Regional Networks

The Environment Division coordinates a series of regional Local Government Networks. These professionally-based networks provide an opportunity for local council staff to meet periodically to share ideas, keep up to date with key local government issues and innovations. These meetings also provide an ideal forum to hear from guest speakers from State Government, industry and academic researchers and community representatives. The networks also provide opportunity for cross-council discussion and are responsible for generating many solutions and projects to address issues common across the region.

The HCCREMS forum is held every 3 Months, If you would like to download presentations from our April 2009 forum please click on the links below.

Fauna on the Roadside

Getting on top of Weeds

Managing Multiple Agendas & Biodiversity Conservation

Local Climatic Predictions

How does Sustainability rate as an issue to Councils

Focus on SUSTAINABILITY

Why Comply

Turning the Pages

Energy Reduction

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Hunter-Central Rivers CMA Local Government Reference Group

The Hunter Central Rivers CMA Local Government Reference Group (LGRG) is composed of two representatives from each member council (a member of staff and an elected representative) and serves to facilitate information exchange between Councils and the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA.  The Local Government Reference Group representatives provide the initial point of contact for the Catchment Management Authority and provide guidance on administrative, strategic and general Council-related issues.

The Local Government Reference Group has coordinated council representation into a range of CMA process – including Catchment Action Plan (CAP) consultation through theme teams and workshops. The CMA meets with the LGRG quarterly (and as-needs basis) – seeking council feedback on a range of topics, and providing updates on CMA activities.

A major focus has been the development of a Memorandum of Understanding between local councils and the CMA. The MoU is based on a set of general principles which define the roles of the different parties and aims to strengthen partnership approaches to NRM at the regional and local levels. It provides guidance and direction for working relationships between the two parties in planning for, investing in, and adaptively reviewing progress towards sustainable natural resource management throughout the Hunter – Central Rivers region. A series of addendums to this MoU will articulate the specific actions, or protocols, agreed to address issues that have legal, political, policy, resource or financial implications.

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Regional Environmental Educators Network

The Regional Environmental Educators Network is comprised of Environmental Educators from each of the 14 member councils. Initial meetings of the group led to the development of a project proposal for a regional education program – which subsequently received funding of $1.4M over 3 years.

The Environmental Educators Network will pursue further initiatives and projects, including:

• Develop a clearing house for educational materials and products
• Provide a network for forward planning of environmental education projects
• Share experiences regarding the success or failure of individual Council and regional projects.
• Provide opportunities for professional development (eg guest speakers and training opportunities)
• Identify and co-ordinate opportunities to obtain grant funding or other contributions to environmental education projects.
• Provide a filter / funnel for information distribution from other networks
• Raise the level of capacity of all member Councils in regard to environmental education
• Deliver on ground regional education projects
• Co-ordinate strategies / media releases
• Develop methods for quantitative and qualitative evaluation and reporting of projects
• Co-ordinating key events through the region (eg Biodiversity Month, World Environment Day

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Regional Local Government Planners Network

A number of events are run annually through the Regional Local Government Planners Network – providing a forum for regional information sharing and collaborative approaches.

Events involve briefings by representatives from state agencies on new government directives and makes submissions to the government on these issues in consultation with delegates.

Projects are undertaken to increase the effectiveness of the planning system at the local level and to develop model approaches to using the current planning system to get the best results for the broader community.

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Native Vegetation Working Group

Following the gazettal of the Native Vegetation Act (2003) in December 2005, it became obvious that a practical, collaborative and on-going working arrangement between the CMA and Councils would need to be put in place in the region to manage the issue of “dual consent” in particular. To this end it was recommended that such a process be undertaken via the formation of a small, focused Native Vegetation Working Group.  Their brief was to:-

• identify and develop processes and protocols to manage issues associated with the implementation of the Native Vegetation Act, and
• identify a means for these to be formally agreed to, and implemented by Local Councils and the Hunter Central Rivers CMA.

The Native Vegetation Working Group (NVWG) has developed a suite of recommendations to be implemented by councils and the CMA to facilitate effective and straightforward operation of the Native Vegetation Act across the region. The NVWG has developed an information brochure which outlines roles and responsibilities of councils, the CMA and landholders under the Native Vegetation Act, as well as a protocol articulating the cooperative actions required by local councils and the CMA. The adoption of these protocols will be via formal endorsement as an addendum to the MoU.

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Regional State of the Environment Reporting Network

The State of the Environment Reporting Group provides a forum to review and share information on the experiences, processes, and resources utilised when preparing State of the Environment Reports.
Priorities identified by the working group for 2007 included the following:

• Data availability, sharing, suitability and timing
• Review of the 1996/98 Department of Local Government SoE Reporting Guidelines,
• Making SoE Recommendations and linking these to Management Planning & Reporting
• Staff capacity building in regard to:
  • Use of the HCCREMS Regional SoE Reporting Template
  • Sustainability Reporting.

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