Communique 1/2010
Meeting no.:
23
Date:
17 Feb 2010 Key issues:
Priorities for 2010
ACT Knowledge Forum
Building Environment and Sustainability ACT Community Networks
Ongoing engagement with the Indigenous Community
Site tour to Molonglo and Queanbeyan Rivers
Communique:
Communiqué No. 1/2010
The first meeting of the ACT NRM Council for 2010 was held on 16 February.
Council commenced with a planning session which involved revisiting the Governance Assessment Framework used by Council in February 2009 to identify areas of strength and areas requiring further attention. Council identified areas which would benefit from further review, whilst also highlighting improvement in areas that had previously indicated need for further attention.
Council identified the need and desire to continue with a number of focus areas from priorities set in February 2009. A new area of focus was identified by Council and will involve the review and refinement of the Regional Investment Strategy for the 2011-2013 with the view to encouraging new and innovative NRM activities and methods of program delivery.
Council is finalising a revision of its Terms of Reference after receiving input from the Department of Environment, Climate Change Energy and Water.
During March 2010 Council members will visit on-ground works along the Molonglo and Queanbeyan Rivers. Council will also co-host and facilitate a Knowledge Forum for ACT researchers and government users of research to further address the priority of better NRM Knowledge management in the ACT. The Forum will be conducted in partnership with ANU’s Institute for Climate Change.
Council received a briefing from Mr Rob Thorman from the ACT Planning and Land Authority on the proposed urban development in the Molonglo Valley, beginning with the planning of the suburbs of Coombs and Wright and the associated environment challenges.
An update on Council’s sponsored “Building Environment and Sustainability ACT Community Networks” project was provided. The next stage in this project will be a facilitated workshop for members of the NRM community to discuss areas of mutual involvement and ways of working together to bring about better NRM outcomes for the ACT.
Ongoing engagement is continuing with the sectors of the Indigenous community including Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation, Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and the United Ngunnawal Elders Council. Council has also supported in partnership with Department of Environment, Climate Change and Energy, and the Department of Education, the development of a Aboriginal Natural Resource Management Curriculum for inclusion in the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative program in the ACT.
Council has commenced development of potential applications for the upcoming Caring for our Country 2010 contestable funding round.
Council Chair and the NRM Programs support team will participate in the National NRM Chairs meeting and National Knowledge Forum in Darwin in April 2010.
Council will join with other ACT agencies in an expo to promote World Environment Day on 4 June 2010, to be held in during the day in Garema Place, CIVIC.
The next Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 6 April 2010.
