Regional Boating Advisory Groups
Objectives
The objectives of the Regional Boating Advisory Groups (RBAGs) are to:
- enhance transparency, accountability and public trust
- incorporate community views and ideas in decision-making processes
- create two-way communication between eligible representatives of the boating community, authorities and the public
- ensure government initiatives meet the greater balance of community needs and expectations in the use of NSW waterways.
How are the RBAGS organised?
The RBAG geographic areas are broadly divided into these regions however some larger regions have been further sub-divided:
- Tweed / Clarence Valley
- Mid-north Coast
- Taree - Great Lakes
- Port Stephens / Hunter
- Lake Macquarie / Tuggerah Lakes
- Hawkesbury / Pittwater / Brisbane Water
- Sydney Harbour
- Botany Bay, Georges River and Port Hacking
- Shoalhaven - Illawarra
- Far South Coast
- Murray – East
- Murray – Central
- Murray – West
- Riverina
- Alpine
RBAG members
Each RBAG will have the following membership:
- The Roads and Maritime Principal Manager or Manager Operations (Chair) of the relevant NSW Maritime area (North, Sydney or South)
- other Roads and Maritime staff invited by the Chair
- regional waterways and boating stakeholders invited by the Chair.
Membership may also include temporary members invited to assist with specific issues.
Eligibility to become a member of a RBAG will be based on having a productive connection with NSW waterways, the capacity to represent a diverse range of users and the ability to contribute strategically on behalf of all stakeholders.
Other local User Groups
For many years NSW Maritime operations staff engaged on local operational matters through a network of user group meetings. However, a need to review and update this model was identified, to achieve some consistency across the state and to facilitate a greater balance of regional community views. From this the new RBAG model was implemented.
The creation of the RBAGs does not mean that local user groups will necessarily cease.. That is a matter entirely for each user group’s members. It is recommended that user groups that are active, effective and meet the criteria and structure set out in the User Group Policy, should continue to function.