World Heritage advisory committees

There are two advisory committees for the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, the Community Advisory Committee and the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee. The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage property advisory committees provide advice to relevant government ministers and management agencies.

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage property includes reserves in New South Wales and Queensland. Members of advisory committees are appointed by New South Wales and Queensland environment ministers. Chairs of the advisory committees are jointly appointed by environment ministers for the New South Wales, Queensland and Australian Governments.

Advisory committees meet in Brisbane with one on-site visit each year.

Community Advisory Committee

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Community Advisory Committee has an independent Chair and 10 members who represent traditional owners, local authorities, community interest groups and other stakeholders.

• Five members represent stakeholder interests within the New South Wales portion of Gondwana and are nominated through the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) regional advisory committees.
• Five members represent stakeholder interests within the Queensland portion of Gondwana Rainforests and are selected through an expression-of-interest process.

The Chair of the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee is also a member of the Community Advisory Committee.

Current members of the Community Advisory Committee, with the fields they represent, are:

Chair

Dr Mahri Koch (NSW, ecologist)

Members

• Mr Paul Donatiu (Queensland, recreation)
• Mr Bryan Johnston (NSW, commercial tourism/NPWS Northern Tablelands Regional Advisory Committee
• Mr Innes Larkin (Queensland, commercial tourism)
• Mr Peter Ogilvie (Queensland, conservation)
• Ms Jan Olley (NSW, recreation/NPWS Northern Rivers Regional Advisory Committee)
• Ms Carmel Peacock (NSW, local government)
• Mr Terry Tibbett (NSW, Aboriginal people/NPWS North Coast Regional Advisory Committee)
• Professor Nick Reid (University of New England)
• vacant (Queensland, Aboriginal member).

Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area Community Advisory Committee Terms of Reference (PDF 1.1MB)

Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee has an independent Chair and 8 members who represent areas of technical and scientific expertise. The Chair of the Community Advisory Committee is also a member of the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee.

Current members of the technical and scientific advisory committee, with the areas they represent, are:

Chair

Professor Nick Reid (University of New England)

Members

• Professor Stephen Gale (geomorphology)
• Ms Liz Gould (community engagement in natural-resource management)
• Dr Aila Keto (World Heritage assessment and ecological restoration)
• Dr Melinda Laidlaw (plant-community ecology)
• Professor Michael Mahoney (threatened species management and conservation biology)
• Dr Bill McDonald (biogeography, ecology and plant identification)
• Dr Ross Peacock (fire ecology and citizen science)
• Professor Betty Weiler (visitor management, interpretation and sustainable tourism)
• Dr Mahri Koch (NSW, ecologist).

Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee Terms of Reference (PDF 1.1MB)

Committee meetings are also attended by representatives of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the Queensland Department of Science, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and a representative from the Department of the Environment and Energy.

Committee members are reimbursed for travel expenses and sitting fees are paid to the Chairs.

The Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Advisory Committee provides advice to relevant government ministers. It also provides advice to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, as the management agency, through the property’s Management Committee on matters related to the property’s World Heritage values.

Advisory committee

The Advisory Committee has 13 members. Current members, with the areas they represent, are:

• Mr Bruce Leaver –Chair
• Dr Ian Baird – ecology or zoology
• Mr Doug Benson – botany 
• Ms Tara Cameron – non-government organisation from the conservation sector
• Mrs Glenda Chalker – Aboriginal 
• Mr Bill Dixon – NPWS Blue Mountains Region Advisory Committee
• Mr Darrin Gray – outdoor, self-reliant, nature-based recreation
• Dr Julia James – water quality and aquatic ecology
• Mr Dylan Jones – tourism
• Cr Amanda Kotlash – local government (Hawkesbury City Council)
• Dr Ruth Longdin – archaeological/cultural heritage
• Mr Nick Rigby – local government (Blue Mountains City Council)
• Mr Lance Syme – Aboriginal.

Committee meetings are also attended by:

• the property's Management Committee (Director Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust; Director NPWS Blue Mountains Branch, Director NPWS Partnership, Planning and Heritage Branch and a representative from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment).

Advisory committee meeting reports

2018	February 2018 (PDF 476KB)	May 2018 (PDF 418KB)	August 2018 (PDF 423KB)
2017	February 2017 (PDF 375KB)	May 2017 (PDF 481KB)	August 2017 (PDF 387KB)	November 2017 (PDF 429KB)
2016	-	-	-	November 2016 (PDF 305KB)
2015	February 2015 (PDF 417KB)	May 2015 (PDF 269KB)	August 2015 (PDF 222KB)	November 2015 (PDF 635KB)
2014	-	May 2014 (PDF 204KB)	August 2014 (PDF 393KB)	November 2014 (PDF 407KB)
2013	February 2013 (PDF 118KB)	May 2013 (PDF 653KB)	August 2013 (PDF 598KB)	November 2013 (PDF 503KB)
2012	February 2012 (PDF 71KB)	May 2012 (PDF 126KB)	-	October 2012 (PDF 260 KB)
2011	-	May 2011 (PDF 193KB)	August 2011 (PDF 123KB)	November 2011 (PDF 161KB)
2010	February 2010 (PDF 726KB)	May 2010 (PDF 148KB)	August 2010 (PDF 174KB)	November 2010 (PDF 153KB)
2009	February 2009 (PDF 1.2MB)	May 2009 (PDF 206KB)	August 2009 (PDF 2.8MB)	November 2009 (PDF 267KB)
2008	February 2008 (PDF 723KB)	May 2008 (PDF 932KB)	August 2008 (PDF 895KB)	November 2008 (PDF 174KB)
2007	February 2007 (PDF 1.9MB)	May 2007 (PDF 829KB)	August 2007 (PDF 689KB)	November 2007 (PDF 665KB)
2006	-	-	September 2006 (PDF 552KB)	November 2006 (PDF 672KB)

There are 3 groups that provide advice on the management of this World Heritage property:

• Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Advisory Committee
• Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage First Peoples’ Consultative Group (formerly the Aboriginal Advisory Group)
• Willandra Landholders Group.

The groups work together to manage the property. All members of the First Peoples’ Consultative Group are members of the Advisory Committee, and they meet 3 times a year on or near the World Heritage property. The Willandra Landholders’ Group meets twice a year with one of these meetings being a joint meeting with the First Peoples’ Consultative Group.

Advisory Committee 2022–2025

The Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Advisory Committee provides advice to relevant government ministers and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on the management of the property.

It provides advice to other government agencies through the intergovernmental Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Management Committee on matters relating to the property's World Heritage values.

The committee has 18 members.

The committee’s terms of reference specify that the committee Chair should be an independent, non-government person with no current direct financial or political interest in the management of the Willandra Lakes Region.

The committee members represent relevant interest groups, stakeholders, scientific disciplines and rightsholders. Members of the committee are:

• Mr Mike Williams (Independent Chair)
• Mr Warren Clark (Barkandji/Paakantyi representative)
• Mr Ivan Johnston (Barkandji/Paakantyi representative)
• Ms Kathy Potter (Barkandji Registered Native Title Group Aboriginal Corp representative)
• Ms Patricia Winch (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
• Ms Verna Eade (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
• Mr Jason Kelly (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
• Ms Joan Slade (Ngiyampaa representative)
• Mr Mark Brettschneider (Ngiyampaa representative)
• Mr Keith Hampton (Ngiyampaa representative)
• Tom Wakefield (southern landholder representative)
• Wade Griffiths (northern landholder representative)
• Jane MacAllister (local government – Wentworth Shire)
• Professor Tim Denham (science)
• A/Professor Nicola Stern (science)
• Dr Nathan Jankowski (science)
• Sarah Hope (tourism expert)
• Marie Russel (NPWS West Branch Regional Advisory Committee).

Landholders are nominated by the Willandra Landholders Group to represent the northern and southern landholder clusters in the area.

Representatives of local government are nominated by their local government. The relevant National Parks and Wildlife Service regional advisory committee members are nominated by their committee.

Tourism and scientific community committee members are appointed by the NSW Minister for the Environment, following a public call for nominations.

All 9 elected members of the First Peoples’ Consultative Group are appointed by the NSW Minister for the Environment to the World Heritage Advisory Committee.

First Peoples’ Consultative Group 2022–2025

The Willandra Lakes Region First Peoples’ Consultative Group provides advice to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

First formed in 2015 as the Aboriginal Advisory Group, it changed its name in 2023. The group is in its third term.

The First Peoples’ Consultative Group has 9 members. The members are elected from each of the 3 Aboriginal peoples associated with the World Heritage property – the Barkandji/Paakantyi, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa peoples.

• The Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa peoples elect 3 members each.
• The Barkandji/Paakantyi people elect 2 members.
• The third member is appointed by the Barkandji Registered Native Title Group Aboriginal Corporation to represent their interests.

All members of the First Peoples’ Consultative Group also sit on the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Advisory Committee.

The elected and then appointed members are also able to nominate a member’s representative to attend meetings on their behalf. This position is appointed by an National Parks and Wildlife Service Executive Director.

The term is 3 years, and members can be re-elected as per their terms of reference:

• Mr Warren Clark (Chair – Barkandji/Paakantyi representative)
• Mr Ivan Johnston (Barkandji/Paakantyi representative)
• Ms Kathy Potter (Barkandji Registered Native Title Group Aboriginal Corp representative)
• Ms Patricia Winch (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
• Ms Verna Eade (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
• Mr Jason Kelly (Mutthi Mutthi representative)
• Ms Joan Slade (Ngiyampaa representative)
• Mr Mark Brettschneider (Ngiyampaa representative)
• Mr Keith Hampton (Ngiyampaa representative).

Aboriginal Advisory Group report

Future reports will be known as the First Peoples’ Consultative Group report to reflect the change to the group’s name.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this report may contain images and names of deceased persons.

Aboriginal Advisory Group 2015–19 public report summarising meetings, workshops and events (PDF 2.8MB)

Willandra Landholders Group

The Willandra Landholders Group meets with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to discuss matters relating to the management of the World Heritage property.

The Group is made up of all leaseholders of pastoral properties within the World Heritage property.

There are 13 stations currently within the Willandra Lakes Region: