The 2006/07 year saw the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board fully undertake the financial operations of the previous prescribed bodies and Interim NRM Group. As outlined in the Eyre Peninsula Initial Plan, programs have remained consistent with what has previously been undertaken across the region. The total budget for the Board for the current financial year comprises $6, 599, 630 to undertake regional programs and support a regional organisation with over 30 staff, both corporate and on-ground.
Major Program areas are listed below:
Water Resource Management ($865, 000)
- This includes activities outlined in the previously developed Catchment Water Management Plan such as: Reviewing the regional catchment report and establishing an account of the region’s water budget;
- Implementing and managing the legislative requirements associated with Water Affecting Activities;
- Undertaking a community awareness program in relation to water resources;
- Developing best practice guidelines for the region in relation to water resources;
- Facilitating the efficient use of water resource projects;
- Identifying and assisting with projects relating to additional water supplies including Future Needs and innovation.
Control and Management of pest animals and weeds ($727, 400)
This program facilitates and supports projects identified in the regional pest animal and weed strategy including;
- Preventing new and emerging pest plant problems on Eyre Peninsula;
- Ensuring a significant reduction of the impact of current pest problems;
- Supporting an informed community who understands the economic, social and environmental impacts of pests;
- Supporting a coordinated integrated approach to animal and plant control across the Eyre Peninsula region including the Integrated Pest Management program ;
- Development of appropriate plans, policies and resources that meet the needs of the Eyre Peninsula region and statutory requirements of the Act; and
- Undertaking a weed risk assessment to ensure that the proclaimed weeds are relevant to the region.
Other activities that staff working within this particular program are involved in include:
- Land degradation and land management issues including dryland salinity management and soil fertility;
- Undertaking activities on unallotted Crown lands; and
- Supporting vegetation management and revegetation associated with agriculture.
Regional NRM Planning ($208, 000)
- Development of the state of the region report; and
- Development of the regional NRM Plan.
Regional Engagement and community participation ($278 000)
- Formation and facilitation of regional groups;
- Discretionary funding to support on-ground activities; and
- Involvement with planning and consultative process for local areas.
Advisory Committees ($163, 000)
As part of the development of the Regional Options Paper it was identified that specific advisory committees to the Board would be required to provided regional strategic advice. These advisory committees are:
- Water Resources;
- Coast and Marine;
- Land Management;
- Indigenous; and
- Biodiversity.
Governance ($308, 000)
There are a number of issues related to Board operations that are undertaken by the Board including;
Board member activities associated with Board function;
- Oversee planning process, development of strategic direction and policy development;
- Involvement with NHT/NLP Investment process;
- Involvement with regional activities related to achieving the Objects of the Act; and
- Assisting address regional issues such as drought, bushfire management and regional planning.
In addition, 19 percent of the Boards budget is utilised in:
- Meeting a range of legislative requirements including audit and reporting processes;
- Mandatory staff requirements including training and development and OHS&W;
- Providing corporate services function to the Board, Groups, Advisory Committees and Staff including salary of corporate services staff; and
- Office accommodation and related costs for staff across the region.
These figures have not been attributed to projects or programs but support all activities undertaken by the Board and staff of the Board.
Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) funded activities for 2006/07 ($2, 712, 000)
The projects funded through the NHT process for 2006/07 are listed below and further information on the detail can be provided by contacting the Board.
- Monitoring and evaluation;
- Bushland condition monitoring;
- Indigenous engagement and capacity building;
- Community education through Ark on Eyre;
- Wetland management;
- Stage 3 of Cummins-Wanilla Basin project;
- Charlton Gully to Tulka – Integrated environmental actions;
- Integrated weed management;
- Integrated pest management;
- Threatened flora and fauna recovery;
- Bush management and conservation;
- Integrated coast and marine management;
- Establishing marine baselines; and
- Farming systems in Salt Creek and Brooker catchments.
Expenditure 2007/08
Proposed expenditure for 2007/08 has been identified as part of the amendments to the Initial Plan review and includes
- Water Resources ($480, 000) completion of third year of Catchment Water Management Plan;
- Animal and Pest Plant ($743, 000);
- NRM Planning ($212, 000);
- Advisory Committees ($184, 000);
- Community Engagement ($416, 000) including additional discretionary funds for local projects;
- NHT/NLP ($2, 513, 000) – approval undertaken in May/June by Australian Government; and
- Governance ($308, 000).
Additional proposed activities for 2007-08 include;*
- Devolved Grants Program ($100, 000);
- Integrated approach to Fire Management for Eyre Peninsula ($25, 000);
- Sustainable Agricultural practices ($50, 000);
- Pest animal and weed risk assessment ($40, 000);
- Land / Coastal interface investigations ($20, 000); and
- Investigations and development of research initiatives relating to climate change ($45, 000).
*The proposed expenditure for 2007/08 is subject to approval of the amendments to the Initial Plan review which is part of a parliamentary process outlined in the legislation.