SOUTH EAST NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT BOARD...ADELAIDE South Australia 5000 ... landholders...

_______________________________________________________________________________ South East NRM Board Annual Report 2008-09

Page 1

SOUTH EAST

NATURAL RESOURCES

MANAGEMENT BOARD

ANNUAL REPORT

1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009


Page 2

South East Natural Resources Management Board

Annual Report 2008-09

ISBN: 978-0-9775406-6-2

For further information please contact:

Callena Rawlings, Communications Manager


PO Box 30, 9 Wehl Street South

Telephone: (08) 8724 6000

Facsimile: (08) 8723 2965

E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: www.senrm.sa.gov.au

ABN: 93 209 459 406

2009


Page 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ................................................................ 5

FOREWORD ..................................................................................... 6

PLANS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................... 7

SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S STRATEGIC PLAN............................................ 7

LINKS BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE SA STRATEGIC PLAN ............... 8

STATE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN ........................... 8

LINKS BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE STATE NRM PLAN ................... 9

OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES .......................................................... 9

ROLE, LEGISLATION AND STRUCTURE ............................................... 35

OBJECT OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ACT ................. 35

ADMINISTRATION OF THE ACT ...................................................... 35

ROLE OF THE BOARD ................................................................... 35

MEMBERSHIP .............................................................................. 37

MEETINGS: GENERAL AND SPECIAL ............................................... 39

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES ........................................ 39

GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS .................................................... 40

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE ..................................................... 40

ISSUE ............................................................................................ 43

DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL MANAGER ........................................ 43

DELEGATION TO STAFF ................................................................... 43

MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES .............................................. 50

EMPLOYEE NUMBERS, GENDER AND STATUS ................................... 50

SUPERANNUATION CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE BOARD ......................... 51

PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT ........................................................ 54

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT ............................... 55

ACCREDITED TRAINING PACKAGES ................................................... 55

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS ............................... 55

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY AND INJURY MANAGEMENT ............. 55

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE .............................................................. 59

CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS ...................................................... 97

ACCOUNT PAYMENT PERFORMANCE ................................................. 97

FRAUD ........................................................................................... 97

CONSULTANTS................................................................................ 98

OVERSEAS TRAVEL ......................................................................... 99

DISABILITY ACTION PLANS .............................................................. 99

ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ....................... 99

URBAN DESIGN CHARTER ................................................................. 99

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION .......................................................... 100

PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION STATEMENT ............................... 100

STATISTICAL REPORT ................................................................ 101

ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACTION PLAN REPORT .................................... 101

GREENING OF GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS FRAMEWORK .................. 102

REGIONAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STATEMENTS................................. 104

RECONCILIATION STATEMENT ....................................................... 104

REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNUAL REPORT ............................................ 104


Page 4

SPECIFIC REPORTS ........................................................................ 105

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES LISTING ................................................ 105

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................. 107

GLOSSARY ................................................................................... 107

PUBLICATIONS RELEASED OR UPDATED DURING 2008-2009 .................. 107

ATTACHMENT 1: ANNUAL REPORT OF CENTRAL NRM GROUP ............. 108

ATTACHMENT 2: ANNUAL REPORT OF SOUTHERN NRM GROUP ........... 120

ATTACHMENT 3: ANNUAL REPORT OF NORTHERN NRM GROUP ........... 132


Page 5

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

Mr Dennis Mutton

Chair

Natural Resources Management Council

GPO Box 2834

ADELAIDE

South Australia 5000

Dear Mr Mutton

In accordance with the requirements of the Public Sector Management Act 1995 and section 38

of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004, I have pleasure in presenting the annual report

of the South East Natural Resources Management Board for the year ended 30 June 2009.

Jim Osborne

Presiding Member



Page 6

FOREWORD

As is always the case, the preparation of the Annual Report is a time for reflection and

contemplation. The Natural Resources Management Act, 2004, the most widely consulted piece

of legislation in the country – truly captured the concept of natural resources management

(NRM) for the first time in South Australia. It is appropriate therefore to take time out to

review how successful the legislation has been. It is in this frame of mind that we began the

process for the development of this, our fourth annual report.

One of the major criticisms and perceived failings of NRM is continued and persistent disconnection

from regional communities. To test this we conducted a community survey which provided

statistically valid factual evidence of our communities understanding of NRM. It was rewarding

to confirm that 77% of those surveyed had heard the term NRM and spontaneously identified it

as caring for or managing groundwater, the environment, native vegetation, water allocation,

and sustainable management of natural resources. 86% of those surveyed were also in favour of

funding being spent on collectively managing our natural resources.

It is with great pleasure that we find the content of our Annual Report complementing the

survey results and indicating that we are witnessing an emerging cohesiveness, more

integration, more coordinated action and increased involvement by the community. This is as a

direct result of a committed Board and staff who have been brought together under one piece of

legislation to achieve a diverse and demanding set of tasks - projects so varied that it is hard to

contemplate that one organisation has been responsible for achieving them all.

So what does this look like? We see more people involved in non-traditional ways; our water

allocation planning processes are supported by our community based water allocation planning

committees. Development of statutory policy has become a regular and consistent conversation

that we have with our community. We recognise that information is the key to participation. In

the past twelve months we have released nearly fifty media releases, which have generated

tremendous levels of coverage in regional media outlets. We are in a constant dialogue with our

region‘s citizens and have built upon this by increasing access to relevant information through

our website, which averages over 10,000 page views per month. Additionally we have

continued the development of our nrmSPACE web-based portal. We‘ve formed partnerships

with many of the regions irrigators and provided them with leading edge technology on their

properties in the form of our automatic weather station network. We‘ve seen an increase in

landholders undertaking their own pest plant and pest animal control – again supported by

information provision – with over 20,000 landholders receiving information about summer and

winter pest priorities, complemented by our significant inspection and control programs.

Strategic regional leadership has been difficult to achieve with competing priorities for local,

state and national government initiatives. The South East (SE) NRM Board has worked hard to

successfully assist the Government with streamlining processes which will improve the

opportunity for the region‘s communities to become involved. Without doubt our NRM Board

has added value to the region in the past financial year. Our staff have worked exceptionally

hard to attract additional funding dollars to supplement our NRM Levy program – particularly

pleasing was the $1 million worth of State Complementary Funding projects which were

delivered with no additional staff capacity.


Page 7

At the end of this financial year we are pleased to see evidence of our capability, our

commitment and most importantly our connections. This holds us in good stead as we continue

the difficult task of choreographing NRM in our region.

PLANS AND OBJECTIVES

Natural Resources Management activities undertaken by the South East Natural Resources

Management Board are consistent with the strategic directions set out in South Australia‘s

Strategic Plan – Creating Opportunity and with the State Natural Resources Management Plan.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S STRATEGIC PLAN

The SE NRM Board currently operates under an Initial Natural Resources Management Plan

and is in the process of developing a comprehensive Regional NRM Plan for the South East.

Four new goals have been drafted as part of the new Regional NRM Plan, which better align

with the goals of the SA Strategic Plan and the State NRM Plan. However during the reporting

period, the Goals outlined in the Initial NRM Plan were:

Goal 1: Natural resources are protected by minimising threatening processes.

Goal 2: Degraded natural assets are restored and enhanced.

Goal 3: A resilient economy supported by the use of natural resources within their sustainable

limits.

Goal 4: Those dependent on or influencing the natural resources of the region have the

commitment and capacity to be active partners in its management.

Goal 5: Understanding the changing condition of the natural resources, the community and

economy supports integrated management.

Goal 6: Effective investment in and contribution towards natural resources management by the

community, industry and all levels of government.

In order to assist in implementation of these longer term goals, the Board has designed six

strategies:

1. Strategic partnerships, integration and investment in natural resource management

2. Policy protection for natural resources

3. Protecting and enhancing the intrinsic values of natural resources

4. Raising community awareness, understanding and encouraging involvement

5. Improving management practices for sustainable use of natural resources

6. Monitoring, evaluating and reporting for continuous improvement

The SE NRM Board‘s Strategic Plan aligns the organisation with the strategic directions set out

in South Australia‘s Strategic Plan – Creating Opportunity. A key theme in the South Australian

Strategic Plan, Attaining Sustainability is reflected in the SE NRM Board‘s focus around the

sustainable use and management of natural resources, and the long-term protection of the

environmental, social and economic values relating to the region‘s natural resources.


Page 8

LINKS BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE SA STRATEGIC PLAN

SE NRM

Board Initial

NRM Plan

GOALS

South Australia’s Strategic Plan

OBJECTIVES

Growing

prosperity

Improving

wellbeing

Attaining

sustainability

Fostering

Creativity

Building

Communities

Expanding

opportunity

Goal 1

Goal 2

Goal 3

Goal 4

Goal 5

Goal 6

Additionally the SE NRM Board is pleased to contribute to the following South Australian

Strategic Plan targets (outside of NRM).

Objective 5 – Building Communities

T5.1: Boards and committees: increase the number of women on all state government boards

and committees to 50% on average by 2008 and maintain thereafter by ensuring that 50% of

women are appointed on average each quarter.

The SE NRM Board is pleased over half of its community members are female (five out of

nine). These women provide representation on many of the Board‘s committees.

T5.7: Aboriginal leadership: increase the number of Aboriginal South Australians participating

in community leadership and in community leadership development programs.

Through the South East Aboriginal Focus Group the SE NRM Board provides opportunity for

Aboriginal community members to participate in a variety of community programs. Importantly

the Aboriginal Focus Group as a collective provides connection and leadership to the Aboriginal

community on NRM.

STATE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN

The State NRM Plan identifies a 50-year vision for natural resources management in South

Australia. The State NRM Plan contains four goals:

1. Landscape scale management that maintains healthy natural systems and is adaptive to

climate change.

2. Prosperous communities and industries using and managing natural resources within

ecologically sustainable limits.

3. Communities, governments and industries with the capability, commitment and

connections to manage natural resources in an integrated way.

4. Integrated management of biological threats to minimise risk to natural systems,

communities and industry.


Page 9

LINKS BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE STATE NRM PLAN

SE NRM

Initial

Plan

Goal

State NRM Plan Goal

Landscape scale

management that

maintains healthy

natural systems and

is adaptive to

climate change.

Prosperous

communities and

industries using an

managing natural

resources within

ecologically

sustainable limits

Communities,

governments and

industries with the

capability, commitment

and connections to

manage natural resources

in an integrated way

Integrated

management of

biological threats to

minimise risk to

natural systems,

communities and

industry

GOAL 1

GOAL 2

GOAL 3

GOAL 4

GOAL 5

GOAL 6

A detailed assessment of the alignment of the SE NRM Board Actions to the State NRM Plan

strategies is also available on request. One of the key outcomes from the development of the

new comprehensive Regional NRM Plan for the South East will be more detailed alignment

with State NRM Plan strategies.

OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES

Regional Planning

The year 2008–09 saw the continued development of the South East Natural Resources

Management Plan (Regional NRM Plan) as required by the Natural Resources Management Act

2004. Currently the SE NRM Board operates under the Initial Natural Resources Management

Plan for the South East Natural Resources Management Region, as amended by the Annual

Review for 2008-09. The Initial Plan was developed to provide an integrated document

containing a set of priority actions for the antecedent organisations which merged to develop the

SE NRM Board in 2005.

The Regional Planning Program is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the SE

NRM Board, through planning and policy development. During 2008-09, the Program

comprised 2.6 full time equivalents: the Regional Planning Manager, Senior Policy and

Planning Officer and the Marine Integration Project Officer.

Each year, the Board must review and amend its NRM plan to provide for the ensuing three

financial years. The Annual Review process comprises extensive consultation between NRM

Board members and staff, Local Government, Conservation Council, South Australian Farmers

Federation, industry groups, community groups and individuals. The Annual Review sets out an

indicative three year business plan for the SE NRM Board and is presented to the Minister, then

the Natural Resources Committee of Parliament to assess the suitability of the levy and work

program in meeting the needs and expectations of the community.

The NRM Act requires the development of a 10 year strategic plan, 3 year business plan and

policy provisions for the Board. The SE NRM Plan is a strategic plan for all NRM activity in


Page 10

the South East, and a business plan for the NRM Board. The process to develop the NRM plan

provides for widespread consultation with agencies, community, and industry sectors.

Some progress on the development of the comprehensive Regional NRM Plan was made during

the 2008-09 financial year. While it was initially hoped that the plan would be adopted prior to 1

July 2009, a risk assessment identified a range of factors that caused delays. The SE NRM

Board have since committed to seek adoption of a comprehensive Regional NRM Plan by 30

June 2010.

Significant progress has been made on a range of Local Government issues in the South East

during 2008-09. In particular, the Board has completed an assessment of all Development Plans

in the region to identify areas where greater alignment may be sought with the comprehensive

Regional NRM Plan. Planning SA has developed a Natural Resource module as part of the

‗Better Development Planning‘ initiative. The SE NRM Board review of Development Plans

has identified the opportunity to address issues such as stormwater retention and reuse,

protection of sensitive ecological areas and water quality in a number of Development Plans that

are yet to be converted as part of the Planning SA initiative. Other key findings of the Board‘s

assessment include the need to anticipate planned expansion of coastal development, provision

for mapping areas of coastal or landscape significance and to better address energy consumption

and greenhouse gas emissions through Development Plans. In addition to these emerging

issues, the assessment outlined the importance of retaining and enhancing a range of existing

policies, for issues such as dryland salinity, waterlogging, protection of riparian areas and the

conservation in the Blue Lake Capture Zone.

The SE NRM Board was pleased to participate in a Local Government Association pilot

program to develop a Memorandum of Understanding or mutual agreement that can be adapted

across the State to clarify the relationship between councils and NRM Boards. Finally, the SE

NRM Board has developed a Local Government and NRM Board Communication and

Engagement Strategy. By identifying common ground, areas for improvement and future

actions, it is envisaged that greater working relationships across the region will result.

Through the Minister for Environment and Conservation‘s State Complementary NRM

Funding, the SE NRM Board has developed a Blueprint for the Revegetation of Drainage

Corridors. The Blueprint has provided a strategic, landscape scale approach to revegetating

public land to increase habitat connectivity for the region‘s fauna.

One of the most significant risks to the Regional Planning program in 2010 will surround the

completion of the comprehensive Regional NRM Plan. Major factors include uncertainty

surrounding the future responsibility and funding of the Upper South East Dryland Salinity and

Flood Management Program, finalization of the Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan,

conflicting regional priorities and the upcoming State Government election.

The Regional Planning Team is to be commended on their achievements, given extremely

limited human resources during 2008-09. In addition, extremely short time frames surrounding

State Government funding (State Complementary NRM Funding and Minister‘s Small Grants)

have greatly affected the workload of all staff (not just Regional Planning), placing additional

pressure to initially develop strategic project proposals that contribute to longer term regional

and state priorities, which can be delivered in extremely short time frames. In addition, for


Page 11

successful proposals, delivering project milestones, ensuring expenditure and adhering to strict

reporting requirements was required with no additional project management resources.

Through its membership of the Limestone Coast and Coorong Coastal Management Group the

SE NRM Board maintained its connection to coast and marine issues. The Board facilitated a

forum for organisations interested in seeking Caring for our Country funds for coastal

management with success noted across other organisations in our region.

For the first time in 2008-09, the SE NRM Board was involved in a State wide Marine

Integration Project. By employing a dedicated Coast, Estuarine and Marine Planning Officer,

the SE NRM Board was able to identify key issues for coastal management; in particular, the

impact of land based activity on sensitive coastal habitats. One of the most significant outputs

from the project was the inclusion of findings in the comprehensive Regional NRM Plan. The

increased connection our Board has developed to its coastal communities will assist with a more

integrated identification of future management requirements and provide a firmer foundation for

continued profile raising of coast, estuarine and marine issues.

A community education campaign has been undertaken with the first in a series of four

factsheets developed to provide regionally relevant information on the local coastal

environment. This was supported by a successful community photography competition which

evidences the community‘s appreciation of the unique coastline in our region. A local

professional photographer chose the winning photos which were judged not only on their

originality and composition but also their ability to express an iconic environmental feature of

the south east coastal region. A photographic display was compiled and continues to tour the

region.

The active involvement by school and community groups in managing and protecting our coast

has been encouraged through regular presentations and ‗outdoor classroom‘ learning with the

regions schools. The South East Reef Watch Intertidal Monitoring Program has also been

established to increase the capacity of coastal residents to become involved in NRM.

A strong focus for the project has also been the formation and maintenance of strong networks

with regional partners including the Department of Environment and Heritage, local government

and coastal landcare groups.

Water Management

Policy provisions under the NRM Act are available for the protection of water and soil

resources, and the control of pest plants and animals. In particular, the South East NRM Board

leads the regional arrangements for policy for water affecting activities.

The SE NRM Board has four prescribed wells areas each operating under Water Allocation

Plans. The reporting period saw the adoption of the Padthaway Water Allocation Plan by the

Minister for Environment and Conservation. The remaining three are within the review and

amendment phase as defined in the Natural Resources Management Act, 2004. It is anticipated

that they will be adopted by 1 July 2010.

The SE NRM Board believes that community engagement is a key foundation activity of the

review and development phase of the water allocation planning process. Given this, significant


Page 12

resources have been dedicated to maintaining relationships with irrigators, industry, agencies,

local government, environmental and farming organisations and the community and supporting

their involvement in the review and development stage of each Water Allocation Plan. The

community based committees of each of the prescribed wells areas are a highly successful

model of genuine community engagement in significant regional policy development. The SE

NRM Board remains intensely proud of its community based committees and the commitment

shown to maintaining these relationships. It is a principle of the SE NRM Board that each draft

Water Allocation Plan undergoes a non-statutory consultation phase to provide ample

opportunity for input from the community and adoption by the Board in response.

Each review and amendment of a Water Allocation Plan is underpinned by best available

science and investigations. Examples included assessment of trends in conditions of water

resources in the Tintinara Coonalpyn area, volumetric conversion across the South East, water

needs of dependent eco-systems and forest impacts on the water balance. Scientific services

were provided by CSIRO, Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation

(DWLBC) and other consulting scientists.

The Lower Limestone Coast Prescribed Wells Area

The Lower Limestone Coast (LLC) Prescribed Wells Area (PWA) extends from the coast near

Eight Mile Creek in the south across to Western Flat in the North and around the coast north of

Kingston in the West, meeting the Victorian Border in the east.

The Water Allocation Plan (WAP) for this area deals with allocation and management of water

from two aquifers; the upper limestone aquifer (unconfined) and beneath the aquitard the deeper

sand aquifer where the water is dated to be around 30,000 years old. The PWA‘s are subject to

the provisions of the Border Groundwaters Agreement, an area stretching 40 kms wide, centred

on the Victorian – South Australian Border. The SE NRM Board has invested significant effort

into maintaining solid working relationships with the Committee and has been successful in

securing representation on the Committee.

The LLC PWA is home to a range of water dependent industries including dairy, viticulture,

irrigated agriculture, horticulture, Radiata pine and blue gum forestry. Additionally, the

economic hub and half the population of the SE NRM Board region exists in the city of Mount

Gambier and surrounding districts. These communities source the majority of their water supply

from the iconic Blue Lake - an outlet for the unconfined upper aquifer.

DWLBC‘s most recent assessment of the condition of the water resource in this area occurred in

2006 and showed that generally the waters trends are within specified ranges and no

management action is required. However a small number of management areas are showing

signs of stress and the draft WAP is proposing reductions to allocations to address these declines

and return the water use to within sustainable limits. One Management Area is also showing

signs of increased salinity levels in the groundwater.

The WAP also proposes management of the confined aquifer where licensed allocations are less

than 60,000MLs per year concentrated around the Kingston artesian wells area. At present the

area is over allocated. However no immediate reductions are required as no signs of stress have

been noted in the water resource. As always the principle of water allocation planning is the

protection and preservation of the water supply to ensure long term sustainable use. The

management principles within the WAP will ensure this occurs.


Page 13

The WAP will also ensure compliance with National Water Initiative principles by providing for

amongst other things, volumetric conversion for water licenses. Currently irrigation licences are

area-limited not volume-limited.

The reporting year has seen the process for development of the draft WAP near completion as a

result of the determination and commitment of the SE NRM Board and staff.

The draft Plan includes policy provisions for:

Recognising industrial forestry as a water affecting industry, requiring water allocations

for both groundwater recharge interception and, where applicable, direct groundwater

extraction

Volumetric conversion of existing area-based allocations

Managing seasonal variability

Protecting groundwater dependent ecosystems

Addressing over-allocation and over use

Meeting Border Groundwaters Agreement Committee provisions.

The SE NRM Board and staff have shown untiring commitment to maintaining the profile and

ensuring movement of this vital piece of regional policy. Regular and consistent communication

and briefings to agencies, Victorian water authorities, local government and the Border

Groundwaters Agreement Committee have ensured that consistent management principles for

forestry will exist for the shared water resources. Staff have also remained committed to briefing

various industry sectors to ensure that the importance of sustainable water usage remains top of

mind for our water dependent industries.

The SE NRM Board‘s position on the importance of specific management of plantation forestry

was built upon scientific assessment. In the LLC PWA forestry accounts for 30% of the water

budget through direct groundwater extraction and recharge interception. It was greatly

rewarding to see the strong alignment between of the SE NRM Board approach recognised and

the recent framework for management of forestry ‘Managing the water resource impacts of

plantation forestry’ proposed by the Government. With this framework and upon amendment

of the NRM Act the Board will be able to move forward with the final consultation on their

landmark policy.

Our Board and staff have worked tirelessly and are significant contributors to the thinking

behind the new and emerging directions outlined in the Government‘s forestry framework and

the management of the interaction between forestry plantations and water in Victoria. The

culmination of a great body of work will occur with the implementing of the new LLC WAP on

July 1 2010 following adoption by the Minister for Environment and Conservation.

Padthaway Prescribed Wells Area

On April 26, 2009 the Water Allocation Plan for the Padthaway Prescribed Wells Area was

adopted by the Minister for Environment and Conservation. The recently adopted 2009 Water

Allocation Plan for the Padthaway Prescribed Wells Area is the result of significant scientific

research combined with a high level of community involvement, encouraged and supported by


Page 14

the SE NRM Board– setting it apart as the first community-driven approach to developing a

sustainable groundwater management regime..

The Padthaway Prescribed Wells Area was proclaimed in 1976. An initial water allocation plan,

developed by the former South East Catchment Water Management Board, was adopted in 2001

and identified that irrigation use in some areas of the Padthaway PWA was greater than the

water deemed available from the resource. The principal irrigated industries in the Padthaway

PWA are vines, pasture, pasture seed, lucerne seed and cereals. Water licenses were originally

issued on the basis of established irrigation activity or proposed development. A Notice of

Restriction on the taking of water was put into place by the Minister in 2001 in response to

concerns about water sustainability. A review of the initial 2001 Water Allocation Plan for the

Padthaway PWA was initiated in 2002, with the creation of the Padthaway Groundwater

Management Committee made up of community representatives, to work with SE NRM Board

staff on options for the sustainable management of the resource.

In the main irrigated area of the Padthaway Prescribed Wells Area, the salinity of the

groundwater has been increasing for more than 20 years. A detailed study was initiated in 2002

by DWLBC, in the form of the Padthaway Salt Accession project, to determine the causes. The

project determined that the increases in salinity were due to a combination of clearance of native

vegetation to the east of the main irrigated area, and irrigation recycling of groundwater. A 3D

computer model of groundwater and salinity movement was finalised in 2007. The model was

presented to the community at a public meeting and community representatives then worked

with the SE NRM Board and DWLBC to determine limits for the condition of the groundwater

resource, including the maximum acceptable changes in salinity or depth to the water table. The

model was used to determine what level of groundwater extraction would result in the

conditions of the resource remaining within the agreed limits.

To ensure sustainable management of the water resource, it was determined that the allocation

and use of the resource in the area would have to be reduced by as much as 47%. The

Padthaway Flood Irrigators, Padthaway Grape Growers Association and the Padthaway

Groundwater Management Committee worked closely with scientists, the SE NRM Board and

DWLBC to develop a method to reduce water licences to a level that protects the long-term

sustainability of groundwater in the area. The agreed community-driven method of allocation

within sustainable limits was incorporated into the recently adopted 2009 Water Allocation Plan

for the Padthaway Prescribed Wells Area.

The new plan includes a method to ensure volumetric allocations of water are within an

acceptable level of extraction, as well as new management areas that reflect the hydrogeology of

the area, new water trading rules and policy to protect underground water dependent

ecosystems. Final community consultation on the draft Water Allocation Plan for the Padthaway

Prescribed Wells Area occurred in September 2008. The Water Allocation Plan was finalised by

the SE NRM Board following consideration of community submissions, and was adopted by the

Minister for Environment and Conservation on 26 April 2009.

As required by the National Water Initiative, the Water Allocation Plan provides for adaptive

management of water resources, through the continued monitoring of resource conditions and

the application of the 3D model in Year 5 of the Plan, in order to determine whether further

adjustments to allocations are required. The plan includes a monitoring section to ensure that the

resource continues to be monitored for any changes.


Page 15

The Padthaway Water Allocation Plan is an example of the community taking ownership of the

plan and developing a model to move towards sustainable management of their groundwater

resources by 2014. This will result in sustainable use of the water resource while ensuring

supply is at a level that provides a balance between the economic and environmental

requirements in the region. It is expected that this will minimise the adverse impacts on the

water resources and the ecosystems dependent on these resources.

The intense community involvement in the review of the 2001 Padthaway Water Allocation

Plan has resulted in a workable solution for both the water resources and those who depend

upon them. The fact that the method for meeting the significant reductions to allocations

required is community-driven and developed has resulted in its ownership and acceptance of the

results by the community. The SE NRM Board is greatly pleased that it has enabled their

community to participate in such a genuine and authentic manner in the management of the

natural resources in their local area. This policy will bring certainty for all industries reliant on

water, while sustainably managing water resources and wetlands on behalf of the community.

Tintinara Coonalpyn Prescribed Wells Area

The review of the Tintinara Coonalpyn Water Allocation Plan commenced in 2006, and has

continued throughout the 2008-09 year. Major progress has been made by the review committee

and Board staff in the last six months of the 2008-09 and has ensured that the new plan will

contain positive changes that will assist in best practice management of this water resource.

The Tintinara Coonalpyn WAP review process has stimulated a good deal of positive discussion

about the water management issues and options that the community, committee and Board

might take together to address them. Current thinking includes:

o reductions to allocations in Tolmer and Tintinara Management Areas to meet

sustainable Target Management Levels,

o revision of the volumetric allocations to align with volumetric conversion

methodology that is to be implemented across the entire South East, based on 5

years of collected data and a 4 year project conducted right across the South East,

o removal of area limiting in Tintinara and Tolmer

The committee review and amendment process is approaching a crucial phase, with the

community-based committee and staff developing proposals on alignment of the volumetric

regime with the SE model elsewhere, and for reductions to allocations in the Management areas

of Tintinara and Tolmer.

Throughout the 2008-09 year, the review committee met on 9 occasions, with another meeting

attended by approximately 40 Tintinara and Tolmer management area licencees to discuss

reductions, further evidence of the SE NRM Board‘s commitment to community involvement in

policy creation.

Tatiara Prescribed Wells Area

There is a long history of irrigation within the Tatiara Prescribed Wells area, and as such there is

great concern amongst the community in relation to the water table decline, and the irrigator


Page 16

community is wishing to manage the water resources in a way that enables their farming

enterprises to continue into the very long term.

The Tatiara Water Allocation Plan saw significant progress through the 2008 –09 year, with the

plan being drafted to near completion, awaiting only policy decisions in relation to the water

management areas located within the Border Designated Area to be finalised. The Tatiara Water

Allocation plan has been progressed and when implemented will allow for the management of

the water resources within the Tatiara Prescribed Wells Area to become transparent, clear and

accountable with the implementation of volumetric water allocations and metered extraction. In

order for this to happen, the community-based Tatiara Water Allocation Planning Committee

has, in conjunction with the Board, developed water policy that reduces water allocations from

within the area significantly, but importantly to a more sustainable level of allocation given the

current dry seasons. The community-based committee that has helped in the development of the

Water Allocation Plan has had significant input into the process of all areas of policy

development.

The draft amended Water Allocation Plan underwent rigorous review throughout the year with

SE NRM Board staff, SE NRM Board members and staff from DWLBC reviewing and testing

the proposed policies from all angles in order to create integrated acceptable water management

for the Tatiara Prescribed Wells Area, consistent with regional, state and national water policy

settings.

As the draft Water Allocation Plan nears completion, planning for the formal, final community

consultation is underway. This will ensure that all water licensees will be informed of the

policies contained within the Water Allocation Plan, and will provide an opportunity for the

community to again make submissions to the SE NRM Board on the Plan.

Once the plan has been adopted by the Minister for Environment and Conservation, the way in

which we manage the water resources of the region will be altered to allow for a more proactive,

transparent and accountable system of water management, being volumetric or megalitre

licenses, as opposed to the current area-based system. Reductions to water allocations are also

provided for, allowing the plan to be consistent with the National Water Initiative and the

Natural Resources Management Act, 2004 and occur as result of the persistent dry seasons and

associated water table declines. The current timeline for the adoption of the draft Water

Allocation Plan by the Minister for Environment and Conservation has the plan adopted and

ready to begin implementation during the first half of 2010.

Increasing efficiency for sustainable water use

The SE NRM Board runs several projects designed at increasing the capacity of the region‘s

irrigators to operate more efficiently. The Board is keen to create a water wise community

which has access to current research and technology which may have a positive impact upon

irrigation practices.

A significant research imperative in the area of irrigation has seen the SE NRM Board undertake

surface irrigation flow rate analyses at Biscuit Flat, which included the study of how changes to

irrigation management practices could alleviate the problem of poor application efficiencies in

areas with black, cracking clays. In the Padthaway region investigation of Surge Irrigation -

flow rate analyses, and application efficiency comparisons with adjacent irrigation bay where


Page 17

bay length had been decreased were made. The OTT Current Meter Trial: an assessment of an

alternative method for measuring surface irrigation bay inflow was undertaken with the aim of

finding a more portable and versatile alternative to the Irrimate flume. Several tests were

performed and results compared to the Irrimate flume meter and other flow meters where

applicable. The encouraging results that were obtained will benefit from further investigation

Time was also invested in improving the accuracy of regionally specific crop factors (associated

with climate-based irrigation scheduling) to allow the currently available Evapotranspiration

(ETo) figures to be used with greater confidence by irrigators. To support this research a series

of site-specific irrigation system and management advice was provided to ten regional irrigators

as a basis for improving practices across the region. Additionally a series of workshops was

delivered on:

o Soil Water Interpretation

o Irrigation Principles

o Systems and Management

o ETo and the Automatic Weather Station network.

Importantly, surface irrigation case study results were incorporated into workshop material. The

locally specific examples of general concepts ensured that the workshop content remained

particularly relevant to the region‘s irrigators. The SE NRM Board has moved away from the

traditional workshop format of information provision in response to community needs. The

Board‘s new and innovative ideas have resulted in very positive community feedback and

increased attendance at workshops.

The SE NRM Board invested significantly in supporting the region‘s irrigators to be as efficient

as possible with their irrigation and maximise their productivity – essentially more crop for their

drop. The reporting period saw the conclusion of two Innovation Grant trial sites. Both sites

through their innovation were able to demonstrate improved irrigation efficiency outcomes, with

options for significant improvements in water use efficiency being reported. The project has

also facilitated partnerships between relevant stakeholders including DWLBC and Cooperative

Research Centre for Irrigation Futures.

Additional to its scheduled program the SE NRM Board was also able to successfully fund

projects via the State Complementary Funding program. As a result of its continued support for

the concept of building capacity in the region‘s irrigators to irrigate as efficiently as possible,

the installation of a regional Automatic Weather Station Network was made possible. This data

stream is now available to the community via the development of nrmWEATHER, an additional

module established on the existing nrmSPACE portal. The Board has also been successful in

having Evapotranspiration data included in the nightly weather report on WIN Television which

will provide a constant reminder to irrigators of the inputs and outputs of the water balance and

their ability to climate schedule their irrigation, leading to more effective use of water.

The establishment of the Automatic Weather Station network has been viewed throughout the

region as a very positive initiative by the SE NRM Board. Significant gaps in the Bureau of

Meteorology‘s weather data recording network have been filled through the strategic placement

of the twelve new weather stations. The increased provision of calculated Evapotranspiration

figures will be highly beneficial to local irrigators, as the uptake of climate-based irrigation

scheduling methods intensifies. Soil temperature is a critical factor in crop establishment – this


Page 18

information has been and will continue to be keenly looked at by the region‘s croppers.

Improved availability of regional weather data will also benefit the broader non-rural

community.

Partnerships for water management

The South East of South Australia and Victoria share a number of surface water catchments.

Unlike the underground water there have been no shared or agreed approaches to the

management of these catchments. Ensuring consistent principles are applied and integrated

management occurs for shared water resources has been a focus of SE NRM Board activity.

The Mosquito Creek project, an initiative of the SE NRM Board, is a Natural Heritage Trust and

partner funded project which brings together nine South Australian and Victorian authorities,

including NRM bodies, rural water authorities and state agencies.

A multi-jurisdictional agreement reached its final stages during the reporting period. Victorian

and South Australian regional agencies will shortly sign a Memorandum of Understanding

which will provide for the protection and enhancement of cross- border catchment and wetland

ecosystems. Inter agency communication and collaboration between Victoria and South

Australian government departments has become possible through the SE NRM Board

developing communication protocols and identifying areas for collaboration in managing

according to the landscape rather than by jurisdiction.

In managing for the landscape, cross border environmental issues relating to South Australia

becomes a higher priority as linkages to nationally threatened environmental assets are

recognised and scientific knowledge is shared for the benefit of both states. The nine partner

agencies involved in the project are now committed to working together, with increased

collaboration for on ground work and the development of strategies now occurring.

The cross-border catchments yield surface water flows to the South East including the Ramsar

listed Bool and Hacks Lagoons and the South East drainage network and associated wetlands.

Research underpins water management and a scientific report was finalised during the reporting

period which outlines the Environmental Water Requirements for the Mosquito Creek

Catchment Area. Communicating these findings to project partners has been crucial. A cross

border forum was held which created opportunities for scientific knowledge to be shared with a

broad spectrum of inter agency staff. The forum provided increased momentum for the

continuation of a cross border group to work together for the management of a common

resource. An anticipated result is a Memorandum of Understanding between the nine

participating organisation to provide a basis for cooperative management of the water resources.

On-ground work by landholders has occurred in the Mosquito Creek Catchment with the

implementation of FarmPlan21 - an agricultural program that aims to improve landholder

decision making skills and knowledge. The Board actively supports development of farming

systems that will enhance the quality of natural resources and promote farmer participation in

restoration activities.

The SE NRM Board was an active participant in the Borders Groundwater Committee during

the reporting period. This representation has played a vitally important role in establishing a

shared understanding of the characteristics of the two aquifers that are shared within the 40km


Page 19

strip centred on the Border which makes up the Border Zone. The committee has initiated

leading research and technical assessment of aquifer characteristics and has closely monitored

the water resources to increase the understanding of the causal factors behind the observed

trends in water quality and levels.

The commitment to knowledge sharing and consistently applied principles for water

management has seen the SE NRM Board participate in the (Victorian) Western Region

Sustainable Water Strategy and the West Wimmera Groundwater Management Area Advisory

Committee. The SE NRM Board has evidenced its belief that all opportunities for alignment

with regard to water policy and management of significant impacts (such as plantation forestry)

should be maximised.

On the Ground

Soil Management

The SE NRM Board continued to actively seek resources to amplify its soil management

program. It successfully applied for fund for a Caring for our Country project to more

extensively involve landholders in continually improving soil management practices,

demonstration sites and pilot incentive schemes.

The Board remains a Gold Sponsor of the MacKillop Farm Management Group who undertakes

localised research and extension work with landholders to improve uptake of sustainable land

management practices.

Pest plants and pest animals

Pest plants and pest animals pose a major threat to the agricultural industries of the region, the

environment and in some cases human health and safety. The SE NRM Board invests

significant effort in supporting landholders to undertake their responsibilities for control as

outlined in the NRM Act and operates a thorough inspection, incursion response and education

program to minimise the impact of pest plants and pest animals in our region.

Inspection Program

The SE NRM Board has increased its pest plant and pest animal inspection program during the

past twelve months with more than 2,450 property inspections undertaken covering 85,000 ha.

Over 30,000km of roadsides were also inspected. A significant investigation has also been

underway for deer fence compliance matters. Management Plans have been entered into with

landholders to control Golden Dodder infestations.

Various inspections and response activities have been undertaken including checks of garden

nurseries for sale of declared plants and investigations into reports of the release of goats and

pigs. Annual regional branched broomrape (a major threat to agricultural exports) links

inspections were also completed. This proactive approach has resulted in no further action

being required in any of these areas.

Voluntary compliance has been successfully implemented for seasonal weed control matters

with over 20,000 notices sent directly to landholders all containing identification assistance and


Page 20

best practice techniques for control. A regional biosecurity strategy was developed which has

reviewed and documented both the strategic and operational aspects of the animal and plant

control program of the SE NRM Board. This was the first major review of the program since the

establishment of the Board and is seen as positive step in meeting state and national objectives

as well as regional obligations.

Integrated Control

An integrated control program was also directly undertaken by the Board for landholder clients

with 6,402 ha of declared plants treated, 15,211kg rabbit bait provided to landholders and

37,901 fox baits sold. The Board actively seeks alternative control strategies to baiting and

spraying with excellent results also noted amongst the biological controls again this year.

Salvation Jane crown boring weevils, bridal creeper rust fungus and horehound plume moth all

had major impacts on infestations where they are well established. RHD and myxomatosis were

observed in all quarters of the year and are having a useful complimentary effect to traditional

control methods. RHD was released on bait as a trial in the lower south east with mixed results.

Once again the SE NRM Board invested significant effort in maintaining relationships with

excellent cross border and boundary collaboration for bio-control agent distribution.

Although only receiving 64% of the total resourcing required to control declared pests on crown

land the Board has achieved reasonably high quality results with limited resources.

A comprehensive range of externally funded projects were implemented this year with excellent

results:

.

o The gorse eradication program which treated and/or physically removed every

known infestation of gorse in the region, successfully maintaining the national

containment zone.

o The roadside rabbit project was implemented this year as a trial model for gaining

greater landholder cooperation and ensuring treatment of the source populations of

rabbits in the region. This project generated a very high level of landholder support

and participation and resulted in a 95% reduction in rabbit numbers at the project

sites.

o Coordinated fox control projects complimented our standard fox bait services and

ensured the integrated and coordinated approach required for success in local areas.

o The three year bridal creeper sporewater program was completed this year and has

ensured that rust fungus is widely distributed and well established across the region.

The project has resulted in landholders developing the capacity to recognize and

distribute bridal creeper rust fungus themselves and has provided resources that will

be available to the community into the future.

o An expanded version of the deer and goat survey and control program was

implemented this year with great success. Landholder support and participation was

extremely high and the helicopter and shooting activities were implemented without

incident. A total of 300 deer were removed from the upper south east in one week

and for the first time we will have a scientific estimate of the total deer population.


Page 21

Community engagement

As noted in other programs the SE NRM Board prides itself on its community engagement

program. A comprehensive school education program on pest control was implemented this

year including:

o 8 schools participating in the Weed Warriors program,

o train the teacher activities to up-skill teachers to provide pest control education to

students,

o promotion of Weed Busters Week including colouring in competition for school

children

o presentations at student environment forums

o presentations at junior youth forums

A comprehensive adult education program on pest control was also implemented this year

including:

o An alert weeds workshop held to train relevant stakeholders in the recognition of and

response to new weed incursions in the region

o Two Weed Stoppers training days were held to educate participants in

decontamination of machinery and equipment for weed hygiene purposes

o Rabbit control demonstrations were held for landholders

o Information displays on pest plant and pest animal control topics were presented at

South East Field Days and Threatened Species Day events

o Presentations on pest plant and pest animal control topics at the inaugural South

Australian Weeds Conference, the Vertebrate Pest Control training school, a range of

grower groups within the region, and to neighbouring NRM Boards and interested

groups

The Board continues to give emphasis to informing the regional community and involving them

in NRM activities. A large amount of media was generated on pest plant and pest animal control

topics and events as a result of SE NRM Board activities and media releases. This was very

successful with articles resulting in all media outlets including regional and state papers,

regional TV and radio and local community newsletters. The common topics were the weed

buster activities, rabbits, foxes, deer and general weed control. Two seasonal pest control

circulars were distributed regionally this year. The summer pest circular advises on summer

weeds and rabbit control matters and the winter weeds focuses on the statutory obligations of

the Board to ensure effective control of declared plants on roadsides and advises adjoining

landholders of the requirements An increased response from the public was noted with

hundreds of public enquiries addressed in relation to identifying weed specimens and providing

control advice.

The SE NRM Board also hosted a range of stakeholders on tours to view animal and plant

control matters in the region including the Natural Resources Committee of Parliament, the

Minister for Environment and Conservation, NRM Groups from within the region and from

neighbouring regions. A finale event was held for the gorse eradication program which included

participating landholders and the National Weeds of National Significance Coordinator.


Page 22

South East Deer Advisory Committee

The SE Deer Advisory Committee met four times during the 2008-09 year to discuss a range of

topics relating to the effective control of feral deer.

Achieving compliance with deer fence regulations: The committee has continued to

have an intense involvement with the regional deer fence compliance program that has

been underway over the last 4 years. This past 12 months has seen the matter advance to

a formal investigation stage being implemented by DWLBC. The committee continues

to provide important advice as to local conditions relating to fencing standards and feral

deer numbers and providing recommendations to DWLBC via the Board regarding

regionally appropriate remedial actions. The committee remains concerned about the

ongoing leakage of farmed deer contributing to the feral deer population whilst the

investigation takes its course. This has been a major topic for discussion and committee

members continue to provide a liaison service with affected landholders.

Changes to the status of venison under the Food Act: The committee was made aware

of proposed changes to the status of venison under the Food Act Regulations that would

allow wild shot deer to be sold for human consumption. In an effort to fully understand

the proposal and possible implications information was sought from both PIRSA Meat

Hygiene and Health SA in order for the committee to provide advice about the

appropriate position for the SE NRM Board to take on the matter. Unfortunately no

information was forthcoming and the committee was unable to fully discuss the matter to

form a firm position. The advice to the Board as a result was simply to support the

position of DWLBC in that there were pros and cons to the proposal and the true impacts

would need to be observed.

Deer control and survey project: The committee fulfilled the role of project steering

committee for this project, offering operational and communications advice for

implementation by project staff. The committee members played vital roles in liaising

with local landholders in project areas and encouraging support and participation in the

project. Several committee members were participating landholders in their own right

and were invaluable connections to the local landholder groups. The committee was

extremely pleased with the results of the project and is supporting the continuation of the

project over the next two years.

Other items discussed by the committee this year included consideration of a bounty

system for control of feral deer in the South East and ensuring public land managers

meet their obligations for feral deer control. The committee also considered and

responded to a range of media and published items relating to feral deer and implications

for the region.

The contributions of this committee to the business of the Board have proved highly valuable in

each area that advice and assistance has been provided.

Biosecurity

The biosecurity project includes a sub-project of community engagement within which a region

wide, statistically valid community survey has been undertaken on knowledge, perception and


Page 23

behaviour in regards to pest management. The results of this survey validated our current

approach to increasing engagement in pest plant and pest animal control. The information

resulting from this project will be used to finalise the biosecurity strategy and guide future

activities that ensure effective pest control is achieved in the region.

Mapping and Data

There has been significant progress on the development, implementation and ongoing adaption

of an electronic record keeping system for animal and plant control data this year. Geographic

records of pest distribution in the region is now stored within the regional knowledge database

nrmSPACE and detailed data can be accessed by authorised staff. Maps for public viewing are

produced from the raw data and available on the public pages of nrmSPACE. Staff continue to

collect and upload data to this system and improvements to the system are made as experience

identifies the opportunities. To complement the current data and technology an externally

funded project has captured the historic records accumulated over the last 30 years and

presented it in a series of maps that show trends over time in pest species. The results of this

project will provide extremely useful information that will assist with strategically planning

regional pest control programs.

A high level of cooperation in regards to sharing information across boundaries and borders has

been experienced again this year. The collaboration between NRM Boards and their Victorian

counterparts was very useful in achieving landscape scale pest control objectives.

As indicated above, the last 12 months saw a high rate of success with funding applications

which accounts for a large proportion of time in this program. The subsequent implementation

of the successful projects has also resulted in an improved standard of reporting, creating

valuable information that can be used in a variety of ways. Development of pest management

plans for landholders and land managers such as councils also increased this year and resulted in

high levels of voluntary compliance.

Incursion response program

Three new golden dodder infestations were reported this year, highlighting the need for the

small seed industry to take greater ownership in prevention strategies. Mexican Feathergrass

was also discovered to have been sold in Mt Gambier and was appropriately removed. Trace

back and trace forward exercises were undertaken and followed up as required. An awareness

program was also implemented to communicate the threat and seek notification of other

infestations. Various trials and investigations were undertaken by staff into new and alternative

control techniques for a range of weeds and situations demonstrating the SE NRM Board‘s

commitment to continuous improvement. The importance of a cross border collaboration was

evidenced when a nursery audit for sale of declared or emerging pest plants was required. A

pest animal risk assessment was completed for the first time, identifying the priority pest

animals for the region. The weed risk assessment was also reviewed and expanded. Coolatai

grass was detected to be growing in Victoria within metres of the SA border. Cross border

collaboration also has this infestation under control and surveillance.

The animal and plant control program of the SE NRM Board is a regulatory function that

undertakes activities that are of an ongoing nature. The program is required to respond to ever

changing seasonal and economic conditions which makes setting and achieving specific targets


Page 24

difficult. The regulatory duties are largely accomplished through achievement of voluntary

compliance and this is where much of the staff effort is spent. Success of this program is not and

should not be measured by the number of notices issued, however many community members

do recognize this as an indicator of success.

The other common community perception is that SE NRM Board staff should be doing a higher

level of on-ground control activities which shows misunderstanding about the regulatory role of

the program. The Board does recognize the value of providing control services and offers a

range of functions on a fee for service basis to assist landholders in meeting their statutory

obligations.

The greatest return for effort the Board receives is through securing external funding that allows

for large scale control programs to be implemented on priority pest species. Such programs

usually provide for undertaking works that are beyond the means of landholders or identified as

public good exercises. The Board being able to complete these projects at the standard required

and at little cost to landholders has been instrumental in securing the commitment of

landholders to carry out control works on their own property, raising the profile of NRM

activities and creating good will.

There has been a steady increase in the success of funding applications for pest control activities

in the last three years and the last 12 months in particular has seen a huge influx of external

funding for on-ground pest control activities. Bridal creeper sporewater, deer control and

survey, roadside rabbit control and gorse eradication are the key projects which have not only

resulted in a high level of control success on a large scale but also won the support and

cooperation of landholders. The Board is immensely proud of the achievements under projects

such as these as they have had a direct NRM benefit for the region.

Habitats at Risk

With much of the native vegetation of the region having been cleared, a relatively small

proportion of high quality native vegetation patches remain in the region. Many of these patches

are managed by private landholders who are unable to access advice or technical support to

enhance biodiversity on their property – one element of the biodiversity toolkit that is largely

misunderstood is ecologically appropriate use of controlled fire.

In a first for South Australia the SE NRM Board, via Caring for Our Country funding, funded a

project (delivered by Rural Solutions SA) to enhance landholder understanding of the use of

controlled fire for ecological regeneration purposes. The project addresses the South East NRM

Goal of ―Healthy Landscapes Supporting High Value Ecosystems‖ and two Caring for Our

Country target areas (Biodiversity and Natural Icons, and Community Skills, knowledge and

engagement). The project is being supported by the CFS and Department for Environment and

Heritage.

The strategic outcome and whole of community benefits of this project are threefold: enhanced

understanding of ecologically appropriate use of fire for biodiversity enhancement purposes by

community members across the whole of the region, development of a 50 year fire history

archive (accessible on nrmMAPS) and participatory based workshops for interested community

members to work together in developing ecologically appropriate fire management plans.


Page 25

The SE NRM Board funds, via Caring for Our Country, the Threatened Species and Habitat

Recovery Project, delivered by the Department for Environment and Heritage. This project has

achieved fantastic results across the South East Natural Resource Management Board Region in

the 2008-09 financial year. The project team consisted of a Threatened Flora Recovery Officer,

Threatened Fauna Recovery Officer, Bushland Recovery Officer and a Scientific Officer. The

team has been working steadily to achieve the strategic objective of securing key populations of

priority threatened species and conserving priority terrestrial habitats in the South East. To

achieve this the team has been liaising closely with public and private landholders to undertake

strategic on-ground works, such as weed and pest animal control, fencing and revegetation in

prioritised remnant vegetation, and by undertaking extension activities to increase the

knowledge and awareness of local NRM issues within the community. Highlights of the 2008-

09 financial year for the Threatened Species and Habitat Recovery Project include:

In May the team instigated a new project in conjunction with the SE NRM Board to ensure the

protection of key habitat for the critically endangered Southern Bent-wing Bat (SBWB). The

SBWB only occurs in the South East of South Australia and South West Victoria, breeding in

two maternity caves, the largest of which occurs in the South East. The SBWB is dependent on

caves for shelter and after the breeding season the bats leave the maternity cave at Naracoorte

Caves National Park and disperse across the Region to smaller over-wintering caves.

On the June long weekend around 20 volunteers from the Caving Exploration Group SA,

Friends of Naracoorte Caves, and the general community split into small teams to survey over

sixty over-wintering caves to identify where the bats were and what management actions were

needed. This has resulted in a strategic action plan being developed to guide the immediate

actions needed to restore and protect the over-wintering caves of this critically endangered bat.

Engagement with local landholders has already commenced, and eight caves are the subject of

management actions such as fencing, rubbish removal and weed control.

A significant win for threatened flora of the South East was secured in the 2008-2009 financial

year. The Threatened Species and Habitat Recovery project team has been working closely with

a local landholder to protect and manage a nationally significant site. The Lower South East site

is home to 66% of the total population of the nationally endangered Maroon Leek-orchid and

includes a combined 17 hectares of State endangered habitats, including a fantastic example of

Coast Tussock Grass/Kangaroo Grass closed tussock grassland. This is a great example of a SE

landholder who has a natural affinity for their land and the native species which occur there.

Their sensitive management of the site means that there are still significant environmental

values on the site. The landholder has placed a Heritage Agreement over the site to protect it for

perpetuity and has agreed to undertake management actions, including a prescribed grazing

regime to maintain the site and orchid population. The protection and agreed management of

this nationally significant site also has other environmental benefits, including providing habitat

for three other state threatened flora species, 15 state threatened fauna species, and five

regionally threatened flora species.

Protection and enhancement of priority habitats is a core goal of the Threatened Species and

Habitat Recovery project team. In particular, the team has a large focus on enhancing the

nationally endangered Buloke Woodland. Currently there is only 3% of Buloke Woodland

remaining in the South East of South Australia, with only one remnant formally protected under

the National Reserve System. Bridal Creeper and other key environmental weed control actions

are undertaken annually at priority sites, with large reductions in weed cover recorded. We are


Page 26

working in partnership with the Nature Foundation SA to undertake a Buloke Woodland

revegetation project in the Frances Parklands. This has been a successful community project,

with local contractors engaged in preparing and maintaining the site and Frances Primary

School assisting to plant in 2008. The Frances Country Fire Service Brigade has played a

significant role in the project ensuring the success of the 2008 planting by watering the young

Bulokes using their fire truck. This also provided new Brigade members with valuable

experience learning to operate their fire truck. Over 2008 and 2009 the Buloke overstorey

plantings were completed and understorey planting is now scheduled for 2010 to help complete

the woodland.

Over the past two years the Threatened Species and Habitat Recovery Project has substantially

increased its community extension activities. The Autumn Biodiversity Seminar Series was

held for the second year with the support of Southern and Central NRM Groups. Again the

Series was received exceptionally well by the Mt Gambier and Naracoorte Communities, with

over 500 people attending the three seminars. Community members learnt from the experts in

their field about ―Beneath the surface: the amazing world of fresh water fishes‖, ―Reptile Rules:

A day in the life of South East Reptiles‖ and ―Backyards: the most important room in your

house‖. Having already surveyed attendees of the 2009 event, the project team is now looking

forward to 2010 with a plan to incorporate survey comments, including looking into the many

suggestions of bugs and spiders being a future topic!

Another event which has become a significant date in the South East Threatened Species

calendar is the ―Threatened Species Day‖ event held at Naracoorte Caves by the Friends of

Naracoorte Caves. The Threatened Species and Habitat Recovery Project has made it a goal to

provide a significant level of support to the Friends to assist them plan and run the event. In

2008 over 300 people attended the Threatened Species Day, learning to growl like our Growling

Grass Frog with Steve Walker, get up close to wildlife from the SE Region and make one of our

threatened species in the craft tent. This event is aimed at families and children, seeking to

engage the wider community in the South East environment, possibly for the first time. This

year the event is looking to be as big as ever with Vox Bandicoot, an environmental theatre

group, as the headline act.

People in NRM

Creating a community capable of participating in NRM relies heavily on information provision.

Technology has provided unlimited information to our society creating an expectation which

our Board is committed to delivering. The SE NRM Board has maintained a very active

communications program which ensured that regional media outlets (and subsequently our

community) remained in constant contact with relevant and appropriate information. 48 media

releases were issued and supported by a series of communiqués, brochures, information

booklets and factsheets. The SE NRM Board website remained a major communication tool

with over 17,040 visitors and 140,513 individual web pages viewed.

The SE NRM Board has continued to invest in the improvement and maintenance of

nrmSPACE, a collaborative development between the SE NRM Board and the South East

Resource Information Centre (SERIC), developed with co-funding provided by the Australian

Government‘s Natural Heritage Trust.

nrmSPACE.se is a free innovative online portal supporting the region to manage its natural


Page 27

resources by providing access to resources such as:

• Monitoring data

• Natural resources maps

• Community-based monitoring

• Satellite images and aerial photographs

• Regionally relevant reports, plans and books

• NRM projects

nrmSPACE consists of different modules designed to assist with accessing a range of

information as outlined below:

nrmMAPS

A web based spatial mapping portal providing a window into natural resource information of

relevance to projects and personnel working within the South East. nrmMAPS has a focus on

monitoring and evaluation and provides live links to many sources of monitoring data collected

by agencies operating in the region.

nrmLIBRARY

A searchable catalogue of regionally specific NRM related documents. nrmLIBRARY contains

metadata on assorted documentation and literature including policies, books, journal articles,

research reports, data sources, and periodical publications. A search for information can be

conducted using either keywords or by geographical location using a map interface.

nrmRESEARCH

The South East NRM Board is a co-investor in a database of research publications for all NRM

regions in South Australia. The nrmRESEARCH database is an up to date listing of published

research relating to natural resources in the South East. Research relating to other NRM regions

in South Australia is also available through this site.

nrmWEATHER

A display of data collected from the South East automatic weather station network to provide

more locally relevant climatic data to the region‘s irrigators and the general community.

Available data includes air and soil temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, solar

radiation, rainfall & ETo.

nrmFLORA

nrmFLORA is a unique database of plants native to the South East. It is searchable either by

plant name, use, or geographic suitability, and provides both full colour pictures and detailed

descriptions of each plant, their characteristics and uses. nrmFLORA is an initiative of Greening

Australia with the assistance of the Exchange Incentive Fund, and is supported by SERIC and

the SE NRM Board.


Page 28

nrmFAUNA

A unique database of wildlife native to the South East, nrmFAUNA is searchable either by

species name, species type, conservation status or geographic locality, and provides both full

colour pictures and detailed descriptions of each species.

During the reporting year three new modules were added – nrmFLORA, nrmFAUNA and

nrmWEATHER.

The SE NRM Board‘s relationship with the South East Resource Information Centre is not

limited to nrmSPACE. SERIC received on-going funding from the SE NRM Board to support

its key purpose; leading development in providing information to our community, and regional

and state bodies involved in NRM.

In the reporting year SERIC completed a $1.1million construction of the Digital Elevation

Model (DEM) a project in partnership with the SE NRM Board and DWLBC. The DEM has

replaced contoured mapping in the south east which was inaccurate and virtually useless.

SERIC played a pivotal role in the development of the 6 metre rule for inclusion in water

allocation planning policy with regard to plantation forestry interacting with shallow water

tables. The 6 metre depth to water depiction was accepted by the forestry industry conclusively

resolving an on-going dispute.

The DEM and other initiatives have enable the SE NRM Board to realise its goals of making a

myriad of spatial data sets available to south east users in a readily accessible format. The SE

NRM Board remains committed to building SERIC and ensuring that the information needs of

the regions NRM practitioners and community are continually met.

The ―Extending NRM to the Broader Community‖ project, facilitated and run by the SE NRM

Board‘s Community Landcare Coordinator through funding providing by the Australian

Government‘s Caring for our Country program, focused on providing NRM advice to schools,

community groups, Local Government and individuals to increase their awareness and ability to

tackle NRM issues within their own capacity.

The project worked with a strong network of other regional community engagement projects

including the Blue Lake Watercare and the South East Environmental Education/Waterwatch

programs, as well as fostering strong linkages with other agencies, community groups and Local

Government through membership on key advisory committees.

In 2008-09, the Community Landcare Coordinator was involved in several events to promote

communities active in NRM including the Blue Lake Business Awards, field days for the

successful Native Woodlots & Seed Orchards project, as well as running the ―Starting from

Seed‖ field day to up-skill landholders in managing and propagating native flora for on-farm

biodiversity benefits.

This project has had a strong focus on providing valued support to local community groups and

schools in securing and managing external funds for on-ground NRM projects. The Community

Landcare Coordinator assisted 28 groups and schools with project planning, management and

preparation of funding applications for a variety of programs such as Caring for our Country,

Landcare Australia‘s Junior Landcare grants and the Government of South Australia‘s NRM


Page 29

Community Grants. Assistance was also provided in the preparation and submission of 8 project

applications for the SE NRM Board to secure external funds thereby complementing its levy

based program.

A highlight of the year was the expansion of the number of local schools participating in on-

ground activities and NRM projects within their own school environments. The Community

Landcare Coordinator is a member of the South East Environmental Education Working Group

and was successful in securing State Complementary Funds to hold the inaugural South East

Youth Environment Conference which involved middle school aged students from across the

South East coming together to teach each other about NRM activities and issues they are

tackling in their own school projects.

The Community Landcare Coordinator has very ably continued to compile, edit and distribute

the ―From the Ground Up‖ newsletter, a key communication tool for the SE NRM Board which

celebrated its 40th edition in June of 2009. This newsletter is a well recognised source of

information for the farming community and people with a particular interest in NRM.

The formation of the South East Aboriginal Focus Group was an externally funded initiative in

2005. A report was subsequently prepared which identified the regional indigenous families to

make up the membership of the Aboriginal Focus Group. The inaugural meeting of the Focus

Group was held in August 2005. The SE NRM Board commitment to the Aboriginal Focus

Group has remained constant to ensure that information and views regarding traditional lands,

sites of indigenous significance and specific NRM issues are handled appropriately.

During the reporting period the South East Aboriginal Focus Group has ensured that on-ground

work was carried out on Aboriginal owned or managed lands and that appropriate advice and

input was made into regional natural resource management processes. Importantly the Group

has taken responsibility for communicating NRM to the wider indigenous community. The

group has a high level of support and enthusiasm in the indigenous communities regarding their

participation in natural resource activities.

The Aboriginal Landcare program of the SE NRM Board has celebrated another highly

successful year with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the SE NRM

Board and the South East Aboriginal Focus Group. The SE NRM Board also integrated an

acknowledgement of country into meetings and documents. The continued delivery of ongoing

projects on Aboriginal managed properties in the upper SE was extended with the expansion of

project delivery to include working with school groups and engaging additional Aboriginal

communities in the lower south east. Successful projects include the MacDonald Park Primary

School Aboriginal plant garden and the Millicent Aboriginal community through the

development of the Millicent High School Aboriginal meeting place garden.

Efforts on the ground remained strong with major weed control work conducted at Blackford

Silky Tea Tree soak, covering roughly 10 hectares. Knowledge transfer is an important element

of this project and relationships have been built with the University of South Australia and

Melbourne University. Various university groups visited the aboriginal managed property

Teeluk to develop plans and gain an insight into Aboriginal concepts of country. Strong

connections were maintained with Aboriginal heritage on-ground works occurring in

partnership with Department for Environment Heritage Parks, Aboriginal Affairs Reconciliation

Department, Aboriginal Heritage Branch and the South East Aboriginal Focus Group.


Page 30

Continued emphasis is being placed on building a better relationship between the SE NRM

Board and the South East Aboriginal Focus Group internally to keep awareness of Aboriginal

projects and issues across the SE region on the agenda. The development of the strategic SE

Aboriginal Managed Lands Management plan and its evolution into seven site specific property

plans provides clear direction and a positive future for the traditional management of these vital

properties.

Environmental education is vitally important to the future of NRM. The past twelve months has

seen the continued evolution of the Water Watch Program which has expanded to include more

general environmental education. Waterwatch South East remained an important component of

the project involving students in hands on water quality monitoring and education sessions

throughout the year. Increasing students‘ awareness and understanding was a major focus of the

program with over 60 education sessions and field trips delivered including the following topics:

Macro mania (aquatic macroinvertebrates)

Introduction into water monitoring

Wetlands birds

Drain defenders

Froggy Futures

Piccaninnie Ponds Field Trip

The journey of a water drop (from a local highschool to the sea)

Carbon Planet workshop

Water monitoring in the field.

This was supported by the coordination of a range of community events including:

Schools Tree Day

Threatened Species Day

World Wetland Day

Junior Youth Environment Forum

South East Environmental Education Events Calendar 2009 Launch

South East Youth Environment Conference World Environment Day

A key focus of the ongoing works is to provide resources, training and support for the region‘s

school teachers. A series of training days specifically designed to support teachers was held

including ‗Teaching with an indigenous perspective‘ and ‗Waterwatch Teacher Training‘.

Additional to the above activities the program has actively mentored a group of Tenison Woods

College students that attended and presented at the SA Youth Environment Conference in

Adelaide. It was a great pleasure to also host Jo Hendriks from KESAB during National

Recycling Week who participated in the delivery of a workshop at the Youth Environment

Forum and worked with pilot project teachers encouraging the school-based community to cut

down on waste produced. This was complemented by a Wipe Out Waste teacher training field

trip held in Mount Gambier. The program has also ensured that relevant information is regularly

provided to the community through newsletters and media releases.

On ground water monitoring and technical support has been maintained. On average ten groups

have monitored ten sites quarterly for the following parameters; pH, nitrates, phosphates, EC,


Page 31

turbidity and macroinvertebrate diversity. Unfortunately many schools across the south east

were unable to participate in water monitoring in January to June 2009 due to some water

bodies being dry.

The 2008 Junior Youth Environment Forums were highly successful in bringing youth from

across the region together quarterly to discuss environmental issues and take action in their

community on a topic of choice. These forums have been a powerful way to give youth the

confidence to educate others and take action. The results have been outstanding as the students

have initiated school projects and involved others in their community. This is obviously an area

that schools are happy to support with registrations in 2009 jumping from 10 to 15 schools!

A regionally specific resource called Catchment Connections South East – Water, was produced

and distributed to each school in the South East region. This resource has four theme areas:

1) Understanding Catchments

2) Water Ecology

3) Human Impacts

4) Taking Action

Many topics such as groundwater, wetlands, stormwater, frogs and personal sustainability are

covered with information sheets, student activities, posters and how to take action tips.

In 2008 a pilot project was initiated by the Waterwatch Coordinator called the Whole School

Approach to Environmental Education for Sustainability Cluster Schools Pilot Project. This

project involved Tarpeena, Glencoe and Kalangadoo Primary Schools and combined elements

of AuSSI-SA. The aim of this project is for schools to look at the culture, management and

curriculum of the school in a move to become more sustainable whilst involving the whole

school from teachers, parents to students.

The South East Environmental Education Working Group (SEEEWG) has continued to remain

strong with some new members joining the group. Members represent Waterwatch, Blue Lake

Watercare, Landcare, Coastcare and PIRSA Forestry. The aim of this group is to keep each

other informed of activities being undertaken with the school-based community and for there to

be a consistent approach for environmental education offered across the region. This group

consults with teachers twice a year to ask advice and gain their input on project ideas. A South

East Environmental Education contact directory is maintained, an annual Calendar of

Environmental Events created and also an information network for teachers called the

Environmental Education Email Network which has over 100 participating teachers.

The project has also worked in partnership with Aboriginal Education Officers and the

Australian Sustainable Schools Officer with Department for Education and Children‘s Services

(DECS).

Supporting our NRM levy program

External funds provide for many regional projects which directly contribute to the Strategic

Goals and strategies of the SE NRM Board. Without these funds in the past and into the future

it would have been and will be virtually impossible for the SE NRM Board to consistently


Page 32

deliver on all of their objectives within the SE Initial NRM Plan. Once again a committed team

of individuals have worked incredibly hard to source funding and ensure project applications are

strategically applied for in line with regional NRM priorities.

The below tables outline the various grants received. .

PROJECT FUNDING

2008-09

DELIVERY AGENT

Grant Funding Received $5,553,350

Committed funds Carried Over $734,775

Interest applied to Grants $49,030

Levy funds applied to grants $64,609

Total Grant Funding $6,401,764

Grant Funding Applied :

Regional biodiversity hotspot

enhancement

$56,000 DEH

Threatened species and habitat

recovery program

$242,350 DEH

Quantifying groundwater recharge

under plantations

$31,280 ENSIS

Strategic biodiversity corridors in the

lower south east

$49,000 PIRSA

Protecting the Blue Lake from landuse

impacts

$100,000 City of Mount Gambier

Implementing the south-eastern red-

tailed black-cockatoo recovery plan

$18,000 Birds Australia

Building regional capacity in land and

water management

$119,000 DEH

Implementation of the Coorong District

Local Action Plan

$91,850 Coorong District Council

Improving The Ecological Health Of

Lake George

$143,500 SE Water Conservation &

Drainage Board

Implementing Recommendations of the

Lower South East Wetland Inventory

$55,000 DEH

Large Remnant Native Vegetation

Linkage – Upper South East

$38,000 Coorong District Council

Decommission Discharge Wells within

the Blue Lake Capture Zone

$38,000 DWLBC

Phase 2: Cooperative Management Of

The Piccaninnie Ponds Wetland

System In SA - OGW Component

$95,000 DEH


Page 33

PROJECT FUNDING

2008-09

DELIVERY AGENT

Greenpoint Wetland $95,000 DEH

Ramsar Case Study: Managing Two

Iconic Wetlands in the Lower South

East of SA

$140,000 DEH

Tintinara – Coonalpyn Confined

Aquifer Well Decommissioning

Scheme

$305,500 DWLBC

Western Cape Bridal Creeper $118,900 DEH

White Clover $28,500 MacKillop Farm

Management Group

Benefits of Deep Ripping $12,320 MacKillop Farm

Management Group

Impacts of Landuse $16,650 DWLBC

Lower SE Wetland Restoration $217,500 DEH

Ecological Burning $73,780 PIRSA

Post drainage pastures $133,870 SARDI

Managing Soil Salinity for Wine

Quality

$35,000 SARDI

Lower SE Fox Control $22,500 PIRSA

Assessment of Saltwater intrusions $241,000 DWLBC

Boneseed in Upper SE $93,095 PIRSA

Coastal Action Plan $20,000 DEH

Shorebird Protection $40,000 DEH

Sustainable Grazing $8,000 PIRSA

Orange Bellied Parrot Protection $335,000 DEH

Southern Bent wing Bat $0 DEH

Tanks for Tintinara Area School $45,000 Tintinara Area School

Restoration native habitat at Mt Burr $115,000 Forestry SA

Fauna Module for nrm.SPACE.se $40,000 SERIC

Water Use Efficiency Grants $28,359 Various Landholders

SE Regional Information Centre $80,000 SERIC

Waterwise Irrigation $32,016 PIRSA

Weather Stations $18,200 PIRSA

Removing weeds in Crater lakes $50,000 SA Water

Protecting Groundwater Dependent

Ecosystems

$142,000 DWLBC

Commonwealth Funds Interest Applied $49,030 Various

Various Small grants $10,250


Page 34

PROJECT FUNDING

2008-09

DELIVERY AGENT

Grants Paid Externally $3,623,450

Grants Applied Internally $2,266,297

Committed Funds not yet paid $512,017

Total Grant Funds $6,401,764

Grants Applied Internally $2,266,297

Protection and enhancement of significant cultural areas

in the upper south east

$66,750

Implementation of the regional monitoring and

evaluation strategy

$105,000

Program administration and management $210,000

Enhancement of the regional web based decision support

portal (nrmSPACE.se) and make SENRiP field

operational

$140,000

The South East Gorse Eradication Project $40,000

Extending NRM $85,890

Herbivore Threat Abatement $156,000

Indigenous NRM Support $208,000

Managing Pest Incursions $70,000

Develop a Biosecurity Strategy $296,747

Marine Planning $42,651

Reef Watch $5,080

Protecting Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems $142,000

Compliance Tools $55,000

Local Government Communication Strategy $27,000

Blueprint for revegetation $85,000

Installation of Weather Stations $195,000

Rabbit Control $96,000

Waterwise Irrigation $60,000

Closing the Net on Animal & Plant Control $75,000

Dynamic NRM Communities $45,000

Expand NRM Space $25,000

Shorebirds $6,304

Orange Bellied Parrot $20,000

Various $8,875

Total Funds $2,266,297


Page 35

ROLE, LEGISLATION AND STRUCTURE

The South East Natural Resources Management Board was established on 9 December 2004

under the auspices of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004. This report for the 2008-09

financial year fulfils the requirements of Section 38 of the Natural Resources Management Act.

OBJECT OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ACT

The objects of the Act include to assist in the achievement of ecologically sustainable

development in the State by establishing an integrated scheme to promote the use and

management of natural resources in a manner that—

(a) recognises and protects the intrinsic values of natural resources; and

(b) seeks to protect biological diversity and, insofar as is reasonably practicable, to support

and encourage the restoration or rehabilitation of ecological systems and processes that

have been lost or degraded; and

(c) provides for the protection and management of catchments and the sustainable use of

land and water resources and, insofar as is reasonably practicable, seeks to enhance and

restore or rehabilitate land and water resources that have been degraded; and

(d) seeks to support sustainable primary and other economic production systems with

particular reference to the value of agriculture and mining activities to the economy of

the State; and

(e) provides for the prevention or control of impacts caused by pest species of animals and

plants that may have an adverse effect on the environment, primary production or the

community; and

(f) promotes educational initiatives and provides support mechanisms to increase the

capacity of people to be involved in the management of natural resources.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE ACT

The Minister for Environment and Conservation is responsible for the administration of the

Natural Resources Management Act 2004. Pursuant to section 6 of the Administrative

Arrangements Act 1994, certain functions and powers of the Minister for Environment and

Conservation in relation to the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources

Management Board have been conferred on the Minister for the River Murray.

ROLE OF THE BOARD

The Boards‘ role is defined in the Natural Resources Management Act and includes:

Taking an active role in the management of natural resources within the region and

providing advice on natural resource issues;

Preparing a regional natural resources management plan;

Implementing the Board‘s three-year business plan;

Promoting public awareness and understanding of the importance of integrated and

sustainable NRM;

Providing advice on the assessment of activities or proposals referred under legislation

or on any matter relevant to the condition or management of natural resources; and

Undertaking and supporting educational activities and increasing community capacity to

undertake sustainable natural resource management.


Page 36

FUNCTIONS OF THE SOUTH EAST NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

BOARD

Section 29 of the Natural Resources Management Act describes the functions of the South East

Natural Resources Management Board.

(1) The functions of a regional NRM Board are—

(a) to undertake an active role with respect to the management of natural resources within

its region; and

(b) —

(i) to prepare a regional NRM plan in accordance with this Act; and

(ii) to implement that plan; and

(iii) to keep the plan under review to ensure that the objects of this Act are

being achieved; and

(c) to promote public awareness and understanding of the importance of integrated and

sustainable natural resources management within its region, to undertake or support

educational initiatives with respect to natural resources management, and to provide

mechanisms to increase the capacity of people to implement programs or to take other

steps to improve the management of natural resources; and

(d) to provide advice with respect to the assessment of various activities or proposals

referred to the Board under this or any other Act; and

(e) to resolve any issues that may arise between any NRM groups that are relevant to the

management of natural resources within its region; and

to undertake an active role in ensuring-

(i) that any Development Plan under the Development Act 1993 that applies within

its region promotes the objects of this Act; and

(ii) insofar as is reasonably practicable, that those Development Plans and the

Board‘s regional NRM plan form a coherent set of policies,

and, in so doing, when a Development Plan amendment under the Development Act 1993

that is relevant to the activities of the Board is under consideration under that Act, to

work with-

(iii) in the case of a Development Plan amendment proposed by a council-the council;

or

(iv) in the case of a Development Plan amendment proposed by a Minister-that

Minister‘s department; and

(f) at the request of the Minister or the NRM Council, or on its own initiative, to provide

advice on any matter relevant to the condition of natural resources within its region, or

on the management of those resources, to conduct any inquiry or audit, or to provide any

other advice or report that may be appropriate in the circumstances; and

(g) such other functions assigned to the Board by the Minister or by or under this or any

other Act.

(2) To avoid doubt, a regional NRM Board may act with respect to a particular matter

despite the fact that the matter may not fall within the scope of its regional NRM plan.

(3) However, if a regional NRM Board acts with respect to a particular matter in the

circumstances described in subsection (2), the Board must furnish a report on the matter

to the Natural Resources Committee of the Parliament (unless the matter is not, in the

opinion of the Board, significant).

(4) In performing its functions, a regional NRM Board should (as far as is reasonably

practicable) seek to work collaboratively with—


Page 37

(a) the other regional NRM Boards whose regions adjoin the region of the Board; and

(b) other State agencies, agencies of the Commonwealth, and agencies of the other States

and Territories, that have functions that are relevant to those of the Board; and

(c) NRM groups with areas that fall (wholly or partially) within the region of the Board; and

(d) the constituent councils for the region, and other councils as may be relevant; and

(e) relevant industry, environment and community groups and organisations; and

(f) persons who own or occupy land within the region of the Board (insofar as may be

relevant).

(5) A regional NRM Board will, with respect to the performance of its functions, report to

the Minister.

(6) If the Minister assigns a function to a regional NRM Board under subsection (1)—

(a) the Minister must furnish a report on the matter to the Natural Resources Committee of

the Parliament; and

(b) the regional NRM Board must cause a statement of the fact of the assignment to be

published in its next annual report.

MEMBERSHIP

Section 25 of the Natural Resources Management Act provides for the appointment of the South

East Natural Resources Management Board.

The Board comprises 9 members, appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the

Minister. Each of the appointed members of the Board is a person who, in the opinion of the

Minister, meets the standards stipulated by section 25(4) of the Natural Resources Management

Act for the appointment of members:

(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Minister must (as far as is reasonably practicable

in the circumstances)—

(a) give consideration to nominating persons so as to provide a range of

knowledge, skills and experience across the following areas:

(i) community affairs at the regional level;

(ii) primary production or pastoral land management;

(iii) soil conservation and land management;

(iv) conservation and biodiversity management;

(v) water resources management;

(vi) business administration;

(vii) local government or local government administration;

(viii) urban or regional planning;

(ix) Aboriginal interest in the land and water, and Aboriginal heritage;

(x) pest animal and plant control;

(xi) natural and social science;

(xii) if relevant—coast, estuarine and marine management, fisheries or

aquaculture; and


Page 38

(b) nominate persons who are able to demonstrate an interest in ensuring the

sustainable use and conservation of natural resources and an awareness of

natural resource issues across the relevant region; and

(c) ensure—

(i) that a majority of the members of the Board reside within the relevant

region; and

(ii) that a majority of the members of the Board are engaged in an activity

related to the management of land.

(5) In addition, the Minister must, before finalising his or her nominations for the purposes

of this section, consult with the designated Ministers.

(6) At least 1 member of a regional NRM Board must be a woman and at least 1 member

must be a man.

(7) At least 1 member of a regional NRM Board must be a member or officer of a council

at the time of his or her appointment, unless—

(a) the Board's region does not include any part of the area of a council; or

(b) the Minister cannot, after taking reasonable steps, find a member or officer of a

council who—

(i) in the opinion of the Minister, is suitable to be appointed as a member

of the Board; and

(ii) is willing and available to be a member of the Board.

(8) The Governor must appoint a suitable member of a regional NRM Board to be the

presiding member of the Board.

(9) The Governor may appoint a suitable person to be the deputy of a member of a regional

NRM Board.

(10) A deputy may act as a member of a regional NRM Board during any period of absence

of the member in relation to whom the deputy has been appointed.

(11) The Minister may, by instrument in writing, authorise a person or persons to attend any

meeting of a regional NRM Board in order to represent the interests of the

Commonwealth, the State or local government.

The membership of the Board during 2008-09 was:

Members

Jim Osborne-Presiding Member

Di Ashby

Chris Johnson

Deb Lang

Andrew Moore

Pip Rasenberg

Jennifer Lillecrapp

Richard Vickery

Robert Mock


Page 39

Government representatives authorised to attend meetings

Adrian Gargett (DWLBC)

Peter Alexander (DEH)

Stuart West (PIRSAForestry)

Brian Bartsch (PIRSA) till 16th March 2009

Mark Chesworth (DAFF)

Lisa Schiff (Local Government)

MEETINGS: GENERAL AND SPECIAL

A total of 11 general Board meetings were held during the 2008-09 financial year.

A total of 1 special Board meetings were held during the 2008-09 financial year.

Attendance by appointed members at meetings:

Member Meetings

attended

Comments Reason for non attendance

Jim Osborne 12

Di Ashby 10 Apologies

Chris Johnson 9 Apologies

Deb Lang 12

Andrew Moore 11 Apology

Pip Rasenberg 11 Apology

Jennifer Lillecrapp 11 Apology

Richard Vickery 8 Apologies

Robert Mock 11 Apology

Brian Bartsch 0 Apologies and resignation

Lisa Schiff 6 Apology

Mark Chesworth 1 Apologies and absence

Stuart West 6 Apologies

Peter Alexander 8 Apologies

Adrian Gargett 5 Apologies

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES

The SE NRM Board under the auspices of the Natural Resources Act 2004 works closely with

the DWLBC, DEH and PIRSA to improve sustainability and achieve improved health and

productivity of our natural resources. It also seeks to collaborate with the South Eastern Water

Conservation and Drainage Board and the Upper South East Dryland Salinity and Flood

Mitigation Program on matters of common interest. The SE NRM Board also works closely

with the NRM Council, the other regional NRM Boards, the Australian Government, the South

East Local Government Association, regional councils and other communities and non-

Government organisations to develop and implement the Regional NRM Plan.


Page 40

GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS

A number of new policies and procedures were drafted or reviewed and approved by the Board

during 2008-09:

Board, Group and Committee Members Attendance and Payroll

Internal Delegations

Procurement

Accounting

Levy and Levy Collection

Preventing and/or Reporting Losses, Thefts or Irregularities

Budgetary Control and Reporting

Purchase of Goods and Services

Income Recognition

Expense Recognition

Risk Management

Compliance Programme

Casual and Contractor Employment

NRM Groups Recruitment and Selection

Staff Recognition

Classification and Reclassification Assessment

Employee Assistance Programme

Corporate Wardrobe

Staff Recognition

Grievance Policy

Payment of Recurrent Expenses

Internal Controls

Bad Debts Written Off

Delegations 09/10

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

See following page

_______________________________________________________________________________

South East NRM Board Annual Report 2008-09 Page 41

_______________________________________________________________________________


_______________________________________________________________________________



Corporate Governance & Finance Committee

Delegations 2009-10 (GST exclusive)

Section 36, Natural Resources Management Act

2004

ISSUE Board/Presiding Member

(PM)Responsibility/Delegation

DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL

MANAGER

DELEGATION TO STAFF

1. Staffing (section

34)

PM

Appoint persons to the staff of the Board

Section 34(3), subject to approval of staffing

arrangements by the Minister (section 34 (1).

Appoint persons to the staff of the Board

consistent with the Board-approved staffing

structure.

NA

2. Staffing

(Authorised

Officers Section

36(1)(e) and

Section 67)

Appoint Authorised Officers pursuant to

Section 36(1)(e) and Section 67 of the NRM

Act

Appoint Authorised Officers to the staff of the

Board consistent with the Board-approved staffing

structure

NA

3. Staffing

PM

Fix terms and conditions with the approval

of the Commissioner for Public Employment

section 34 (4), other than the General

Manager.

Implementation of terms and conditions fixed by

the Board. Negotiating and signing staff

contracts.

For staff for whom the officer is

responsible, implementation of

terms and conditions of

employment fixed by the Board.

4. Remuneration

PM

Review GM remuneration on the basis of

performance review, and recommend

changes in payment and conditions to Chief

Executive of DWLBC.

Terms and conditions of employment for

staff other than the General Manager, subject

to award and EB arrangements and approval

of the Commissioner for Public Employment

NA

Terms and conditions of employment for staff

other than the General Manager, subject to award

and EB arrangements and approval of the

Commissioner for Public Employment

NA

NA

5. Staff Direction

PM

Authority to direct a person to perform

functions in connection with the operations

of a public sector agency (Part 2 PSM Act).

Direct employees to perform the work of the

Board. This needs to be a lawful direction and

within the person‘s capacity to perform the work.

N/A

_______________________________________________________________________________





MANAGER

DELEGATION TO STAFF

6. Performance

Review

PM

Annual performance review of General

Manager.

Annual performance review of staff. Annual performance review of

staff for which the officer is

responsible.

7. Leave

PM

Chair of the Corporate Governance &

Finance Committee or the Presiding Member

approve the GM taking annual leave, long

service leave, sick leave and special leave

with or without pay.

Approve staff leave for managers

Approve annual leave, flexi

leave, TOIL and sick leave for

staff for which the officer is

responsible.

8. Common seal

and execution of

documents

(section 24

(2))Board

Affixing the seal: Board Member that is also

a member of Corporate Governance &

Finance Committee as one of two

signatories, one not being a Board Member.

Affixing the seal: General Manager as one of two

signatories, one being a Board Member.

Manager Major Projects in the

absence of the General Manager

9. Contracts

(section 30)

Board

Approving project briefs exceeding

$220,000 and less than $550,000

Approving Project exceeding $550,000 prior

to submission to CE DWLBC for final

approval

Approving project briefs:

Exceeding $50,000 and less than $220,000

where the project is specifically described in

the Initial Plan or its replacement and the

project concept has been approved by the

Board; or

Up to $50,000 where the project is specifically

described in the Initial Plan or its replacement;

or

Up to $20,000 where the project is generally

described in the Initial Plan or its replacement.

Senior managers approving

project briefs:

up to $20,000 where the project

is specifically described in the

Initial Plan or its replacement.

10. Tenders

Board

Approval of the calling of tenders exceeding

$220,000

Approval of the calling of tenders up to $220,000,

subject to meeting PMU requirements.

NA

11. Contracts

Board

Approve the awarding of, and entering into

contracts exceeding $220,000.

Approve the awarding of, and entering into

contracts up to $220,000.

Senior Managers approve the

awarding of, and entering into

contracts up to $20,000.

_______________________________________________________________________________





MANAGER

DELEGATION TO STAFF

12. Purchasing

authority

Board

Authorising purchase of budgeted goods or

services exceeding $220,000.

Authorising purchase of budgeted goods and

services up to $220,000, where the purchase will

not cause the budget limit for that budget item to

be exceeded.

Authorising purchase of

budgeted goods or services:

All staff except Senior

Managers: up to $2,000,

Senior Managers: up to

$20,000.

Manager Major Projects:

$50,000

Manager Commonwealth

Programmes: $50,000

13. Board

Authorising purchase of goods or services

which have not been budgeted, exceeding

$30,000.

Authorising purchase of goods or services which

have not been budgeted, up to $30,000.

NA

14. Payment

Authorisation

Board

Authorising payment for goods, services and

grants exceeding $350,000 for that payment.

Authorising payment for goods, services and

grants up to $350,000 for that payment.

Authorising payments for goods

and services (but not grants)

All staff except Senior

Managers: up to $2,000,

Senior Managers: up to

$20,000

Manager Major Projects:

$50,000


Programmes: $50,000

(including grants)

15. Verification

authority

Board

Approval for payment of Board/Committee

Member attendance registers, in the absence

of GM, Presiding Member or Corporate

Governance & Finance Committee.

Authorising signature for payment.

Alternative: Manager Major

projects, Finance Manager or

Corporate Services Manager

16. Staff Payroll Authorisation of staff payroll Alternative: Manager Major

_______________________________________________________________________________





MANAGER

DELEGATION TO STAFF

Projects Finance Manager,

Regional Planning Manager or


17. Cheque

Signatories

Transfer of funds from Holding Account

to Operating Account as one of two

signatories:

Presiding Member

Chair Corporate Governance & Finance

Committee

Transfer of funds from Holding Account to

Operating Account as one of two signatories, one

being a Board Member.

Operating cheque account – one of two

signatories.

Transfer of funds from Holding

Account to Operating Account

as one of two signatories, one

being a Board Member:

Manager Major Projects

Operating Cheque Account/

Direct Pmts (any 2)


Manager Major Projects

Regional Planning Manager

Finance Manager

18. Project

approvals RM

for NGroups

Board approves workplan

If project >$10,000 and in approved

workplan

If project >$2,000 and NOT in

approved Workplan

If project >$2000 and < $9,999 and in

approved workplan

If Project >$500 and <$1,999 and not in

approved work plan

NRM Group may

approve projects <$2,000

and included in approved

work plan

<$500 if not included in

approved work plan.

_______________________________________________________________________________



Delegations Register (GST exclusive)

2008-2009

Position

Financial1

Procurement2

Credit

Card

Comment

General Manager $350,000 $220,000 $5,000

Manager Major Projects $50,000 $50,000 $2,000

Manager Corporate

Services

$20,000 $20,000 $5,000

Operations Manager $20,000 $20,000 $2,000

Finance Manager $20,000 $20,000 $2,000


& State Programmes

$50,000 $50,000 $5,000

Communications

Manager

$20,000 $20,000 $2,000

Manager Regional

Planning

$20,000 $20,000 $2,000

Monitoring & Evaluation $2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Senior Policy & Planning

Officer

$2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Senior Water Policy

Officer

$2,000 $2,000 $2,000

WAP Project Officer $2,000 $2,000 $2,000



Senior Project Officer $2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Administration &

Finance Officer

$2,000 $2,000 $5,000

_______________________________________________________________________________


Executive Assistant $2,000 $2,000 $5,000

Administration Officer $2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Administrative Assistant $2,000 $2,000 $5,000

Groups Secretary $2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Landcare Coordinator $2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Project Officer $2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Indigenous Landcare

Coordinator

$2,000 $2,000 $2,000

NRM Groups and

Community Engagement

Coordinator

$2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Senior Authorised

Officer

$2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Senior Authorised

Officer

$2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Authorised Officer $2,000 $2,000 $2,000





Spray Operator $2,000 $2,000

Spray Operator $2,000 $2,000

Casual Spray Operator $2,000 $2,000



Senior Authorised

Officer

$2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Senior Authorised

Officer

$2,000 $2,000 $2,000


_______________________________________________________________________________




$ $

Marine Planning Officer $2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Project Officer $2,000 $2,000 $2,000


Page 50

MANAGEMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

EMPLOYEE NUMBERS, GENDER AND STATUS

EMPLOYEE NUMBERS, GENDER AND STATUS

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES BY SALARY BRACKET

Total Number of Employees

Persons 40

FTEs 35.2 (FTEs shown to 1 decimal place)

Gender % Persons % FTEs

Male 57.5 56.3

Female 42.5 43.7

Number of Persons During the 08-09 Financial Year

Separated from the agency 7

Recruited to the agency 5

Number of Persons at 30 June 2009

On Leave without Pay 0

Salary Bracket Male Female Total

$0 - $47,999 5 3 8

$48,000 - $60,999 14 5 19

$61,000 - $78,199 3 9 12

$78,200 - $98,499 - - -

$98,500+ 1 - 1

TOTAL 23 17 40


Page 51

SUPERANNUATION CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE BOARD

3 Employee benefits expenses

2009 2008

$'000 $'000

Salaries and wages 1,924 1,753

Annual leave and long service leave 260 249

Superannuation 190 174

Fringe Benefits Tax 45 35

Payroll Tax 127 133

Total 2,546 2,344

Board Remuneration of members includes Superannuation Guarantee Amounts paid to Triple S Superannuation

on behalf of members totaling $9,007 ($8,660).

Groups & Committee members

Amounts paid to a superannuation plan for group/committee members was $423($149).

STATUS OF EMPLOYEES IN CURRENT POSITION

FTEs Ongoing Short-Term

Contract

Long-Term

Contract

Other

(Casual) Total

Male 14.7 - 3.6 1.5 19.8

Female 12.4 2 1 - 15.4

TOTAL 29.7 2 2 1.5 35.2

PERSONS Ongoing Short-Term

Contract

Long-Term

Contract

Other

(Casual) Total

Male 16 - 4 3 23

Female 14 2 1 - 17

TOTAL 33 2 2 3 40

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT

EXECUTIVES BY GENDER, CLASSIFICATION AND STATUS

Ongoing Tenured

Contract

Untenured

Contract

Other (Casual) Total

Classification Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female

ExA - - - - 1 - - - 1 -

Total - - - - 1 - - - 1 -


Page 52

LEAVE MANAGEMENT

AVERAGE DAYS LEAVE PER FULL TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEE

Leave Type

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Sick Leave 4.91

5.3 4.89 3.33

Family Carer‘s Leave 0 0 .22 .20

Miscellaneous Special

Leave 0 0 6.31 6.38

WORKFORCE DIVERSITY

ABORIGINAL AND/OR TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER EMPLOYEES

Salary

Bracket

Aboriginal

Staff Total Staff

Percentage

Aboriginal Target*

$0 -

$47,999 - 8 0 2%

$48,000 -

$60,999 - 19 0 2%

$61, 000-

$78,199 - 12 0 2%

$78,200 -

$98,499 - - 0 2%

$98,500+ - 1 0 2%

TOTAL - 40 0 2%

* Target from SASP


Page 53

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES BY AGE BRACKET BY GENDER

Age Bracket Male Female Total % of Total 2009 Workforce

Benchmark*

15-19 - - - 0 6.5%

20-24 1 3 4 10 10.3%

25-29 1 4 5 12.5 11.1%

30-34 3 3 6 15 10.7%

35-39 3 2 5 12.5 11.7%

40-44 4 4 8 20 11.4%

45-49 4 - 4 10 11.9%

50-54 1 1 2 5 10.3%

55-59 4 - 4 10 8.2%

60-64 2 - 2 5 5.3%

65+ - - - 0 2.6%

TOTAL 23 17 40 100 100.0

*Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Demographic Statistics, 6291.0.55.001 Labour Force Status (ST LM8) by sex, age, state, marital status – employed – total from Feb78 Supertable,

South Australia at May 2009.

CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY

Male Female Total % Agency SA Community*

Number of employees born

overseas - 3 3 7.5 20.3%

Number of employees who speak language(s) other than

English at home

- 2 1 5.7 16.6%

* Benchmarks from ABS Publication Basic Community Profile (SA) Cat No. 2001.0, 2006

census.


Page 54

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES (ACCORDING TO COMMONWEALTH

DDA DEFINITION)

Male Female Total % of Agency

- 1 1 2.5

- 1 1 2.5

TYPES OF EMPLOYEE DISABILITIES

Disability Male Female Total % of Agency

Physical - - - -

Intellectual - - - -

Sensory - 1 1 2.5

Psychological/

Psychiatric

- -

- -

Other - - - -

Total - 1 1 2.5

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES REQUIRING WORKPLACE

ADAPTATION

Male Female Total % of Agency

- - - -

PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENTED REVIEW OF INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

Employees with … % Total Workforce

A review within the past 12 months 42.5

A review older than 12 months 20

No review 37.5


Page 55

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING EXPENDITURE

Training and Development Total Cost % of Total Salary

Expenditure

Total training and development expenditure $67,613.75 3.51

Total leadership and management

development expenditure $13,522.75 0.70

ACCREDITED TRAINING PACKAGES ACCREDITED TRAINING PACKAGES BY CLASSIFICATION

Classification Number of Accredited Training

Packages

ASO2 1

ASO3 1

ASO4 4

ASO5 2

ASO6 4

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS

Within the reporting period the Board Staff consisted of 23 male and 17 female members. The

SE NRM Board adheres to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) in all recruitment.

Gender balance is also a factor in all Board and Committee Selection Processes. The Board has

not participated in any EEO programs established by the Minister in this reporting period.

The members of the SE NRM Board are aware of and abide by their obligations under the State

Equal Opportunity Act 1984.

The gender balance of the Board is always taken into consideration when members are

appointed.

The members of the Board are aware of and abide by their obligations under the State Equal

Opportunity Act 1984.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY AND INJURY MANAGEMENT In early 2008 the NRM Boards agreed to jointly fund a new position to lead and coordinate

strategic OHS&W activities and help each Board focus their efforts in this important area. This

position is managed by the Occupational Health Safety/Welfare and Injury Management NRM

Boards Steering Committee which is chaired by the General Manager of the South East Natural

Resources Management Board.


Page 56

The primary role of the Occupational Health Safety/Welfare and Injury Management NRM

Boards Steering Committee is to provide strategic leadership and advice in the area of

Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare and Injury Management to the General Managers of

the eight Natural Resources Management Boards of South Australia. The Steering Committee

also monitors and directs the work of the All Boards OHS&W Coordinator, to ensure the timely

and strategic delivery of agreed outcomes.

The AB OHS/W & IM Steering Committee meets at least 4 times per year and reports to the

General Managers regularly. The Chair of the Steering Committee is responsible for ensuring

timely and strong communication occurs between members and the General Managers.

The Board has an Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Committee comprising of 7 members

representing a broad cross section of all employment areas. During 2008/09 the Committee met

on 10 occasions. The Board contributes to the management of across Government safety

performance through the introduction and regular review of systems and procedures into the

workplace and consultation with staff. The Board has achieved or surpassed several targeted

performance requirements and continues to implement and assess systems to achieve continuous

improvement in safety management.

The Public Sector Management Regulations 1995 stipulate that annual reports must include:

18 (k):the occupational health, safety and rehabilitation programs of the agency

(including an evaluation of the programs and their effectiveness).

The Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (OHS&W) Act 1986 and Regulations 1995 and

the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1986, Regulations and South Australian

Public Sector Code of Practice for Crown Exempt Employers require agencies to demonstrate

the effectiveness of their systems. Suitable information to report includes:

Performance against the elements of:

Sustainable Commitment

Financial Accountability

Integrated Risk Management

Rigorous Evaluation

Relevant information from WorkCover partnership plans and the Responsible Officer

Report.

Consultative arrangements, including composition of corporate occupational health and

safety committees, health and safety representatives and arrangements with registered

organisations.

The following 3 tables:

http://www.workcover.com/Home/Employers/Selfinsured/Selfinsuredemployers/Selfinsuredpublicationsforms.aspx

http://www.workcover.com/Home/Employers/Selfinsured/Selfinsuredemployers/Selfinsuredpublicationsforms.aspx


Page 57

TABLE 1 OHS NOTICES AND CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN

Number

2008-09

Number of notifiable occurrences pursuant to OHS&W Regulations Division 6.6 0

Number of notifiable injuries pursuant to OHS&W Regulations Division 6.6 0

Number of notices served pursuant to OHS&W Act s35, s39 and s40 (default,

improvement and prohibition notices)

0

TABLE 2: AGENCY GROSS1 WORKERS COMPENSATION EXPENDITURE FOR

2008-09 COMPARED WITH 2007-08 2

EXPENDITURE

2008-09

($)

2007-08

($)

Variation

($) + (-)

% Change

+ (-)

Income Maintenance 3052 - 3052 100

Lump Sum Settlements Redemptions - Sect.42 0 0 0 0

Lump Sum Settlements Permanent Disability – Sect. 43 0 0 0 0

Medical/Hospital Costs combined 142 2418 -2277 94.14

Other 1250 0 +1250 100

Total Claims Expenditure 4444 2418 -2026 84

1 before 3rd party recovery

2 Information available from IDEAS RS/SIMS (for detailed advice on data extraction contact PSWD)


Page 58

TABLE 3 MEETING SAFETY PERFORMANCE TARGETS3

Base:

2005-06

Performance: 12 months to end of

June 2009 *

Final

Target

Base:

2005-06 Performance:

12 months to

end of

June 2009 *

Final

Target

Base:

2005-06

Numbers

or %

Actual Notional

Quarterly

Target**

Numbers

or %

1. Workplace Fatalities

0 0 1. Workplace Fatalities

0

2. New Workplace Injury

Claims

0 0 2. New Workplace

Injury Claims

0

3. New Workplace Injury

Claims Frequency Rate

n/a n/a n/a 3. New Workplace

Injury Claims Frequency Rate

n/a

4. Lost Time Injury Frequency

Rate ***

n/a 0 0 4. Lost Time Injury

Frequency Rate

***

n/a

5. New

Psychological

Injury Claims

n/a 0 0 5. New

Psychological

Injury Claims

n/a

6. Rehabilitation and Return to

Work:

n/a 1 1 6. Rehabilitation and Return to

Work:

n/a

6a. Early

Assessment within 2 days

- 0% 80% 6a. Early

Assessment within 2 days

80%

6b. Early Intervention

within 5 days

- 0% 80% 6b. Early Intervention

within 5 days

80%

6c. RTW within 5 business days

- 0% 75% 6c. RTW within 5 business days

75%

7. Claim Determination:

7. Claim Determination:

7a. Claims determined in 10

business days

n/a 0% 75% 7a. Claims determined in

10 business days

75%

7b. Claims still to be determined after 3 months

n/a 0% 3% 7b. Claims still to be determined after 3 months

-3%

3 Information available from IDEAS RS/SIMS (SIPS target report)


Page 59

Base:

2005-06

Performance: 12 months to end of

June 2009 *

Final

Target

Base:

2005-06 Performance:

12 months to

end of

June 2009 *

Final

Target

Base:

2005-06

Numbers

or %

Actual Notional

Quarterly

Target**

Numbers

or %

8. Income Maintenance

Payments for

Recent Injuries:

n/a - - 8. Income Maintenance

Payments for

Recent Injuries:

n/a

2007-08 Injuries

(at 24 months development)

n/a 1 0 2007-08

Injuries (at 24 months

development)

n/a

2008-09 Injuries (at 12 months development)

* Except for Target 8, which is YTD. For Targets 5, 6c, 7a and 7b, performance is measured up to the previous quarter to allow reporting lag.

** Based on cumulative reduction from base at a constant quarterly figure.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

The financial performance of the SE NRM Board is shown over the following pages as audited

financial statements.


Page 60


Page 61


Page 62


Page 63


Page 64


Page 65


Page 66


Page 67


Page 68


Page 69


Page 70


Page 71


Page 72


Page 73


Page 74


Page 75


Page 76


Page 77


Page 78


Page 79


Page 80


Page 81


Page 82


Page 83


Page 84


Page 85


Page 86


Page 87


Page 88


Page 89


Page 90


Page 91


Page 92


Page 93


Page 94


Page 95


Page 96


Page 97

CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS

No contractual arrangements were entered into where the total value of the contract exceeded $4

million and the contract extended beyond a single year.

No contractual arrangements were entered into that require disclosure under the Department of

Premier and Cabinet Circular PC027 Disclosure of Government Contracts. These are contracts

between public authorities and the private sector involving the expenditure of public funds and

with a value of $500,000 or greater.

ACCOUNT PAYMENT PERFORMANCE

Particulars

Number of

accounts

paid

Percentage of

accounts paid

(by number)

Value in $A of

accounts paid

Percentage of

accounts paid

(by value)

Paid by due date* 1796 93.15% 6,342,899 91.92%

Paid late, within 30

days of due date 84 4.36% 279,035 4.04%

Paid more than 30

days from due date 43 2.23% 278,759 4.04%

*Note: The due date is defined under section 11.7 of Treasurer‘s Instruction 11 Payment of Creditors’ Accounts. Generally, unless there is a discount or a written agreement between the public authority and the creditor, payment should

be within thirty days of the date of the invoice or claim. Some agencies receive invoices significantly later than the invoice date, due to supplier invoicing processes. Agencies may choose to report against the date the invoice is first

received rather than the date of invoice.

Those accounts paid more than 30 days from the due date are generally related to inadequate

or incomplete delivery of goods or services to the SE NRM Board.

FRAUD There were no instances of fraud detected in the SE NRM board during the reporting

period. An internal audit is undertaken by Mott Finnis on a quarterly basis.

Policies and procedures in place include (and are available upon request):

Cash and Cheque Receipts

Payment of Accounts

Payment of Accounts - EFT

Petty Cash

Procurement

Asset Register

Disposal of Assets

Credit Cards

Register Of Contracts

Bank Reconcilliation

Cheque Book / Cheque Signing

Annual Financial Reporting

Budgetary Control And Reporting


Page 98

General Journal

Relocation Expenses and Furniture Removal

Use of Private Motor Vehicles - Staff

Operation of Wespac Holding Account

Phone reimbursement

Financial Delegations

CONSULTANTS Particulars Number

paid

Firm Description Total

Expenditure

Under

7

$10 000 Sinclair Knight Merz Water Allocation Plan

Flinders University Sustainable Mgt of SA

Groundwater

Econ Search Levy Assessment

Neville Bonney Vegetation advice

Converge International Human Resources Services

Strategic Matters Mosquito Creek Protocols

Sinclair Knight Merz Mosquito Creek

Total $21,531

$10 000 –

10

Price Merrett Consulting Water Use Efficiency on

Farm

$50 000 MLCS Corporate Indigenous Property

Management Planning

Master Plan NRM Plan

Sustainable Focus NRM Community Report

Urban & Regional Planning

Solutions

Community Engagement

Strategy for Biosecurity

Strategic Matters Local Government

Engagement Plan

Primary Industries & Resources Soil Health Study

Department of Water Land &

Biodiversity Conservation

Hydrological Review of

Tintinara - Coonalpyn PWA

Primary Industries & Resources Waterwise Irrigation

Department of Water Land &

Biodiversity Conservation

Hydrological catchment

model Mosquito Creek

Total $246,775

over

$50 000

1

Ecological Associates Environmental water

Requirements for the

Mosquito Creek Catchment

$74,028

Total 18 $342,334


Page 99

OVERSEAS TRAVEL Number of

employees

Destinations Reasons for Travel Total Cost to Board

0 0 0 $0

DISABILITY ACTION PLANS The SE NRM Board does not have a specific Disability Action Plan, however it does ensure that

its services are easily accessible to people with disabilities including access to disabled car

parks. The Board is a small organisation and any disability issue that is identified can have

immediate measures implemented to address it.

Promoting Independence – Disability Action Plans for South Australia provides a framework of

action for agencies to meet the requirements of the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination

Act 1992 and the SA Equal Opportunity Act 1984.

There are six outcome areas outlined in Promoting Independence against which the Board is

measured against:

1. The Board ensures accessibility of their services to people with disabilities, both as

customers and employees.

2. The Board ensures information about their services and programs is inclusive of people

with disabilities.

3. The Board delivers advice or services to people with disabilities with awareness and

understanding of issues affecting people with disabilities. IN doing so, agencies should

report on the extent of the delivery of disability awareness training with staff using the

SA Disability Awareness and Discrimination Training Framework.

4. The Board provides opportunities for consultation with people with disabilities in

decision making processes regarding service delivery and in the implementation of

complaints and grievance mechanisms.

5. The General Manager ensures that their Board has met the requirements f the Disability

Discrimination Act and Equal Opportunity Act.

6. The Board reports on how they are increasing the rate of employment of people with a

disability in order to meet the SASP Target 6.22 – ―to double the number of people with

disabilities employed in the public sector by 2014‖.

ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

The SE NRM Board does not own any buildings, other than recently erected corrugated iron

sheds, and as a consequence of this has not undertaken any surveillance or risk reduction

programs in regard to asbestos. Regular Occupational Health and Safety checks are maintained

in all SE NRM Board workplaces.

URBAN DESIGN CHARTER The SE NRM Board currently does not implement an Urban Design Charter and is therefore

unable to report on its implementation and principles.


Page 100

Cabinet adopted the South Australian Urban Design Charter as whole-of-government urban

policy. The Charter was publicly released in November 2004.

The Urban Design Charter aims to promote the benefits of good urban design, embedded the

principles into government processes and record the South Australian Government‘s

commitment to good urban design.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION STATEMENT

It is the responsibility of the Board to ensure it complies with the Freedom of Information Act

1991. The General Manager is the designated Freedom of Information (FOI) Principal Officer

for the SE NRM Board. The Board also has two Accredited FOI Officers.

Documents available free of charge:

The following documents are available by contacting the Board on 08 8724 6000.

Brochures and Fact Sheets

Policy documents

Management Plans

Newsletters.

Effect of Board Functions on members of the public

Policy documents related to natural resource management that involve consultation with

stakeholders, including the public.

Information Summary

The types of documents that are held by the SE NRM Board include:

Administration files

Tender and Contract information

Policy documents and procedure manuals

Research reports and Publications

Brochures, Fact Sheets, Newsletters, photos and posters.

Accessing Documents

Access to documents of requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 1991 is

via the FOI Officer.

Contact Officer

The General Manager is the Board‘s designated Principal Officer for FOI purposes. FOI

requests are addressed to:

Freedom of Information Officer


PO Box 30 Mount Gambier SA 5290

1 new request received during 2008-09, one ongoing from 2007-08. Both have been completed

and registered on the FOIMS database and updated accordingly.


Page 101

The Board is committed to undertaking extensive public consultation prior to the formulation of

any major policies relating to the Board‘s functions. Any Board policy may be viewed by

contacting the Board‘s offices between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday. Instructions on

how to make an application under the FOI Act can also be obtained from the Board‘s offices.

STATISTICAL REPORT

.

The Board is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1991 and as such uses State Records

Freedom of Information Management System (FOIMS) database to enter all relevant data.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY ACTION PLAN REPORT PERFORMANCE AGAINST ANNUAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY TARGETS

Energy Use (GJ)

GHG Emissions

Business Measure

Base Year 2006/20073:

SE NRM Board

235.408

54.85

1.37T/hd

Base Year 2006/20073:

SE NRM Board

235,408,000MJ4/1.37T/hd/annum

Year Being Reported: 2008/2009

SE NRM Board

230.77

53.77*

1.53t/hd

Final Portfolio Target6

(for 2014)

MJ/business measure1/annum = 176,556,000/1.03T/hd/annum

* Co efficient used is 233 kg co2 / Gj as per SA Govt Energy Efficiency Report 2006/07, prior years‘ data

have been adjusted to reflect this factor for consistency.


Page 102

GREENING OF GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS FRAMEWORK

Strategic milestones Timeframe

M1: Established Chief Executive ‗Statement of

Commitment‘ to Greening of Government Operations 18 May 2009

M2: Allocated resources to set up governance and

initiate internal review

20 July 2009

M3: Completed initial review of environmental impacts

and determined priorities and allocated resources

20 July 2009

M4: Set performance goals/internal targets (informed by

South Australia‘s Strategic Plan targets and/or other

targets agreed by Government)

20 July 2009

M5: Approved agency Implementation Plan 17 August 2009

M6: Reported on status/progress in reaching

performance goals/targets

30 June 2009

M7: Initiated agency implementation plan 30 June 2007

onwards

M8: Undertaking ongoing measuring, monitoring,

reporting and continuous improvement of performance

Ongoing

The SE NRM Board is committed to working towards the Greening of Government Operations

(GoGO) Framework approved by Cabinet in February 2006. The SE NRM Board undertook the

following activities related to the GoGO Strategic Milestones.

M1: Established Chief Executive ‘Statement of Commitment’ to Greening of Government

Operations

The General Manager of the SE NRM Board supported the establishment in 2008-09 of a Green

Committee. The role of this committee is to investigate and develop strategies to reduce the

environmental footprint of the SE NRM Board and to provide recommendations about

implementing these strategies.

M2: Allocated resources to set up governance and initiate internal review

The Green Committee was established to investigate and develop strategies to improve the

environmental performance of the Board. It commenced its internal review of SE NRM Board

activities that contribute to its environmental footprint in March 2009. During 2008-09 the

Corporate Governance and Finance Committee of the SE NRM Board committed a budget of

$5000 to the Green Committee for 2009-10.

M3: Completed initial review of environmental impacts and determined priorities and

allocated resources

The Green Committee undertook an initial review of environmental impacts at its March 09

meeting and determined key priorities for action, under the following streams:

Monitoring


Page 103

Implementation

Communication

Policy

M4: Set performance goals/internal targets (informed by SA’s Strategic Plan targets

and/or other targets agreed by Government)

The Green Committee is currently in the process of benchmarking SE NRM Board activities,

and from this information it will then set performance goals/ internal targets.

M5: Approved agency Implementation Plan

A comprehensive implementation plan is to be developed in 2009-10.

An Environmental Policy was developed, adopted and implemented during 2007-08. This

sets out policy for ―best environmental practice‖ and associated procedures for waste

management, recycling and other activities. The Green Committee established an action to

review and update this policy early in 2009-10.

The SE NRM Board currently implements the following activities, which will form part of the

comprehensive implementation plan when it is developed:

energy and water use efficiency where possible;

recycling of paper waste, cardboard and plastics, printer and toner cartridges;

composting of green waste through the use of a ‗Bokashi‘ bin;

vehicles are also being converted to diesel and LPG as they are replaced;

recycled stationary and catering products are used wherever possible, including note-

books, dividers, post-it notes, and a percentage of printer paper, as well as cardboard

pens and coffee cups;

all printer settings with the capacity to print double-sided have been defaulted to this

setting and black and white;

staff are encouraged to reduce paper consumption by only printing what is necessary,

and employing paper and ink saving techniques for draft documents;

staff are sent weekly ‗green tips‘ encouraging them to think about their activities and to

reduce the environmental impact of these activities; and

chemical cleaners have been replaced with organic-based cleaners to reduce toxic build

up and environmental waste.

M6: Reported on status/progress in reaching performance goals/targets

As benchmarking of current performance has only just commenced, reporting on the progress of

reaching targets (aside from energy efficiency targets which are reported above) will commence

in 2009-10.

M7: Initiated agency implementation plan

The Green Committee has commenced development of a comprehensive implementation plan

through its planning activities, and this is to be completed in 2009-10.

M8: Undertaking ongoing measuring, monitoring, reporting and, continuous

improvement of performance

The Green Committee has commenced measuring, monitoring, reporting and continuous

improvement of performance, and will report on this in 2009-10


Page 104

REGIONAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STATEMENTS The Board did not undertake any Regional Impact Assessment Statements during the

2008-09 financial year.

RECONCILIATION STATEMENT

The SE NRM Board would like to acknowledge the land on which it meets as the

traditional lands for the Meintangk, Marditjali, Potaruwutj, Bunganditj, (southern)

Tanganekald and (southern) Ngarkat people and that it respects their spiritual relationship with

their country. The SE NRM Board also acknowledges the Meintangk, Marditjali, Potaruwutj,

Bunganditj, Tanganekald and Ngarkat people as the custodians of the South East region and that

their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Meintangk, Marditjali,

Potaruwutj, Bunganditj, Tanganekald and Ngarkat people today. In fulfilling its functions, the

SE NRM Board strives to be cognisant of the cultural and natural heritage of traditional owners

and aims to achieve positive outcomes wherever these matters are concerned.

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR SIGNIFICANT MINISTERIAL DIRECTIVES

There were no significant Ministerial Directives to the SE NRM Board in 2008–09 by the

Minister.

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR SIGNIFICANT FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED BY MINISTER

There were no significant Ministerial functions assigned to the SE NRM Board in 2008–09 by

the Minister.

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR FUNCTIONS OR POWERS DELEGATED TO THE

BOARD

There were no significant additional functions or powers delegated to the SE NRM Board in

2008-09 under the NRM Act or any other Act.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNUAL REPORT

Section 38 of the Natural Resources Management Act requires that the Board must cause a

report to be prepared annually setting out the following information:

(1) A regional NRM Board must, on or before 31 October in every year, provide to the

NRM Council a report on its activities for the financial year ending on the preceding 30

June (and need not provide a report under section 6A of the Public Sector Management

Act 1995).

(2) The report must—

(a) include an assessment of the extent to which the regional NRM Board has

succeeded in implementing its regional NRM plan; and

(b) include the audited accounts and financial statements of the regional NRM

Board; and

(c) be accompanied by the annual reports of the NRM groups within its region; and


Page 105

(d) include other information required by or under this Act or the regulations.

Section 56 – Accounts and Audit of the Natural Resources Management Act requires that:

(1) An NRM group must cause proper accounts to be kept of its financial affairs and must

cause financial statements to be prepared in respect of each financial year.

(2) The Auditor-General may at any time, and must in respect of each financial year, audit

the accounts and financial statements required under subsection (1)

Section 57-Annual Reports of the Natural Resources Management Act requires that:

(1) An NRM group must, on or before 31 October in every year, provide to the regional

NRM Board or Boards that have responsibility for the NRM group a report on its

activities for the financial year ending on the preceding 30 June (and need not provide a

report under section 6A of the Public Sector Management Act 1995).

(2) The report must-

(a) include a copy of the audited accounts and financial statements of the NRM

group, and

(b) include other information required by or under the regulations.

In regards to Section 57(2)(b) there are no regulations applying.

SPECIFIC REPORTS

Section 39 of the Natural Resources Management Act states that:

(1)The Minister or the NRM Council may, by written notice to a regional NRM Board,

require the Board to provide to the Minister or the NRM Council, within a period stated

in the notice or at stated intervals, any report or reports relating to the performance,

exercise or discharge of its functions, powers or responsibilities, as the Minister or the

NRM Council (as the case may be) thinks fit.

(2) If a requirement is imposed under subsection (1), the regional NRM Board must cause a

statement of the fact of the imposition of the requirement to be published in its next

annual report.

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES LISTING

COMMITTEE Current Membership

Aboriginal Focus Group

Chris Johnson, Deb Lang, Pip

Rasenberg (BA)

APC-Box Flat Dingo Control Cttee

Richard Vickery (BA)

BLMC

David Williamson

Central NRM Group linking

Chris Johnson, Pip Rasenberg,

Jen Lillecrap, Lisa Schiff (All

BA)


Page 106

COMMITTEE Current Membership

Coastal Marine Integration Committee Pip Rasenberg (BA)

Corporate Governance & Finance Committee

Robert Mock, Jim Osborne,

Andrew Moore, Hugo Hopton

(All BA)

General Manager X DWLBC forum

Jim Osborne, Hugo Hopton

(BA)

General Managers' group (GM8) Hugo Hopton (BA)

Coorong Lower Lakes Ramsar Task Force Peter Alexander (RNBA)

Irrigation Efficiency Committee Jen Lillecrap (BA)

Lake Bonney Mgt Cttee Peter Alexander (RNBA)

Limestone Coast Regional Development Board Jen Lillecrap (BA)

Mosquito Creek Hugo Hopton (BA)

Nat Pk & Wildlife Consultative Cttee - SE

Pip Rasenberg, Peter Alexander

(RNBA)

Northern NRM Group linking

Di Ashby, Robert Mock,

Richard Vickery (All BA)

NWI Project Di Ashby (BA)

Padthaway Groundwater Mgt Cttee Jim Osborne (BA)

Planning advisory Group - Regional Plan

Chris Johnson, Pip Rasenberg,

Richard Vickery, Deb Lang,

Lisa Schiff (BA)

Presiding members group Jim Osborne (BA)

LLC & Coorong Coastal Mgt Group Robert Mock (BA)

SE Deer Advisory Committee Richard Vickery (BA)

SERIC Hugo Hopton (BA)

SEWCDB

Pip Rasenberg, Jim Osborne

(RNBA)

Southern NRM Gp linkages

Jim Osborne, Deb Lang,

Andrew Moore (BA)

Tintinara Coonalpyn WAP Committee Di Ashby (BA)

USE Program Board

Adrian Gargett, Jim Osborne

(RNBA), Chris Johnson (BA)

USE Transition Committee Hugo Hopton (BA)

BA = NRM Board appointed, Sitting Fees Apply RNBA = Relevant Non board

Appointment, No Sitting Fees Applicable


Page 107

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Board would like to thank the Minister and staff of South East Natural Resources

Management Board and the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation for the

support and encouragement that it has received over the year.

GLOSSARY

APC – Animal Plant Control

DECS - Department for Education and Children‘s Services

DEH – Department for Environment and Heritage

DEM - Digital Elevation Model

DWLBC – Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation

EEO - Equal Employment Opportunity

ETo - Evapotranspiration

FOI – Freedom of Information

LLC – Lower Limestone Coast

NRM – Natural Resources Management

PIRSA – Primary Industries and Resources South Australia

PWA – Prescribed Wells Area

SARDI – South Australian Research and Development Institute

SBWB - Southern Bent-wing Bat

SE – South East

SEEEWG - South East Environmental Education Working Group

SERIC - South East Resource Information Centre

WAP – Water Allocation Plan

PUBLICATIONS RELEASED OR UPDATED DURING 2008-2009

Spotlight on Foxes

Rabbit Control – Best Practice Information for Land Managers in the South East

Summer Pest Circular

Winter Pest Circular

From the Ground Up – Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn

SE NRM Board Communique – June, December


Page 108

ATTACHMENT 1: ANNUAL REPORT OF CENTRAL NRM GROUP


Page 109

CENTRAL

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT GROUP

ANNUAL REPORT

1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009


Page 110


Mr Jim Osborne Presiding Member South East Natural Resources Management Board P O Box 30 Mt Gambier SA 5290 Dear Jim In accordance with the requirements of the Public Sector Management Act 1995 and section 59 of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004, I have pleasure in presenting

the annual report of the Central Natural Resources Management Group for the year ended 30 June 2009.

James Ferguson O A M Chairperson Central Natural Resources Management Group


Page 111

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ................................................................. 110

FOREWORD .................................................................................... 112

NRM GROUP MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE NRM BOARD’S REPORT ............... 113

OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES ............................................................ 114

ROLE, LEGISLATION AND STRUCTURE ................................................... 115

ROLE OF THE GROUP .................................................................... 115

FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTRAL NRM GROUP ......................................... 115

MEMBERSHIP ............................................................................... 116

MEETINGS: GENERAL AND SPECIAL ................................................... 116

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES ............................................ 117

GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS ........................................................ 117

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE ................................................................. 117

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR SIGNIFICANT BOARD DIRECTIVES ....................... 117

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR SIGNIFICANT FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED BY THE BOARD 117

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR FUNCTIONS OR POWERS DELEGATED TO THE GROUP117

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR FUNCTIONS OR POWERS DELEGATED BY THE GROUP117

REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNUAL REPORT .................................................. 118

SPECIFIC REPORTS ........................................................................... 118

COMMITTEES LISTING ....................................................................... 118

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................... 119

GLOSSARY ..................................................................................... 119


Page 112

FOREWORD

The 2008-09 year has been very busy for the group. Some members have had to re apply for their positions and some are new. This has provided an opportunity to re examine our respective roles. I believe it has produced a strengthening of the group performance. The members of the group have contributed to a wide range of issues. Pests and weed control is still high on our agenda with support for rabbit control in native vegetation, fox control in conservation parks and deer control to name a few. The Group has worked with Dept. of Environment and Heritage in their public information activities and threatened species days. Our members are involved with a diverse range of community groups and attend many field days, workshops and forums on natural resource management. Much of the Group‘s time has been spent on initiatives to preserve and develop habitats for the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo. We have been able to work with staff from the South East Mallee & Woodland Threatened Species network from the World Wildlife Fund. This has enabled us to be seen by landholders in the area as a group able to do something positive about this component of the environment. Several activities have centred on developing a better knowledge of indigenous culture in the area, particularly along the coast. We plan to work closely with the Aboriginal Focus Group in 2009/10. Every opportunity has been taken to use the press to get positive publicity for the activities of the group. We thank SENRM board staff for their help in this. Again this year we have held public meetings in each of the major centres in our area, Naracoorte, Lucindale, Struan, Robe and Kingston. As chair I, once again, want to acknowledge the support given to the Group by the SENRM board staff. I would like to give special recognition to the work done by our

secretary, Anne Lyons as this year has been especially difficult because of the staff changes at the Group facilitator level. I believe the SENRM Board has been well served by the performance of the Central NRM Group members in 2008/2009. James A Ferguson OAM Chairperson Central NRM Group


Page 113

NRM GROUP MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE NRM BOARD’S REPORT The following annual reporting requirements are not included in this report as they are reported in the Central Natural Resources Management Board‘s Annual Report:

Plans and Objectives

Links between the Board and the SA Strategic Plan

Links between the Board and the State NRM Plan.

Object of the Natural Resources Management Act

Administration of the Act

Organisational Structure

Management of Human Resources

Equal Employment Opportunity Programs

Occupational, Health, Safety and Injury Management

Contractual Arrangements

Account Payment Performance

Fraud

Disability Action Plans

Asbestos Management in Government Buildings

Urban Design Charter

Freedom of Information

Energy Efficiency Action Plan Report

Greening of Government Operations Framework

Regional Impact Assessment Statements

Reconciliation Statement


Page 114

OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES

Habitat Protection: The Chair was nominated as liaison with South East Red tailed Black Cockatoo

Project Team Two members attended the cross border Habitat 141 project forum at Cavendish. The Group has partnered with the Threatened Species Network to assist in the

preservation of habitat for the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. In particular, the members have brought their strong community connections to the fore and identified landholders who may be interested in participating in the project.

Members visited Bool and Hacks Lagoons and subsequently took an interest in the SE NRM Board Cross Border Mosquito Creek project seeking artificial habitat to preserve fish, with two members attended the forum in Edenhope, Victoria

Weeds and Pests Members participated in the DEH Wildlife talks in Naracoorte Threatened Species Day, Naracoorte Caves supported by members Sponsored the Weedstop Workshop held in Naracoorte to encourage vehicle

cleaning to avoid weed spread. Members provided weeds and attended Weedbusters Week forum ―Reduce Weed Spread Now‖ brochure produced in conjunction with the Northern

and Southern NRM Groups. Members attended and provided an environmental and agricultural weed display

for the Lucindale Field Day Three representatives attended Alert Weed Training Feedback provided on the SENRM Board Invasive Species Biosecurity Strategy.

Land Management Attended training for compliance action in relation to the SE NRM Board‘s Land

Management Policy. One member attended local land management inspection regarding a complaint on

soil erosion, as required by the Land Management Policy Toured Aboriginal sites in Kingston area including Teeluk to familiarise members

with Aboriginal Focus Group activity on revegetation of coastal areas. Received briefing on Aboriginal Heritage sites in the South East with a tour of Long

Gully and Errington Hole to see joint projects operating there. The Group has a desire to further support the Aboriginal Focus Group in the future.

Communication To encourage better communication with Councils, the Group met at Robe and

Kingston Council chambers and had several Councillors attend One formal and one informal combined South East NRM Group meetings held

during 12 month period at Beachport and Struan. Group seeking to contribute financially with the Southern NRM Group proposal to

re-print one of Neville Bonney‘s books

Funding Supported funding applications for Fox Baiting and Control Program


Page 115

Supported the Vegetation response to Climate Change at the Naracoorte World Heritage Area.

Sought funding for Eradication of Invasive Species in the Naracoorte North Parklands.

ROLE, LEGISLATION AND STRUCTURE The Central Natural Resources Management Group was established in December 2004 under the auspices of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004. This report for the

2008-09 financial year fulfils the requirements of section 57 of the Natural Resources Management Act. ROLE OF THE GROUP

The SE NRM Board‘s role is defined in the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 and includes:

Promoting public awareness and understanding of the importance of integrated and sustainable NRM;

Undertaking and supporting educational activities and increasing community capacity to undertake sustainable natural resource management.

In order to maintain close links with the community, the Board has established three NRM Groups within its region; these are the Northern Group, Central Group and Southern NRM Groups. The role of the NRM Groups is to provide a link to their communities, support and encourage engagement with the public and ensure representation of local priority issues.

FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTRAL NRM GROUP

Section 52 of the Natural Resources Management Act describes the functions of the Central Natural Resources Management Group: (1) The functions of a regional NRM Group are— (a) to be actively involved in the development and implementation of any relevant

regional NRM plan at the local level (to the extent specified or envisaged by that plan or specified by the relevant board or boards); and

(b) to develop, implement or participate in programs associated with natural resources management at the local level; and

(c) to promote public awareness of the importance of integrated and sustainable natural resources management within its area and to undertake or support educational initiatives with respect to natural resources management; and


Page 116

(d) to provide advice to regional NRM boards, and other bodies and agencies, with respect to the assessment of various activities, proposals, situations or circumstances within its area; and

(f) Such other functions prescribed by the regulations or assigned to the NRM Group by a regional NRM board, or by or under this or any other Act.

MEMBERSHIP

Section 48 of the Natural Resources Management Act provides for the appointment of the Central Natural Resources Management Group.

The Group consists of up to 7 members, appointed by the regional NRM board, being persons who collectively have, in the opinion of the board, knowledge, skills and experience determined by the board or boards to enable the NRM Group to carry out its functions effectively.

The membership of the Central Group during 2008-09 was: Members

James Ferguson, Kingston

Anthony Paget, Kingston Heather Kriesl, Naracoorte

Anna Hooper, Cape Jaffa

Philip Schaefer, Kingston

Pat Bourne, Bool Lagoon

Bob Netherton, Naracoorte

Sharon Orwell (Resigned November 08)


A total of six general Group meetings were held during the 2008-09 financial year. A total of six briefing sessions were held during the 2008-2009 financial year A total of two special Group meetings were held during the 2008-09 financial year. Attendance by appointed members at meetings:

Member Meetings

attended Comments Reason for non

attendance

James Ferguson 14 of 14 Chairperson Anthony Paget 8 of 14 Family appointments

Heather Kriesl 14 of 14

Anna Hooper 12 of 14 Sick children

Philip Schaefer 8 of 14 Farm duties

Pat Bourne 14 of 14


Page 117

Member Meetings


attendance

Bob Netherton 7 of 7 Commenced with Group

Feb 09 but had been attending as a visitor during 2008.

Sharon Orwell 2 of 5 Resigned from Group Nov 08

Work commitments


The Group works closely with the SE NRM Board and regional agencies such the Department

for Environment and Heritage.


During 2008-09, the Central NRM Group has not developed any additional policies to support governance arrangements.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Financial transaction are completed by the South East Natural Resources Management Board

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR SIGNIFICANT BOARD DIRECTIVES During 2008-09, there were no significant board directives given to the Group in accordance with sections 47 and 53 of the Natural Resources Management Act.

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR SIGNIFICANT FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED BY

THE BOARD No additional functions have been assigned by the Board to the Group during 2008-09.

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR FUNCTIONS OR POWERS DELEGATED

TO THE GROUP

No additional functions or powers have been assigned by the Board to the Group during 2008-09.


BY THE GROUP

There were no functions or powers delegated by the Group in 2008-09.


Page 118

REQUIREMENTS FOR ANNUAL REPORT Section 56 – Accounts and Audit of the Natural Resources Management Act requires that:

(3) An NRM Group must cause proper accounts to be kept of its financial affairs and must


(4) The Auditor-General may at any time, and must in respect of each financial year, audit the accounts and financial statements required under subsection (1)


(3) An NRM Group must, on or before 31 October in every year, provide to the regional NRM board or boards that have responsibility for the NRM Group a report on its activities for the financial year ending on the preceding 30 June (and need not provide a report under section 6A of the Public Sector Management Act 1995).

(4) The report must- (a) include a copy of the audited accounts and financial statements of the

NRM Group, and (b) include other information required by or under the regulations.

In regards to section 57(2)(b) there are no regulations applying.

SPECIFIC REPORTS Section 58 of the Natural Resources Management Act states that:

(1)The Minister or a regional NRM Board may, by written notice to a regional NRM Group, require the Group to provide to the Minister or the Regional NRM

board, within a period stated in the notice or at stated intervals, any report or reports relating to the performance, exercise or discharge of its functions, powers or responsibilities, as the Minister or the regional NRM board (as the case may be) thinks fit.

(2) If a requirement is imposed under subsection (1), the regional NRM Group must cause a statement of the fact of the imposition of the requirement to be published in its next annual report.

There were no specific reports requested and provided to the Minister or the NRM Council under section 39 during 2008-09.

COMMITTEES LISTING

The Central NRM Group did not have any sub-committees during 2008-09.


Page 119

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Group would like to thank the Minister for Environment and Conservation, staff and Board Members of the SE NRM Board; Department for Environment and Heritage; South East Mallee & Woodland Threatened Species Network and WWF Australia for the support and encouragement that it has received over the year.

GLOSSARY

SE NRM South East Natural Resource Management DEH Department for Environment and Heritage WWF World Wildlife Fund


Page 120

ATTACHMENT 2: ANNUAL REPORT OF SOUTHERN NRM GROUP


Page 121

SOUTHERN NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT GROUP

ANNUAL REPORT

1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009


Page 122


Jim Osborne Presiding Member South East Natural Resources Management Board P O Box 30 Mount Gambier, SA 5290 Dear Jim In accordance with the requirements of the Public Sector Management Act 1995 and section 59 of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004, I have pleasure in presenting the annual report of the Southern Natural Resources Management Group for the year ended 30 June 2009.

Max Arney Chairperson Southern Natural Resources Management Group


Page 123

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ............................................................. 122

FOREWORD .................................................................................. 124

NRM GROUP MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE NRM BOARD’S REPORT ...... 125

OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES ....................................................... 126

ROLE, LEGISLATION AND STRUCTURE ............................................. 127

ROLE OF THE GROUP ................................................................. 127

FUNCTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN NRM GROUP ................................. 127

MEMBERSHIP ............................................................................ 128

MEETINGS: GENERAL AND SPECIAL ............................................. 128

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES ...................................... 129

GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS .................................................. 129

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE ............................................................ 129

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR SIGNIFICANT BOARD DIRECTIVES .............. 129

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR SIGNIFICANT FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED BY THE

BOARD ........................................................................................ 129


GROUP ........................................................................................ 129

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR FUNCTIONS OR POWERS DELEGATED BY THE

GROUP ........................................................................................ 129



COMMITTEES LISTING ................................................................... 130


GLOSSARY ................................................................................... 131


Page 124

FOREWORD

The Southern NRM Group brings together seven highly skilled, community connected, and enthusiastic members. The key issues and priority focus areas are included in the Group‘s Work Plan, and the Group is committed to supporting the Board in implementing projects, and acting as a resource to the Board in communicating at a local level. Example priority focus areas for the Group include actively engaging the community and local government in preservation of roadside vegetation, extension of vegetation corridors and urban biodiversity, pest plant and animal control, promoting sustainable land and water resource management, influencing projects that affect coastal and marine environments, and projects that provide education and knowledge to further natural resource management outcomes. At the end of their term of two years, we bid farewell to two members of the original Group and welcomed two new members in March 2009. Anne Lyons has continued as Secretary for the NRM Groups but there has been a change in Coordinators during the year. We are grateful for the support given to the Group by the SENRM Board and staff. Max Arney Chairperson


Page 125

NRM GROUP MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE NRM BOARD’S REPORT The following annual reporting requirements are not included in this report as they are reported in the Southern Natural Resources Management Board‘s Annual Report:












Fraud










Page 126

OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES The Southern NRM Group has become more involved in initiating community education and focus

towards sustainable landscapes.

Through letters of recommendation to local government, monetary and in kind support of DEH

Community Environmental Seminars, monetary and facilitation support to community groups with

environmental projects, and involvement in various workshop forums aimed at the development of NRM focussed programs, the Group feels confident that it has substantially elevated the profile of NRM and

the engagement of a wider section of the community in NRM.

Highlighted Projects and Activities include:-

Group Members helping with and speaking at forums including the Environmental Youth Day,

Alert Weed Training and Weedstop Workshops, Fox Control and Vertebrate Pest Management

Workshops, NRM Stand at Lucindale Field Days, Greening Australia‘s Habitat 141 Workshop, the Mosquito Creek Catchment Management Workshop, and the Biodiversity Corridor Project.

Letters were sent to local Councils encouraging their focus on NRM issues, in particular native

vegetation value along roadsides and disused road reserves as well as in urban landscapes,

controlling weeds along roadsides and reserves, and allowances for biodiversity urban and sub-urban situations. A presentation was made to the District Council of Grant in support of these

concepts.

Group education in terms of the Group Members gaining knowledge to address NRM issues has

seen the Southern Group visit and receive briefings on: Lake George and Drain M, attending The

Big Day Out and the 3 Groups Meeting, visits to a winery effluent processing site, Red Tailed Black Cockatoo habitat, Market Based Instruments workshop, Genetically Modified Crops and

Biosecurity Strategy presentations and attendance at Board Meetings.

Media releases through FTGU, the Penola Pennant, the Naracoorte Herald, and the Stock Journal

on the importance of ‗paddock‘ trees of Stringy Barks, Bulokes and Redgums to Red-tailed Black Cockatoo survival.

Worked with Penola High School to obtain funding for vineyard and garden irrigation

conversion to drip irrigation.

Funded bat boxes for St Martin‘s Primary School, Mt Gambier

Provide small amounts of funding toward DEH Threatened Species seminars.

Committed funds towards Ixodia seedling propagation for community planting projects and SE

NRM Board ―Reduce Weed Spread Now‖ brochure production.

The Southern NRM Group committed funds and support for an important drought refuge for the

Critically Endangered fish species, Yarra Pygmy Perch. By providing shallow pools in times of

drought and awareness raising signs, the Group hopes to contribute to the continued existence of

the species in the Lower South East.

The Group has also proposed to revise and reprint a local plant identification guide written by

local author, Neville Bonney. A business case outlining the proposal has been developed.

Group members were also involved in various community groups through their own affiliations

such as Port MacDonnell Landcare Group, Birds Australia and regional groups, RtBC Annual

Count and Buloke Planting, Orange bellied Parrot Survey, Friends of Shorebirds etc.


Page 127

ROLE, LEGISLATION AND STRUCTURE The Southern Natural Resources Management Group was established on December 2004 under the auspices of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004. This report for the 2008-09 financial year fulfils the requirements of section 57 of the Natural Resources Management Act. ROLE OF THE GROUP

The SE NRM Board‘s role is defined in the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 and

includes:



In order to maintain close links with the community, the Board has established three NRM Groups within its region; these are the Northern Group, Central Group and Southern NRM Groups. The role of the NRM Groups is to provide a link to their communities, support and encourage engagement with the public and ensure representation of local priority issues.

FUNCTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN NRM GROUP

Section 52 of the Natural Resources Management Act describes the functions of the Southern Natural Resources Management Group: (1) The functions of a regional NRM Group are— (a) to be actively involved in the development and implementation of any relevant





(g) Such other functions prescribed by the regulations or assigned to the NRM Group by a regional NRM board, or by or under this or any other Act.


Page 128

MEMBERSHIP

Section 48 of the Natural Resources Management Act provides for the appointment of the Southern Natural Resources Management Group.


The membership of the Southern Group during 2008-09 was: Members

Max Arney, Penola

Sharn Smith, Mount Gambier Nicholas Hunt, Kalangadoo

Peter Feast, Mt Gambier

Maureen Christie, Carpenter Rocks

Jeremy Freeman, Mt Gambier

Bruce Bain, Mt Gambier

Allison Chambers, Millicent - ended February 2009

Tom Megaw, Allendale East – ended February 2009


A total of six general public Group meetings were held during the 2008-09 financial year. A total of six briefing sessions were held during 2008-2009 financial year A total of 2 special Group meetings were held during the 2008-09 financial year. Attendance by appointed members at meetings:

Member Meetings


attendance

Max Arney 14 of 14 Chairperson Sharn Smith 11 of 14 nee Sharn Lucas Out of area

Nick Hunt 14 of 14

Peter Feast 14 of 14

Maureen Christie 12 of 14

Jeremy Freeman 5 of 5 Commenced March 09

Bruce Bain 3 of 5 Commenced March 09

Allison Chambers

7 of 9 Concluded term Feb 09 Work commitments

Tom Megaw 2 of 8 Concluded term Feb 09 Illness


Page 129



for Environment and Heritage and PIRSA Forestry.


During 2008-09, the Southern NRM Group has not developed any additional policies to support governance arrangements.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Financial transaction are completed by the South East Natural Resources Management Board





TO THE GROUP



BY THE GROUP



Page 130











(1)The Minister or a regional NRM Board may, by written notice to a regional NRM Group, require the Group to provide to the Minister or the Regional NRM board, within a period stated in the notice or at stated intervals, any report or

reports relating to the performance, exercise or discharge of its functions, powers or responsibilities, as the Minister or the regional NRM board (as the case may be) thinks fit.



COMMITTEES LISTING

The Southern NRM Group did not have any sub-committees during 2008-09.


Page 131

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Group would like to thank the Minister, the South East NRM Board, and the Board staff for the support and encouragement that it has received over the year.

GLOSSARY

SENRMB South East Natural Resources Management Board

DEH Department for Environment and Heritage of South Australia

NRM Natural Resources Management

RtBC Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo

SNRMG Southern Natural Resources Management Group under the

SENRMB


Page 132

ATTACHMENT 3: ANNUAL REPORT OF NORTHERN NRM GROUP


Page 133

NORTHERN NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT GROUP

ANNUAL REPORT

1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009


Page 134


Mr Jim Osborne Presiding Member South East Natural Resources Management Board P O Box 30 MT GAMBIER, SA 5290 Dear Jim In accordance with the requirements of the Public Sector Management Act 1995 and section 59 of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004, I have pleasure in presenting the annual report of the Northern Natural Resources Management Group for the year ended 30 June 2009.

Graham Kaye Chairperson Northern Natural Resources Management Group


Page 135

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ............................................................. 134

OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES ....................................................... 136

ROLE OF THE GROUP ................................................................. 138

FUNCTIONS OF THE NORTHERN NRM GROUP ................................. 138

MEMBERSHIP ............................................................................ 139

MEETINGS: GENERAL AND SPECIAL ............................................. 139

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER AGENCIES ...................................... 140

GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS .................................................. 140

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE ............................................................ 140

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR SIGNIFICANT BOARD DIRECTIVES .............. 140

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR SIGNIFICANT FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED BY THE

BOARD ........................................................................................ 140


GROUP ........................................................................................ 141

STATEMENT OF FACT FOR FUNCTIONS OR POWERS DELEGATED BY THE

GROUP ........................................................................................ 141



COMMITTEES LISTING ................................................................... 142


GLOSSARY ................................................................................... 142


Page 136

NRM GROUP MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE NRM BOARD’S REPORT

The following annual reporting requirements are not included in this report as they are reported in the Northern Natural Resources Management Board‘s Annual Report:












Fraud









OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES At the time of preparing this report, the position of Chairperson for the Northern NRM Group was vacant. Inaugural Chairperson, Graham Kaye resigned on 2nd July 2009 following his retirement from full time work. Graham kindly prepared a summary of the Group‘s activities and achievements over his final year leading the group, which is provided in the section below.

Possibly the most significant highlight of the year was the visit to the Upper South East by Peter Andrews, Natural Sequence Farming consultant on 14th March, 2009. Peter‘s address, to a capacity audience of 300 in the Keith Institute, principally promoted the increase of soil organic matter to improve soil structure and thus moisture retention in the landscape. The visit significantly raised community awareness of NRM issues and the profile of the Group. It also addressed one of the key strategic issues identified by the Group in their first year was soils, soil fragility and soil degradation.


Page 137

Further issues that have occupied the Group member‘s attention have been aquifer and soil salinity, declining water quality and quantity, biodiversity and management of native vegetation, industry and development, pest plants and animals and near coastal concerns. The Group have also sought to define some of the strategic risks to our NRM assets as part of their development of the Work Plan. To give members the opportunity to see first hand some of the issues facing NRM, the Group has met at a range of locations around the Region. Raising the profile of the Northern NRM Group and the SE NRM Board has been a goal for the Group, which has resulted in information stands at the Keith and Mundulla annual shows. These stands promoted a wide range of NRM issues including water quality testing, weed control and support for the Irrigation Efficiency Project. Members also supported the SE NRM Board‘s stand at the annual Lucindale Field Days. Group members, separately or collectively, have been involved in a wide range of activities such as being the landholder representative for SA, Vic, NSW & Tas. to the Saltland Reference Group for FFI CRC Farming Saline Landscapes Program, participating in Land Management Training and undertaking weekly tree planting,

bushcare and waterwatch (on Lake Indawarra) programmes with Tintinara Area school students. Members have also undertaken the ‗Alert Weed Training Workshop‘ at Struan and been active members of the Padthaway Groundwater Stakeholders Workshops that provided direction for the Board in developing the Padthaway Water Allocation Plan. Prof. David Paton addressed a meeting in Keith on the plight of the Coorong and this meeting was attended by a number of Group members. Some of the many NRM issues the Group has had the opportunity to study include Habitat 141 and its role in NRM, the Tintinara Confined Wells Rehabilitation, Saltland Agronomy, soil erosion and weed invasion issues in the Northern area. The Group sought the co-operation of the Central and Southern Groups in printing and distributing a brochure on weed seed cleaning (Reduce Weed Spread Now) to promote greater care by contractors when entering properties to reduce the spread of weeds. The Group also published and distributed a brochure on soil erosion. It should also be recognised that Group members provide significant volunteer hours working in a variety of community groups in the area. In September the Group lost a very valuable member with the passing of Peter Ridgway. Peter had great experience in natural resources management through his years of involvement and he was extremely well respected by the Upper South East community. He is sadly missed. In recognition of the contribution that member Peter Ridgway made to the community and NRM, the Group established and presented the Peter Ridgway Perpetual Trophy for NRM photographs at the Mundulla Show.


Page 138

Miles Hannemann was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Carleen Leach and he attended his first meeting in September, 2008. Simon Oster and Kylie Pethybridge were appointed to fill casual vacancies on the Group and both attended their first meeting on 5th February, 2009. The two year terms of Tracey Strugnell, Judy Zacker and Graham Kaye concluded in February and they were reappointed for a further three year term. Graham Kaye subsequently tendered his resignation in June due to retirement. I would like to record my thanks to the Group members and Secretary for their active

participation, support and co-operation. I believe that the Group has achieved some

considerable milestones over the last year and for that I thank Group members.

ROLE, LEGISLATION AND STRUCTURE

The Northern Natural Resources Management Group was established in December 2004 under the auspices of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004. This report for

the 2008-09 financial year fulfils the requirements of section 57 of the Natural Resources Management Act. ROLE OF THE GROUP

The SE NRM Board‘s role is defined in the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 and includes:



In order to maintain close links with the community, the Board has established three NRM Groups within its region; these are the Northern Group, Central Group and Southern NRM Groups. The role of the NRM Groups is to provide a link to their communities, support and encourage engagement with the public and ensure representation of local priority issues. FUNCTIONS OF THE NORTHERN NRM GROUP

Section 52 of the Natural Resources Management Act describes the functions of the Northern Natural Resources Management Group: (1) The functions of a regional NRM Group are— (a) to be actively involved in the development and implementation of any relevant



Page 139




(h) Such other functions prescribed by the regulations or assigned to the NRM Group by a regional NRM board, or by or under this or any other Act.

MEMBERSHIP

Section 48 of the Natural Resources Management Act provides for the appointment of

the Northern Natural Resources Management Group.


The membership of the Northern Group during 2008-09 was: Members

Graham Kaye, Padthaway

Gordon Stopp, Keith Tracey Strugnell, Tintinara

Judy Zacker, Tintinara

Miles Hannemann - Keith

Kylie Pethybridge – Naracoorte working in northern region

Simon Oster – Goolwa working in Coorong region

Peter Ridgway, Mundulla


A total of 6 general Group public meetings were held during the 2008-09 financial year. A total of 6 briefing sessions were held during the 2008-2009 financial year A total of 5 special Group meetings were held during the 2008-09 financial year. Attendance by appointed members at meetings is shown on the following page.


Page 140

Member Meetings


attendance

Graham Kaye 15 of 17 Chairperson to end of June

09

Work commitments

Gordon Stopp 14 of 17 Health/Interstate meeting

Tracey Strugnell 12 of 15 Family reasons

Judy Zacker 13 of 15 Away from region

Peter Ridgway 5 of 5 Died September 2008

Miles Hannemann

14 of 15 Started September 2008

Kylie Pethybridge

7 of 9 Started February 2009 Work commitments

Simon Oster 7 or 9 Started February 2009 Work commitments



for Environment and Heritage.


During 2008-09, the Northern NRM Group has not developed any additional policies to support governance arrangements.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Financial transaction are completed by the South East Natural Resources Management

Board





Page 141


TO THE GROUP



BY THE GROUP












(1)The Minister or a regional NRM Board may, by written notice to a regional NRM Group, require the Group to provide to the Minister or the Regional NRM

board, within a period stated in the notice or at stated intervals, any report or reports relating to the performance, exercise or discharge of its functions, powers or responsibilities, as the Minister or the regional NRM board (as the case may be) thinks fit.


Page 142



COMMITTEES LISTING

The Northern NRM Group did not have any sub-committees during 2008-09.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Group would like to thank the Minister and staff of the South East Natural Resource Management Board for the support and encouragement that it has received over the year.

GLOSSARY

LAP Local Action Plan DEH Department for Environment and Heritage NNRM Northern Natural Resources Management Group

Date post:	28-Jul-2020
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	2 times
Download:	0 times