The vision, of the Many Rivers Regional Council (formally known as the North Eastern Indigenous Regional Council) as reflected in the Regional Plan is:
The Many Rivers Regional Council is of the firm belief that fostering open communication channels between communities, ATSIC and other government agencies will provide a firm foundation from which to build upon to promote community self- management and a greater utilisation of all resources.
Not only does the Regional Council have a legislative obligation to formulate a Regional Plan, it strongly believes that regional plans provide for a strategic approach to the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within this region.
The Regional Plan is a "living" document that will grow and change with the needs, aspirations and priorities expressed by communities. The Plan identifies locally relevant objectives and strategies for each of the Commission's Programs and Sub Programs.
In addition, the Regional Council will continue to enhance the strategies outlined in the Plan and will look at and encourage innovative approaches to further the social and economic status of our people within the Region. In particular, the Council will strive to work towards developing and fostering better relationships between ATSIC and other government agencies.
The Council believes that where Commonwealth, State and Local government agencies have a responsibility to provide services specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, those agencies have an obligation to do so and the Regional Council will continue to express this opinion to those agencies.
Major achievements of the Many Rivers Regional Council for the reporting period include;
The establishment of temporary Regional Aboriginal Legal Service undertaken by Bundjalung Training and Development Aboriginal Corporation
Commencement of new CDEP at Nambucca Heads by Nguralla
The establishment and opening of the Aged Hostel - "Booroongen Djugun" at Kempsey.
The establishment and opening of the mutli purpose centre at Maitland.
The establishment and opening of the language centre at Nambucca Heads
Provided for the purchase of a water truck and front end loader for Mallanganee
Commercial
The Commercial Program encompasses six sub-programs with the three major components being the Business Funding Scheme (BFS), Home Ownership Program and the Commercial Development Corporation (CDC) incorporating the national program, of the Community Economic Initiatives Scheme (CEIS). The number of applications approved under CEIS were eleven (l l). Home Ownership saw 131 people housed, 25 applicants added to the waiting list and 36 Home Loans approved. Within the BFS Program there were several firm enquires that were referred to the Commission for further development and assessment.
Employment
The construction of houses at Baryulgil square and Muli Muli provided for the generation of a number of jobs in the local Communities.
The extension of the CDEP through the Kyogle Shire Council and Kurachee has also provided for another 30 positions.
Infrastructure
Major infrastructure commenced on the Baryulgil Square establishing several new homes and associated infrastructure.
Land Acquisition and Management
Under the Land Acquisition Program $510,000 was allocated to the Tweed Heads Local Aboriginal Land Council to purchase a property at Doon Doon. Within the Land Management Program, three (3) grants totalling $350,165 were allocated to assist in the maintenance of Namabunda Farm at Alstonville ($101,074), the Collum Collum Station ($169,091) at Baryulgil and property maintenance at Kempsey for the Dainggati Aboriginal Corporation ($80,000).
Community consultations undertaken.
A number of community consultations occurred in Kempsey with regard to the Old Burnt Bridge infrastructure program.
Chairperson Jim Budd conducted a number of community meetings throughout the region during the reporting period to discuss various issues of the Commission and community development matters.
Sports and Recreation Grant Program.
During the first six months of the term of this new, smaller Regional Council, the Sports Committee, established under the previous Regional Council, has been "reworked" to provide what is believed to be a more streamlined and efficient mechanism for the provision of Sport and Recreational Grants to our constituents.
The Sports Committee members are Councillors Griffiths, Blunden, Torrens, Kelly and Cohen.
The aim of the current Sports Committee is to assist the Indigenous people of this region to participate in sports and recreational activities at local, regional and state level. It is the role of the Sports Committee to facilitate representation of the relevant applicants to the Australian Sports Commission for Federal funding.
Whilst the majority of Sport and Rec. funds have been expended on Sporting based applications it is the policy of the Sports Committee to increase its emphasis on Recreational grants which reflect a more culturally relevant social aspect. It is expected that the recreational aspect will assist in supporting the social and cultural development of youth in the region and will attempt to assist and support local community initiatives, thereby further enhancing the effectiveness of any grant funds provided.
The diversity of applicants will reflect the commitment of the Sports Committee (via its' policy) to provide equality of access to the Sports Grant Program by all people including youths, women and people with a disability.
Applicants which prove they have made the effort to secure or obtain their own independent funding will also be considered in a more favourable light. The reasoning behind this is to hopefully stimulate applicants into being more resourceful in obtaining their funding for their sporting/recreational activities and will also help to allow the Sports Committee to be able to with-hold more of its' available funds which can then be allocated to other individual/team applicants and thereby assist a wider selection of applicants in their endeavours to participate in their chosen activities
Funding will not be exclusive to "Elite" athletes but will also be made available to "Beginners" as well, in order to promote an air of encouragement within the Region for less developed applicants to continue in their endeavours to achieve and participate.
The acquittal process for all grant funds issued by the Sports Committee will become more refined via a continuing process of revue by the Sports Committee as the need arises or becomes evident. This will assure that the accountability of both the Sports Committee (as the "Grantor") and the recipient (as the "Grantee") will both be able to verify and validate all grant funds expended and therefore meet the scrutiny of any public eyes.
In this day and age of "Public Accountability" the above measure is a matter of necessity not imposition, and will hopefully be seen as such by our constituents.
Women's Issues.
The biggest hurdle to still overcome regarding Women's' Issues is the lack of on-hand information and information available being made to the General Public.
The General Public needs to be made more aware of the programs and information available to them through the Regional, Central and State Offices with regard to Women's' Issues.
It is my feeling that there should be a dedicated officer within the Regional Office who has an understanding of the Issues themselves as well as being able to facilitate the provision of information and or services as required and applicable, through the Regional Office and or Central or State Offices.
The feedback from Communities indicates there seems to be a lack of commitment to the Women's Issues area with regard to the provision to the Aboriginal Communities of services and information available regarding Women's Issues from the Regional Office.
The current position is an improvement over past years, but it is still the feeling of the Communities that there needs to be a greater flow-on of information regarding Women's' Issues.