The 19^th meeting of the ACT NRM Council was held on Tuesday, 9 June 2009

Council welcomed two new members Dr David Shorthouse and Ms Sherry McArdle-English. Dr Shorthouse brings to the Council his knowledge of conservation planning and environmental research work in the ACT. Ms McArdle-English will bring to the Council her experience as an ACT rural landholder and her expertise in community engagement and marketing.

Dr Sarah Ryan and Mr Bill McCormick have been reappointed for a further three years in their respective roles as Chair and Deputy Chair of the Council.

In keeping with the Council’s undertaking to focus on priority areas identified at the beginning of 2009, Council received a presentation on environmental volunteering from Dr Tom Measham, Human Geographer with Social and Economic Sciences Research Program CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems. Dr Measham’s work focuses on the motivation for volunteering and what volunteers gain from their volunteering experiences. The presentation provided valuable information that can be used in harnessing volunteering capacity to assist with the delivery of NRM targets.

Council also had discussions with Mr Russell Watkinson, Director of Parks, Conservation and Lands, from the Department of Territory and Municipal Services about areas of mutual interest and opportunities for continuing and strengthening their partnership.

An update was provided to Council on progress being made in a number of other areas of Council priority, areas, including:

• an inaugural Researchers’ Roundtable with members from ACT environmental research institutions on 10 June;




• ongoing meetings with key stakeholders; and




• implementation of the online reporting system, enQuire by July 2009;




• development of a strategy for building capacity and collaboration between the ACT’s NRM research organisations and linking them to knowledge users.

Council discussed the development of its Communications Strategy, identifying a number of tools that will be useful in disseminating information to Council’s present and future partners and stakeholders.

Council’s Draft Indigenous Engagement Strategy was discussed and will be further developed and reviewed at future meetings. The Council wishes to develop a mutually beneficial partnership with the Indigenous community that serves to increase capacity and ensure the community’s robust and sustainable future through community engagement and development.

The Council is also developing a discussion paper on the need for an Environmental Planning Framework for the ACT.

The next Council meeting will be held on 28 July 2009.