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 John
Barton
Director of Natural
Resources
The Department
of Natural Resources, incorporating Agriculture and Fisheries, came into being
on 1 October 2009. I have been fortunate enough to be appointed the first
Director.
Most of you will know that I have spent most of my career to date dealing with
fish and fisheries. Agriculture will be a new experience, although as an
ex-resident of Teal Inlet, I do have some experience of Camp. In the days when I
attended Darwin Boarding School there was pretty much a full Beaver aircraft of
pupils from TI alone. So that ‘dates’ me and you will recognise that it is quite
some time since I spent a full day in a wool shed. Despite that, I have been
employed by FIG for what now seems quite a long time. One of the advantages of
that is that I have a passing familiarity with many of the issues which affect
the camp community.
Earlier this year I attended a number of the sessions and meetings held during
Farmers’ Week. There were numerous topical issues but two aspects in particular
made an initial impression. Firstly, whilst I anticipated that meat production
would be a major issue it was, nonetheless, striking how prominently this
featured in the agenda. There was little doubt about the importance of the
revenue from meat production in the current camp economy. Secondly, the pace of
change in farming was evident. The number of issues discussed was wide-ranging
and there is clearly a lot for me to learn.
I look forward to working with the staff of the Agriculture Department, and to
learn how the range of research, service and extension activities undertaken
supports agriculture development. The department has a well established and
developed business plan which guides its activities. I also look forward to
meeting and hearing from farmers. I hope to be able to meet you in camp, but if
you are passing through Stanley and wish to contact me to express your views or
to discuss an issue, then please do so. I will endeavour to divide my time
between the agriculture and fisheries offices in some proportion, although my
more permanent office is likely to remain on FIPASS for the immediate term.
Finally, I wish Phyl well as she focuses on the re-vitalised oil exploration
programme and thank her for the help she has given in passing on information and
providing guidance in the run up to the changeover.
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