Members gathered in a combined meeting at Moomba on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of August and settled on a course of action to transition the process to the Natural Heritage Trust Mark 2 (NHT2). They were unanimous in their resolve to reposition their community-driven process to take advantage of the new funding environment of NHT2.

Angus Emmott, Deputy-Chair of both the Cooper’s Creek Catchment Committee and the Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group said the meeting, the culmination of six months of funding uncertainty, was very positive in its outcomes.

“I think the community and the funders have come to a common understanding of what we can offer each other under NHT2,” he said. We have a range of challenges and opportunities in front of us and the Lake Eyre Basin community will meet these with the same energy and commitment that has seen this process become a world recognised model for community-driven natural resource management.” (See ‘Perspectives’ on page 5 for more responses to the Moomba meeting).

More than 30 members of the Cooper’s Creek Catchment Committee, the Georgina Diamantina Catchment Committee, and the Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group heard presentations from Government representatives on the proposed Regional arrangements of NHT2.

In light of current funding realities, repositioning was acknowledged as the best way to continue to achieve benefits for the Basin and to maintain initiatives and community capacity gains made to date while also retaining independence and identity.

Government advice that the catchment committee process will continue to be supported to maximise resources for community activities was seen as a key factor in allaying community fears that their process was being dismantled.

The model endorsed by the meeting is for the catchment committees to work closely within the new NHT arrangements to ensure the continuation of whole of catchment integrated natural resource management. This will entail taking full advantage of Queensland Government’s generous offer of considerable in-kind support in the form of office space and administrative support for the Catchment Committees.

The meeting was resolute that the identity, effectiveness, and independence of the committees would not be compromised in the least. They did acknowledge, however, that the Coordinating Group’s structure and operation will require some refining.

While this may also mean an adjustment to the membership of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to the Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum, it will not diminish the role of the CAC. The CAC will always remain, by definition, the community’s advisory committee to the Ministerial Forum and will be made up of community members.

Negotiations to clarify the details of the new relationships are proceeding in the spirit of goodwill and common purpose that exists between the community of the Lake Eyre Basin and the Commonwealth, Queensland and South Australian governments.

More detailed information about the arrangements will be made available as soon as they are finalised.