Figure 10: Option for the Manning River ECMP Governance Structure

This is significant as rural and environmental lands cover around 95% of the MidCoast Local Government Area, including most of the land and water covered by the Coastal Management SEPP. Manning River ECMP actions to be implemented through Council’s Land-use Planning framework are shown in Theme 6: Land-use Planning. The new Land-use Plan, when complete, will work together with the Manning River ECMP actions in the IP&R Framework to implement the objects of the Coastal Management Act along with Council and our community’s goals for the floodplain and catchment.

1.5.2 The ECMP Governance Structure

Implementation of the Manning River ECMP will be led by MidCoast Council’s Natural Systems team. A governance structure with three groups will foster integration between agencies and Council teams, ongoing technical advice and community collaboration. The groups are described below, and the ECMP governance structure is shown in Figure 10. Manning River ECMP Community Reference Group: Community-based strategic input will continue to be provided through the Manning River ECMP Reference Group, a formal committee of Council. A review and appointment of the Reference Group will take place following the Council election in September 2021. The review will consider transferring government agencies currently represented in the Reference Group to the proposed ECMP Working Group. It is an action of the ECMP to increase Aboriginal representation by appointing a second person from the Gathang-speaking community. Manning River ECMP Technical Advisory Group (TAG): Technical advice will continue to be provided by the Manning River ECMP Technical Advisory Group, which will be assisted by several multi-stakeholder thematic groups currently being established in the MidCoast Region. Representatives from these groups will advise and liaise with the ECMP Working Group to ensure adaptive program implementation is based on the best evidence, and projects are integrated across Council departments and other agencies. Thematic groups could include Water Quality, Water Resilience and the Manning River Helmeted Turtle Steering Committee. Industry representatives would be welcome additions to these groups. Proposed Manning River ECMP Working Group: Following the Council election in September 2021, consideration will be given to establishing an operational ECMP Working Group. This group would focus on delivering ECMP actions along with monitoring, evaluation and reporting. It could be made up of representatives from each agency designated as a lead in the action program, along with Council personnel from allied programs leading actions that will contribute to delivery of the ECMP. The Working Group would report to the Community Reference Group.

Figure 10: Option for the Manning River ECMP Governance Structure