http://www.northern.cma.nsw.gov.au

Role of the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority

The Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) is a statutory authority reporting to the New South Wales Minister for Environment and Climate Change. It is made up of an independent chair, and board members selected from the community.

The region for which NRCMA is responsible covers most of the New South Wales North Coast from the Camden Haven River in the south to the Queensland border in the north, west to the Northern Tablelands, and includes Lord Howe Island.

There are 400 Landcare and Dunecare groups in the area as well as water care groups, Rotary groups, and other specific activity groups representing the farming communities of the region.

It is the responsibility of the NRCMA to connect with the community and build on the work that has already been achieved in local areas. Its mission statement is: To support and engage the Northern Rivers community to actively maintain and sustainably manage the natural resources within our catchment.

NRMCA functions include:

• Preparing a Catchment Action Plan (CAP) and associated investment strategies that integrate and enhance the Catchment Blueprints and the regional vegetation management plans;

• Managing incentive programs to implement the CAP;

• Providing all landholders with access to data and relevant information to prepare Property Vegetation Plans (PVPS);

• Allocating funds to support the development of PVPs - including incentives, and

• Providing education and training on natural resource management, especially in vegetation management

In September 2006 the NRCMA published a ten-year Catchment Action Plan for the management of natural resources in northern New South Wales.