14/10/2005 - The Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum met for the fourth time today in Adelaide. The Ministerial Forum was established under the Lake Eyre Basin Inter-governmental Agreement, signed by the Australian, Queensland and South Australian Governments in 2000 and the Northern Territory in 2004. The Agreement provides for the sustainable management of water and related natural resources within the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement area.

The Ministerial Forum comprises the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator the Hon Ian Campbell (Chairman), the Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, the Hon Henry Palaszczuk MP, the South Australian Minister for Environment and Conservation, the Hon John Hill MP and the Northern Territory Minister for Central Australia, the Hon Dr Peter Toyne MP.

During the meeting, Minister Campbell recognised the important contribution being made by members of the Ministerial Forum's Community Advisory Committee and Scientific Advisory Panel.

"The Community Advisory Committee and Scientific Advisory Panel are playing a vital role in supporting the implementation of the Agreement," Minister Campbell said. These two important groups played a key role in securing $480,000 of Natural Heritage Trust funding for a study of people, communities and economies of the Lake Eyre Basin.
This study is one important project being undertaken in 2005-06 and will enhance on ground natural resource management outcomes in the Basin.

Other key outcomes from the meeting included:
• Agreement to proceed with the second phase of the Lake Eyre Basin Rivers Assessment including on-ground pilot projects such as floodplain salinity mapping methods and waterbird breeding assessment in the Basin.
• Agreement to increased Indigenous consultation initiatives in the Lake Eyre Basin.
• Approval of appointments to the Lake Eyre Basin Community Advisory Committee, including representatives from the mining, tourism and conservation sectors.
• Agreement to the objectives for the 2006 review of the Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement.
• Agreement to implement twelve priority strategies to address cross border impacts in the Lake Eyre Basin such as weeds and feral management activities, in collaboration with key regional groups.
• Confirmation of arrangements for the next Lake Eyre Basin Conference to be held in Port Augusta in September 2006, the International Year of the Desert and Desertification.

A major achievement in 2004-05 was completion of the draft Lake Eyre Basin Hydrological Atlas and the installation of three automatic stream gauging stations in the Basin. "The improved knowledge and understanding of the Basin's hydrology will assist natural resource management planning and activities throughout the Lake Eyre Basin" Minister Campbell said. "The Atlas will also provide important baseline data for the Lake Eyre Basin Rivers Assessment Project."
The Ministerial Forum noted that South Australia had undertaken a review of the boundaries of the Agreement area in that State and that the South Australian Government is considering the outcomes of the review, including possible expansion of the LEB Agreement area in SA.

The Ministerial Forum also noted the cooperative cross border consultation between Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory in the development of a water resource plan for the Queensland component of the Georgina and Diamantina Rivers.
"The Lake Eyre Basin Agreement demonstrates a successful partnership between the South Australian, Northern Territory, Queensland and Australian Governments to manage one of Australia's largest and most intact river catchments".