NSW Farmers Association - Priority Issue 1

Committee Members
Mark Bulley (Acting Chair)
Colin Auld
Steve Verdich
Don Burgoyne
Lyn Desoto
Kevin McAsh
Steve Jones
Stirling Cullenward

NSW Farmers'
Association Staff
E nswfarmers@
nswfarmers.org.au

P 02 8251 1700
F 02 8251 1750

Member Service
Centre
1300 794 000

1. No cost sharing arrangements for the NSW Shellfish Program

Up to 1/3 of oyster farming families could be lost in 2006-07, the remainder slowly exiting, if the NSW Government does not complete and implement the findings of a review of the NSW Shellfish Program’s (NSW SP) cost sharing arrangements. A NSW Treasury lead review team commenced work in late 2005 but its findings are yet to be finalised.

After identifying potential pollution in public waterways, the NSW Shellfish Program monitors pollution through about 8000 tests across shellfish producing estuaries annually.

Between 2002-03 and 2004-05 the NSW Government contributed an average of $0.9 million/year to the NSW SP and the NSW shellfish industry an average of $2.3 million. Of the $0.9 million requested through Minister Macdonald for 2005-06, the NSW Government contributed $0.4 million; the industry left with $2.8 million in expenses. The industry faces full cost recovery under the Program in 2006-07 if no agreement is in place.

The industry seeks long term cost sharing commitments for the NSW Shellfish Program.

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1. No cost sharing arrangements for the NSW Shellfish Program