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Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board

2016-17 Annual Report


86 Tasman Tce Port Lincoln 5606

P.O. Box 22 Port Lincoln 5606

http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/eyrepeninsula/home

Contact phone number 08 8682 3111

Contact email [email protected]

ISSN 2208-7664

Date presented to Minister: 3 January 2018

mailto:[email protected]

2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT for the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board

To: Minister Hunter

Minister for Sustainability Environment and Conservation

This annual report is presented to Parliament to meet the statutory reporting requirements of Natural Resources Management Act 2004 and meets the requirements of Premier and Cabinet Circular PC013 Annual Reporting.

This report is verified to be accurate for the purposes of annual reporting to the Parliament of South Australia.

Submitted on behalf of the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board by:

Diana Laube

Presiding Member

Signature (_

21Page

Date '


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Contents

Section A: Reporting required under the Public Sector Act 2009, the Public Sector Regulations 2010 and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987 ................. 4

Agency purpose or role ..................................................................................................... 4

Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 4

Key strategies and their relationship to SA Government objectives ................................... 5

Agency programs and initiatives and their effectiveness and efficiency ............................. 8

Legislation administered by the agency ............................................................................. 9

Organisation of the agency ................................................................................................ 9

Meetings of the Board: general and special ..................................................................... 10

Other agencies related to this agency (within the Minister’s area/s of responsibility) ....... 10

Employment opportunity programs .................................................................................. 11

Agency performance management and development systems ........................................ 11

Occupational health, safety and rehabilitation programs of the agency and their effectiveness ................................................................................................................... 11

Fraud detected in the agency .......................................................................................... 11

Strategies implemented to control and prevent fraud ....................................................... 12

Whistle-blowers’ disclosure ............................................................................................. 12

Executive employment in the agency............................................................................... 12

Consultants ..................................................................................................................... 12

Financial performance of the agency ............................................................................... 12

Other information requested by the Minister(s) or other significant issues affecting the agency or reporting pertaining to independent functions .................................................. 14

Statement of fact for significant ministerial directives ....................................................... 14

Statement of fact for significant functions assigned by the Minister ................................. 14

Statement of fact for functions or powers delegated to the Board .................................... 14

Statement of fact for functions or powers delegated by the Board ................................... 14

Section B: Reporting required under any other act or regulation ..................... 15

Appendix: Audited financial statements 2016-17 ................................................ 16


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Section A: Reporting required under the Public Sector Act 2009, the Public Sector Regulations 2010 and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987

Agency purpose or role

The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board (the Board) was established on 2 September 2004 under the provisions of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004. The Board undertakes an active role in managing natural resources through the preparation and implementation of a regional NRM plan which is the principal document guiding the management of natural resources in the Eyre Peninsula Region. The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board promotes public awareness and understanding of integrated and sustainable natural resources management and provide mechanisms to increase the capacity of people to improve the management of natural resources. The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board acts as the community interface, and has a role of encouraging the involvement of informed communities in Natural Resources Management.

Objectives

The objectives of the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board are to help achieve ecologically sustainable development in the State by contributing to the establishment of an integrated scheme to promote the use and management of natural resources in a manner that:

• recognises and protects the intrinsic values of natural resources • seeks to protect biological diversity and, insofar as is reasonably practicable, to

support and encourage the restoration or rehabilitation of ecological systems and processes that have been lost or degraded

• provides for the protection and management of catchments and the sustainable use of land and water resources and, insofar as is reasonably practicable, seeks to enhance and restore or rehabilitate land and water resources that have been degraded

• seeks to support sustainable primary and other economic production systems with particular reference to the value of agriculture and mining activities to the economy of the State

• provides for the prevention or control of impacts caused by pest species of animals and plants that may have an adverse effect on the environment, primary production or the community

• promotes educational initiatives and provides support resources mechanisms to increase the capacity of people to be involved in the management of natural resources.


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Key strategies and their relationship to SA Government objectives Implementation of the Board’s regional plan directly contributes to the following State Strategic Plan targets:

Table 1: Links between Eyre Peninsula NRM Board targets and State Strategic Plan targets

Eyre Peninsula Regional (Long term) Targets*

A B C D E F G

Stat

e St

rate

gic

Plan

Tar

gets

T4 Tourism industry

T20 Bushfire preparedness

T24 Volunteering

T28 Aboriginal leadership

T30 Boards and Committees

T31 Chairs of boards and committees

T33 Government planning decisions

T40 Food industry

T41 Minerals exploration

T46 Regional population levels

T53 Aboriginal employees

T62 Climate change adaptation

T64 Renewable energy

T69 Lose no species

T70 Sustainable land management

T71 Marine biodiversity

T72 Nature conservation

T75 Sustainable water use

Key

Primary Alignment

Secondary Alignment

*Refer to Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board Strategic Plan


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Table 2 below, illustrates where each program area in the Regional NRM Plan contributes to achieving the seven strategic priorities of Government.

Table 2: Links between Eyre Peninsula NRM Board Programs and the seven strategic priorities of Government

Regional NRM Plan SA Government’s strategic priorities

Board’s programs

Visions

Cre

atin

g a

vibr

ant c

ity

Saf

e co

mm

uniti

es h

ealth

y ne

ighb

ourh

oods

Pre

miu

m fo

od a

nd w

ine

from

our

cl

ean

env

ironm

ent

An

affo

rdab

le p

lace

to li

ve

Eve

ry c

hanc

e fo

r eve

ry c

hild

Gro

win

g ad

vanc

ed m

anuf

actu

ring

Rea

lisin

g th

e be

nefit

s of

the

min

ing

boom

for a

ll S

outh

Aus

tralia

ns

Managing Biodiversity across landscape

Biosecurity

Water resources

Sustainable farming systems

Coast and marine

Managing resources in a changing climate

Aboriginal community engagement in NRM

Communication, education and volunteer support

Plan, manage, comply and monitor outcomes

Research, development and innovation Primary Alignment

Secondary Alignment


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Table 3 below, illustrates the links between the State NRM Plan and the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Boards targets.

Table 3: Links between the State NRM Plan and the EP NRM Regional Plan targets

State NRM Plan Guiding Targets

Regional NRM Board Strategic Priorities (or program areas)

Guiding Targets A B C D E F G

1. Ensure people are better informed and improve capacity in NRM decision making

2. Involve more people in the sustainable management of natural resources

3. Improve institutional and organisational capacity to support people to manage natural resources

4. Improve capacity of individuals and community to respond to climate change

5. All NRM planning and investment decisions take into account ecological, social and production considerations

6. Maintain the productive capacity of our natural resources

7. Improve soil and land condition

8. Increase extent and improve condition of native vegetation

9. Improve condition of terrestrial aquatic ecosystems

10. Improve condition of coastal and marine ecosystems

11. Increase understanding of the condition of landscapes (geological and culturally important features)

12. Improve the conservation status of species and ecological communities

13. Limit the establishment of pests and diseases and reduce the impacts of existing pests

Primary Alignment

Secondary Alignment


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Agency programs and initiatives and their effectiveness and efficiency

The Board’s business is delivered through its ten program areas, which align with the regional goals and targets outlined in the regional NRM Plan. The program areas deliver a range of projects that:

• Provide on-ground resources management to maintain healthy and productive natural resources, and natural and production systems.

• Engage and build regional capacity to maintain progressive and vibrant communities and industries that value the natural resources of the region and actively participate in the management of these resources.

• Establish effective partnerships based on sound knowledge to drive natural resources management through collaborative operations and knowledge.

• Provide corporate support and decision making to ensure that the Board is an accountable, ethical, progressive and honest organisation.

Outputs for each of the 10 thematic program areas are outlined in Table 4. Each area is provided with a ranking aligned to planned outputs contributing to achievement of outcomes. Table 4: Agency programs, indicators and progress made

Program name Indicators of performance / effectiveness / efficiency Status

Water

Water allocation plan implemented (Levy) Water Affecting Activity permits and refusals issued (Levy) Breaches of NRM Act investigated - WAA (Levy) Inquiries relating to WAA responded to in a timely manner (Levy)

Landscapes

Facilitate activities to protect, restore or improve priority terrestrial ecosystems (Levy)

Conserving and protecting species and ecosystems (NLP) Improve community skills, knowledge and engagement in natural resource management (NLP)

Maintain, protect and enhance Sheoak Grassy Woodlands, Red Gum Woodlands, Coastal areas and Mallee / Box / Native Pine Woodlands (WildEyre)

Improve the condition and increase landholder knowledge of sustainable grazing and threat management of Sheoak Grassy Woodlands (WildEyre)

Coast and Marine Facilitate activities to protect, restore or improve priority coast and marine ecosystems (Levy and NLP)

Pest Plants and Animals

Develop management plans for priority pest plants and animals (Levy and NLP)

Monitor and facilitate management of priority pest plants and animals (Levy, NLP and External)

Healthy and Productive Soils Monitor and report on project outcomes (AoTG)

Sustainable Farming Managing support for the region's Sustainable Agricultural program - through Senior NRM Officers (Levy)

Delivering the region’s sustainable agriculture program in collaboration with Regional Landcare Facilitators (NLP)

Community and Industry Engagement

Effective community engagement, communications, coordination of volunteer management, citizen science and education programs (Levy)


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Program name Indicators of performance / effectiveness / efficiency Status Managing effective community engagement in natural resources management through Senior NRM Officers (Levy)

Support EPICCA and implement CC Adaptation projects (Levy)

Effective management of Adapt NRM Grants program, including call for Round 2 projects (Levy)

Aboriginal Engagement

Undertake strategies to support Aboriginal employment and development of projects with Aboriginal communities (Levy)

Aboriginal capacity building for natural resource management (NLP)

Planning Strategy and Governance

Finalisation of regional NRM Plan, Policies and MERI. Annual review of Business Plan, and other strategic planning tools (Levy)

EPNRM Board and Committees supported, Budget finalised and loaded by 30th Sept, EPNRMB financial reports provided as per SLA (Levy)

WHS incidents managed to reduce risk and injuries managed effectively, HR policies implemented (Levy)

Contracts and landholder agreements administered (Levy) NRM Compliance activities undertaken - not WAA (Levy)

Monitoring and Improvement

Support M & E throughout the region and implement strategies (Levy and External)

Status

On track to achieve all planned outputs On-track to achieve most

planned outputs Unlikely to achieve key planned outputs

Legislation administered by the agency Natural Resources Management Act 2004

Organisation of the agency Section 25 of the NRM Act provides for the appointment of the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board. The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board comprises of 8 members appointed by the Minister. Each of the appointed members of the board is a person who in the opinion of the Minister meets the requirements of section 25(4) of the NRM Act. Refer to http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/eyrepeninsula/about-us/about-the-board/meet-our-members for profiles on current Board members. Groups and Subcommittees of the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board

http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/eyrepeninsula/about-us/about-the-board/meet-our-members

http://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/eyrepeninsula/about-us/about-the-board/meet-our-members


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Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board Risk and Audit Committee

Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board Aboriginal Advisory Committee

Meetings of the Board: general and special A total of 6 general Board meetings were held during the 2016–17 financial year and no special board meetings were held during the year. The below table illustrates attendance by appointed board members at meetings.

Member Meetings

attended Comments

Diana Laube 5 Other commitment Mark Whitfield 6 Simon Clark 6 William (Bill) Nosworthy 4 Other commitments Geoff Ryan 3 Other commitments Mark Dennis 5 Other commitment Helen Lamont 0 Resigned 21 July 2016 David Farlam 1 Resigned 25 August 2016 Meagan Turner 0 Appointed 28 June 2017 Helen Smith 0 Appointed 28 June 2017

Other agencies related to this agency (within the Minister’s area/s of responsibility)

Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources

Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board

Alinytjara Wilurara Natural Resources Management Board

Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board

Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board

South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board

South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board

South East Natural Resources Management Board

Environment Protection Authority

SA Water


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Employment opportunity programs

The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board does not employ staff. Those staff who undertake the work of the Board are employed through the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR) in accordance with a service level agreement (SLA).

Agency performance management and development systems Performance management and development system

Assessment of effectiveness and efficiency

Service Level Agreement

The SLA was monitored through the Quarterly reporting process, providing the Board with regular progress updates and a mechanism to continually review and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of SLA reporting.

Australian Government Performance Framework

The Board received a positive assessment in the self-assessment phase of the Australian Government’s Performance Framework review. No issues had been raised in this phase

Board Presiding Member one on one with Board members

The Presiding Member held one on one conversations with each Board member and agency representative during this reporting period.

Occupational health, safety and rehabilitation programs of the agency and their effectiveness Through the Service Level Agreement, the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board uses the Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources safety management system, and the department’s policy and procedures.

Fraud detected in the agency Category/nature of fraud Number of instances

There were no instances of fraud detected in the activities undertaken by the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board in this reporting period.

0


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Strategies implemented to control and prevent fraud

Financial services are provided to the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board by the Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR). Strategies to detect instances of fraud are reported in the DEWNR annual report 2016-17

Whistle-blowers’ disclosure

Number of occasions on which public interest information has been disclosed to a responsible officer of the agency under the Whistle-blowers’ Protection Act 1993

0

Executive employment in the agency Executive classification Number of executives

SAES 0

The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board does not employ staff. Those staff who undertake the work of the Board are employed through the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources in accordance with a Service Level Agreement.

Consultants The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board did not engage any consultations in this reporting period.

Financial performance of the agency The following is a brief summary of the overall financial position of the agency. The information is unaudited. Full audited financial statements for 2016-17 are attached to this report.

Table 1 Percentage of funding allocated to each program for 2016-17


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Table 2 Sources of funding

Funding Source 2015-16

adopted Budget ($ 000)

2016-17 ($ 000)

2017-18 ($ 000)

2018-19 ($ 000)

Regional NRM Levies sub-total 2,573 3,122 3,216 3,312

Regional NRM Levy (Division 1) 2,168 2,688 2,769 2,851

NRM water Levy (Division 2) 405 434 447 461

State Government sub-total 56 56 41 41

Other State Agency funding 56 56 41 41

Federal Government sub-total 2,614 2,690 1,474 1,474

National Land Care Program 1,474 1,474 1,474 1,474

Other Federal funding 1,140 1,216 - -

Other sub-total 507 64 64 64

Interest 30 30 30 30

Carryover 443 - - -

Animal and Pest control 34 34 34 34

TOTAL 5,750 5,932 4,795 4,891

Land, Water &

Biodiversity, 31.2%

Farming, 12.8%Engagement,

24.9%

Leadership & accountabilit

y, 31.2%


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Other financial information

Grants are made to third parties such as community groups, industry, state and local government, land owners and individuals for various projects and programs under the Regional NRM Plan. During 2016-17, the Board provided $1,091,342 in grants to the following:

• · $ 791,645 to Landholders, Volunteer Groups and NGOs

• · $ 136,300 to Industry Groups

• · $ 116,415 to State Government Agencies

• · $ 32,182 to Schools and Universities

• · $ 14,800 to Local Government

•

Data for the 2016-17 is available at:

https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/eyre-peninsula-nrm-board-annual-report-data

Other information requested by the Minister(s) or other significant issues affecting the agency or reporting pertaining to independent functions Statement of fact for significant ministerial directives In accordance with s10(5) of the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 (the NRM Act), the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board advises that no ministerial directives were received during this reporting period. Statement of fact for significant functions assigned by the Minister The Minister did not assign to the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board any significant functions in accordance with section 29 of the NRM Act.

Statement of fact for functions or powers delegated to the Board The Minister did not assign to the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board any significant additional functions or powers under the NRM Act or any other act in accordance with regulation 9e of the NRM (General) Regulations 2005.

Statement of fact for functions or powers delegated by the Board The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board operates pursuant to the provisions in, and functions and powers delegated under, the NRM Act. The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board has delegated appropriate procurement, finance and contracting powers to relevant members of DEWNR staff assigned to work on board programs in accordance with regulation 9d of the NRM (General) Regulations 2005 and s36 of the NRM Act. This enables assigned staff to undertake operational board business.

https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/eyre-peninsula-nrm-board-annual-report-data


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Section B: Reporting required under any other act or regulation Development Regulations 2008


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Appendix: Audited financial statements 2016-17

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