Joint Community Advisory Committee and Scientific Advisory Panel Meeting No. 16, 22 September

MeetingSummary

Joint Community Advisory Committee and Scientific Advisory Panel Meeting No. 16, 22 September 2016

The Lake Eyre Basin Community Advisory Committee and the Scientific Advisory Panelheld their joint meeting in Brisbaneto discuss the draft Lake Eyre Basin State of the Basin Condition Assessment 2016 report and the proposed communications activities surrounding consultation; the engagement of a facilitator to undertakethe Lake Eyre Basin Facilitator role and an update on the status of the Lake Eyre Basin ‘Aboriginal Way’ Map Project.

Members were provided with an update on the progress of the draft Lake Eyre Basin State of the Basin Condition Assessment 2016 report since their last meeting in July2016 and following the State of the Basin Steering Committee meeting held on 21September 2016. Members were advised that consultation activities already planned can still progress with the focus of informing stakeholders on the consultation process which is likely to commence in November 2016.

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources updated members regarding the role of the Facilitator, particularly in light of the upcoming review of the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement and the consultation of the State of the Basin Condition Assessment 2016 report. Agreement would be sought from Natural Resource Management Groups in South Australia and the Northern Territory for an approach to be made to Desert Channels Queensland to provide Facilitator Services.

Members were advised and concurred with the final consultation process approach for the Lake Eyre Basin ‘Aboriginal Way’ Map as agreed at a recent meeting of the Aboriginal Map Steering Committee. Members were also advised that the evaluation of a preferred supplier to undertake consultation on the Map had been completed and that consultation will commence soon.

Members were updated on other matters including the draft of the newGreat Artesian Basin Strategic Management Plan, the Great Artesian Basin Economic Report, the status of the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative Phase Four, the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund and the National Water Infrastructure Loan Facility.

The next meeting of the Community Advisory Committee and Scientific Advisory Panelis dependentupon the completion of activities surrounding the draft Lake Eyre Basin State of the Basin Condition Assessment 2016 report and upcoming Intergovernmental Agreement Review.

Further information on the Lake Eyre Basin and activities is available on the Lake Eyre Basin website at . The Community Advisory Committee and the Scientific Advisory Panel can be contacted at .