The last AEPMA NSW ACT State Council meeting was held on Saturday 4 February 2017 at the conference room, Oceanside complex in the beautiful town of Hawks Nest/ Tea Gardens on the NSW mid North Coast.  For many, the trip started on the Friday afternoon with a two hour drive from Sydney and after a quick check in, it was time for us to have drinks and dinner with our hosts and the members present.  For me, after so many years in the Pest Management Industry, I am still learning so much from the pre and post meeting networking with my colleagues and what’s more, I have made so many good friends.  Hawks Nest is a very small town.  However we even managed to seat at the “Benchmark On Booner” restaurant next to UTS Entomologist Bryce Peters and his wife and caught up with his side of the world!! The restaurant/ pub is a must go if you are on holiday in the area.  

On Saturday, we were joined by other members of the State Council and the meeting started on time at 9.30am.  It was a pleasure to welcome Life Member Mr Greg Moon, National Executive Director, Mr Stephen Ware and local, Andrew Knight (Ensystex).  After apologies and previous minutes were accepted, we got down straight to serious business.

Dr Chris Orton moved “That the meeting pass a resolution of condolence and acknowledgement of the life and times of Life Member Mr Tom Nicol and his contributions to the Pest Management Industry.” As most of us had been mates with and knew Tom for so long, there were no objections. The Industry has lost too many good friends recently with the passing of Mr Peter Lamond. 

Topics of discussions included Code of Practices, Review of AS 3660.2-2000 and the AEPMA submission, FAOPMA Conference at Seaworld, PestCert, PMITAG NSW and many more.

I was also moved to thank all involved with the NSW State Council on the recent EPA project on what should be required for licencing of the Urban Pest Management Industry in NSW.  I was so pleased and fortunate to lead a delegation of members representing small, medium and large businesses which met with EPA representatives late in 2016 to present them with a proposal of what we as AEPMA NSW believe should be required for the licencing of Pest Management.  EPA representatives were very impressed with the Industry proposal.  However, they wanted to see what was going to happen in QLD where the legislation is also been reviewed early in 2017 (now).  The legislation in NSW has to be in place by September 2017, so more meetings and negotiations with EPA can be expected in the near future.

I raised the subject of other issues relating to licences and non- compliance reported by NSW members. A meeting will be arranged with EPA soon to discuss these operational matters.

If you are aware of or have any evidence of NSW Pest Management licencing malpractice, please contact me or any of your State Council members or the AEPMA National Office.    

After a short break for lunch, the meeting closed at 1.50pm.

After a few hours’ rest, we all got back together with our partners to board the ferry for the evening cruise. The twin towns of Tea gardens and Hawks Nest being the best place at the end of the world, globe-trotting Ensystex Director, Steve Broadbent decided to join us for the “perfect storm”.

At first it looked bad with the mother of all the storms looking upon us and the “Wally” in dire straits with mechanical problems… However another ship came to the rescue and thanks to the skipper who dodged the storm, it was, once again, one of the greatest times on the water with great food/ drink and good company.

On behalf of the AEPMA NSW ACT State Council and their guests, we thank you so much Shayne and Lynn Reynolds of Pelican Pest Control of Tea Gardens for such a great weekend away. 

A small reminder that the next AEPMA NSW ACT State Council meeting will be held on 1st May 2017 at 4pm at the office of Agserv at Silverwater, NSW.
If you have any queries, please contact me or any of your State Council members or contact the National office on 1300 307 114 or email: info@aepma.com.au
If you are a member of or working for a member of AEPMA, my council members and I welcome you to attend one of our meetings.  Don’t be shy and come and have your say.

Patrick Legey, AEPMA NSW Chairman
Email: Patrick@austrapest.com.au  Mobile: 0438 022 984

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