CEC Newsletter Autumn 2004 Centre News

AN UPDATE ON CATCHMENT MATTERS . . .
CMA BOARD MEMBERS ANNOUNCED.

On 5 May, the Board of the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) was announced. They are: · Indigenous leader Jack Beetson, formerly director Tranby Aboriginal College and who now runs a "philosophy and culture farm" at Rollands Plains in the Hastings.

· Cattle farmer, David Donnelly, who was formerly a mayor of Glen Innes and deputy chair of the Upper North Coast Catchment Management Board (UNCCMB).
· Tweed cane farmer, Robert Quirk, who served for some years on the state Acid Sulphate Soils Management Committee and has worked to improve the environmental sustainability of the north coast's sugar industry.
· Glennifer resident, Julie Woodroffe, who has been an advocate of property planning and was formerly the chair of the UNCCMB.
· Grazier Sally Wright, who runs a property east of Guyra, formerly the chair of the very successful Southern New England Landcare Coordinating Committee.

The newsletter from the NRCMA claims that this membership comes from 'a broad range of geographic areas and landscapes within the region'. Does it? What would folk in the Richmond or Macleay think, with no representation? What do residents of the Clarence think, when both board members from our catchment are graziers from the tablelands?

It's too early to condemn the board but we do have initial concerns about the board's composition. We will continue to watch them as they start their work in preparing and implementing the Catchment Action Plan, and providing the necessary training aincentives to improve natural resource management within the Northern Rivers, from the Hastings to the Tweed.

Stay tuned for further updates.

-Janet