2014-04-28 General Committee Meeting Agenda Pages 65-200

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                                 28 APRIL 2014


In 2011 a nomination for the National Riverprize was submitted on behalf of the Sunshine Coast
Rivers Initiative to the International River Foundation (IRF). This nomination considered the
programs, projects and activities undertaken by the Rivers Initiative across six (6) catchments in
the Sunshine Coast region over the last decade.

The nomination for the Rivers Initiative won the National Riverprize (see Photo 1 below).




Photo 1. Representatives of the Sunshine Coast Rivers Initiative accepting the 2011 National RiverPrize at the
         RiverSymposium in Brisbane.

The Riverprize is an Australian Government initiative delivered by the IRF. The IRF is an
international public benefit organisation that works in partnerships around the world to fund and
promote the sustainable restoration and management of river basins.

The IRF rewards and champions best practice in river basin management through the National
and International Riverprize, which are considered the most prestigious awards offered in the
field of river protection in Australia and beyond.

The National Riverprize award monies amounted to $200,000 1 which is segregated into the
following components:

    $150,000 for use by the Rivers Initiative; and
    $50,000 to support development of a Twinning program within Australia for the purpose of
     ‘mentoring’ others in river management expertise.

A decision was made by the members of the Rivers Initiative to hold the prize money in trust with
the IRF. Futhermore it was agreed to use the interest earned by the prize monies in trust to
generate an annual return of cash to help build the profile of the Sunshine Coast Rivers Initiative.



1
  Initially a second place award prize of $5,000 was offered by the IRF to the runner up in 2011. However, that
decision was overturned by the sponsors and the National RiverPrize reverted back to the original $200,000 intended.




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