Worimi Conservation Lands Board of Management
The Aboriginal-owned Worimi Conservation Lands is managed through a Board of Management on behalf of Aboriginal Owners, in partnership with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. The Board is appointed by the Minister for the Environment for a term of 5 years, and is responsible for the direction, care and control of the park
The board has a number of important responsibilities, including:
- Providing direction for and overseeing the care, control and management of the lands
- the preparation and implementation of a plan of management for the lands
- considering proposals for sustainable tourism and commercial use of the lands.
The 13-member WCL Board of Management is comprised of Worimi Aboriginal Owner, Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council, Port Stephens Council, neighbouring landholders, conservation and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service representatives.
The current WCL Board of Management is comprised of the following members:
Aboriginal Owner representatives:
- Aunty Val Merrick
- Uncle Noel Ridgeway
- Aunty Lorraine Lilley
- Jamie Tarrant
- Nadine Russell
- David Feeney
- Kaibe Leismann
- Brendan Lilley
- Uncle Neville Lily (deputy)
- Jason Manton (deputy)
- Aunty Beryl Cowan (deputy)
- Daniel Witt (deputy)
- Jemma McLeay (deputy)
- Aunty Joanne Simms (deputy)
- Regan Lilley (deputy)
- Aunty Sheryl Hendry (deputy)
Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council representative:
- Andrew Smith
- Leigh Ridgeway (deputy)
Office of Environment & Heritage (NPWS) representative:
- Kylie Yeend
- Adam Faulkner (deputy)
Port Stephens Council representative:
- Jaimie Abbott
- Sarah Smith (deputy)
Neighbouring landholder representative:
- Chris Cracroft-Wilson
- Robert Duff (deputy)
Conservation representative:
- Charlotte McCabe
- Timothy Mouton (deputy)
Photo: Previous WCL Board of Management at a planning meeting at Birubi.