Recreational Fishing Grants Working Group Meeting 4
10 FEBRUARY 2010 - TREACY CONFERENCE CENTRE, 126 THE AVENUE, PARKVILLE VIC 3052
Independent Chair's Summary
This was the fourth meeting of the Recreational Fishing Grants Working Group, established in September 2009. Key issues discussed in the meeting included:
- Small Grants Program
- Large Grants Program
- Scoring Criteria for Large Grants Program
- Commissioning Program
- Progress on projects previously approved to receive RFL Trust Account funding
- Update on Small Events Recreational Fishing Grants Program 2008/09
- Communications plan for the 2009/10 Recreational Fishing Grants Program (RFGP)
- Assessment of 2008/09 RFGP Applications
- Status of Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account revenue and expenditure
Small Grants Program
The Working Group had previously recommended that up to $200,000 (GST exclusive) of RFL Trust Account revenue be available for disbursement to successful projects under this tier of the program.
The Working Group approved the Small Grants Program draft guidelines & conditions and application forms, subject to some minor amendments, for the commencement of the new program as soon as practicable.
Large Grants Program
The Working Group had previously recommended that up to $600,000 (GST exclusive) of RFL Trust Account revenue be available for disbursement to successful projects under this program.
The Working Group approved the Large Grants Program draft guidelines & conditions and application forms, again subject to some minor amendments, for the commencement of the new program as soon as practicable.
The Working Group recommended that although RFL T/A revenue is not generally available for the purpose of funding improvements to recreational boating-related infrastructure, in exceptional circumstances, and where a clear benefit to boat-based recreational fishing can be demonstrated, such funding may be provided, subject to the consideration by the Working Group and approval by the Minister Responsible for Fisheries.
The Working Group also recommended that subject to annual review, $200,000 of RFL T/A revenue should be provided for fish stocking and administered through the annual state-wide fish stocking consultation process conducted by Fisheries Victoria. The Working Group indicated that all fish stocking funded this way shall acknowledge RFL revenue as the fund source, and any unexpended funds will be returned to the credit of the RFL T/A, or deducted from any subsequent year's funding.
Scoring Criteria for Large Grants Program
The Working Group recommended that the previous grant assessment criteria should be amended to simplify the process for scoring grant applications - e.g. using a high/medium/low scoring system.
Commissioning Program
The Working Group had previously recommended that up to $400,000 (GST exclusive) of RFL Trust Account revenue be available for disbursement to successful projects under this program.
The Working Group noted that the process for determining priorities for improving recreational fishing via regional consultation meetings and the RFL online survey has been completed by Fisheries Victoria.
The Working Group agreed that their role in the Commissioning Program would be to assess the project/s for commissioning recommended by DPI against recreational fishers' priorities identified through regional consultation and the above survey.
Progress on projects previously approved to receive RFL T/A funding
DPI provided an update on the progress of previously funded RFGP projects that are yet to be completed. Since the commencement of the RFGP in 2001/02, more than $8.5 million of RFL revenue has been allocated to almost 240 projects – an annual average expenditure of $1.2 million.
The Working Group noted the status of 34 projects that are currently in progress and expected completion dates.
Small Events Recreational Fishing Grants Program 2008/09
DPI provided an update on the program and advised the Working Group that 32 small events have been approved and $42,118.40 of RFL T/A revenue has been allocated through the program.
The Small Events Recreational Fishing Grants Program was launched on 1 October 2008. The Minister approved a disbursement of up to $110,000 (GST inclusive) to fund up to 50 small recreational fishing events.
The Working Group noted the progress of the Small Events Recreational Fishing Grants Program
Communications Plan for the 2009/10 Recreational Fishing Grants Program
DPI provided advice to the Working Group as to the purpose of the annual communications plan dor the Recreational Fishing Grants Program (RFGP). The 2009/10 plan aims to raise awareness of the new three-tiered RFGP amongst the recreational fishing fraternity, and encourage quality project proposals from eligible organisations within the small and large grant programs.
The Working Group agreed with the need to implement the proposed plan and subsequent expenditure of RFL T/A funds. Furthermore, the Working Group agreed that the promotion of completed projects (and newly funded projects) was a priority and requested that a new poster be prepared and distributed to angling clubs and tackle shops to be funded from RFL T/A revenue.
Assessment of 2008/09 RFGP Applications
The Working Group met on 26 November 2009 to conduct a quantitative assessment of all eligible 2008/09 grant applications. The Working Group subsequently referred its advice to the Minister for consideration.
Rob Mitchell, Ministerial advisor to the Minister Responsible for Fisheries attended the meeting and on the Minister's behalf thanked members for their good work in relation to the RFGP and related matters.
Mr Mitchell conveyed his thoughts that there is good representation of recreational fishing experience from across Victoria within the Working Group, and that the Minister looks forward to meeting the Working Group in the future.
Status of Recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account
DPI provided an update on the status of the 2009/10 RFL Trust Account revenue and expenditure to the Working Group.
The Working Group noted the estimated cash position at 30 June 2010, which included forward-revenues derived by anglers' purchasing the three-year RFL (three-yr anniversary of sales in 2006/07) and a CPI-adjusted increase in the cost of the RFL's.
Next meeting: Monday 17 May 2010.
John Diplock
Independent Chair
Recreational Fishing Grants Working Group