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What is NRM?

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• What is Natural Resource Management (NRM)?
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  • Who manages NRM?
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Who manages Natural Resource Management (NRM)?

The successful and sustainable conservation and management of Australia's environment and natural resources is dependent on the actions of farmers, irrigators, forest operators, public utility managers, local government officers, catchment authority officers, regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies, community volunteers and many others. The Australian Government's NRM initiatives were developed to support such individuals and groups, in an effort to manage Australia's natural resources for the benefit of all Australians now and into the future.

The delivery of NRM is a coordinated effort, relying on the cooperation of governments at all levels (Commonwealth, state and local), as well as that of regional bodies, which were specifically established to ensure delivery of NRM at the regional level. Local councils and organisations also play a vital role.

NRM is delivered via the integrated implementation of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP) and the Natural Heritage Trust (the Trust).

Joint Steering Committees

Joint Australian and State/Territory Government steering committees are responsible for managing the delivery of the NAP and NHT accross the states and territories.

• Australian Capital Territory Joint Steering Committee
• Northern Territory Joint Steering Committee
• New South Wales Joint Steering Committee
• Queensland Joint Steering Committee
• South Australia Joint Steering Committee
• Tasmanian Joint Steering Committee
• Victorian Joint Steering Committee
• Western Australian Joint Steering Committee

National NRM coordination and delivery

The Australian Government established a framework for investing in NRM in association with state and territory governments, through a series of agreements on the NAP and the Trust.

These agreements were negotiated and signed by Australian and state and territory governments. They provide the framework for integrated NRM across Australia and the administration and delivery of the Trust and the NAP.

NAP Intergovernmental Agreement

A formal document between the Australian and state and territory governments, the NAP Intergovernmental Agreement initiated the process of implementing the NAP. All state and territory governments signed this agreement. The Australian Government committed $700 million to the NAP over seven years, which is collectively matched by state and territory governments.

• NAP Intergovernmental Agreement 

NAP Bilateral Agreements

Bilateral agreements for the NAP were developed in a joint process of consultation and negotiation with the states and territories. They translate the NAP Intergovernmental Agreement into state or territory-specific provisions.

The agreements include the state or territory government's undertakings on land and water reforms. They also identify the regional bodies that are responsible for the development and delivery of NRM plans in their region, and outline certain administrative and accountability arrangements.

• NAP bilateral agreements 

The Trust Bilateral Agreements

Bilateral agreements were also developed for the delivery of the Trust's second phase. These agreements translate the Trust Extension Framework into state or territory-specific arrangements for the delivery of the Trust, such as:

• institutional reforms required to bolster the security of the Trust investments
• arrangements for matching funding, including in-kind matching by states and territories

The Trust bilateral agreements build on regional arrangements already agreed upon for the NAP bilateral agreements. They also implement the framework for the extension of the Trust agreed by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC).

• The Trust bilateral agreements 

State or territory and regional NRM

The delivery of the NAP and the Trust varies between states and territories, and from region to region.

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

The role of local government in NRM

Both the NAP and the Trust bilateral agreements between the Commonwealth Government and individual states and territories identify the important role of local government in the delivery of integrated NRM.

As community leaders with a broad understanding of their municipality, people in local government are well positioned to promote NRM integration. Existing local government infrastructure and administration can be used to provide local expertise, feedback and support, and facilitate the delivery of on-ground actions, infrastructure support, regulation and incentive-based systems. Local governments are often significant land managers and local planning laws are integral to sustainable NRM.

In April 2002, the Council of Australian Governments agreed to support arrangements that include adequate:

• local government representation on regional bodies
• local government involvement in the development of integrated natural resource management regional plans
• awareness of regional objectives in local planning

For further information about the role of local government in NRM, get in touch with your Local Government Facilitator.

Councils and Boards

A number of Ministerial Councils and Government Boards have responsibility for NRM issues. Key bodies include:

• Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council 
  The Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC), on which governments of all states and territories and the Commonwealth are represented, has been established to develop a coordinated approach to issues affecting natural resource management in Australia. The NRMMC oversees the joint implementation of the NHT and the NAP.
• Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council 
• Natural Heritage Ministerial Board 
• NHT Advisory Committee 

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More information

• What's an NRM region?
• What are NRM plans and investment strategies?
• Policies, agreements and frameworks