About the Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust Expenditure Committee
The Fisheries Management Act 1994 was amended in December 1997 to provide for re-introduction of the recreational freshwater fishing fee. The amendment also provided for proceeds of the fee to be managed by way of dedicated trust funds, for trust funds to be spent only on additional services for freshwater anglers and for the trust to be administered in consultation with ACoRF. The fee was reintroduced on 1 July 1998 and the Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust Expenditure Committee (RFFTEC), made up of freshwater anglers from 8 different regions from around the State (see attached map), was formed to assist the Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing (ACoRF) in setting Trust expenditure priorities, by providing expertise on regional freshwater fishing issues.
Recreational Fishing Freshwater regions
Coastal freshwater regions are east of the Great Dividing Range to the upper limits of tidal waters, and the western regions are west of the Great Dividing Range. The dividing line between the inner west and the far-west regions is east of the Newell Highway until Dubbo and then west of the Newell Highway from Dubbo south. The dividing line between Regions 7 and 8 runs just north of the Barrier highway, that is, towns on the Barrier Highway are included in Region 8.
Current membership for RFFTEC is as follows:
Committee Member: | Qualification & Fishing Interests: |
|---|---|
Bruce Schumacher Chair |
Chair of Advisory Council on Recreational Fishing (ACoRF) and the Recreational Fishing Freshwater Trust Expenditure Committee (RFFTEC). Life member of the Fishing Clubs Association (FCA), executive member of RECFISH Australia. National and international fishing experience, offshore fishing champion, recognised fishing radio presenter, fishing journalist and weekly columnist for various newspapers and magazines. |
Max Graham Region 1 (North Coast) |
Experienced freshwater fisher. Fishcare Volunteer. Member of Project Big Fish. Involved in the Eastern cod recovery program. |
Ron Butler Region 2 (Central Coast) |
Experienced freshwater fisher. President of the Singleton Fly Fishing Club. Member of the Council of Freshwater Anglers. Contributor to native fish restocking programs. |
Ron Croker Region 3 (South Coast) |
Experienced freshwater fisher. Founding member of Southern Bass Fishing Club. Current Fishcare Volunteer and member of the Berrima and District Acclimatisation Society |
Ian Ward Region 4 (North inner west) |
Experienced freshwater fisher and native fish breeder. Secretary of Manilla Fishing Club. Manager Manilla Fish Hatchery. Involved in restocking of north western rivers and lakes. |
Tom Williams Region 5 (Central inner west) |
Experienced trout fisher. Fishcare volunteer. Member of the Central Acclimatisation Society. Involved in the NSW Fisheries trout restocking program. |
Debbie Lennon Region 6 (South inner west) |
Lure manufacturer. Experienced freshwater fisher. Fishing events co-ordinator. |
Richard Ping Kee Region 7 (North west) |
Treasurer, Moree Fishing Clubs Restocking Committee. Experienced freshwater fisher. Fishing events co-ordinator. Contributor to restocking and fish monitoring programs. Member Gwydir River Catchment Committee and Gwydir River Management Board. |
Kevin McKinnon Region 8 (South west) |
Member, Tocumwal Angling Club. Experienced freshwater fisher. Fishing events co-ordinator. Contributor to restocking and fish monitoring programs. |
Doug Joyner Australian Fishing Tackle Authority. |
Experienced freshwater fisher both overseas and within Australia. Founding member and Executive Director of the Australian Fishing Tackle Authority (AFTA). |
Peter Turnell |
I&I, NSW Representative |