The Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee (GLCC) is recruiting community members to help coordinate and manage environmental activities and community engagement that improves the health of the Gippsland Lakes.
Parliamentary Secretary for Water Harriet Shing announced that five community positions are now being advertised - the sucessful candidates will have a comprehensive knowledge of the Gippsland Lakes and live or work in the Gippsland Lakes catchment.
Over the next three years the Committee will oversee the expenditure of $7.5 million allocated in the Victorian Budget 2021/22 to continue improving the health of the lakes through on-ground management activities and community engagement.
Candidates will be selected by an independent panel chaired by Bruce Hammond. As Chair of Lakes Entrance Fisherman's Cooperative, Chair of Noweyung Ltd, Board director at Bairnsdale Regional Health and retired Managing Director of East Gippsland Water, Mr Hammond has extensive governance, and private and public sector leadership experience.
The GLCC was formed in 2015 to help coordinate community and agency efforts to maintain or improve the environmental health of the Gippsland Lakes.
It is responsible for prioritising investment and overseeing the roll out of funded programs, guided by regional waterway strategies for East and West Gippsland and the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Management Plan.
The new term of the GLCC will include 10 members and a Chairperson, appointed by the Minister, who will provide the right mix of local knowledge and expertise to help achieve the Committee's objectives. This includes community members, Traditional Owners, and recreational water users.
The Committee will also include representatives from Victorian public sector agencies that have a responsibility in the management of the Lakes.
For more information on the Expressions of Interest process, which closes at 5pm Monday 13September, go to boards.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Parliamentary Secretary for Water Harriet Shing
"The Gippsland Lakes are an important part of our landscape and environment, and this committee has played an invaluable role in protecting, researching and improving the health of the Lakes."
"The original program engaged with 40 agencies and groups to draw upon expertise and resources from a range of stakeholders."
"I encourage candidates with the knowledge and expertise to apply and make sure this new funding continues to benefit the Lakes now and into the future."
