The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) is to appoint another six permanent local engagement officers, across the Murray Darling basin.
The positions have been made permanent, following the success of a three year pilot program where Local Engagement Officers were located in Goondiwindi, Dubbo, Leeton, Deniliquin, Mildura and Berri.
CEWH David Papps said the decision to continue the positions on a permanent basis reflected very successful local engagement with Basin communities
“The decision is part of my committment to continuing dialogue with regional communities across the Murray-Darling Basin so that they are involved in his decision making,” Mr Papps said.
The Local Engagement Officers had been active, responsive and approachable and had helped ensure that Commonwealth environmental water use proposals take account of locally important information such as irrigation needs, environmental matters and community events.
“Our priority is to encourage local involvement and collaboration in environmental water management, to help shape water management decisions,” Mr Papps said.
Our priority is to encourage local involvement and collaboration in environmental water management, to help shape water management decisions.
- David Papps, Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH)
“The cultural importance of the Basin’s unique environment to Aboriginal people is also well recognised and I encourage Aboriginal people with interests in water and natural resource management to apply.
“This will be of particular importance given the commitment by Murray-Darling Basin Ministers to improve the inclusion of Aboriginal interests in water resource management and the incorporation of Aboriginal values in the Basin Plan implementation.
“Local engagement officers help create of opportunities for interested local people to participate in decision-making around environmental water use."
The local engagement officers would work flexibly across several catchments and state borders, so that water management and community engagement within a region was on a ‘whole-of-system’ basis.
