Communique No 3/2010
Meeting no.:
25
Date:
1 Jun 2010 Key issues:
ACT and Region Catchment and Landcare Association Observer
ACT Review of Nature Conservation Strategy and Nature Conservation Act 1980
Presentation on Investment Framework for Environmental Resources
NRM Regions Chairs Forum and Knowledge Sharing Conference Darwin April 2010
ACT Environment Grants
Farewell to Council Investment Manager, Ms Jo Harding
Communique:
The ACT NRM Council met for its third meeting of 2010 on 1 June.
The Council welcomed Lynton Bond as an observer from the ACT and Region Catchment and Landcare Association. The Association has been invited to send a representative as observer to all regular Council meetings to assist in communicating the work of the Council to our stakeholders.
Council received a presentation on the ACT Government’s review of the Nature Conservation Act 1980 and the development of a new ACT Nature Conservation Strategy. The Council noted progress with this important work and was appreciative of the recognition this work was paying to the Council’s 2009 natural resource management plan, Bush Capital Legacy.
Another major focus of the meeting was a presentation from Dr Anna Roberts, Department of Primary Industry, Victoria and Geoff Park, North Central Catchment Management on the Investment Framework for Environmental Resources (INFFER). The Council sought this presentation as part of its consideration of how to approach the development of a regional investment strategy for Caring for our Country co-investment in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Dr Sarah Ryan, chair of the council reported on the recent NRM Region Chairs Forum in Darwin and the associated knowledge sharing conference involving staff and partners of regional NRM bodies around Australia. Chairs provided a report to NRM Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers meeting in Darwin on their priority issues: future NRM governance arrangements; the monitoring of resource condition and links to effective investment; landscape carbon and maximising its potential to contribute to ameliorating global warming and the relationship between regional NRM bodies and the Landcare movement. Council noted that the 2011 Forum will be held in Canberra and that Dr Ryan, as the Chair from the host State or Territory for this Forum was appointed Chair of the Regional NRM Chairs Working Group for the next 12 months.
The Council will assess applications for the 2010-11 ACT Environment Grants mid-June and make recommendations to the Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water. The Council was encouraged by the number and diversity of applications submitted.
The Council noted the imminent departure of Ms Jo Harding, Council Investment Manager to a position with the Australian Government’s Bushland Blitz program. The Council acknowledged the significant contribution that Ms Harding had made to the work of the Council, especially in the development and oversight of investments.
The next Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 3 August 2010.
