This report presents the responses to the Ord River Catchment Communication Questionnaire received from natural resource managers, service providers and stakeholders within the catchment. The aim of this survey was to provide an understanding of current communication in the catchment and provide a basis to develop strategies for improved communication on natural resource management (NRM) issues.
The survey was conducted in January and February 2004. Responses were received from 19 of 28 non-indigenous managed pastoral leases (68%); from five of seven indigenous individuals/organizations (71%); from three of four mining/exploration enterprises (75%) and from fourteen of nineteen agency staff approached for comment (76%).
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Respondents were generally satisfied with the current ways of getting messages out to government agencies,organisations and others in industry.
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The current level and effectiveness of communication generally in the WA section of the catchment was rated as average. Communication between the NT and WA sections was considered non-existent.
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The preferred methods of communication for matters to do with business and for social interaction were telephone, email and face-to–face.
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Contact with the Department of Agriculture WA (DAWA) was infrequent, but was preferably done on the telephone or face-to-face.
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Communication with other government organizations/agencies was also infrequent with the least preferred method of communication being Land Conservation District Committee (LCDC) meetings.
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Organised meetings, including LCDC meetings were considered ineffective. The lack of activities/projects being undertaken within this process is one key contributor to this ineffectiveness.
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Newsletters including the DAWA Pastoral Memo were considered useful.
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A strong preference for more personal means of communication (face-to-face and telephone) with Indigenous people is apparent. These means are also the preferred communication means of the Indigenous people that were consulted.
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Keeping in touch with indigenous organisations is done on the telephone, email, face-to-face or through organized meetings.
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Overall the level of contact with other interest groups in the catchment is low.
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The development and maintenance of good personal relationships and trust was the key to effective communication for all catchment community
Improving communication within the catchment on NRM issues
Community members that were surveyed felt that there are currently ample methods available for communication. Respondents felt that they needed to make more of an effort and make sure that they participated in communication and provide input into NRM issues in the catchment. Improved communication is more likely to come from encouraging people to communicate more.
Knowing who to communicate with was seen by many as an essential first step. All stakeholder groups in the catchment need to be identified and a list of contact details and communication preferences for all catchment people needs to be made available on a database.
Knowing what the issues are was also considered important. We need to ensure that all groups are included in information sharing and that issues affecting the catchment are identified and discussed at an early stage. This might be achieved through regular emailing of a small/brief newsletter of ideas, issues and events. This newsletter could be a multi-agency/group newsletter on NRM issues. It was suggested that a website for NRM issues in the catchment be established as a key point of contact.
A well-funded, charismatic catchment coordinator is required. That person would be responsible for keeping people informed/communicating and for developing NRM projects. Support from an established organization in the region is needed. The lack of NRM activities and projects in the catchment is currently limiting community involvement in improved resource management.
An annual meeting would be useful where all resource managers and interested groups can meet and present/discuss their roles, responsibilities and activities in the catchment. More effort is needed to attempt to get existing groups in the catchment working well.
There is a pressing need to increase the involvement of indigenous people in NRM related activities and community planning. Government people must get out and talk much more regularly with people in the communities and towns of the catchment. Increased support for efforts to bridge language difficulties is needed.
Increased face-to-face contact and continued effort to develop and maintain personal relationships and trust is required from all stakeholders within the catchment. Even when doing business from a distance it is important to make time for face-to-face contact with stakeholders/neighbours.
Community planning must be more inclusive of the whole community.
Don’t make any promises unless you are able to deliver on them.