Normally I’d keep this for the next Burley Line (there’s a lot of good stuff here), but there is one item promoting an online session tomorrow 30 Jul.

With contributions from over 100 Indigenous individuals and organisations, these Indigenous-led Guidelines support a step-change in learning, by both Indigenous peoples and their partners, about best practice ways of working with Indigenous knowledge to look after land and sea Country. Supported by NAILSMA and CSIRO, and funded by the Northern Australia Hub of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program (NESP), the Our Knowledge Our Way Guidelines are based on 23 case studies that illustrate the critical principle that Indigenous people must decide what is best practice when working with their knowledge.  The launch will be held online between 1-2pm on the 30th July.  It features a short film, followed by a Q&A session with indigenous co-authors and partners.  Register online here.

ACT Government website confirms the re-opening.

https://www.environment.act.gov.au/home/home-news-listing/parts-of-namadgi-are-now-open-as-bushfire-recovery-progresses

Given the AGM is going ‘virtual’ with us meeting on-line via Zoom, the traditional raffle has also gone on-line.

If you haven’t already bought your ticket, best you hurry. Buy your tickets ‘contact-free’ by transferring your money to the Canberra Anglers’ Association bank account at BSB 032727, Account 240159. $10 per ticket. Be sure to include your name in the bank reference. Lucky winners will be announced at the AGM.

$300 of prizes suited to all styles of angling. They include a Snowbee fish smoker, a McLean Angling folding weigh net (kg and lbs) made in New Zealand and a SIMMS wading koozy.

Got this from Pres MAS

Dear Supporters

On 2 July 2020, MAS Secretary Rod Whiteway and I met with NSW Fisheries to discuss our Concept Plan for the trout grow-out facility which is to be developed as an off-set for Snowy Hydro 2.0. During this meeting we presented our plan and our four priorities. At the end of this meeting NSW Fisheries asked that the MAS enter into “Agreed Principles” with DPI for the project. The MAS Executive is working on this and we will make a decision soon.

On 7 July I met with Snowy Hydro to present our Concept Plan to them. It is my assessment that our Concept Plan was well received.

Under the Final Assessment, Snowy Hydro is required to develop a detailed Recreational Fishing Management Plan, which includes a program involving the spending of $5 million over 5 years during construction (of Snowy Hydro 2.0) to develop the capability to restock, and to restock, the Tantangara Reservoir and Lake Eucumbene with salmonid fish. The anglers of the region have provided substantial support for the MAS proposal that the facility must produce fish of such a size that can withstand redfin predation. The MAS has identified 200 to 250mm as the preferred size and this has subsequently been confirmed by DPI researchers.

To get trout to this size it is imperative that the Gaden Trout Hatchery is capable of operating year-round with minimal impact from reduced water flow or high-water temperatures. Over the last two hatchery seasons we have seen Gaden production impacted by Thredbo River hot water events. It is likely that these hot water events will continue ad hoc into the future. Because of climate change there is the distinct probability such events will become more frequent. The MAS has formed the view that Water Temperature Security (WTS) is the critical element in any Plan for the facility. To ensure WTS the MAS has developed this Concept Plan to ensure WTS for the grow-out facility and Gaden Hatchery generally.

The MAS has adopted the position that there are four priorities for this project, and they are non-negotiable in concept. They are:

• Water Temperature Security must be secured for Gaden Hatchery,
• The facility must be capable of growing out a minimum of 150,000 yearling trout per annum for stocking,
• A suitable fish transporter must be part of the plan to ensure trout are stocked efficiently and effectively, and
• Holding a reserve of funds for the mid-term repair or replacement of the pump and / or pipeline.

If you would like more detail on the Concept Plan you can find it on the MAS Web Site at this link.

http://www.monarofishsociety.org/news.html

The MAS will keep you informed as the project develops.

Steve Samuels

President

Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc.

July 2020

Comments sought by Thu 20 Aug.

I got this from the NSW CFA Jul Newsletter. I’ll highlight the rest in the Aug Burley Line but this item was too urgent.

All the information and see the promotional video here.

Crown land is highly valued and enjoyed by individuals and diverse communities across NSW. It is used for a wide variety of purposes, from farms, parks, reserves, roads and cemeteries, to showgrounds, campgrounds, surf clubs, community halls and industrial sites…. did someone also think angler access!

Under the Crown Land Management Act 2016 (the Act) the NSW Government is required to create a State Strategic Plan for Crown land. The State Strategic Plan will set the vision, priorities and overarching strategy for the management of Crown land and outline timeframes and outcomes.

Here’s your chance to comment.

DPI Fisheries has been criticised for not displaying action in respect to the Trout Strategy that had been developed with much angler input a year or so ago. On 18 June 2020 they conducted an extended Zoom presentation covering these matters, specifically the innovations being implemented at Gaden Hatchery and especially the research activities being conducted across the state. It was a very informative session and well received.

For those who didn’t go, or those who would like a reminder of the slide packs/information, these have been disseminated and available here. The titles are not entirely descriptive of the contents. The first one focusses on research, the second the efforts more broadly.

The handling of the various publicly ‘owned’ land (eg TSRs, Crown Reserves and Crown Roads) has been a continuing issue for anglers within NSW.  The loss of access to waters due to the sale of TSRs etc has been considerable. The transparency of Government consideration has reduced over the years and it is only through dedicated monitoring by a few (eg President MAS Steve Samuels) that plans have been identified and, where necessary, objected to. (Steve has had some great wins in the Snowy Monaro).

The ever vigilant NSWCFA (thanks Ray Tang) has spotted this exposure document in respect to Crown Land.  I’d encourage all readers here to examine the draft for education and consideration.  When the formal public consideration period commences I’d encourage strong individual participation.  No doubts NSWCFA Executive will put a consolidated position into the process as well.

https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/lands/public/on-exhibition/draft-state-strategic-plan-for-crown-land

You might recall anglers were asked to contribute to the development of a new Native Fish Recovery Strategy.

We’ve been advised today that on Friday 19 June Murray-Darling Basin Ministers endorsed the Strategy, “which provides guidance and practical actions that governments, communities and the private sector can take to strengthen the health of native fish”.

The document is available on the Murray Darling Basin Authority website.

We have been patiently waiting for this. DPI have been quietly doing a lot of research, some in the context of the Trout Strategy. Now we can read about it on this new webpage.

Got this from UMDR and Cooma Waterwatch:

UMDR needs 10 mins of your time to fill out the community fish knowledge survey by Monday 15th June.