Your Say Northern Rivers

Time is running out to add your input to our Vales and Issues survey, which closes at the end of the month. This information will help us understand what you value in the landscape and what you think are the most important natural resource management issues.

Thanks to everyone who has already shared their ideas. Here’s how some participants describe their vision for the environment of the Northern Rivers region into the future:

• "To be a place where we eat locally grown produce and continue to enjoy and interact in healthy environments."
• "To see the area free of weeds would be amazing."
• "I would like to see many degraded urban and rural areas cleaner and regenerated."
• "I hope to see the Northern Rivers retain its vibrant local culture."
• "A region where a wide sector of the community work to protect and enhance the environment"

Click HERE to take the Values & Issues Survey

During June, staff from the Northern Rivers CMA will be hitting the road to conduct a series of public consultation workshops to talk to the community about Discussion Paper #3 - Community Capacity and Landscape Health.

Details about the workshops are still being finalised, and will be posted here as soon as they become available. In the meantime, here's a list of where and when events are being planned: 

• Grafton - Thursday 14th June, 10am
• Yamba - Thursday 14th June, 2pm
• Wollongbar - Friday 15th June, 10am
• Murwillumbah - Friday 15th June, 2.30pm
• Casino - Monday 18th June, 10am
• Kyogle - Monday 18th June, 2pm
• Bangalow - Wednesday 20th June, 10am

• Macksville - Friday 15th June, 10am
• Kempsey - Monday 18th June, 2pm
• Wauchope - Monday 18th June, 7pm
• Dorrigo - Tuesday 19th June, 2pm
• Coffs Harbour -Thursday 21st June, 7pm

• Tenterfield - Monday 18th June, 2pm
• Glenn Innes - Monday 18th June, 10am
• Guyra - Tuesday 19th June, 10am
• Armidale - Wednesday 20th June, 10am
• Walcha - Tuesday 19th June, 2pm

The results of our first survey on ‘Achievements and Opportunities’ are being analysed right now. Your feedback will be summarised in a report evaluating the effectiveness of the first Catchment Action Plan, which has guided natural resource management in the Northern Rivers region for the last seven years. Here are a few ‘opportunities and directions’ people have suggested for the new CAP:

• "Increase extension activity to maintain and increase landholders’ involvement and participation."
• "A stronger focus on management of fire for biodiversity."
• "Less red tape."
• "More funding for Aboriginal landowners in programs like Working on Country."
• "Include actions a farmer can undertake that improve his carbon footprint and sequestration."
• "Please make sure CAP2 is in easy reading plain English without acronyms."
• "More flexibility in implementing projects."

The current review and upgrade of the Northern Rivers Catchment Action Plan (NRCAP) is progressing well with release of Discussion Paper #3 planned for late May. The Paper will propose maps of catchment health based on biophysical themes including biodiversity, freshwater, soil, coastal, estuarine and marine ecosystems; and the community's capacity for Natural Resource Management.

Following the Paper's release, a comprehensive public consultation program will be conducted including a written submissions period and an extensive series of public workshops across the NRCMA region over six weeks. Details about the workshops and how to make a submission will be posted here as soon as they become available.