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Structure, Implementation Plan and Communications Strategy for the Parramatta River Catchment Group Report Structure, implementation Plan and Communications Strategy for the Parramatta River Catchment Group REPORT for The Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority by Molino Stewart Pty Ltd ACN 067 774 332 JANUARY 2008 PO Box 614 Parramatta CBD BD NSW 2124 Tel (02) 9354 0300 Fax (02) 9893 9806 Email: [email protected] Web: www.molinostewart.com.au CONTENTS 1 BACKGROUND 3 1.1 The Parramatta River Catchment Group 3 1.2 Indigenous cultural values 5 1.3 This project 5 1.4 Methodology 5 1.5 Limitations 5 1.6 This report 6 2 STRUCTURE 7 2.1 Findings 7 2.1.1 Similar group search 7 2.1.2 Interviews 8 2.2 Recommendations 10 2.2.1 Vision 10 2.2.2 Community engagement 10 2.2.3 Councillor support 10 2.2.4 Memorandum of Understanding 11 2.2.5 Format and focus of meetings 11 2.2.6 Funding 11 2.2.7 Administrative support 11 2.2.8 Sub-committees 11 2.2.9 Chairperson 12 3 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 13 3.1 Findings 13 3.1.1 Analysis 13 3.1.2 Interviews 15 3.2 Recommendations 18 3.2.1 Implementation Plan 18 4 COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY 19 4.1 Findings 19 4.1.1 Interviews 19 4.2 Recommendations 19 Structure, implementation Plan and Communications Strategy for the Parramatta River Catchment Group i Report Contents 4.2.1 Communications Strategy 19 APPENDICES Appendix A Research into the structure of groups similar to PRCG Appendix B Report on Councils’ NRM plans and actions Appendix C PRCG Implementation Plan LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Indication of how plans and other documents address key NRM issues in the Parramatta River catchment 14 Table 2 Indication of most important NRM issues in Parramatta River catchment obtained from interviews 15 Table 3 Recommended communications strategy 20 The Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authorityii 1 BACKGROUND 1.1 The Parramatta River Catchment Group The Parramatta River Catchment Group aims to lead efforts to improve the condition and ecological function of the Parramatta River, its tributaries and catchment lands by improving and coordinating effort in natural resource management in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ashfield, Auburn, Bankstown, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Burwood, Canada Bay, Holroyd, Hunters Hill, Leichhardt, Parramatta, Ryde and Strathfield. The Parramatta River Catchment covers all of the River’s drainage area extending from Blacktown Creek in the west to the confluence with the Lane Cove River in the east. It includes part or all of the following thirteen LGAs. ¾ Ashfield ¾ Auburn ¾ Bankstown ¾ Baulkham Hills ¾ Blacktown ¾ Burwood ¾ Canada Bay ¾ Holroyd ¾ Hunters Hill ¾ Leichhardt ¾ Parramatta ¾ Ryde ¾ Strathfield. The Catchment also incorporates the lands owned by the Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA). The PRCG includes the thirteen councils from the LGAs identified above. It also includes the following NSW Government agencies: ¾ Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority (SMCMA) ¾ NSW Maritime ¾ Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) ¾ Sydney Water ¾ NSW Fire Brigade Structure, implementation Plan and Communications Strategy for the Parramatta River Catchment Group 3 Report ¾ Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA) ¾ Parramatta Park Trust ¾ Sydney Ferries ¾ Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. The PRCG roles include: ¾ Identifying remedial measures and improvements ¾ Setting priorities ¾ Developing, initiating and overseeing waterway health projects ¾ Arranging technical help from other Government agencies ¾ Seeking and obtaining federal and State Government Grants ¾ Addressing threats to waterway health from surrounding catchments ¾ Building community support and involvement ¾ Helping develop the technical capabilities of councils and council staff ¾ Facilitating information exchange and mutual support. SMCMA’s role is to: ¾ Encourage the member Councils to take ownership of the PRCG ¾ Provide advice and a regional perspective on issues ¾ Assist with contacts and networks, particularly in State Government ¾ Provide a voice within State Government ¾ Assist where possible with baseline information and grant funding for on-ground works. ¾ Assist with building community support and involvement. ¾ Assist where possible with training of officers and community groups. ¾ Provide technical advice where possible on projects that are consistent with the CAP. ¾ Provide advice and assistance on regional NRM grant applications that are consistent with the Catchment Action Plan (CAP). ¾ Provide advice on the management priorities and actions that need to be implemented on a catchment and regional basis within the CAP framework. ¾ Advance the PRCG’s knowledge and understanding of the SMCMA’s core functions, role and responsibilities under the Act within the context of State statutes relating to environmental management in the PRCG area. ¾ Consider PRCG actions and projects for inclusion in investment strategies, in consultation with PRCG members. 4 The Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority 1.2 Indigenous cultural values An important part of many local, state and national NRM plans and policies is increasing the capacities of Aboriginal communities to engage in NRM and increasing the awareness of Aboriginal cultural values issues and incorporation of Aboriginal knowledge and cultural approaches in NRM. Indigenous issues and perspectives relating to NRM in the Parramatta River catchment are therefore a significant area of investigation in this report culminating in actions in the recommended PRCG Implementation Plan. Indigenous perspectives are not referred to separately to ‘NRM’ in general discussion in the report but included under this term. 1.3 This project The Terms of Reference for the PRCG were created by the group in May 2006. As the structure of the PRCG has been determined in the Terms of Reference, only some aspects of the structure require refinement. However, the direction of the PRCG has not been formalised and therefore the PRCG requires an Implementation Plan and Communications Strategy to satisfy this need. Environmental consultancy Molino Stewart Pty Ltd was engaged in this project to research and then recommend refinements to the PRCG’s structure and prepare an Implementation Plan and Communications Strategy for the PRCG. 1.4 Methodology Molino Stewart carried out its research for the project initially through an analysis of key NRM regional plans and actions within those plans to identify opportunities for the PRCG in its Implementation Plan. It also investigated the structures of similar groups to the PRCG. Molino Stewart then interviewed council officers, nominated Councillors, agency representatives and representatives from community groups involved in NRM and indigenous organisations to further its research into the PRCG structure, Implementation Plan and Communications Strategy. 1.5 Limitations It should be noted that the research for this project was a ‘snapshot’ i.e. conducted within a short time frame of only three weeks. As a result, some important sources of information (both people and documents) were not researched due to their unavailability. For example, a major study into the Parramatta River estuary had not been completed and could not be referenced. Also, it was difficult to contact most Councillors and community group representatives due to their work and other commitments. Nevertheless, all Council and most agency officers were interviewed either in person or by phone and enough of the other groups interviewed to have some indication of their views and levels of interest in the PRCG. Structure, implementation Plan and Communications Strategy for the Parramatta River Catchment Group 5 Report 1.6 This report This report summarises the findings of Molino Stewart’s research into the structure (Section 2), Implementation Plan (Section 3) and Communication Strategy (Section 4). It also provides recommendations in each of these sections for the PRCG to consider. 6 The Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority 2 STRUCTURE 2.1 Findings 2.1.1 Similar group search Several structures for similar groups to the PRCG were located and examined. The neighbouring catchment group to the PRCG within the SMCMA area is the Georges River Combined Councils Committee (GRCCC). The GRCCC commenced in 1979 for the purpose of having a lobby group representing the nine Councils along the Georges River. The member Councils are: ¾ Wollondilly ¾ Campbelltown ¾ Liverpool ¾ Fairfield ¾ Bankstown ¾ Kogarah ¾ Rockdale ¾ Hurstville ¾ Sutherland. Each Council is represented on the GRCCC by up to three Councillors or nominated staff. Over the years the GRCCC has taken on many environmental issues and has become a powerful lobby group, able to represent the needs of Councils when dealing with government policies as they affect the Georges River. In 1997, five Councils - Bankstown, Hurstville, Kogarah, Rockdale and Sutherland – funded and appointed the first Georges Riverkeeper. An additional part time staff member was also employed to assist the Riverkeeeper. The staff coordinated enthusiastic volunteers through various projects such as water quality testing, river clean ups and river patrols to identify environmental problems. In 2003, the Riverkeeper program headed in a new direction with the GRCCC establishing a joint venture with NSW Maritime. A new Georges Riverkeeper model was developed with an emphasis on monitoring the health of the River, halting pollution and regulating boat users. Seven Councils now contribute financially to the Riverkeeper