AAT Minutes General Meeting 2/6/24
10.00 am Sunday 2 June 2024
Great Lake Community Centre, Miena
Present
Howard Jones Vice Chair, Tim Munro Executive Officer, Terry Byard Exec Committee, Peter Coventry, Devonport Anglers, John Butler Devonport Anglers, Keith Symons Independent South, Jonathan Wadwell Exec Committee, Chris Hilton Tas Fly Tyers, Malcolm Crosse Exec Committee, Ryan Wilkinson, Acting Director Inland Fisheries, Rob Freeman Inland Fisheries, Adrian Hope Tas Flyfishing Association, Nick May Trout Guides and Lodges Tasmania, Philip Charlesworth, Warwick Gee, Peter Wisniewski, Joel Gent North West Fishing Association.
The meeting opened at 10:00
Apologies
Gary France Chair, Wayne Bellette Tas Fly Tyers, Fiona Dewar social media officer,
Howard Jones, noting Gary France’s apology, chaired the meeting.
The Chair acknowledged the traditional owners of the land and welcomed AATs participants and our two guests, Nick May and Ryan Wilkinson.
Minutes of the previous meeting, 18 February 2024 were accepted as a true and correct record of that meeting.
Moved Chris Hilton seconded Peter Wisniewski
Tim Munro spoke to the financial report – outlining details of balance sheet and profit and loss statement. The meeting, noting that AAT remains in a good financial position, resolved to accept the report.
Moved Malcolm Crosse seconded Terry Byard
IFS Report
Ryan Wilkinson:
New Minister and portfolios of Primary Industries and Water are separated from Fisheries : Eric Abetz
Junior anglers will have licence fees waived for a further 3 years – junior angler numbers have increased from 900 to 2000 over the past few years.
A new young adult licence (at reduced cost) has also been introduced.
Trout weekend was cancelled due to water level concerns
There has been an agreement on retaining a 40m setback for forestry operations on the Tyenna river
An MOU with Van Dairy RE water levels at Talbots Lagoon has been signed. However, water rights will likely be for sale as the Woolnorth property is on the market.
The walking track around Four Springs Lake has been completed.
IFS is involved in ongoing discussions with Parks to improve Dago point recreational facilities.
Rob Freeman:
Recent survey work at lakes Sorell and Crescent indicate numbers and condition of fish are both improving. Stocking has stopped and natural recruitment is expected to continue to increase numbers
Four Springs stocking remains a priority for IFS
Tooms lake is being monitored and IFS is unclear what the cause of the declining fishery is
Number of licences anglers was approximately 26000 last year.
IFS is recruiting a Salmon compliance officer to oversee freshwater salmon producers
IFAC Report
Howard spoke of the IFAC meeting, commenting that many issues were raised including
The Cormorant problem
Apparent small sized fish
Algal blooms
Wake boats
Hut bay access
Need for more angling opportunities in Southern Tasmania
The importance of Junior angling programs
Fiona Dewar put a persuasive paper to IFAC for the development of Lake Leake as a tourist opportunity
TGALT update
Nick May:
Welcomed the opportunity to attend AAT meeting and sees great value in TGALT re-connecting with AAT.
Nick mentioned a range of issues and concerns that TGALT has in common with other anglers and AAT members including the cormorant problem, habitat degradation, the concern for the general reduction in insect life and the declining fishing in major waters such as Arthurs Lake.
Numerous meeting participants thanked Nick for attending the meeting and it was agreed that TGALT and AAT probably share a common interest on almost all inland angling matters and a stronger relationship would be welcome.
Correspondence
Tim Munro spoke to the letter from Premier Rockliff. He is to meet with Ryan Wilkinson to follow up funding details for AAT
The letter from NRE regarding the Deer Control Project was noted. This project was discussed as an example of Government Agency control of a ‘problem’ species. The development of a case for control of Cormorants was talked about at some length. Ryan Wilkinson noted that he was seeking historical information about cormorant numbers and issues in Tasmania.,
Tony Dell’s letter to Ministers Plibersek and Howlett received broad support from meeting participants. Terry Byard spoke commenting that he and Howard Jones are members of the Sorell Water Management Group and are frustrated at the lack of progress in reaching agreement to date on the critical issue of water levels – and the ‘competition’ for water from agricultural interests - and for energy generation in other cases. Lakes Sorell and Crescent support fringing RAMSAR protected wetlands and the threatened golden Galaxia. The competition for water was noted as a serious matter for the health, not just for Lakes Sorell and Crescent but more broadly of our trout fishery, and waterways across the state.
Notes from Angling Clubs
Devonport Junior Anglers Club
John Butler noted that the club might go into recess until issues of reliable access to fish for stocking and fish mortality from cormorants were able to be resolved.
He also commented that in his view the updates at the Jonah Bay campground were not a step forward citing the difficulties in gaining access in particular.
Ulverstone Anglers Club
Philip Charlesworth informed the group that his organisation had held very successful new angler events this season
Philip agreed to send further details and images to AAT
Chris Hilton Tasmanian Fly Tyers Club
Chris asked if additional works (signage etc) at Little Pine Lagoon boat ramp car park could be undertaken to reduce instances of cars parking in boat trailer places? TM undertook to followup with IFS
Shallow waters project update
Following productive discussions with MAST and in relation to the Draft Shallow Waters Report, Howard Jones had prepared a plan of the likely locations of additional buoys to improve the marking of the Penstock Lagoon boating corridor. Whilst there were a variety of views expressed it was agreed that better designation of the corridor and signage to increase instances of voluntary compliance would be a good step forward.
Technical and logistics matters regarding the corridor are being pursued by Terry Byard and Howard Jones and it is hoped the corridor will be in place during the 24/25 trout season.
Other Business
Adrian Hope
Reminded the meeting that there is a trailer for IFS/AAT activities and field days that can be used.
It was noted that the updated angling pamphlets from IFS are now available on the AAT website.
The meeting closed at 2:30pm – next meeting 18 August 2024 at the Great Lake Community Centre.
