Inaugural Kangaroo Island Landscape board members appointed

The new board members all live locally and provide a diverse range of skills and expertise.

The six new board members include:

- Mayor Michael Pengilly; Michael is the mayor of Kangaroo Island Council bringing with him a rich pedigree of public service. Michael was born and raised on Kangaroo Island, prior to entering parliament, as the local member, he served several years on the KI Council, including three years as Mayor. Michael also held numerous positions in the past including, Chairman of the SA Country Fire Service Board, Chairman of the Hills Mallee and Southern Regional Health Service Board, Chairman of the KI Hospital Board and Chairman of the Pest, Plant Control Board. He and his wife also farm on a property near Emu Bay, Kangaroo Island.

- Dr Peggy Rismiller OAM; Peggy, along with her partner Mike, are resident researchers at the Pelican Lagoon Research and Wildlife Centre, where she has lived and based her work for the past 30 years. Peggy's environmental research has gained her an international reputation, and she is in high demand as a guest speaker at universities, scientific institutes and public venues worldwide. Peggy has published numerous books and scientific papers. In addition to the echidna television documentary which was completed in January, and first screened in April 1995, she works regularly with national and international media crews.

- Peter Davis; born on Kangaroo Island, Peter is a sheep farmer turned bee farmer based in Kingscote. Creator and owner of the Island Beehive, Peter is both a dedicated apiarist and tourism ambassador for the island. Being one of the first, and now amongst the biggest organic honey producers in Australia, Peter is a leading voice in the honey production industry in Australia and is pro-active in protecting and promoting the Ligurian Bee heritage. Peter is constantly looking for ways to mentor and encourage people in the production of honey and bee products.

- Associate Professor Gay Crowley; based in American River, Gay is an ecologist and environmental consultant with more than 30 years’ experience. Gay’s wide‐ranging research interests focus on improving environmental management. They span conservation ecology, biogeography, fire and biodiversity management, and NRM planning. Gay also works in the interface between research and management, helping landholders, NRM groups and Indigenous organisations meet their research, planning, management and conservation goals.

- Ros Willson; Islander Ros and her family run a successful farming enterprise at their property at Willson River on the Dudley Peninsula. Current member of the Kangaroo Island Brand Alliance and former board member of both AgKI and the state Advisory Board of Agriculture, Ros is passionate about the work being undertaken to eradicate feral cats from the island having taken part in extensive trails to highlight the difficulties they present to farmers on the island being vectors of several parasitic diseases that impact livestock.

- Jenny Stanton; Jenny and her family farm a property in the Stokes Bay area of KI. Having been an agronomist since 2006, and a board member of Agriculture Kangaroo Island since 2016, Jenny has a depth of experience in agronomy and agriculture. She has also run many agricultural projects (trials/improvements) for the betterment of agriculture on KI.

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said the new Landscape boards will be partnering with community groups, local government and industry to ensure our state’s regional landscapes and farming industries are thriving, resilient and sustainable.

“The Marshall Liberal Government promised a stronger, back-to-basics system with an emphasis on effective water management, pest plant and animal control and soil and land management,” said Minister Speirs.

“The successful passing of Landscape South Australia Act 2019 means we can get on with delivering this and the creation of new landscape regions are crucial to giving local communities a greater say in natural resources management and in particular how levies are spent.”

Chair of the new KI Landscape Board Andrew Heinrich welcomed the appointment of the new Board members.

“The new board members all live on the island and provide a diverse range of skills and expertise to the board and I congratulate them on their appointment,” said Mr Heinrich.

“The new KI Landscape Board will help deliver our government’s back-to-basics approach to natural resources management in South Australia.

“We had many high-quality applications for the board positions, and I congratulate the successful applicants.”

“I look forward to working with these like-minded people to develop an organisation that works collaboratively with farming systems groups, landholders and local government to help address important priorities for KI.”

The KI Landscape Board is one of nine new regional landscape boards, which from 1 July will administer the new Landscape South Australia Act 2019, including a new metropolitan landscape board, Green Adelaide.

Initially all board members will be appointed by the Minister, but from 2022 three out of seven members will be elected by the community (except for the specialist board Green Adelaide and the Alinytjara Wiluṟara board, which is already represented by select regional leaders).

To ensure a smooth transition for regional communities, NRM services will continue to be delivered under the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 until the new Act 2019 is fully operational on 1 July 2020. To access existing NRM services, visit www.nrm.sa.gov.au/kangarooisland

For more information visit www.landscape.sa.gov.au