MELBOURNE LABOR 'BOTCHES BOARD APPOINTMENTS': HALL

The Bracks Government has been accused of 'botching the board appointments' to the state's 10 Catchment Management Authorities (CMA).

The Nationals Spokesman for Natural Resources Peter Hall said the current terms of the board members expired on June 30, 2006 and the Minister for Water has not announced any new boards throughout the state.

"As far as I'm aware, the Minister has not announced any new boards, despite the fact that they all ceased to operate last Friday," Mr Hall said.

"It means that none of the CMAs in Victoria has any community-based leadership at the moment.

"While I have great respect for the professionalism of the management and staff employed by the government, even the Minister acknowledges that the community-based boards have a key role in setting the strategic and policy direction for the CMAs."

In a media release on July 1, 2003 to announce the board appointments for three years Mr Thwaites said: 'Each CMA Board played a vital role in helping their local communities improve river health and developing Regional Catchment Strategies, the accredited plans for investment in natural resource management in Victoria's regions.'

Mr Hall said the failure to announce new boards for 2006-09 was a practical demonstration of the government's lack of commitment to rural and regional Victoria.

"Melbourne Labor Ministers talk a lot about country Victoria but they continually fail to deliver," Mr Hall said.

"The failure to appoint new boards is a demonstration of the low priority this government gives to natural resource issues in rural and regional Victoria.

"The Minister should be embarrassed that he can't even manage to coordinate this most basic task of ensuring our CMAs have authorised boards of management in place at all times.

"Country Victorians deserve to know why there has been a delay and when we can expect the new board members to be announced."

Media contact: Peter Hall (03) 5174 7066 or 0427 747 066