 First BCC meeting brings new Basin Plan closer22 July 2009 Development of a plan to put the stressed Murray-Darling Basin on a sustainable footing came another step closer today with the first meeting of the new Basin Community Committee in Canberra. Murray-Darling Basin Authority Chair Mr Mike Taylor said that all elements were now in place to start developing the new Basin Plan. “The Authority sees the community committee’s primary role as one of information gathering and communication around the development of the Basin Plan,” he said. “The committee will gauge the community’s reactions to Basin Plan elements, listen to and compile views of the various stakeholders and community members and present a whole of Basin perspective to the Authority.” In addition to the Basin Plan advice, the 16-member community committee will also provide a community perspective in advising the Authority and the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council on a wide range of water resource, environmental, cultural and socio-economic matters. “Comprising members from all Basin states and the ACT, the committee is chaired by Joan Burns from Victoria. They bring a comprehensive mix of knowledge and skills relevant to Basin communities, irrigated agriculture, environmental management, Indigenous issues, and water use,” Mr Taylor said. At their meeting in Canberra today committee members were given an overview of their role and responsibilities, an outline of the key elements of the Basin Plan and an explanation of the importance of stakeholder engagement processes and opportunities. The MDBA is represented on the Committee by the four part-time Authority members on a rotational basis, with Professor Barry Hart attending today’s meeting. The Basin Community Committee will form three subcommittees on irrigation, environmental water, and Indigenous matters. The Committee will also meet in regional areas to encourage discussions with the Basin community. The members are:
Joan Burns – Chair – Tempy dryland farmer and stock and domestic water use in the Murray-Darling Basin. Chair of the Mallee Catchment Management Authority. Extensive experience of MDBA programs. Arlene Buchan – Has led the Australian Conservation Foundation’s river and water program for past 4 years. Extensive experience in wide range of environmental, water, irrigation industry and related community issues. Sarah Nicholas – Strategic planning and change management consultant focusing on sustainability. Member of The Living Murray Community Reference Group. Chair of the North East Catchment Management Authority, 2000 - 2009. Member of MDB CAC 2000 - 2008 Russell Pell – Shepparton Irrigation Region dairy farmer. Involved in community environmental groups for more than 20 years. Danielle Anderson – Dryland farmer near Wellington, NSW. Also a communicator having worked as public relations officer for the NSW Department of Natural Resources for the Western Region and for the Far West Region of NSW. Les Gordon – Irrigator for more than 30 years standing and current president of the Ricegrowers Association. Dick Thompson – Irrigator farming rice, wheat and sheep in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area near Griffith. Chairman of Murrumbidgee Irrigation Ltd and a member of the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority. Kathryn Ridge – Environmental lawyer who, among many achievements, helped establish the Environmental Water Trust for the Nature Conservation Council of NSW. Guy Roth – Agricultural and natural resource specialist . National Coordinator of the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation. Guy runs an R&D business based north west NSW. Rory Treweeke – Farmer/grazier on the Narran River floodplains in north east NSW. Has extensive experience in water development issues. He is currently chair of the Western Catchment Management Authority and a member of the Great Artesian Basin Advisory Group in NSW. Cheryl Buchanan – Indigenous writer and advocate. Currently Chairperson of Kooma Traditional Owners Association Inc. She was inaugural state and national chairperson of the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council and helped found a number of Aboriginal organizations. Mary-Lou Gittins – Educator and irrigator in Goomburra Valley in the Upper Condamine catchment. Mary-Lou has a strong background community participation and representation. Henry Jones – Commercial fisherman and a volunteer to many community groups over many years. Has advocated strongly for the health of the Lower Lakes and the River Murray since 1981. Jeff Parish – CEO of Central Irrigation Trust which provides water to 1600 irrigators, 3500 households and 70 industries in 10 districts along the Murray River. Jeff has extensive experience in natural resource management and water planning. Matthew Rigney - Chairperson of the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRN) – a federation of 10 traditional owner groups in the southern Murray-Darling river valleys. He is also a member of Tendi-Ngarrindjeri Governing Body. Emeritus Professor Ian R. Falconer AO. Water scientist and researcher, he is currently vice president of the Conservation Council of the ACT and was a (modest) registered Poll Dorset stud breeder. Prof Falconer has extensive experience of water quality issues. MDBA media contact: Sam Leone (02) 6279 0141 Photo: MDBA |
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