 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
About Us 1996 to 2005 Early 1993 the Northern Rivers Regional Development Board (NRRDB) deliberated on the past and pending changes to the forest industries and recognized their importance to the region. Subsequently, later in 1993 a “Forests on Private Lands in Northern Rivers of NSW Search Workshop” was undertaken in Ballina and at the end of the day it was resolved that a group to be called Taskforce Forestry 2000 be formed. The inaugural membership of this taskforce was: Tom Dennis NRRDB Chairman Des Power DSRD Administration/Secretary Mark Jackson Greening Australia/Envite Keith Johnson NOROC Graeme King SFNSW John Macgregor-Skinner Forest Products Industry Patrick McEntee North Coast Conservation Council Richard Morrow DEETYA Martin Novak Plantation Grower Kerry Pidcock Forest Products Industry Alison Specht SCU Ron Woods Plantation Grower At a strategy direction meeting in early 1994, the Members agreed to the following Vision Statement: “We aim to achieve; maintenance, growth and development of a sustainable commercial integrated forestry industry for the North Coast.” Plantation Committees In 1996 the Federal Government decided to fund Regional Plantation Committees (RPC) through the DPIE Farm Forestry Programme. This programme aimed to develop a culture in which trees were planted for commercial purposes and as a consequence, some seventeen RPCs were established throughout Australia. The NRRDB applied for a grant on behalf of the region for funding from this DPIE Farm Forestry programme for “The Establishment of the Northern Rivers Regional Plantation Committee and employment of a Plantation Development Officer”. Tom Dennis, Chairman and Des Power, Executive Officer signed this application. Northern Rivers Regional Plantation Committee The region was successful in obtaining a grant of $450,000 (an additional $3,450,000 was committed from other sources) over a four year period from June 1996 to June 2000, to implement a strategy to promote plantations, resolve problems that hinder their establishment and to represent the interests of parties involved in farm forestry. At a Workshop at Casino in August 1996 convened by NRRDB and Taskforce Forestry 2000, it was agreed that the NRRPC would usurp the role of the Taskforce Forestry and a Project Sub-Committee was established viz: Tom Dennis NRRDB (Chairman) Susan Bennett Forest Products Industry Robert Dyason Landowners Mick O’Neill Forest Industry Consultant David Wilson SFNSW All Members of Taskforce Forestry 2000 The ensuing NRRPC original membership was: Susan Bennett Forest Products Industry Max Boyd Community Bruce Cole-Clark DLWC Michael Combe Community Robert Dixon Community (resigned January 1998) Robert Dyason Coombell Farm Forestry Lexie Hurford NRRDB (until March 2000) David Lovell North Coast Agroforestry John Macgregor-Skinner Community Terry Moody Upper Clarence Farm Forestry Network Martin Novak Subtropical Farm Forestry Association Mick O’Neill Forest Industry Consultant Lesley Schoer SFNSW – Plantations (until December 1999) Alison Specht SCU (until April 1997; then from mid 1998) Heather Roland Local Government (NRRDB from March 2000) Greg Unwin SCU (from April 1997 to mid 1998) David Wilson SFNSW – Native Hardwoods At the inaugural meeting of NRRPC, John Macgregor-Skinner was elected Chairman along with two executive Members, Mick O’Neill and Robert Dyason. Project Management Team was: Executive Officer NRRDB Petrina Doyle (Donald Frater from October 1998) Project Manager Donald Frater (John Macgregor-Skinner Nov 1998) Chairman NRRPC John Macgregor-Skinner (Heather Roland Dec 1998) Executive Members NRRPC Mick O’Neill Robert Dyason Media release 11 December 1998: “Grafton City Council’s Deputy Mayor Councillor Heather Roland was elected unopposed as Chairman of the Northern Rivers Region Plantation Committee (NRRPC) at the last meeting of the Committee. Heather took over from the inaugural Chairman John Macgregor-Skinner who was recently appointed as the Plantation Development Officer, a position previously held by Don Frater.” Personnel who joined the RPC since its formation were: Jim Morrison Nature Conservation Council (February 1998) John Gough Community (August 1999) Spencer Bruskin SFNSW – Plantations (December 1999) John Crowther Local Government (April 2000) NRRPC Vision statement: “The development of a world class timber resource on the North Coast which delivers widespread economic and environmental benefits to the area.” and, “That a co-coordinated approach be taken to the integration of plantations and commercial farm forestry into existing farming systems to maximise the opportunities to landholders and the community through appropriate value adding of the timber resource.” An application for funding of a Farm Forestry Advisory Officer (FFAO) from the Natural Heritage Trust was successful for the year 2000. A subsequent affirmative application from the same source provided the continuation of FFAO’s role for 2001. A recent SCU graduate Justin Black was the successful applicant for the FFAO position and he was appointed in February 2000 and continued in that role until January 2002. With the support and cooperation of DLWC, the FFAO was based in and serviced from their Grafton Regional Office. At the expiration of the original core funding, NRRPC was dissolved June 2000 and there was a new funding agreement signed commencing January 2001. During the six month funding hiatus the Executive of the NRRPC continued to meet on a regular basis to address ongoing initiatives for plantation development, including continued lobbying, compilation of submissions and participation at seminars/workshops. Northern Rivers Private Forestry (RPC) The initial funding/contractual arrangement with AFFA terminated on the 30 June 2000 and the new contract with DSRD was with effect from 1 January 2001. This new funding agreement for $250,000 in cash and $50,000 in kind between DSRD and the Board over two years from 1January 2001 included a $150,000 contribution from AFFA. In August 2002 to achieve uniformity of the term for RPCs Nationally, this agreement was subsequently extended by six months to 30 June 2003. A Committee of seven was establish under the name of Northern Rivers Private Forestry (NRPF) with the broad objectives of:
Membership: Chairman Heather Roland (NRRDB) Executive Officer John Macgregor-Skinner Members Spencer Bruskin (SFNSW) Robert Dyason (Coombell Farm Forestry) Ross Garsden (Community) Frank Hay (DSRD) Desmond Power (Community) Lesley Schoer (Forestry Consultant) In July 2002 Lesley Schoer resigned and Spencer Bruskin became a consultant; SFNSW nominated Andrew Croft and Greg Lollback also joined as a representative of DLWC. Northern Rivers Private Forestry Development Committee Various National reviews supported the continuance of the RPC network and National Governments accepted these recommendations. To more correctly define their changing role, the name was changed to Private Forestry Development Committee (PFDC). DSRD/DAFF finalized the 2003/04 financial arrangements; a total of $114,351 plus at least $22,871 DSRD in kind support. DAFF subsequently announced a further matching funding commitment for PFDCs 2004/06. DSRD only agreed to continue as the NSW State partner for 2004/05 and a contract was negotiated for $150,000 with $75,000 from the Commonwealth and $50,000 plus $25,000 in kind from DSRD. Heather Roland resigned October 2003 and Lexie Hurford joined as the NRRDB representative. During the latter part of 2003 there was also a review of Membership and some changes occurred December 2003/January 2004. In January 2004 Lexie Hurford was elected Chairman and the Committee then was: Chairman Lexie Hurford (NRRDB) Executive Officer John Macgregor-Skinner Members Robert Dyason (Community) Frank Hay (DSRD) Greg Lollback (DIPNR) Elise Newberry (FNSW Plantations) Richard Rienstra (FNSW Private Prop) Ken Woodward (Community) Elise Newberry moved from the region November 2004 and FNSW nominated her replacement Nick Westman April 2005. The Committee agreed to continue to trade as Northern Rivers Private Forestry. The NRPFDC vision statement: “A culture of forestry in the Northern Rivers to generate environmental and economic benefits for the Region” Mission: Through leadership, facilitate economically and environmentally sustainable opportunities for forestry enterprises and employment within the Northern Rivers Region. Through determined action: Encourage the continuity of existing industry and enterprises Promote, encourage and support the development and expansion of existing and new enterprises Promote value adding of all the Region’s forest resource Emphasise the need for a unified and responsible community Encourage awareness of the balanced interrelationship between lifestyle, the environment and economic development Maintain and enhance the competitive advantages of the Region In June 2005, DSRD discontinued their direct association with the NSW PFDCs and DPI became the State partner 1 July 2005. Consequently, NSW DPI signed a twelve-month funding agreement with the Commonwealth Government DAFF. NRPFDC continued as an independent committee under the auspices of the NRRDB. The Commonwealth Government has announced its intention to provide matching funding until 2008 and the NSW Government through DPI are considering their position post June 2006 but the indications are positive. In view of this longer-term certainty, NRPFDC reviewed its Membership in January 2006. Ken Woodward had resigned December 2005 to pursue other interests and several new Members were invited to join. The current Membership is: Chairman Lexie Hurford (Industry) Executive Officer John Macgregor-Skinner Members: David Cameron (Community/SFFA) George Cowan (Local Government) Robert Dyason (Community/AFG) Greg Lollback (DNR) Nick Westman (FNSW Plantations) Richard Rienstra (FNSW Private Prop) Jerry Vanclay (SCU) Summary NRPFDC understands and works within the relevant existing and developing Government policy and programme frameworks, particularly Plantations for Australia – the 2020 Vision and also including:
AFFA: Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia – Federal department AFG: Australian Forest growers DAFF: Dept Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Federal department DEETYA: Dept of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs – State DIPNR: Dept of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources – State DPIE: Department of Primary Industries and Energy – Federal DLWC: Department of Land and Water Conservation – State DPI: Department of Primary Industries – State DPI&F Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries – Qld DSRD: Department of State and Regional Development – State FNSW: Forests NSW NHT: Natural Heritage Trust – Federal funding programme NOROC: Northern Rivers Regional Organization of Councils – Local Government NRPF: Northern Rivers Private Forestry NRRDB: Northern Rivers Regional Development Board NRRPC: Northern Rivers Regional Plantation Committee NRPFDC: Northern Rivers Private Forestry Development Committee PFDC: Private Forestry Development Committee RPC: Regional Plantation Committee SCU: Southern Cross University SFFA:Subtropical Farm Forestry Association SFNSW: State Forests of New South Wales |
Back to the Home Page
Copyright © 2006 by the Northern Rivers Private Forestry Development Committee
Web Design by Michael Goasdoue