).

Canterbury Council
In 2007 Canterbury Council commissioned a team led by SGS Economics & Planning, and involving Community Solutions and Architectus, to prepare an Economic Development and Employment Strategy for the area. Community Solutions was responsible for the community engagement component of this project.

Urban Sustainability Support Alliance (USSA)
Working with Professor Valerie Brown, Judy is assisting the USSA steering committee in reaching its full potential in Integration and Shared Learning – facilitation and capacity building are a key focus of this ongoing work.

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Biodiversity Hotspots Stewardship, delivery agents workshop design and facilitation (July 2008), with Mike Williams.

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Low income housing and affordability – stakeholder workshop facilitation (Aug 2008), with Nina Harding.

2007

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
 Judy was a member of a national project team led by Jackie Ohlin of Urbis Pty Ltd, which prepared a report on the barriers to and opportunities for increasing the participation of owmen and young people in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and natural resource management industry sectors and the organisations that represent these sectors.

Baulkham Hills Shire Council
Facilitation of ‘Community Planning and Community Outcomes’ meetings.

Humane Society International (Aust)
 Land & Water Australia
Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Projects with these clients progressed beyond 2007 and are reported in later years (above).

2006

Department of the Environment & Heritage
Planning, coordination, facilitation and reporting on an Australian Government hosted national workshop defining the Ecological Character Description process for Australian wetlands. (May 2006).

Cradle Coast NRM Committee
Working with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy and Birds Tasmania, and the diversity of stakeholders in the Robbins Passage/Boullanger Bay area of far-northwest Tasmania, to develop a Draft Plan of Management for that nationally significant wetland and the surrounding area. (Completed December 2006).

Greening Australia
Facilitation of Exchange native vegetation knowledge service introduction and related conference workshop.

Institute of Environmental Studies (UNSW)
Design and presentation of graduate short-course in Community Participation.

Marrickville Council
Development and facilitation of a series of community meetings which formed the community engagement part of the preparation of a new Urban Strategy for the Local Government Area. This project, completed bya consortium led by SGS Economics & Planning, was an award winner at the national Planning Institute Awards.

Humane Society International (Australia): National Heritage nominations
Land & Water Australia: National Weeds R&D Coordination
WWF Australia: Roebuck Bay management planning
Projects with these clients progressed beyond 2006 and are reported in later years (above).

Blue Circle Southern Cement, Berrima
Blue Circle Southern Cement, Maldon
Boral Asphalt
These consultation, training and community liaison projects were transferred to Jane Elix Consulting early in 2007.

2005

Boral Clay and Concrete
Consultation training and facilitation (with Nina Harding)

Department of Environment and Heritage
National Conservation Incentives Forum - workshop facilitation

RES-Southern Cross Wind Energy
Community Liaison and project advice

River Murray Catchment Water Management Board
Capacity Building Guide (with Lucy Sharman)

LEADR
Coaching (with Nina Harding)

University of Technology Sydney
Law lecture

Western Australian Department of Employment and Consumer Protection
Community Engagement Project (with Colma Keating, Dinkum Results)

2003-2004

Australian National University
Facilitation – Social Learning for Sustainability

Boral
Winter Environment Forum – facilitation

CSIRO
Ord-Bonaparte project – debrief facilitation

Greening Australia
Planning Facilitation

Land and Water Australia
Grassy Box Woodland Publication Workshop

Land and Water Australia
Valuing Biodiversity Workshop – Facilitation

Local Government Sustainability Workshop
Facilitation

Natural Heritage Trust funded project
Grassy Box Woodland – with a diversity of project partners including government agencies, a university and a Non-government environment organisation

Pfizer
Health Projects – facilitation

Pfizer/Schizophrenia Foundation
Best Practice Forum – facilitation

St John Ambulance
Review and consultations (with Nina Harding)

Total Environment Centre
Water Workshop – facilitation

WWF Australia

Information about earlier clients can be provided on request.
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