AAT AGM 2022

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
10am Sunday 28 August 2022
Great Lake Community Centre, Miena

Present

Gary France Chair, Howard Jones Vice Chair, Terry Byard Exec Committee, Malcolm Crosse Exec Committee, Wayne Bellette Tas Fly Tyers Club, Jonathan Wadwell Exec Committee, Phillip Charlesworth NWFA, Nick Baldock NWFA, Adrian Hope NW Fly Fishers Club of Tas, Keith Symons Independent South, Peter Coventry Devonport Anglers, Peter Wisniewski Ulverstone Anglers, Tony Wright Exec Officer, Denis Edwards Retiring Executive Officer, Chris Wisniewski IFS

Apologies

Mark Rockliff

Welcome

Chairman, Gary France welcomed members and guests

Confirmation of the minutes of the 2021 AGM

It was moved that the minutes of the 2021 AGM be accepted
The motion was moved by Phillip Char5lesworth and seconded by Terry Byard.

Business arising from the minutes

At the last meeting it was recommended that a register of assets should be set up. No action had been taken during the year and it was resolved that Tony Wright and Malcolm Crosse would progress this.

Chairman’s Review 2022

A major focus of the Anglers Alliance is the ongoing water quality maintenance and improvement of the Tasmanian fresh water river and lake systems, and the habitat for biodiversity within those waterways. A consistent effort to communicate our interests while forging working relationships with water users and managers, industry and government is ongoing. The Dairy industry along with Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association presented at our May general meeting, shedding light on current and common practice, as well as showing a constructive attitude in implementing new technologies to foster a more sustainable industrial and environmental outcome going forward. We continue to engage with stakeholders to further our understanding and share our concerns.

AAT has made physical presentation at and to the Rural Water Round Table, highlighting concerns going forward over industrial water use and the long term management culture used in hand with the Rural Water Use Strategy.
DPIPWE has now evolved into the NRE (Natural Resource and Environment); the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been removed and reconstructed, hopefully with more effective resource management.

The Rural Water Use Management Strategy has been finalised. It outlines some positive actions and the implementation of new protocols. New roles have been created, and dedicated river health monitoring and metering of usage is now taking a higher priority in managing water use and action planning. 80% of fees collected will be reinvested to support sustainable use of the state’s freshwater assets.

We welcome a new executive officer into the fold at this AGM. Tony Wright has a long-term understanding of the fresh water angling environment, its vagaries, and the governance process. Many of us have worked with Tony and know that he has immense experience in corporate and civic financial administration with many other attributes and skills that will be valuable to Anglers Alliance.

We farewell the services of Denis Edwards, a pioneering influence on the administration of AAT and highly valued for his additional knowledge, experience, opinion, input, and sense of humour. I thank Denis for all his work, and he will be greatly missed. We wish Denis all the best for his next adventures.

Moving forward we would like to see new comers enter the executive fold. It’s an opportunity to gain confidence and experience, and contribute new and exploratory ideas. We are a considerate and proactive team, improving at online style meetings like Zoom – tools like this save an enormous amount of time and traveling expense. General and face-to-face gatherings are highly valuable too; at times like today, our annual strategic planning sessions, and meetings with stakeholders.

Please promote the opportunity to fellow anglers to attend AAT general meetings for observation or input. This can be arranged through the executive officer for numbers and catering purposes.

Gary France
Chairman - Anglers Alliance Tasmania

Financial Report

The 2021-22 audit carried out by Bentleys Tasmania Audit Pty Ltd was tabled which contained the Annual Financial Statements, Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Income and Expenses for the year ended 30 June 2022. The Audit has been lodged with the Dept of Justice as part of AAT’s Annual Return.

There was discussion relating to the major expense items and reduced funding as the previous electoral funding commitments had now lapsed. One key item of expenditure was the University study to assess the economic value of the States freshwater fishery. The study was considered integral in establishing the case for additional funding.
The projected budget for the next three years reflected reduced activity to match expenditure with revenues.

T Byard moved that the Financial Report be accepted. Seconded: P Coventry

Election of Office Bearers

Nominations were received from: Gary France for Chair
Howard Jones for Vice Chair
Terry Byard for Exec Committee Malcolm Crosse for Exec Committee Jonathan Wadwell for Project Officer

No other nominations were received so that the Executive Committee for 2022-23 is as listed above. Tony Wright was appointed as the Executive Officer.

Discussion was held regarding increasing participation, diversity and gender in the operations of AAT. One way of doing this was to encourage observers at the monthly zoom meetings on a non-contributory basis with input via office bearers. It was noted that Charles Thompson had indicated he would like to participate as an Independent North West member.
P Charlesworth moved that the Officers be elected. Seconded: K Symons