Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Earlier this year, I was pleased to attend the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Research Centre in Goolwa, and it was great to see that the research centre was brimming with activity. It was a very proud moment for me and for our community, who had advocated for the centre since the lead-up to the 2018 Mayo by-election. At that time—and it is still relevant today—we recognised that even with a fully executed Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which we're still a long way from realising, we still had to deal with the short-term variations of water flows and water quality. We have internationally recognised critical wetlands and other important regions, relied upon by local communities for economic, environmental and social wellbeing, that needed and deserved a scientific approach to the management of our most precious river system.

In December 2020, the federal government recognised this need and announced $8 million in funding for the centre, and the centre was officially opened in July last year. In its first year of operation, it placed an emphasis on communication and engagement to ensure a strong presence and clear understanding of its functions, and in that time it's achieved 83 targeted community meetings. There have been 12 events, with more than 400 people in attendance, and it's engaged over 60 organisations. There have been school visits and a volunteer program, and students from schools have assisted with the development of an education program. Of course, it's now building a real presence in our community and a social media presence. The centre has undertaken similar communication and engagement programs for other program elements, including Indigenous communities; recognising and utilising local knowledge and culture; and the science program. Events such as Science in the Pub and community conversations have been a huge hit and a unique way for science to inform and to be informed.

The CLLMM Research Centre is an asset to the local and scientific community in my electorate. Their achievements in just 12 months are astonishing, and I'm very proud to see them. I now seek leave to table their one-year progress report so that everyone in this place and beyond can appreciate the work and value of this incredibly important scientific and community led organisation.

Leave granted.

I thank the Chamber, and I table the document.