A pathway to flourishing landscapes and healthy communities throughout Southern Queensland has been shared publicly after more than two years of community consultation.
Southern Queensland Landscapes facilitated the Natural Resource Management Plan project on behalf of the community through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Project Facilitator, Andrew Davidson said more than 200 people took part in the project from various communities, First Nations and organisations throughout the region and the journey to the Flourishing Landscapes, Healthy Communities plan included 17 round table meetings, 3 regional workshops and countless hours of data collection and review.
“The community of Southern Queensland own this plan which is the story of how we will all work together to achieve flourishing landscapes and healthy communities now and for future generations,” Andrew Davidson said.
“Through this plan the community has said quite strongly that they want a more coordinated approach to supporting all the good things happening in the landscape throughout our region and how together a coordinated approach will help us achieve more and attract greater investment,” Mr Davidson said.
“There will be a lot of challenges ahead, but the key thing is that the community wants to break down silos and get different parts of the community, industry and government working together more towards a common goal,” he said.
“There is a great history in Southern Queensland of volunteer groups and the community working together with government and industry; but this is the first time a plan has taken in the whole of Southern Queensland and coordinated that approach to improving the health of the landscape and in turn our communities and economy.”
Project Facilitator Jenny Cameron said we are stewards of a very unique landscape that includes amazing plants and wildlife, some of which are only found in this part of the world; and that our landscapes produce food and fibre that helps feed and clothe the nation and the world.
“We have a connection to these landscapes - the places we live or like to visit, the history, memories, hopes and plans for the future,” Jenny Cameron said.
“We all live in the landscape and when it comes to contributing to the Flourishing Landscapes, Healthy Communities plan, everyone is coming from a different starting point; we all have different issues, values and are operating at a different scale whether they be small backyards, large paddocks, communities, local government and even our state government,” Mrs Cameron said.
“But no matter where you sit in the community, you are probably already doing things that contribute to the Flourishing Landscapes, Healthy Communities plan; so read the plan to celebrate the things you are doing and share your knowledge of how we can all contribute to good landscape stewardship and a flourishing future,” she said.
“Because each small action you make will collectively, along with the rest of the community, add up to big picture changes and we know collaboration on a larger scale can really make a difference.”
Click here to read the full Flourishing Landscapes, Healthy Communities plan.
Click here to read the summary of the Flourishing Landscapes, Healthy Communities plan.
This project is supported by Southern Queensland Landscapes, through funding from the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
