Assessing e Values and Management of the NSW Travelling ... - Land

More documents

Recommendations

Info

ASSESSING THE VALUES AND MANAGEMENT OF THE NSW TRAVELLING STOCK RESERVE development of a memorandum of understanding with the LHPA (RLPB) enabling that authority to cede back TSRs whilst still retaining an interest in their use. We are exploring ways to encourage tenures for environmental stewardship over high conservation value sites, such as minimising fee’s and partnership arrangements with stakeholders. The assessment identified those parcels that may meet CMA Catchment Action Plan targets. These parcels can be ranked by importance, e.g. number of targets met, size of site, relation to priority areas, etc... and forwarded these sites on to the CMA. The development of CLASS allows the LPMA to assess TSRs more strategically, provide the CMA with timely responses to calls for funding and delivers an assessment report that is consistent in many ways to the biometric assessment used by the CMA. For state-wide implementation the CLASS system could be modified to include the 13 targets for natural resource management as adopted in the NSW State Plan. Through the use of Property Vegetation Plans on targeted high conservation value TSRs the LPMA (Lands) is able to access additional funds to improve land management practices through fencing, weed management, implementation of sustainable grazing, and water reticulation. The monitoring and reporting requirements built into the PVP include the establishment and maintenance of photo points and the annual reporting of management activities and vegetation condition. The PVP process allows for the strategic investment of limited resources based on the Natural Resource Commission recommended state-wide targets and provides a framework for effective monitoring, evaluation of reporting. The project demonstrates that the CMAs are willing to grant incentive funds to protect and enhance the ecological values of TSRs. Other alternative sources of funding are also being considered, including Federal and State government grants. The DECCW BioBanking scheme, for example, is an emerging source of land management funding that could be applied to TSRs in the future. The pilot project also identified some significant challenges ahead, including the importance of wide scale stakeholder consultation and information gathering and sharing. Through the implementation of the Stakeholder Reference Group endorsed communication and consultation strategy the LPMA (Lands) will advise the community of the results of this study through publication of the project report (both hardcopy and web-based); providing media releases at a regional and state level; providing presentations to stakeholder group and advising the LHPA (RLPB) State Council on consultation issues. The draft survey produced as part of the project could provide a basis for a state-wide survey of TSR users. The LPMA envisages that the assessment methodology will be rolled out State-wide prior to the bulk hand back of reserves. The desktop assessment process could be completed at a processing centre with regional staff providing local knowledge, field validation and further investigation where required. Training would be provided to appropriate LPMA Land Management staff. Many of these staff are already experienced in using the similar methodology for Crown lease assessment. The CLASS database has been developed to run as a network based system that can be loaded onto any LPMA (Lands) PC or laptop and will be integrated with other LPMA (Lands) programs. Through the Stakeholder Reference Group, the pilot also exposed the value of consultation with the various interest groups in the assessment of values and proposed management regimes. Experience in indigenous consultation within the central west trial component at Molong, also provides direction regarding the full REPORT ON METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS AUGUST 2009 Page 51 of 88
ASSESSING THE VALUES AND MANAGEMENT OF THE NSW TRAVELLING STOCK RESERVE consideration of indigenous values and related issues associated with the travelling stock reserve network across NSW. In summary, through the development of a robust and rapid assessment methodology and decision support system, the Land and Property Management Authority is now well placed to assess and allocate the anticipated large number of TSRs to be ceded back from the Livestock Health and Pest Authorities. The range of values and constraints assessed ensure that the land allocation process is in accordance with the Principles of Crown Land Management and that the NSW Travelling Stock Reserve network will continue to be a valuable State asset well into the future. REPORT ON METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS AUGUST 2009 Page 52 of 88
Page 1 and 2: www.lpma.nsw.gov.au AND MANAGEMENT
Page 3 and 4: ASSESSING THE VALUES AND MANAGEMENT
Page 33 and 34: NOTES 1 Where an Aboriginal Land Cl
Page 51: ASSESSING THE VALUES AND MANAGEMENT

Assessing e Values and Management of the NSW Travelling ... - Land

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?