Priorities were developed by a wide range of groups, organizations and individuals over an extensive time frame, and by building on existing knowledge, plans and strategies.

The main consultation activities revolved around twelve key stages.

1. Situation Paper 2002
2. NRM North Established March 2003
3. Methodology Discussion Paper July 2003
4. Scientific Issues Papers September 2003
5. NRM North Association Members Workshop September 2003
6. Asset Reference Groups October 2003 onwards
7. Asset Discussion Papers February 2004
8. Prioritisation Workshops May 2004
9. Exposure Draft Strategy Consultation July- September 2004
10. Revised Draft Strategy Consultation November 2004
11. Additional Key Stakeholder Consultation December 2004
12. Submission for Accreditation March 2005

Stage 1
In 2002, the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE) commissioned a Situation Paper to establish the status of planning in the Region.

Stage 2
Steps to establish NRM North began in 2002 and culminated in the declaration of the NRM
North Committee of Management by the Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment in early 2003.

Stage 3
In July 2003, NRM North released a discussion paper outlining:
Key findings and recommendations of the Situation Study; and
A proposed methodology for development of the strategy.
Following a feedback survey and public forum to discuss the paper, a revised approach for development of the strategy was adopted as the way forward.

Stage 4
To assist in developing the Strategy, 20 scientific Issues Papers (link?) on key natural resource areas were prepared by State Government staff, mainly in DPIWE.

Stage 5
In September 2003 the NRM North Association, representing all stakeholders sectors in the North, came together for workshops to identify issues and concerns to consider in the
development of the strategy.

Stage 6
Over the period October 2003 - January 2004, Asset Reference Groups were established to guide the development of a series of Discussion Papers covering key topics such as Water, Atmosphere, Land, Coast/Marine and Vegetation/Fauna. Each Reference Group comprised members of the Regional NRM Committee, a technical liaison officer from the DPIWE, an NRM Facilitator from one of the Northern Tasmanian councils, an Australian Government NRM Facilitator and a number of industry and community stakeholder representatives from the region. Over 40 people were involved in this process.

Stage 7
The Discussion Papers were released for public comment in February 2004. They considered possible vision, mission and value statements and sought public input on the values, issues and actions required to manage the Region’s natural resources in a sustainable way. The community feedback was collated into a reference database by NRM North staff.

Stage 8
In May 2004, Consultants Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) assisted the Asset Working Groups in the development and prioritisation of management action packages to address the causes of the decline in condition of our key assets.

Stage 9
The July Consultation Draft Strategy was developed in response to the community feedback on the Discussion Papers. It was made available to the community and stakeholders for a six-week period in July-August 2004.
A wide-ranging communication campaign was undertaken to ensure the broadest possible scope for stakeholder engagement and comment. This included:

• Advertisements and articles in regional and sub-regional newspapers
• Advertisements and interviews on regional television
• Interviews on regional radio
• Region wide distribution and posting of a promotional poster
• Direct mailing to all NRM North Association members, all State and Australian Government politicians in the region, and all parties who had previously participated or expressed an interest in the regional NRM process (a mail list of over 300 stakeholders)
• Promotion through the NRM North newsletter
• Word of mouth advertising through the Local Facilitator and NRM North network; and
• An extensive program of public and invitational briefing meetings which explained the structure and content of the exposure draft, facilitated stakeholder comment through submissions and survey forms, and presented opportunities for stakeholders to directly discuss the strategy process with representatives from the NRM Committee.

This consultation process utilised the Australian Government funded NRM North facilitators throughout the Region and existing regional networks such as Landcare, Coastcare, Rivercare, agricultural and farming networks, industry and business networks and environmental networks. The Aboriginal community was consulted, as were all Councils in the Region, and the Australian and State Governments through their respective agencies.
Through this process, people throughout the Region, individuals, groups and organisations, were given the opportunity to have their say on how they would like to see the Region’s natural resources conserved and managed.

Stage 10
Stakeholder comment on the July Consultation Draft Strategy was solicited from two main approaches: A ‘tick box’ survey and a call for submissions.
The survey was designed to allow stakeholders to indicate their general level of satisfaction with all aspects of the Consultation Draft. Over 90 survey forms were received.
Analysis of the 72 written submissions revealed 1,258 individual recommended changes covering a range of new and existing issues.
A summary of the major points arising from the consultation process is included with the supporting consultation documentation.

Stage 11
Further consultation with key stakeholders was undertaken in October-December 2004 and a revised strategy circulated to NRM North Association members and other key stakeholders seeking feedback as to the extent the revised strategy met their concerns.

Stage 12
Further consultation with several key stakeholder groups commenced seeking to clarify their issues. For example, representatives of NRM North met with key stakeholder groups such as the Aboriginal community, the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association and Local Government.
A sub-committee of the Strategy Working Group considered submissions from the Tasmanian Government, the NRM Advisory Council and the Australian Government, and further changes were made to the Strategy where appropriate. This group also considered responses from stakeholders received after distribution of the December draft of the Strategy.