Expression of Interest

Community advisory roles for Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth drought recovery projects

Expressions of Interest are being sought from members of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) community to provide advice to the Government about projects and activities proposed within the region.

A community advisory panel is being established for the Murray Futures Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Recovery Program and The Living Murray (TLM) CLLMM Icon Site program.

Murray Futures CLLMM Recovery Program

The Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region is recognised internationally as one of Australia’s most significant wetlands, satisfying at least eight of the nine criteria for listing under the Ramsar convention.

The recent low freshwater inflows into the CLLMM region created significant environmental, social and economic impacts.

As a result, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), with funding from the Australian Government, developed a Long-Term Plan for the CLLMM region. The CLLMM Long-Term Plan includes projects and actions aimed at maintaining the site as a healthy, productive and resilient wetland of international importance. Achieving this will directly support the economic, cultural and social wellbeing of the region.

As part of South Australia’s broader Murray Futures Program, the Australian Government has announced funding for a number of significant CLLMM Long-Term Plan projects over the next five years. These projects will mitigate the environmental impacts that have occurred during drought and prepare the site for variable water availability. 

The Living Murray Icon Site Program

The Living Murray is a joint initiative funded by the South Australian, Victorian, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth governments, coordinated by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.  The Living Murray was established in 2003 by the (then) Murray-Darling Basin Commission with the aim of delivering the first steps towards establishing a healthy, working River Murray.

Under the program, 500 gigalitres of environmental water has been recovered for six Icon Sites, including the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region.

The Living Murray program is managed in South Australia by the Department for Water (DFW), under the broader auspices of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). The TLM program is guided by an Icon Site Environmental Water Management Plan which focuses on securing environmental water for the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region, as well as undertaking ecological monitoring, working in consultation with the Ngarrindjeri community, and engaging the broader community in TLM activities.

Community Advisory Panel

The aim of the panel is to integrate community values and opinion into the on-going management of the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth region by providing advice about, and a community perspective on, projects and management actions proposed for the region under the Murray Futures and TLM programs.

Panel members will meet quarterly on a voluntary basis to help promote and facilitate effective communication between the Government, communities, Traditional Owners, industry and businesses, and other interest groups. There may be other associated commitments outside the quarterly meetings.

Functions and responsibilities of panel members

The key responsibilities of panel members are:

1. Through existing networks, or by developing networks, represent a range of community and industry views in terms of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of plans, proposals, or actions within the CLLMM site.

2. Assist the implementation of the Murray Futures CLLMM Program and the Living Murray Icon Site management by disseminating information within communities in a way that promotes clear understanding of the context and rationale of decisions, and enhances community ownership and adoption.

Panel member selection process

Nominations for the Community Advisory Panel will be considered by DENR and DFW. A Selection Committee will appoint panel members based an individual’s merit and suitability for contributing to community advice on the implementation of the Murray Futures and TLM Icon Site programs, as well as the general management of the CLLMM region.

Members chosen for the Community Advisory Panel will be appointed for a term of 12 months. At the conclusion of the term, panel members may nominate for re-appointment.

Expertise and experience

As part of your nomination, please provide a one to two page summary of your experience relevant to the Community Advisory Panel, in line with the functions and responsibilities outlined above.

Expressions of Interest

Expressions of Interest should be forwarded to:

Director
Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Program
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
GPO Box 1047
Adelaide  SA  5001

Expressions of Interest close at 5.00pm on Friday 27 January, 2012.

For further information, contact:

Gemma Cunningham
(08) 8204 9453
gemma.cunningham@sa.gov.au

www.environment.sa.gov.au
www.murrayfutures.sa.gov.au
www.waterforgood.sa.gov.au 
www.mdba.gov.au/programs/tlm