ARCHIVED NEWSLETTERS 1998

Issue 9 - November, 1998

Coordinating Group meets face-to-face at Birdsville Meeting

For the first time, Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group members met in a face to face meeting at Birdsville. It was the Group's second official meeting, the first being held over the telephone in a linked teleconference. The meeting was held on October 28, following the Georgina/Diamantina Catchment Committee's meeting in Birdsville. Maree Morton, Innamincka Station and Angus Emmott, Noonbah, near Stonehenge, participate on behalf of the Cooper Creek Catchment Committee and Gavin Miller, Davenport Downs, and Trevor Whitelaw, Moomba for the GDCC. Three observers, one from each of the Queensland, South Australian and Commonwealth governments also attended, showing the support that the catchment management process in the Lake Eyre Basin has from all levels of government. One of the priorities of the group is to complete filling the positions on the group as determined at the large public meeting in Birdsville last year. The group and it's chairperson, Don Blesing, will work with other regions of the Basin to determine how best they can be involved - either through the establishment of further catchment committees or through other forms of representation. Professor Peter Cullen, Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology has accepted the Science/Ecology skills based position.Other skills and competency based positions to be filled over the next few months are Aboriginal cultural heritage, industry, and conservation to bring expert advice to the Group on issues within the Basin. Each of the individuals to fill these positions need to meet criteria that ensure that they will have a Basin-wide perspective, and bring skills and experience at a national level to the group.

Georgina/Diamantina Catchment Group Meeting

The third meeting of the Georgina/Diamantina Catchment Committee (GDCC) was held in Birdsville on October 26 and 27. Charlie Phillott from Carisbrooke near Winton chairs the Committee. The committee continued with the action planning begun at the Cannington workshop as well as dealing with general business such as the position description and selection process for the catchment coordinator they will be employing. The participants engaged in open and constructive debate about issues. Between them the committee members hold an important reservoir of knowledge about the catchment and it's natural resources.

A vision and mission for the committee, discussed at the previous workshop, was endorsed by the committee. The action plans are based upon this shared vision. The committee will begin drafting a catchment management strategy based on the information collected through consultation over the last two years. The Coordinator, when appointed in the new year, will take on this task, ensuring the communities and stakeholders of the Georgina and Diamantina catchments have the opportunity to participate in finalising the strategy.

CATCHMENT CONFUSION

There has been some confusion about the makeup of the Cooper Creek Catchment Committee, how it was developed and that it is quite different to the Government's Water Management Plan for the Cooper. The Catchment Committee was established as agreed at the public meeting in Birdsville last year. The decision to proceed with the formation of the Catchment Committee was the culmination of two year's work by the steering group. Following several public meetings held in Muttaburra, Innamincka and Jundah, it was agreed that the committees needed to include broad geographical and interest group involvement.This was achieved by demarcating four regions within the catchment - the Thomson, the Barcoo, the Cooper and Innamincka and below. It was agreed that each of these regions would have two people on the committee. The geographic representatives are: Thomson: Angus Emmott, "Noonbah" nr Longreach, Bill Ballinger, "Stockholm" nr Muttaburra. Barcoo: Max Albrand, "Wahroonga" nr Isisford Ian Groves, Haughton Vale" nr Jundah. Cooper: Bill Scott, "Tanbar" nr Windorah, Bob Morrish, "Springfield" nr Windorah. Innamincka and below: Maree Morton, "Innamincka", Trevor Whitelaw, Moomba.

There are also interest based participants, one from each of the following: Mining and Petroleum Industries Aboriginal groups - George Gorringe Environment groups - David Noonan Town communities - Butch Dare Local government - Peter Douglas Tourism - to be advised Scientific community - to be advised. The State agencies have two participants from Queensland and two from South Australia.

It was agreed at the meeting that the composition and method of appointment of members would be reviewed before the year was up to establish the fairest and most accountable method of choosing participants. Participants also agreed to take responsibility for encouraging involvement from their region or interest group through providing information widely and collecting feedback to take to the committee. For this catchment management process to work the diverse stakeholders of the catchment need to be involved. The committee is working by consensus which means that it does not become a numbers game with winners and losers.

This draft plan was written by the Department of Natural Resources under their legislative requirements. It sets out guidelines for the use of the water of the Cooper Creek. The current status of the draft management plan is that submissions received by DNR have been submitted to the Minister for Natural Resources office and await his decision. If changes are made the Minister may decide that the draft plan will come back to the public for further community consultation. The DNR manages water resources in Queensland and has the legislative authority for this.

On the other hand, the Cooper Creek Committee has no legislative power. It is a forum to hear and discuss the diverse views of stakeholders, may seek constructive compromise positions, and may choose to advise government regarding the views of the committee. It can encourage or establish research to fill information gaps, can seek funds to initiate on-ground projects and many other things. Ultimately, however, it is the State government which makes decisions about resource use.

For further information about the Draft Cooper Water Management Plan contact DNR on 4658 4900.

For further information about the Cooper Creek Catchment Committee contact the Lake Eyre Basin catchment management office. on 4658 0600.

Issue 8 - October 1998

Coordinating Group Operating

The Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group is now up and running with the Transition Task Force passing on the baton. The Task Force appointed at the public meeting in Birdsville, 1997, achieved its terms of reference to help establish catchment committees and appoint an independent chairperson within the required time frame and wound up prior to the first meeting of the Coordinating Group.The Coordinating Group, under newly appointed Chair Don Blesing, sees its priorities as bringing resources into the Basin and maintaining a Basin-wide presence and voice to negotiate with governments. The Co-ordinating Group will provide a forum to deal with Basin wide issues, develop a basin-wide vision, lobby governments, encourage investment and establish partnerships within the Basin, and help educate people within and outside the Basin about Natural resource Management and catchment issues.

Skills Based Members

As decided at the Birdsville meeting, the Group is recruiting selected skills based members. The first appointment has been made with the selection of Professor Peter Cullen in the Science/Ecology position. Peter brings a wide range of experience and skills to the Group and is one of the Nation's most respected freshwater ecologists. Skills based members will increase the depth and breadth of experience and knowledge of the Group. They will help form strong links with other organisations and Governments and will assist in increasing the flow of information, funding and goodwill to the Group. Catchment based members, however, will always make up the majority of the Group. The establishment of the Basin-wide Coordinating Group is part of the overall vision set at the Birdsville meeting. It is seen as a major milestone in the achievement of goals and is part of the ongoing evolution of a framework to give voice to people living in the vast Lake Eyre Basin.

New Chair Appointed

Mr Don Blesing, an agri-business adviser and farmer from Caltowie in South Australia, has been appointed Chairperson of the Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group. He has had extensive experience in both the grains and sheep industries. He was a member of the Myers Review into the CRC program and a member of the Federal State of the Environment Advisory Council. He has been a member of the Australian Science & Technology Council and Chair of the Grains Research & Development Corporation. He has served as Chair of the Business Advisory Panel: Aboriginal Lands Trust of SA and a member of the Primary Industries SA Sheep and Wool Advisory Committee.

Catchment Funding Approved

The future of the catchment committees is assured with the allocation of sufficient funding from the Natural Heritage Trust. The Georgina/Diamantina Catchment Committee and the Cooper Catchment Committee have won funding in the latest round of Natural Heritage Trust grants. The Committees will each have sufficient funds to appoint a Catchment Coordinator or Action Planning Officer. The funds will also assist committee members with travel costs - incurred by travelling long distances to meetings in the catchment. The roles of these positions will be to work with the Georgina/Diamantina and Cooper Catchment Committees to develop and implement a catchment strategies and action plans to improve natural resource management and conservation in the catchment. The filling of these positions will improve the voice of all catchment stakeholders at all levels.

WORKSHOPS IN THE WEST

Two workshops held during September saw catchment members involved in 'Working in Groups' workshops. Wide spread industry support involved members in the workshops at little cost to themselves or to the LEB Coordinating Group. Santos hosted the workshop at Moomba for the Cooper Catchment members while BHP hosted the Georgina / Diamantina Catchment members at Cannington mine. The Working in Groups initiative is funded by Meat and Livestock Australia. The support of these three industry groups underwrite the regard given by national bodies to the now formalised Catchment Committees and the need to have committees representing regions and people facing common issues. The workshops were also an example of concrete outcomes for committee members.

Strategic Planning

In addition to workshopping Working in Groups, the members of the catchment committees started Strategic Planning and the development of action plans. This will ensure the committees set and achieve goals within the duration of their one year term. Committee members traveled long distances to attend the workshops. Steve McAlpin drove from Alice Springs to attend the Georgina/Diamantina workshop at Cannington. Ray Jansen traveled from Lake Nash in the Northern Territory, and Sharon Oldfield came from Cowarie on the Birdsville Track. Bill Ballinger from Muttaburra attended the Cooper Catchment Workshop at Moomba while Mary Oldfield, an alternate, travelled from Mungeranie. Both days were also attended by other committee members from within the catchments and representatives from Government Departments. The days also proved a good forum for new Group Chair, Don Blesing, to meet committee members face to face.

Issue 7 - May 1998

New Catchment Groups for the Cooper and the Georgina / Diamantina Systems

The first catchment management groups for the Lake Eyre Basin have been formed! The Cooper Creek Catchment Committee and the Georgina/Diamantina Catchment Committee were formed at public meetings in Jundah and Boulia respectively following meetings held at both the bottom and the top of each catchment. Thank you to all who participated in the meetings, many travelling long distances to attend.

Over seventy people attended the Jundah meeting and about thirty participated at Boulia. The previous meetings in Innamincka, Birdsville, Muttaburra and Winton also attracted good attendance, as did the meetings for people in the centre of the catchment held in Jundah and Boulia prior to the meetings for establishing the groups. Contributions made at these earlier meetings were collated and used as the basis for decision making when the committees were formed.

The roles of the groups and guidelines for their operation were also determined at these meetings. It was agreed that the groups and their membership will be reviewed in twelve months. Approximate boundaries for the catchment committees are shown in the map on the last page. As all the nominations put forward at the meetings for the geographic positions were accepted the groups are large at this stage. When an individual appointed for a region also represented an interest group than the interest group position was not filled again. Some on the committees wear 'multiple hats'.

It was positive to see so much interest and willingness to be involved. It is important to stress that people are not on the committees to "push their own barrow" but to bring their skills and experience to the catchment committee to work for an ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable future for the Lake Eyre Basin.

Constructive meetings were also held in Alice Springs, Oodnadatta and Marree, and one is soon to be held in Broken Hill. At these meetings we discussed the benefits to the region through being involved, concerns, ways to minimise concerns, options for the region, and how to proceed. At all of these meetings people were supportive of the process in the Georgina, Diamantina and Cooper catchments. They were, however, exploring ways most appropriate for their regions to be involved that did not necessarily involve establishing catchment groups. The Alice Springs meeting decided upon a 'wait and see' option. They wished to learn more about the process and it's potential benefits from what happens elsewhere in the Basin, and to encourage people to think about and discuss catchment management further. Another meeting is to be held in Alice in October and meanwhile meeting participants have committed to consult further with their 'constituents'.

In discussions with people in the Oodnadatta region it was generally agreed that there were not enough people to set up a catchment group along with the existing committees. The Marla-Oodnadatta Soil Board boundaries, however, coincide with the western rivers area. People believed that if the Soil Board could involve a wider cross-section of stakeholders then it may be able to take on the role of the catchment group in some way. Discussions with the Soil Board to explore this possibility will continue in late May. At the Marree meeting participants agreed that if there was a lot of interest at the Broken Hill meeting we would organise a meeting in Leigh Ck to bring people from the region together to discuss forming a southern group. Otherwise we would hold an open forum in Marree in six months to discuss options again. Meanwhile two participants of the meeting, Lyn Litchfield and Karen Burk, volunteered to be contacts and to encourage further discussion.

Chair, Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group

The Lake Eyre Basin community seeks someone to Chair the new Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group. This is a part time position, with an honorarium of $15,000 per annum, plus out of pocket expenses. The initial appointment will be for a term of one year with the possibility of renewal to three years following a review of performance and the catchment structures. The successful applicant will have knowledge of the Lake Eyre Basin and its various industries and will have a commitment to consultation and community based total catchment management. They will have demonstrated capacity to work with Ministers and government agencies in various jurisdictions. They will have strong communication and conflict management skills and a commitment to ecologically sustainable natural resource management. People wishing further information are invited to contact the coordinator Kate Andrews on 07 4658 0600 for a discussion of the position and a copy of the selection criteria. They are also welcome to contact the Chair of the Transition Task Force Peter Cullen on 02 6201 5168.

Selection Criteria for the Chair, Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group

1. Knowledge and understanding of the Lake Eyre Basin and its various industries as well as good understanding of the principles of total catchment management.

2. Good communication skills - we seek some one who can demonstrate high level oral and written communication skills.

3. Demonstrated conflict management skills and an ability to work with a variety of interest groups. The ability to be inclusive of a variety of views, to facilitate dialogue to explore different perspectives, to maintain a strategic focus and the ability to manage conflict in a creative way to find innovative solutions.

4. Demonstrated experience and skills in chairing community groups for both face to face meetings and using tele-conferences.

5. Commitment to principles of equity and social justice.

6. Ability to work with various governments and government agencies as well as community and interest groups. Demonstrated ability in negotiating funding from Government and other sources.

7. Personal - we seek a person of integrity who has the commitment and energy to provide leadership and make the coordinating group work effectively for the benefit of the basin and it's residents.

As decided at the public meeting of April 26th 1998. To be reviewed 12 months after the first meeting of the group.Geographic Representation Two from each of four regions: Thomson - Bill Ballinger, Angus Emmott Barcoo - Max Albrand, Ian Groves, Cooper - Bill Scott, Bob Morrish Innamincka and below - Maree Morton, Trevor Whitelaw State Agencies - 2 from Qld, 2 from SA Interest Group Representation: Mining and Petroleum Industry - Invitation extended to mining industry as petroleum industry covered above Aboriginal Groups- George Gorringe Environment Groups - David Noonan Town Communities - Butch Dare Local Government - Peter Douglas To be discussed further: Tourism Member of scientific community (ecologist) The two people from each catchment committee who will sit on the Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group, and the chairperson for each group, will be appointed at the first meetings of the catchment committees.

As decided at the public meeting of April 29th 1998. To be reviewed 12 months after the first meeting of the group. Geographic Representation Two from each of three regions: Area 1 (middle and upper Georgina) - Tom Arnold, Ada Miller, Mike Keane, Ray Jansen, Rhonda Alexander, Ron McGlinchy Area 2 (middle and upper Diamantina) - Bob Young, Gavin Miller, Charlie Philott, Alex Whitehead Area 3 (lower Georgina, Diamantina, Eyre Ck and Warburton Ck.) - Sharon Oldfield, Trevor Whitelaw, Robby Dare, David Brook (to be confirmed) State Agencies - 2 from Qld, 2 from SA Interest Group Representation: Mining and Petroleum Industry - Jim Tyler (mining) from BHP Cannington Aboriginal Groups- Invitation extended Environment Groups - Invitation extended Covered already through geographic positions: Town Communities/ Local Government Tourism Petroleum

Issue 6 - April 1998

Catchment Groups

In the last update, dated March, the next round of meetings was outlined. These meetings are being held by the Transition Taskforce established at the public meeting in Birdsville last year. So far meetings have been held in Innamincka, Birdsville and Muttaburra. Meetings coming up: Winton April 8 - 2pm Winton Club Alice Springs April 15 - 2pm Council Garden Room Oodnadatta April 18 - 2pm School Marree April 19 - 2pm Town Hall In Jundah and Boulia two meetings will be held each day - the first for people in the region to discuss the issues as we have at the top and bottom of the Cooper and Georgina/Diamantina catchments and the second for people across the whole catchment to establish catchment groups. Jundah April 26 Town hall 1 - 10am to 12md (for locals) 2 - 1pm to 5.30pm (for whole of Cooper catchment) Boulia April 29 Town hall 1 - 10am to 12md (for locals) 2 - 1pm to 5.30pm (for whole of Georgina/Diamantina catchment) At the second meetings in Jundah and Boulia we will: Decide upon the composition of the catchment group Appoint the executive and committee Finalise the Terms of Reference for the group Finalise the boundaries for the group Agree upon guidelines for the catchment group and it's members to ensure transparency and accountability Set a period for review of the group

About Catchment Management

The following information is a reminder as to what catchment management is all about and why we are doing it. It has been extracted from the Options Paper produced by the Lake Eyre Basin Steering Group in 1997. The fundamentals of catchment management are: Managing all natural resources within an area, not just water. This is based on an understanding that all aspects of the environment are related - actions upon one element, such as vegetation, may have affects upon others, such as water flow and quality.Bringing together all the different interest groups of a catchment to work together to reach an agreed position. Rather than conflict, it is about creating a forum for different views and potential cooperation. Good catchment management does not push one point of view but considers the whole range of views.

Catchment management should be about community involvement in decision making rather than government imposed decisions. However, given the location of the Lake Eyre Basin across four state borders, it is important that any management plansor strategies agreed to at a catchment management level should incorporate a process by which State governments can agree to them and have them recognised under State legislation. Long-term planning is a necessity. We can minimise the bad effects of actions which may be costly to reverse, or may even be irreversible. Long-term planning also helps us to take advantage of, or create, opportunities. Catchment management has been around for a long time and in many countries, including the United States, Canada, Britain and New Zealand. One of the earliest related examples is the Tennessee Valley scheme established in 1933. New South Wales has established Total Catchment Management, and Queensland and Western Australia have Integrated Catchment Management.

Why do we need catchment management?

Catchment management can: encourage sharing of information, ideas and resources; identify problems, issues and priorities; plan for sustainable and balanced use of catchment resources; look at a whole catchment, rather than just one administrative area; resolve conflicting demands; and pool efforts to overcome obstacles.

Catchment management is based upon the boundary of a catchment or water drainage basin. The reason for having 'catchment management', rather than just 'management' of any region that can be drawn on a map, is that people living in a catchment are connected not only by social ties but by the relationships that connect upstream to downstream, and groundwater to bore. These connections mean that one person's consumption may be another's loss, and one person's waste disposal another's pollution. A form of integrated resource management can also be useful across borders where land types and land use, and hence natural resource issues such as weeds, may be shared.

The Lake Eyre Basin is made up of several major river catchments. Change is inevitable. It is something we all face whether we like it or not. But we do have the opportunity to decide how we deal with it. Do we just let it happen around us, or do we try and make sure it's positive for us, our community and the long term sustainability of the natural resources we rely on? There are many examples of change happening in the Lake Eyre Basin. These include more volatile commodity prices, increasing tourism, changing expectations about caring for and managing the environment, an increasing interest in alternative agricultural enterprises such as irrigated crops, a buoyant mining industry and growing petroleum industry.

There is a move towards regional strategies for natural resource management at the State and Commonwealth government level. The Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) funds (which now include the Landcare program) are likely to be directed through regional or catchment strategies. The NHT is not the only body thinking this way. In the future, communities will need to be ready and able to design and direct such strategies.

Issue 5 - August 1998

Forming Catchment Groups

At the Birdsville meeting a general consensus was reached to establish a catchment management framework for the Lake Eyre Basin: an over-arching Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group and up to six Catchment Management Groups that are not constrained by State borders. This is illustrated overleaf. A series of meetings is to be held over March and April to begin to establish catchment groups in the Lake Eyre Basin. (Note: These dates are dependent upon the weather.)

For the Cooper system: Innamincka - Saturday March 14 (A.I.M. building) Muttaburra - Sunday March 22 (Town hall) Jundah - Sunday April 26 (Town Hall)

For the Georgina and Diamantina catchments: Birdsville - Sunday March 15 (Town hall) Winton - Wednesday April 8 (Winton Club) Boulia - Wednesday April 29 (Shire hall)

For the Centralian / Desert Rivers: Alice Springs - Wed. April 15 (Council Garden Room)

For the Western Eyre rivers: Oodnadatta - Saturday April 18 (School) Marree - Sunday April 19 ( Town hall)

SEE YOU THERE!

[For more information contact Kate Andrews on the numbers above.]

The meetings will cover: boundaries for catchment groups; involvement in the groups: representation on the Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group; the role of the groups; development of a Basin strategy and catchment action plans; the time frame for the above.

The transition group will be holding three meetings in the two largest catchments, one at both the top and the bottom (approximately) and, at a later date, one in the middle. Representatives from the first two meetings can then attend the third meeting in the more central locations (Jundah and Boulia).

At the Jundah and Boulia meetings we will be forming the catchment groups for the Cooper and Georgina/Diamantina groups respectively and electing office bearers and representatives to the Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group.

At the meetings in Oodnadatta and Alice Springs we will determine the most appropriate way to proceed with catchment management in those regions.