AAT General Meeting Minutes 1/3/2020

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL MEETING

10am Sunday 1 March 2020

Great Lake Community Centre, Miena  

Present

Gary France Chair, Terry Byard Vice Chair, Michael Caminada Exec Committee, Howard Jones Exec Committee, Alan Gordon Break O’ Day Sports Anglers,  John Broomby  Northern Clubs, , Mark Rockliff  NWFA, Chris Cohen Corralin FF and Casting Assoc, Wayne Bellette Tas Fly Tyers Club, Jonathan Wadwell  STLAA Delegate, Denis Edwards Exec Officer, John Diggle IFS

Apologies

Malcolm Crosse, Adrian Hope, Keith Symons, Charles Thompson, Brett Smith

IFS Report

John Diggle tabled the much appreciated IFS Report to Anglers for Nov2019 to Feb2020  and is now available on the IFS website. This may be the last hard copy report produced and in future the report will be available on the IFS website

Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held 10am Sun 17 Nov 2019, at the Great Lake Community Centre were tabled.

Matters Arising --

Following C Thompson’s comments at the last GM on the HOF procedures, the Selection Criteria was reviewed by the Exec Committee and it was considered that it does not require change. It was also noted that the nomination process requires an executive summary of not more than 250 words PLUS supporting documentation and information detailing the nominee’s contribution and achievements.

The website listing of the HOF recipients is to go ahead.

J Broomby reported that the site has been selected for the Lake Parangana toilets proposed by the Deloraine Angling Club and are awaiting Hydro approval.

M Rockliff moved that the minutes be accepted.  Seconded  T Byard

Financials

The current balances of the four bank accounts, the quarterly Balance Sheet as at 31Dec 2019, Profit and Loss to 31Dec 2019 and the Quarterly Budget for Jan Feb Mar were tabled.

Discussion was had on the need for corporate sponsorship for the Fisheries Habitat Improvement Fund and J Broomby and G France are to take these concerns to the next Fisheries Habitat Improvement Fund Board meeting.

The proposed AAT River Health Campaign will also need funding.

M Caminada moved that the Financial Report be accepted. Seconded J Wadwell

National Fishing and Recreation Conference Hobart 10-11 Dec 2019

H Jones and G France represented AAT at the conference and tabled a comprehensive report that detailed speakers of particular interest to AAT that included the following –    

·      Travis Dowling VFA Target 1000,000 rec fishers

·      Craig Copeland OZ Fish Citizen Action - The role of OzFish Unlimited.ozfish.org.au

·      Belinda Yim WIRF women in recreational fishing network

·      Mike Burgess VR Fish Rec fishery Representation and Advocacy

·      Nathan Miles NSW DPI Monitoring and Management of Native and Trout Fisheries

·      Adam Martin ARFF The Tackle Box Project

·      Cecil Ellis Waterbug Blitz

The detail of the above items can be viewed online.

The possibility of OZ Fish chapters being set up in Tasmania was discussed and G France is to follow up with OZ Fish and invite them to some Tasmanian events eg Trout Weekend to gauge reaction from the Tasmanian angling community.

River Health Campaign

H Jones reported media interest in the recent Scamander fish kill and ABC TV interest in doing a program on concerns of current river health and potential solutions going forward.

AAT is hoping to elicit support from clubs and individuals around Tasmania to contribute to this story and use it as a springboard for an ongoing campaign for improved river health.

AAT wants to build a network of contacts statewide and hopes to collaborate with other interested groups and individuals to raise the profile of our rivers and ensure their viability into the future.

Involvement may include  --

      Written involvement

 Emailing ABC directly or sending A.A.T. details of specific issues affecting your     river/stream for us to coordinate.

Radio involvement

  Providing questions A.A.T. can put to interviewees on air

 Taking part in a more co-ordinated radio call back session

 Nominate as a willing interviewee

     TV

  Nominate a willing “on-camera” spokesperson outlining impacts on the group you                     

  represent or the water itself.   A.A.T. is intent on building a network of contacts

statewide and hopes to collaborate with other interested groups such as Canoe Clubs, NRM groups, Bird Watchers etc as well as individuals, to raise the profile of our rivers and ensure their viability into the future.

If you are interested please contact Howard Jones 0409 969 895.

Junior Anglers

M Rockliff reported that clubs were happy with last years stocking and tabled a similar proposed Stocking Sheet for the 2020/21 season with a quote from Atkinson Aquaculture of $7,975 for the supply and delivery of the fish.

M Rockliff proposed the quote be accepted , seconded T Byard

Jonah Bay

An email from M Crosse was tabled detailing a project that Ken Sulman, on his own initiative and cost, has installed a link to boost telephone coverage in the Jonah Bay boat ramp area.

He is now seeking donations to recoup costs from interested users and Malcolm suggested that AAT could make a contribution.

A discussion took place and it was pointed out that the service can only be used by Telstra customers -- there was no support from the committee and more detailed information is required before a decision could be made on an AAT contribution.

Windfarm

If AAT is to take any further action the support of all anglers is needed

Correspondence

>Reply to AAT’s letter from Minister on Silver Plains access, Woodwards Canal mini hydro project and St Patricks Plains wind farm

>AAT’s submission to the Fin Farming Inquiry

>AAT’s email to DPIPWE on South Esk  turbid farm dam release into river

>Parks Walls of Jerusalem proposal

>Malbena activity

General business

>C Cohen suggested AAT and IFS consider joint funding to support a University study on a   subject relevant to freshwater anglers.

Chris also reported a trailer tampering incident at Jonah Bay last week

>T Byard reported that because Little Pine ices up badly over winter the Recommended Boating Practice buoys are pushed out of position and will be replaced by line of sight posts on the bank.

>G France reported that the Brumbys Creek webcam has been down for some time and possibly needs replacing

Action list

>Invite Biosecurity Tas to next GM

>Invite OzFish to some Tas events eg Trout Weekend

>Email Clubs for statewide media participants

Next meeting  10am Sun 31 May 2020