Catchment Management Authorities The NSW Catchment Management Boards and most other Natural Resource Management, Planning and Advisory committees across the State are winding up their operations to make way for the latest approach to NSW Natural Resource Management. Progress in the State Governments NRM reforms process ground to a halt prior to the State election in March and has largely failed to deliver the intended outcomes. The new model for NRM reform, based on the broad recommendations of the Wentworth Group of scientists has been developed in attempt to resolve outstanding issues in regard NRM and move beyond a planning focus into regional investment and on ground action. Proposed changes to Natural Resource Management Legislation are presently before parliament to enable the recommendations of the Native Vegetation Reform Implementation Group to take place, including the establishment of thirteen Catchment Management Authorities across the State. The three former Catchment Management Boards, which have operated from the Tweed to Kempsey are being combined to form the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. The new CMA, when operational early 2004, will have a governing role, an advisory role to the Minister for Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources as well as an operational role. The ‘local’ CMAs will comprise a chairperson and up to six members, as well as a General Manager. The CMA members are intended to be expert, skills based, rather than representative of particular stakeholder groups. This may avoid the conflict and difficulties in reaching agreement which has characterised many of the stakeholder based groups the CMAs will replace. Provided decision making is based on sound science and valid, realistic socio economic considerations, real progress toward intended NRM outcomes may be achievable. A primary role of the CMAs will be to integrate the three Northern Rivers CMB Blueprints into a single Catchment Action Plan. An independent Natural Resources Commission is being established at a State level that will develop statewide standards and targets for natural resources such as native vegetation and water. The NRC will accredit the CMA’s Catchment Action Plans against these standards and targets and audit statewide outcomes and the effectiveness of the catchment action plan implementation. A Natural Resources Advisory Council (including stakeholder group representation) will advise Government and the NRC on the views of key stakeholders. The balance of Conservation, Scientific and Aboriginal interests against a range of primary industry groups represented on the NRAC will be critical in influencing the NRC and the Minister to achieve acceptable conservation outcomes. The proposed NRC structure may only provide limited opportunity for regional conservation perspectives to be presented. However it is expected that opportunities will be available through our participation in partnerships (such as the Clarence Floodplain Partnership) which are expected to be developed to manage the larger issues and area based projects which will be developed from the Northern Rivers Catchment Action Plans. A small local CMA Establishment Team from the three North Coast Board areas including the Chairs of Northern Rivers and Upper North Coast Catchment Boards are presently working to assist the smooth transition for the Northern Rivers CMA to become operational in January 2004. They have a very limited role and timeframe. They will not be involved in the selection of CMA members or the development of regulations. Watch this space. Jim Morrison NCEC President and member of Northern Rivers CMA Local Establishment Team.
(A New Model for Natuaral Resource Management)