A significant milestone has been reached by the Rosebud West/Tootgarook community with the establishment of two Advisory Committees by Council that will provide a framework for the community and stakeholders to inform and develop a Tootgarook Wetland Strategy. Membership to these Committees will be via Expression of Interest which will take place in 2013.

With mounting environmental and development pressures surrounding the Tootgarook Wetlands, the community sought to take action to raise awareness of the Wetlands and advocate for greater protection and conservation of the environmental values to be found in the Tootgarook Wetland Catchment.

Since 2011 Council has been engaging with the community as well as State Statutory stakeholders to seek feedback and information about the Tootgarook Wetland Catchment This resulted in a Discussion paper being presented to the Council and a subsequent decision by Council to investigate the development of Advisory Committees to inform the development of a Tootgarook Wetlands Strategy.

On Monday, 17th December, 2012 the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council unanimously adopted the following recommendation:

Moved: Cr. Celi Seconded: Cr. Gibb

1. That pursuant to Section 3 (1) of the Local Government Act 1989 Council establishes the advisory committees referred to as ‘Tootgarook Wetlands Strategy Working Party’ and ‘Tootgarook Wetlands Stakeholder Advisory Committee’.

2. That Council authorises the Director – Sustainable Environment with the:

A. Appointment of members of the Working Party and the Stakeholder Committee;

B. Reimbursement of members for any out of pocket expenses related to their advisory committee activities; and

C. Operation of the advisory committees.

3. That Council adopts the charter for the Working Party as shown in Attachment 1.

4. That Council adopts the charter for the Stakeholder Committee as shown in Attachment 2

COUNCIL DECISION

That the recommendation be adopted.

The reports, attachments, Committee Charters and more information can be found at this link:

http://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/files/a31eb9cd-a70e-4724-967a-

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