General Meeting | 20 March 2019

Conducted our Normal General meeting last Wednesday night. It was well received with a lot of people attending. There were quite a lot of apologies, as there is quite a lot of Rain this time of year. A wide range of topics were discussed, including all of our current and future projects. One particular highlight has been our recent community project in which we helped a local Landholder with his Sicklepod, Lantana, Hyptis etc, that had gotten away. It has been very successful. We have helped get it done before this last lot of Wet Season Rain. See Before and After Photos below. We will be posting the minutes of our meeting in the coming weeks.

Minutes of General Meeting 20 March 2019

Welcome: The Meeting was opened at 5.13pm by the Chair, Vincent Harrigan
Attendance: As per attendance sheet – 15
Apologies: Cheryl Prestipino, Ray Turton, John Clarkson, Doon McColl, Joe Nechwatal, John Brisben, John Gavin, Neville Bowen, Craig Gibson, Joey Dix, Greg Whittaker, Lyndal Scobell, Debbie Wallace, Barry Goody, Katelyn Greaves.
Previous Minutes Executive Meeting -15.12.2019 Moved by Kathleen Elmes. Seconded by Eric Rosendale. Accepted
Business arising from previous minutes:

Change of group contact to current treasurer – nearly completed and Eric Rosendales presentation of CYNRM’s award for Cooktown State School added to Work Log-Admin

Chair’s Report: 

Thanks to all who could attend despite river crossings flooding. Cape York Weeds & Feral Animals Inc will keep the Hub Office following successful rent negotiations. There is plenty of work at the moment for the Group’s increased workforce.

Treasurer’s Report: 

The treasurer’s report was presented and moved by Kathleen Elmes and seconded by Andrew Hardwick
Secretary’s Report & Correspondence: 
All correspondence related to Government Contracts. SCYC, ALMAC and IPAAC Meetings attended. QWaLC Insurances and ACNC Annual Information Surveys completed. Letter of support done for Mitchell River Water Management Group for Drone mapping for feral weeds on Palmer River.
The report was moved by John Giese and seconded by Audrey Nicholson. 

Jobs Completed:

QFPI ACDC - Last Course   Community Weed Control Work – Cooktown 
Current .CYNRM Rubbervine at Laura River
.QFPI Pond Apple and QFPI Capacity Building
.DES Holroyd Feral Pest Control
.DES Bonny Glen Erosion, Equipment and Weed Control.
Future DES Bonny Glen Land Management commencing

General Business:

A pay rate increase of $2.00 per hour was proposed, as there had been no increase since 2014. Moved by John Giese, seconded by Eric Rosendale.. Unanimously carried.

General Discussions were held on the following:

(1) A Smart Fund Grant applied for to do Pig Baiting and Trapping with new techniques – mainly for Banana Farming area.
(2) Cost of Aircraft Fuel in Laura much higher than in Cooktown and cutting into hours of aerial work able to be completed in the central Cape. 
(3) Congress has 13 Clans to co-ordinate and are trying to regain funding for Land Management Works and to re-start their ranger group.
(4) Will Hyam has left Cape York NRM and moved over to Sugar Cane work. Michael Goddard will be holding the job temporarily.
(5) Discussions on Fire Control-burns need to be advertised more to allow smaller acreage landholders to be aware of plans and assist.
(6) The Lakeland Information Hub has gained funding and is going ahead.
(7) .The four School Environmental Students have started training with South Cape York Catchments and are showing their keenness.

Next Meeting: TBA
Meeting Closed 6.30 pm