New Lakes Committee

A refreshed Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee will focus on improving the health of the lakes through on ground management activities and community engagement.

Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville has announced the 10 new members of the Committee and a new management plan for the Gippsland Lakes. “The lakes are internationally recognised for their environmental values and hold significant social, cultural and recreational value for the many families and communities that visit every year.” the Minister said at the launch. “With dedicated funding, an improved management structure and access to local knowledge and expertise, I’m confident the Committee can further improve the health of the lakes – a vitally important asset to all Victorians.”

The Committee now includes five new community representatives with skills in aquatic science, waterway management or environmental science and conservation. It also includes five new members who represent Victorian public sector agencies with waterway management responsibilities.

Committee co-chairs, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Chair, Angus Hume, and East Gippsland CMA Chair, Dr Peter Veenker, were announced last year. The new community members are Jenny Robertson, Glenys Watts, Associate Professor Perran Cook, Arthur Allen and Fiona Warry. The new public sector agency members are Andrew Marshall, Carolyn Crossley, Michael Timpano, Katherine Nelson and Michelle Dickson.

The Committee will oversee the expenditure of $2.5 million allocated in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget to improve the health of the lakes, guided by the existing regional waterway strategies for East and West Gippsland and the new Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site Management Plan. The plan was developed by the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, in consultation with the community, and is the blueprint for managing the lakes over the next eight years.

For more information on the Gippsland Lakes see www.loveourlakes.net.au

Landcare's news online

Stop Press!

RI Landcare has launched an online update for 2016.

Now members can keep updated through Raymond Island Net at: Landcare News - check it for details of this year's first meeting!

Raymond Island Net 2016: take 2

I had lots of feedback last week, reminding us to include a live link to the web site in the email news update - now done! And, realising you may not have seen the last news items, check the blog archive on the right hand side. There you'll also see the summary of changes already made to the site to improve it this year - in the January 8 item 'Raymond Island Net 2016'.

In taking on the role of webmaster for Raymond Island Net, my aim is to have a growing pool of contributors - making the site a truly community based endeavour. This year, I'm looking for a two regular volunteers:

• An 'editor' for our weekly review section on Insider who can source and prepare 'tasters' of of books, movies or places to eat out. They're only short - around 150 words, depending on whether there's a picture or details (address etc.) to include.
• If there's interest, there's also room for a new section on Insider - Digital Tricks. If any one is technically minded and can provide short tips on using computers (PCs, tablets, smart phones), common programs (MS Office) and the internet (browsers, email, social media) - I think there are lots of readers who'd enjoy picking up new and easy tricks of the trade.

If you're interested in either role, please email me at RaymondIslandNet@gmail.com. Our weather watchers and quiz master each have 'backup' folk who keep us up to date when it's holiday time - so there's plenty of scope for a couple of people to share each column. 

Oh, and don't forget to enter our 'Where's Raymond' competition (details on Insider). It's open to Islanders and, once again, Captovation is offering a devonshire tea for the best postcard each month. 

Stuart Whiffen's offering!


Cheers,
Jane Ponting
Webmaster