AAT General Meeting Minutes - 17/11/19

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING

10am Sunday 17 November 2019

Great Lake Community Hall, Miena  

Present

Gary France Chair, Howard Jones Exec Committee, Alan Gordon Break O’ Day Sports Anglers  John Broomby  Northern Clubs, Keith Symons Independent South, Mark Rockliff  NWFA, Phillip Charlesworth  President NWFA, Peter Wisniewski Devonport Anglers Club, Charles Thompson NWFA, Brett Smith Independent NW, Wayne Bellette Tas Fly Tyers Club, Jonathan Wadwell  STLAA Delegate, Denis Edwards Exec Officer, John Diggle IFS

Apologies

Terry Byard, Malcolm Crosse, Adrian Hope, Sheryl Thompson, Michael Caminada

IFS Report

John Diggle tabled the much appreciated IFS Report to Anglers for September to October 2019 and is now available on the IFS website

Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held 10am Sun 1 Sept 2019, at the Poatina Chalet were tabled.

M Rockliff moved that the minutes be accepted.  Seconded  A Gordon

Financials

The current balances of the four bank accounts and the Quarterly Budget for Oct, Nov, Dec were tabled.

J Broomby moved that the Financial Report be accepted. Seconded K Symons

North Esk Catchment Water Management Review

Howard Jones represented AAT at the DPIPWE Key Stakeholder Meeting  on 29 Oct. and reported proposed allocations and AAT ‘s position on this and compliance issues. He suggested that a broader assessment of water health is required.  Minutes of the meeting are available on the AAT website.

A discussion followed and questioned what testing is done in high irrigation areas;  what monitoring is important and how will climate change effect water allocations etc. It was suggested that a possible trial of a more comprehensive monitoring program, in conjunction with relevant government departments, should be investigated.

G France suggested that the National Recreational Fishing Conference in Hobart 10-11 Dec run by Recfish Research may be a good starting point.

Sorell/Crescent Water Management Review

Terry Byard who attended the first meeting of the review to represent AAT was unable to attend the AAT GM and his report will be held over.

Hall of Fame

A request from Barry Jacobson to list the inductees on the AAT website with a link to the HOF inductee ‘s display at the Salmon Ponds was discussed and agreed upon.

C Thompson suggested that the present max of 250 words was too short for a summary of the inductee’s achievements. He also thought the selection process could be improved and that the presentation of the Induction should be a bigger event.

AAT Executive to review the process.

Gone Fishing/Junior Anglers Day

Mark Rockliff  gave a summary of his visits to Hiscutt Park, Frombergs Dam, Taylors Dam and Longford’s club dam. All venues were well run and given the weather the numbers were reasonable. There were as many adults as children fishing the Longford dam and while the dam is not a designated junior dam, adults fishing on a junior angling day for fish provided for juniors is not in the spirit of the day – AAT to follow up.

Phillip Charlesworth the new President of the NFWA spoke of his plans to revitalise the north west clubs with a combined effort by clubs and the community to focus on junior anglers.

Lake Parangana

John Broomby reviewed the activities of the Mersey/Forth Recreational Committee and reported that Deloraine Angling Club is in the process of seeking finance for a much needed toilet at Lake Parangana

Lake Lea

Charles Thompson reported that the Parks signs banning outboard motors on Lake Lea are still in place and suggested that AAT write to Parks suggesting that electric motors should be allowed on Lake Lea.

General Business

·      J Broomby reported that the Friends of the Leven will maintain the recently completed areas of willow removal and riparian planting on the River Leven.

A discussion on the relative performance of various plant guards in flood conditions followed.

·      J Broomby also reported that signage is needed adjacent to the Lake Rowallan boat ramp to prevent to alert vehicles to a drop off next to the ramp.

·      P Charlesworth questioned the reason for stocking fingerlings in the South Riana Dam.

·      C Thompson reported that the Ulverstone Angling Club is rejuvenating the North Motton Hatchery in preparation for stocking .

·      John Diggle advised that Blackmans Lagoon is suffering a severe blue green algal bloom.

·      Brett Smith discussed the recent Lake Malbena Federal Court  challenge and appeal to the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal.  See the EDO Tasmania’s summary below :   

What are the proceedings? 

The Federal Court challenge by the Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc is about whether the development needs approval under the federal environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act) because of its impacts to World Heritage values. 

The Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal is hearing an appeal about whether a planning permit should be issued for the proposal under State planning law, and whether the use is in accordance with the reserve management plan for the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

EDO Tasmania are the solicitors acting in both these cases.   

The Court upheld grounds 2 and 3 of the challenge and has awarded TWS costs.  The Court has ordered the parties to agree on a form of orders to give effect to this decision.This means that the outcome of the decision will be:

·       At a minimum, setting clear, transparent and enforceable conditions through a “particular manner” notice, that will define the parameters within which the development will operate;

·       The court may order that the decision be referred back to the Federal Environment Minister to be determined in accordance with law, due to the error found in failing to consider whether the full action should be referred.

The outcome will depend on what agreement is reached by the parties and whether this is ultimately accepted by the Court.  The parties are required to reach agreement by 26 November 2019 and if not, to file submissions by 10 December 2019.

Tribunal decides it cannot assess merits

On 21 October 2019, the Tribunal made a preliminary decision that a permit can be issued for the tourism accommodation developed proposed for Halls Island.  The Tribunal decided that it only needs to be satisfied that the Parks and Wildlife Service's non-statutory Reserve Activity Assessment process has been completed up to a certain stage, and therefore it found that a permit can be issued.

The parties have been invited to make submissions on the conditions that should be imposed on the permit.  There is a right to appeal to the Tasmanian Supreme Court within 28 days of the Tribunal's decision.

Brett advised that the Fishers and Walkers Against Helicopter Access Tasmania are having a Reclaim Malbena walk into the area on 7-8 Dec 2019, full details are on the

Fishers and Walkers Facebook page.

Correspondence

>Recfish National Fishing Conference ,  Hobart 10, 11th Dec 2019

>Murchison Dam Road Access

>Hydro Future Forum 16 Dec 2019

>Bronte Mini Hydro Project

>Forestry Planned Chemical Use 2019/20

>Great Lake Tie-In Sat 23 Nov 2019

Action list

>New brochures to be printed

>HOF plaques to be completed

>Letter to Longford Fishing Club re Junior Fishing Days

>Lake Lea- letter to Parks

Next meeting

10am Sunday 1 March, Great Lake Community Hall, Miena