Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare Connection

Stronger frame, greater support

Improving the structure of the district group through good governance to expand transparency and inclusivity.

Capacity building - LEP023_26

The issue

Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare (MC2T) was formed in 2019 to represent the three long standing Landcare network groups of the Mid Coast region. When it was created, the structure of MC2T was such that membership rested completely with these three groups; Manning Coastcare, Manning Landcare and Karuah & Great Lakes Landcare. This meant that the committee for MC2T was comprised of volunteers drawn from the committees of the three member groups which placed a lot of responsibility on a small pool of people and eventually became difficult to navigate.

The solution

A facilitated session with Kim Boswell brought together the 3 network group committees with staff, exploring the role of MC2T, membership structure options and different models for best operation.

Using the Landcare NSW template, the MC2T committee created a constitution with a broader membership structure. Adopted formally September 2025, the new constitution allows for three types of members.

Landcare Member Group (LMG) – an incorporated or unincorporated Landcare group; Ordinary Member – a convenor or committee member of an LMG; and Associate Member- an individual who joins MC2T or is a member of an LMG. The first two categories have voting rights.

The impact

This new constitution and benefits of the improved framework were shared with members at the MC2T Muster, September 2025 and via newsletter and emails. A call went out for those interested and now eligible to join the MC2T committee at the November AGM.

At the AGM three additional members stepped forward to join the committee. Since then, we have welcomed a handful of new member groups into MC2T. We continue refining the governance of MC2T using the Landcare NSW governance health check to monitor progress. The goal to be transparent and inclusive in all aspects of operations guides us forwards.

Learnings

  • Structural limitations can limit growth.When membership and governance rely on a narrow pool of people, district groups can become harder to sustain. Recognising this early is critical.
  • Facilitated collaboration unlocked better solutions.Bringing together committees and staff in a guided session allowed the group to collectively explore options and reach consensus on a new direction.
  • A broader membership structure drives engagement.Creating tiered membership categories (with clear voting rights) opened the door to wider participation, resulting in new committee members and new member groups joining.
  • Good governance is an ongoing practice, not a one-time event.Using tools like the Landcare NSW governance health check to monitor progress shows that governance improvement is continuous to best meet our needs.
Author: Justine Thompson