Coastal Estuary & Floodplain Management Liaison Group
Meeting Date: Wednesday, 27 March, 2019
Location: Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra
Time: 4.00pm
Please note: Council’s Code of Meeting Practice permits the electronic recording and broadcast of the proceedings of meetings of the Council which are open to the public. Your attendance at this meeting is taken as consent to the possibility that your image and/or voice may be recorded and broadcast to the public.
Agenda
1. Apologies
2. Confirmation of Minutes
Nil
3. Declarations of Interest
4. Presentations
CE19.1........ Liaison Group Structure - Kelie Clarke / Alasdair Stratton
5. Reports
CE19.2........ Structure, Terms of Reference and Selection Process for Coastal, Estuary & Floodplain Management Group's - Community Representatives.................. 1
6. General Business
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Coastal Estuary & Floodplain Management Liaison Group – Wednesday 27 March 2019 Page |
Membership
General Manager
Director Planning Environment & Development Group
Director Shoalhaven Water
Director Assets & Works
Director Finance Corporate & Community Services
Chairperson – Southern Natural Resources & Floodplain Management Committee
Chairperson – Central Natural Resources & Floodplain Management Committee
Chairperson – Northern Natural Resources & Floodplain Management Committee
Chairperson – Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce
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Coastal Estuary & Floodplain Management Liaison Group – Wednesday 27 March 2019 Page 0 |
CE19.2 Structure, Terms of Reference and Selection Process for Coastal, Estuary & Floodplain Management Group's - Community Representatives
HPERM Ref: D19/88401
Group: Planning Environment & Development Group
Section: Environmental Services
Attachments: 1. Draft Terms of Reference - Northern/Central/Southern Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups ⇩
2. Draft - Natural Resources and Floodplain Management Group Selection Matrix ⇩
3. Draft - Advertisement for EOI - NR&FMG ⇩
Purpose / Summary
Provide the Liaison Group with the following draft documents for consideration and present the proposed structure the Northern, Central, Southern Natural Resources and Floodplain Management Groups.
1. Structure of the of the Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Groups and Liaison Group
2. Advertisement of Expression of Interest for Community Representatives
3. Terms of reference for NR&FM committee’s and liaison group
4. Recruitment and selection process for community representatives
A petition containing 1,027 signatures to reinstate the Sustainable Futures and Natural Resource and Floodplain Management Committee was presented at the Ordinary Council Meeting 26 February 2019.
That Council adopt the: 1. Terms of Reference for the Northern, Central, Southern and Liaison Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups; and 2. Structure of the Northern, Central, Southern and Liaison Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups; and 3. Expression of Interest and selection process for community representatives for the Northern, Central, Southern and Liaison Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups; and 4. Form a working group that consists of two (2) nominated Councillors and Council’s Environmental Services Manager and other Council officers as required, for the evaluation and selection of community representatives for the Northern, Central and Southern Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups; and
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Options
1. As recommended
Implications: Council can begin the recruitment and selection processes for community representatives for the Northern, Central and Southern Natural Resources and Floodplain Advisory Committee’s
2. Adopt the draft documents with minor amendments.
Implications: If minor amendments are agreed upon during the meeting, these amendments could be made to the documents following the meeting without the need to hold another Liaison group meeting and therefore allow commencement of the expression of interest process for community representatives.
3. Alternative recommendation.
Implications: Unknown.
Background
On 11 December 2018 Council resolved the following (MIN18.956).
That:
1. Council establishes the following four Advisory Groups:
a. Southern Coastal, Estuary & Floodplain Management Group
b. Central Coastal, Estuary & Floodplain Management Group
c. Northern Coastal, Estuary & Floodplain Management Group
d. Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce
2. Council adopt the Purpose, membership and quorum for each of these advisory Groups as detailed in the report;
3. Council establishes a liaison group to liaise with Government Agencies, comprising the Group Directors, General Manager, and the Chairs of each of the individual committees.
4. Expressions of Interest be called for community membership of each of the three advisory Groups and the Chair of each Group be involved in the selection process and report to council to make appointments
Under the NSW Coastal Management Act 2016 and the NSW Flood Development Manual (FDM) 2005, Council has a requirement to undertake community engagement as part of the Floodplain Risk Management Process and the development of Coastal Management Programs.
Council is required to demonstrate compliance with the mandatory provisions within the Coastal Management Act 2016 and Coastal Manual (Part A) – one of which is the requirement to undertake community engagement during the preparation of a coastal management program.
Part of the NSW Flood Development Manual (FDM) 2005, requires the formation a Flood Risk Management Committee (FRMC). This is described in numerous sections of the manual and is identified as the first formal step in the flood risk management process. Section 1 of the FDM repeatedly refers to the FRMC and it appears in Figure 2.1 of the Floodplain Risk Management Process.
In consideration of the above legislative requirements, it is important that Council addresses the intended purpose of the coastal, estuary and floodplain stakeholder groups, in the establishment of the structure and governance of the Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups.
Terms and Reference of the Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Groups and Liaison Group and Structure
Liaison Group
Part 3 of the Council resolution of 11 December 2018 is to establish a Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Liaison Group, with the objective of fostering sustainable management of the City’s coast, estuaries, lakes and floodplains. The role of this committee will be as follows.
1. Provide overall guidance for effective floodplain management, estuary management and coastal zone management in accordance with Federal, State and Local Government Policy and Legislative instruments;
2. Advise Council on floodplain management, estuary management and coastal zone management matters;
3. Formulate agreed vision, goals, objectives, and targets sought from the various Management Plans;
4. To facilitate the preparation of Management Plans in accordance with council Policy and State Government manuals;
5. Facilitate broad community consultation and engagement with key stakeholders through the four area Advisory Groups.;
6. Monitor State and Federal Government legislation and management direction and advise Council on appropriate response;
7. Monitor advances in knowledge and science of broader natural resource management issues (such as sea level rise and climate change) that may impact on coastal, estuary and floodplain management, and integrate this knowledge in new or amended Management Plans as necessary; and
8. Make appropriate recommendations for Council consideration
The membership of the Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Liaison Group will be that the group will be chaired by a Councillor, elected by Council. The term of the Chair will be (1) year which will be reviewed every September.
The Group will comprise the following.
All Group Directors
General Manager or nominee
Chairs of each of the three Coastal, Estuary & Floodplain Management Groups and Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce
Two (2) community representatives from each of the three Coastal, Estuary & Floodplain Management Groups and Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce
Government Agency representatives from:
· OEH
· DPI Fisheries
· Crown Lands
· Local Land Services
· NSW Office of Water
· Roads & Maritime Services
· Jervis Bay Marine Parks Authority
· SES
· National Parks and Wildlife Service
· Jerrinja LALC
· Ulladulla LALC
· Nowra LALC
Quorum: Five (5), provided at least one Councillor, one Government agency representative and one community representative.
Chair: To be elected by committee
Meeting Frequency: Twice per annum or on an as needs basis
Northern Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Group
Objective: To advise and recommend to the Citywide committee on sustainable management of the coast, estuaries, lakes and floodplains within the areas from Shoalhaven Heads south to Currarong.
Purpose:
1. Provide input for effective floodplain management, estuary management and coastal zone management in accordance with Federal, State and Local Government Policy and Legislative instruments;
2. To provide input in the preparation of various Management Plans relevant to its area;
3. To receive information from the Citywide committee on relevant State and Federal Government legislation and other information; and
4. Make appropriate recommendations to the Citywide committee for consideration
Membership:
· All Councillors;
· General Manager (or their representative);
· Four community representatives;
Quorum: Three (3), provided at least one Councillor, and one community representative.
Chair: 2018/19 - Chairperson - Clr Wells
Meeting Frequency: Twice per annum or on an as needs basis.
Central Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Group
Objective: To advise and recommend to the Citywide committee on sustainable management of the coast, estuaries, lakes and floodplains within the areas from Callala Bay south to Berrara.
Purpose:
1. Provide input for effective floodplain management, estuary management and coastal zone management in accordance with Federal, State and Local Government Policy and Legislative instruments;
2. To provide input in the preparation of various Management Plans relevant to its area;
3. To receive information from the Citywide committee on relevant State and Federal Government legislation and other information; and
4. Make appropriate recommendations to the Citywide committee for consideration
Membership:
· All Councillors;
· General Manager (or their representative);
· Four community representatives
Quorum: Three (3), provided at least one Councillor, and one community representative.
Chair: 2018/19 - Chairperson - Clr Proudfoot
Meeting Frequency: Twice per annum or on an as needs basis.
Southern Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Group
Objective: To advise and recommend to the Citywide committee on sustainable management of the coast, estuaries, lakes and floodplains within the areas from Bendalong south to Durras North.
Purpose:
1. Provide input for effective floodplain management, estuary management and coastal zone management in accordance with Federal, State and Local Government Policy and Legislative instruments;
2. To provide input in the preparation of various Management Plans relevant to its area;
3. To receive information from the Citywide committee on relevant State and Federal Government legislation and other information; and
4. Make appropriate recommendations to the Citywide committee for consideration
Membership:
· All Councillors;
· General Manager (or their representative);
· Four community representatives
Quorum: Three, provided at least one Councillor, and one community representative.
Chair: 2018/19 - Chairperson - Clr White
Meeting Frequency: Twice per annum or on an as needs basis.
Structure of the four (4) Coastal, Estuary and Management Groups (inc. SHET) and the Liaison Group
The structure of the three Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups, including Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce and the Liaison Group, would be such that the four groups for North, Central, South and Shoalhaven Estuary Taskforce would act as advisory groups. Providing advice and recommendation on coastal, estuary and floodplain management matters relevant to their geographical areas up to the Liaison Group for final recommendation to Council. The following diagram outlines this structure:
Figure 1: Structure of the Shoalhaven Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups
The discrepancy from the above structure, that could arise, between the Northern Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Group and the Shoalhaven Heads Estuary Taskforce, as geographically they cover the same area. The two groups roles and responsibility of management of the northern areas of coastal, estuary and floodplain management would overlap. Working groups could be formed as necessary to facilitate collaboration between the Northern Group and SHET, to overcome any potential issues or concerns that may arise.
Selection and Evaluation of Community Representatives
The selection process for the community representatives for the Northern, Central and Southern Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups would be via an expression of interest (see attached) which will be advertised via the press media, social media and sent to all Community Consultative Bodies, Bushcare Groups and other key stakeholders.
The selection criteria for the EOI’s is as follows.
· Demonstrated your experience to be able to work collaboratively with different stakeholders/organisations/individuals to find solutions.
· Demonstrated experience and/or ability to facilitate broader communication/consultation with your local community
· Have demonstrated knowledge of the scientific method, particularly as it relates to the natural and social sciences
· Have a demonstrated broad interest in coastal, estuarine and floodplain management Community Engagement
These selection criteria are in keeping in line with the role of the Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups (CE&FMG) and attempt to select community representatives that meet these roles.
An Expression of Interest selection matrix decision tool (see attached) has been developed to assist with the selection of community representatives. The selection matrix uses a numerical scoring system based on 1 to 4, that aims to keep the evaluation as fair and equitable as possible.
It is recommended that a working group, consisting of Councillors and Council staff be established to undertake the evaluation and selection of community representatives for the three Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups.
Policy Implications
The NSW Flood Development Manual and the Coastal Management Act 2016 both require Councils to have formalised mechanisms for stakeholder engagement for both Flood Risk Management Plans and Coastal Management Programs. There are no legislative requirements for how these engagement frameworks should be structured and this is left to individual Councils and their community to decide.
Financial Implications
The financial staff resourcing cost to Council for four separate committees, having two meetings per year, is approximately $40,000 per annum; as opposed to a cost of $10,000 for the staff resourcing cost of having a single committee with two meetings per year.
Risk Implications
The above structure of the Shoalhaven Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Management Groups meets the consultation requirements outlined by the NSW Floodplain Development Manual 2005 and the NSW Coastal Management Act 2016 and the Coastal Management Manual (Part A) regarding legislative community engagement requirements.
The establishment of Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Liaison Management Group, will insure that state government agencies will have the staffing resources to service Councils consultative groups in terms of natural resource management in the Shoalhaven.