Call for river board member

A STANTHORPE resident who is passionate about the area’s natural environment is being sought to fill a vacancy on the local catchment’s river management board.
Department of Natural Resources and Mines executive director Wally Kearnan said the Stanthorpe Shire River Improvement Trust was seeking a new community member to help lead the protection and improvement of the area’s rivers.
“The Stanthorpe Shire River Improvement Trust was founded in 1986 and is a statutory body charged with the responsibility for the protection and improvement of streams and flood mitigation in the local catchment system,” Mr Kearnan said.
“This includes carrying out works to improve flow of water in the Severn River and Pikes Creek catchment systems in order to prevent erosion, provide flood mitigation and enhance riverine environmental values.
“The trust is this year undertaking bed and bank stabilisation works on Quartpot Creek, controlling weed species and working to protect key public infrastructure at various locations.
“We’re looking for a member of the local community that has experience with natural resources management systems in the Stanthorpe catchment, an understanding of financial arrangements and statutory requirements and can provide strategic project planning support to the trust.”
Mr Kearnan said the trust had three members with a vacancy currently opened for the fourth member.
“The successful candidate would serve a two-and-a-half year term and become the second community member on the trust, alongside the two trust members who are local government councillors,” he said.
“These two members are currently Cr Ross Bartley, deputy mayor, and Cr Cameron Gow.
“The trust is supported by a secretary and works engineer who are employed by the Southern Downs Regional Council and assisted by Department of Natural Resources and Mines water technical officers based in Warwick.
“The trust meets four times a year in addition to two to four annual field inspections.”
Inquiries about applying to join the Stanthorpe Shire River Improvement Trust can be directed to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines’s Matt Blanch on 4661 0200 or Matthew.Blanch@dnrm.qld.gov.au.
Applications for the vacant position close on Friday 19 December.
More information about Queensland’s River Improvement Trusts is available at www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/water/qld-river-improvement-trusts.