Interesting take on river governance

Interesting take on river governance

New Parks Victoria CEO Bradley Fauteux has an interesting perspective on the future governance of the Lower Yarra.

Mr Fauteux has only recently taken over the reins at Parks Victoria and says an independent authority for the Lower Yarra is possible, but not on his agenda.  

Parks Victoria will oversee a new interim committee being formed to guide future arrangements, which was put in place instead of the independent authority recommended by the Lower Yarra River Use Future Directions Group (LYRUFDG) last year.

The State Government rejected the governance recommendations but some local stakeholders understood that an interim committee was being established to transition to an independent waterways authority.

However, in a recent interview with Docklands News, Mr Fauteux said that was not his understanding of the state of play.

“Nothing in that announcement suggests that there is going to be an independent authority established in the future,” Mr Fauteux said. “None of what I have heard says that that’s going to be the likely outcome. I think it’s a possible outcome and, again, a lot can happen in a couple of years.”

Local stakeholders will also have plenty of interest in the composition of a three-person committee, which is being established to oversee a number of practical issues such as berthing and dredging.  The committee is also expected to make recommendations on appropriate future governance models.

While some local stakeholders were expecting three independent business people to be appointed to the committee, it is far from certain whether there will be any at all.

Early in the interview, Mr Fauteax said: “We’re going to have a three or four-person committee.  We’ll have someone from local government, we’re hoping to have someone from the City of Melbourne, we’re hoping to have someone from our board and someone from Parks Vic, I don’t know who that will be, comprising the committee.”

Later in the interview, Mr Fauteux said business would be represented on the committee.  A transcript of the interview can be read at http://www.southbanklocalnews.com.au/editions/article/interview-with-bradley-fauteux/

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