Mr Hall said he had been involved in catchment management since 1995 and looked forward to taking on the role of chairman.

He said he hoped to continue the previous board's `vision of natural resource management'.

"We'll be looking forward to the future-we've already achieved a lot with Jo Bourke previously in the chair," he said.

Mr Hall said the authority's board would address a series of major issues over the next three years.

"One of the most important issues is climate change and how it will change our resource management," he said.

Mr Hall said the implementation and impact of the Wimmera-Mallee pipeline was now a major priority.

He said the board would continue to work on land improvement, its salinity plan, on improving vegetation and maintaining incentive programs for private landholders and on environmental flows.

Mr Hall said he particularly wanted to continue the authority's community focus and education campaigns through programs such as Waterwatch.

"We want to continue to work with young people and make sure our future leaders and landholders are aware of all the issues," he said.

Mr Hall said the new board was `very committed and enthusiastic' and included two new members.

"It's increased our knowledge-it's a great group of people who have vision and strategic management skills," he said.

"We will continue to work with local government and other bodies to achieve good outcomes."

Mr Hall also sits on the GWMWater board. He has farmed close to Edenhope since the early seventies.

Mr Hall said he also had experience in education, having been a teacher at Edenhope since the early 1960s and a principal at Goroke.

The Wimmera Catchment Management Authority board consists of Hindmarsh Mayor Darryl Argall, Dennis Bell, GWMWater chairman Barry Clugston, Karen Douglas, Vanessa Drendel, Merryn Eagle, Gabriel Horvat and Lynne Josephs in addition to Mr Hall.

The State Government has also appointed the Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority board.

The government appointed Peter Dark as chairman and John Anderson, Heather Builth, Jacinta Ermacora, Douglas Phillips, Naomi Pye, Basil Ryan, Lynette Skilbeck, John Spiers, Department of Primary Industries representative Terry Lewis and

Department of Sustainability and Environment representative Ian Hastings as board members.