Have your say in the 5 yearly review: survey out!

We are excited to announce that your chance to have your say on the condition of South East Queensland’s natural assets is open. We are inviting everyone with an interest in shaping the environmental future of South East Queensland to get involved.

Click here to start the survey.

About the review

The large-scale public survey is an important part of the 5 yearly review of South East Queensland’s Natural Resource Management Plan (NRM Plan). The NRM Plan is at the heart of what we do at Healthy Land and Water, driving our actions for the sustainability and liveability of our region.

Healthy Land and Water is focused on ensuring the priorities in South East Queensland’s NRM Plan are moving with and adapting to our changing environments and supporting communities in the best way possible.

The review currently underway is the second review since the plan’s inception in 2009. The review process is rigorous, and has been underway for over a year now. It started with a comprehensive analysis of the data and science of progress against a set of baseline targets that were set for the region in 2009.

The next phase is getting as much feedback as possible from broad cross-section of stakeholders, which will be invaluable in future action planning. It adds an enormous layer of intel to the raw data that is collected, as who better to know the condition and threats to South East Queensland’s natural assets that the people who live here.

Why being part of the survey is important

The survey we are inviting you to be a part of gathers valuable data on the management of South East Queensland’s natural assets and progress against a set of baseline targets that were set for the region in 2009, to take us to 2030. It gathers knowledge on threats to our assets and enables us to jointly plan actions for a desirable future for South East Queensland.

We have taken utmost care in preparing a survey that reflects this significance, that is based on robust science and data, and that endeavours to engage and invite useful and substantial feedback on the future of our region’s assets.

Are there more opportunities to be involved?

The online survey is the first of several engagement activities in the NRM Plan review.

Other activities which will be rolled out in coming months include webinars, focus group meetings, workshops, and a specific set of activities for Indigenous stakeholders.

As a forerunner to these other tailored activities, we will use the online survey to collect a comprehensive body of data that captures the diversity of our people and their views across our region.

What happens to the data

Healthy Land and Water reviews collated data sets, analysis methods, and progress against the targets, with support from academic/research bodies, government, and community experts. We are using an expert science committee to determine if the trends detected in the last review are continuing or have since changed, and if there are any emerging threats which need to be managed for the region.

What the 2016 review found

The 2016 review identified that three key regional drivers of change are continuing to impact the extent and condition of SEQ’s natural assets:

1. Land use change – Loss of bushland and wetlands due to land use change directly impacts native wildlife and scenic amenity and has a flow on effect on water and air quality and soil health. Over 54,000 hectares of bushland in the region were lost between 2001 and 2009 and in 2016, it was estimated a further 57,000 hectares were at risk.
2. Demographic change – The natural assets and liveability of SEQ are major draw cards for business investment and interstate and international migration. Population growth can result in more intensive land use, increased greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, poorer water quality and waterway health, and reduced resilience within natural ecosystems.
3. Climate change – Some implications of predictions of a hotter, drier region, with increased frequency of extreme events and continued sea level rise, are increased demands on water supplies, water quality challenges, reduced coastal resilience, and increased flood and wildfire frequency and intensity.

The review recognised the substantial collective regional action and good returns on investment being experienced, but also highlighted there is still a lot of work to do to maintain and enhance our natural assets.

Of the 41 targets defined in the SEQ NRM Plan, 10 headline targets were identified as priority areas for review. These were then assessed, with the review finding that most of the associated natural assets had either declined in condition or were likely to under current ‘business as usual’ planning scenarios.

To read more about the headline targets, click on the targets tab above.

The current review will build on and update the findings of the 2016 review. It will also address new and emerging threats and opportunities. Importantly, it is being informed and co-owned by an engaged network of stakeholders.

Get involved

Do you have any feedback regarding the SEQ Natural Resource Management Plan? We would like to hear from you.

This is an opportunity for you to give us your ideas and suggestions and provide insight into what you think needs to happen in your local area or in the region to achieve the goals of the SEQ NRM Plan.

If you would like to get in touch, please send an email to info@hlw.org.au.

This project is supported by Healthy Land and Water, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and the Queensland Government’s National Resource Investment Program (NRIP).

Want to find out how you can be involved?

Email us at info@hlw.org.au to find out how.

Click here to download
NRM Plan